This is a photo of one of our club members, Don Scarpone, with an estimated 130 pound tarpon he caught in the Florida keys this winter.

Nice Fish!

Click here to see this awesome catch.  

The next meeting of the Marine Fisheries will be held this coming Thursday, May 10th at the Katherine Cornell Theatre at the Tisbury Town Hall located at 51 Spring Street, Tisbury MA. The meeting will start at 11:00 a.m. All of the details are listed below:

 

 

1) Introductions and announcements 2) Review and approval of May agenda 3) Review and approval of March minutes 4) Comments      a) Commissioner      b) Director      c) Law Enforcement 5) Lunch Break 6) Discussion Items      a) Commercial Striped Bass Management      b) Improving Reporting Compliance      c) ASMFC Updates      d) NEFMC Updates 7) Items for Future Public Hearing      a) Whelk Management: Challenges and Potential Solutions      b) Commercial Permitting              i) Requiring Certain Limited Entry Endorsements be Owner-Operated              ii) Restricting Commercial Permits: One Permit Per Vessel      c) Winter Closure of the Cape Cod Bay Critical Habitat to Lobster Gear      d) DMF’s Proposals...

MVSA members showed up on a foggy Saturday morning to participate in the island wide, earth day beach cleanup. The entire Norton Point beach was cleaned up of debris all the way to the breach. Many thanks to those who participated and helped to make this a successful event.

Click here to see all the photos.

Wasque Point has undergone some drastic changes since the MV Derby last Fall. Ron Domurat took a ride out there earlier this week and took some nice photos for our viewers. Check out the latest photos of what Wasque looks like as of April 12th. You will hardly recognize it. You might recognize the nice rip being formed in the ocean but the beach front has completely changed. Thanks to Ron Domurat for providing these photos.

Click here to see the latest photos of Wasque.

 

The MVSA will once again be involved with the VCS beach cleanup. The Trustees expect that Norton Point trail will be open Saturday and that a clean up along the new inside trail will be greatly appreciated. MVSA members are asked to meet April 21st at 10:00 a.m. at the entrance to Norton Point Beach (left fork).  Bring tick repellent.

Details will be provided at that time. Bags will also be provided but please bring your own gloves.  Here is some additional information from the VCS provided by David Nash. Hello everyone.  It’s time to make plans for the annual Vineyard Conservation Society beach clean-up effort.  This year the clean-up falls on April 21 and will run from 10 to 12 with another great barbeque at SBS following our collective efforts.  Since this is the 20th anniversary of this we are trying to do a little extra and have already secured some free T-shirts for the kids who participate and we are also planning on holding another of our hugely successful free raffles. 

   ...

OB Pier Update

A frequently asked question from our membership is "when is the OB Fishing Pier going to be built?" Essentially we have to keep up the pressure on our officials to give the project a spot at the head of the project line. Already the Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier Advisory Committee and the MVSA board of Directors have sent letters to;

 

Mary B. Griffin, Commissioner

Department of Fish and Game

251 Causeway St. Suite 400

Boston, MA 02114

 

and

 

Richard K. Sullivan, Jr.

Secretary

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

100 Cambridge St.

Suite 900

Boston, MA 02114

But there is nothing like a big stack of letters and postcards to galvanize an official into action. Please take a moment to send a postcard or letter to these two individuals.

Ask  them to give our project a favorable consideration to be built this year. Ask that our Saltwater Fishing License fees help move this along....

Bill Brine recently took an aerial tour of the Norton Point breach. He provided a link to his amazing photos. Many thanks from the surfcasters to Bill for keeping us up to date on Nature's work out there.

Click here to see all the photos.

Click here to check out the full Martha's Vineyard Magazine (March 2012) article.

Beginning March 9th, thru to the 11th is the 2012 N.E. Saltwater Fishing Show at the RI Convention Ctr. in Providence, RI. This is a great show and one of the best shows in the New England area. There is a great lineup of seminars and hundreds of exhibitors. There is also plenty of custom lures and deals to peak your interest. The show has tackle, rods, reels, lures, electronics, charter guides, boats, motors, accessories, clothing and much more! There is also excellent parking with indoor access to the show.


Click here to be linked directly to the N.E. Saltwater Fishing Show website.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Division of Marine Fisheries

251 Causeway Street, Suite 400

Boston, MA 02114

(617) 626.1520 Fax (617) 626.1509

February 28, 2012

MarineFisheries~Advisory

2012 MASSACHUSETTS SALTWATER ANGLER PERMIT SURVEY The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries)~is collaborating with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to collect information on the Commonwealth’s recreational saltwater fishery to measure its economic value. In addition to providing important information about the socio-economic value of saltwater fishing in Massachusetts, this federally funded study will help to validate frequently used economic evaluation methods by applying an innovative direct approach in which some saltwater permit holders are presented with a cash offer in exchange for giving up their permit and thus the right to fish in marine waters for the remainder of 2012. Other permit holders will receive a survey asking for either their willingness...