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7/6/2011 8:01 PM
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all the blogs that belong on the home page too
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By dbalon on
11/4/2019 5:59 PM
New Castle, NH – The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board approved Addendum VI to Amendment 6 of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. The Addendum reduces all state commercial quotas by 18%, and implements a 1 fish bag limit and a 28"-35" recreational slot limit for ocean fisheries and a 1 fish bag limit and an 18" minimum size limit for Chesapeake Bay recreational fisheries. States may submit alternative regulations through conservation equivalency to achieve an 18% reduction in total removals relative to 2017 levels.
Addendum VI was initiated in response to the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment, which indicates the resource is overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Addendum’s measures are designed to reduce harvest, end overfishing, and bring fishing mortality to the target level in 2020.
Since catch and release practices contribute significantly to overall fishing mortality, the Addendum requires the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries. Outreach and education will be a necessary element to garner support and compliance with this important conservation measure.
States are required to submit implementation plans by November 30, 2019 for review by the Technical Committee and approval by the Board in February 2020. States must implement mandatory circle hook requirements by January 1, 2021. All other provisions of Addendum VI must be implemented by April 1, 2020. In May 2020, the Board will consider a postponed motion to initiate an Amendment to rebuild spawning stock biomass to the target level and address other issues with the management program.
Addendum VI will be available on the Commission’s website (www.asmfc.org) on the Atlantic Striped Bass webpage in early November. For more information, please contact Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mappelman@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.
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By dbalon on
9/11/2019 1:05 PM
Thanks to the recent dedicated work
of Sam Hart and Chris Kennedy of TTOR and Don Scarpone and Ron Domurat of the
Martha's Vineyard Surfcaster's Association, good news from the Prez and the
Trustees can be provided as in the notes below. Please follow all rules and
guidelines, and report those who don't.
"September 9, 2019
Dear Martha’s Vineyard Surfcaster’s
Association Member and Derby Entrant,
Below please find the notice from The
Trustees of Reservations (TTOR) regarding permitted OSV travel along the
bayside trail to and from Chappaquiddick during the upcoming Derby.
As many of you are aware, the trail
along the ocean side on Norton Point is badly eroded beginning at a point
approximately two miles beyond the guard shack. Travel along the front beach is
not possible. This agreement was the result of a recent meeting between MVSA
members and the Trustees’ Island office and reflects our continuing efforts to
balance safe access with beach integrity and regulatory compliance under the MA
Endangered Species Act which we must follow.
All OSV operators should be aware that the
trail along Katama Bay is subject to flooding during periods of high tide.
Travel along the trail should not be attempted in the four hour period starting
two hours before until two hours after high tide in Edgartown. OSV operators
who attempt to travel during that window run the risk of driving through water
and should a problem arise help will not be available from the
Trustees.
As Derby anglers please respect the
Trustees wishes regarding fencing and roped off areas as any abuse of that
trust could result in the loss of whatever limited travel privileges are
available to us. Ropes are not to be cut and stakes are not to be
moved.
Thank you,
Don Scarpone, President"
"September 9, 2019
Access for Over Sand Vehicles (OSV) to
Chappaquiddick to and from Norton Point will be allowed on Friday, September 13th -
Sunday, October 19thfor the duration of the MV Striped Bass and
Bluefish Derby. Access will be limited to the Katama Bay side of Norton
Point at or near low tide only. Please note that use of the bayside trail
on Norton Point will be limited during high tides due to portions of the trail
being flooded so do pay close attention to the tides.
The Trustees greatly value their
relationship and partnership with our local fishing and hunting communities and
we look to you for help in ensuring that derby participants adhere to all beach
regulations and, in particular, confine OSV travel to the fenced-off travel
corridors provided. Failure to stay within the approved corridors may impact
the health and resilience of the beach system itself and is likely to cause
destruction of state-listed endangered species and plants, which would
constitute a prosecutable offense under the Massachusetts Endangered Species
Act. The MV Surfcasters Association and The Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby
Committee have agreed to encourage responsible beach use among their
membership. The Trustees reserve the right to close any or all
sections of the beach if regulations are not observed.
Our Mission is to “preserve, for public
use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological
value in Massachusetts." The coastal properties we own or manage on
Martha’s Vineyard are stunning examples of places where public enjoyment,
natural beauty, and ecological values coincide.
We wish tight lines to Derby
participants – but please, fish responsibly. Observe all rules,
posted and un-posted, for beach use. Confine your travel to designated
corridors and encourage others to do likewise.The Vineyard’s beaches
are a resource for everyone – and that means all are responsible for keeping
them healthy."
Please direct any
comments or suggestions to Don Scarpone:
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By dbalon on
8/28/2019 9:39 AM
We recently received this e-mail from the owner of the
Windmill house on Chappy. (08/27/19)
“Yesterday, I was delivering supplies to the
house, Dave one of my guys was an hour ahead. He ran into one of the Sport
Casters (Surfcaster) members who saw a white jeep cut the fence down in a few
spots, he told Dave he confronted them...they were not too friendly..and said
"we don't care"
I want to thank who ever it was, I
appreciate your guys making an effort to keep things friendly between the
fishing community and my efforts to keep the area accessible to fishing. There
is always one bad apple.
I think it may be time to adjust the fence
line, everyday the access changes due to tides. I will work on it this week. I
also will be adding small pieces of reflective tape on the fence posts, I think
it will help the fisherman navigate at night.
This kind of behavior by a member of the fishing
community on Martha’s Vineyard is unacceptable.
As Matt said, “there is always one bad apple”.
Although one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch it does give all of us a bad name and is a black
eye for the angling community in general.
Matt is an angler himself and a good guy. He takes a lot
of pride in his property and is dedicated to preserving it’s natural beauty. He
has worked with us to keep high tide access to the Gut available and he has
also agreed to open an area just south of his house for parking during the
Derby. He does not have to do this. Please be appreciative by showing respect
for him and his property and please, if you see something, say something before
we lose total access to the entire area.
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By dbalon on
6/16/2019 5:34 PM
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Windmill
House Update:
Over
the past several months, some MV Surfcasters have been talking to the new owner
of the Windmill House about fishing access, passage, etc to that area of Cape
Poge.
On
Saturday afternoon, working in agreement with the new owner, a group of
MV Surfcasters moved the approximate 1 mile stretch of fence line an additional
10' to 15' inward. There is now extra room for car travel to/from The
Gut, with the usual caveat that at high tide water floods the access as it has
always done.
The
WMH owner likes to fish and understands there is often good fishing in this
area. In short, he is friendly to us fisherman. For our part, we
need to respect his property, the dunes and wildlife, the same as we do for the
rest of Cape Poge.
Most
importantly:
Please
respect the fence lines (yes, even at high tide when your car will get wet).
Do not drive "behind the lines", there is plenty room between
the shore and the rope fence for passage. Note that the first breach (east,
before reaching the house) has created a basin and will be flooded at high
tide, hopefully with time this fills in with more sand.
Please
don't make it a beach day along his stretch of property (it's not a typical
"beach" spot anyway). Depending on the tide there is room for
2-3 car widths room for passage, same as it has been historically. If
there are breaking fish, stop and catch them, then move on. Be respectful of
access/passage to and thru this area for all.
I've
been very encouraged by the discussions to date - he's done an amazing job
cleaning up the area (there was tons of junk in and around the house that he
has removed).
Thanks
to Ron, Jack L, Brad, Jonathan, Joe, Jack, Ralph, Jason and everyone else that
helped move the fencing, it went smoothly and quickly.
Click this link to see photos.
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By dbalon on
1/7/2019 9:05 AM
President Trump Signs The Modern Fish Act
Repost of the American Sportfishing Association Article (January 2, 2019) in the On The Water online magazine.
The recreational fishing and boating community is celebrating the
enactment of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of
2018 (Modern Fish Act), which was signed into law by President Trump
December 31. The Modern Fish Act finally recognizes in federal law the differences
between recreational and commercial fishing and adds more appropriate
management tools for policymakers to use in managing federal
recreational fisheries.
To read the entire article click on this link.
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By dbalon on
10/24/2018 8:54 AM
The results from Maryland's 2018 Young of the Year survey indicated a YoY index of 14.8 which is higher than the 65 year average of 11.8.
This is the second year in a row with an above average spawn, and one of four above-average spawns in the past decade.
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By dbalon on
2/25/2018 2:24 PM
MV Times, Barry Stringfellow, February 21, 2018
Martha’s Vineyard fishermen did the Island proud at the 2017 Massachusetts Saltwater Derby, capturing eight out of possible 31 winning trophies.
The awards for annual fishing
contest, sponsored by the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), were
presented Saturday, Feb 17, at the New England Boat Show, in Boston.
Islanders
made a clean sweep of the False Albacore trophies. David Nash of
Edgartown won the men’s division with a 11.3 pounder. Nash was the only
Islander to land a state champ fish on a fly.
Click on this link to read the entire article.
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By dbalon on
1/19/2018 4:04 PM
What: MVSA Annual Banquet and Awesome Raffle
When: Saturday, January 27th at 1:00p.m.
Where: Old Whaling Church, Edgartown
Don't miss this awesome event! The Annual Banquet and Awesome Raffle is one of the best MVSA events of the year. There is great food, great prizes and most of all...awesome people! This is one of the best attended events of the year.
If you are going to attend we would appreciate if you could also bring a side dish or dessert.
If you want to help set up, shuck oysters/clams or just give us a hand please show up around 10:00a.m.
Hope to see you all there!
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By dbalon on
10/16/2017 12:55 PM
MVSA Angler of the Year Standings Thru October 16th
Cosmo Creanga 15 Points
Jason Patterson 12 Points
Ron Domurat 12 Points
John Piekos 10 Points
Dave Balon 6 Points
Ed Amaral, Ralph
Peckham, Tony Rezendes, Jim Cornwell, Janet Messineo, Dave Nash, 5 Points
Jonathan
Cornwell 4 Points
Don Scarpone, Kathi
Pogoda 3 Points
Peter Johnson 1 Point
October Leaders as of 10/16/17 (not
official until 11/7/17
Striped Bass Ron Domurat, 24.79 lbs., Jim Wareing, 19.62
lbs., Cosmo Creanga, 17.77 lbs.
Bluefish Ralph Peckham 14.26 lbs., Brenda Beal, 8.36
lbs, Ron Domurat, 6.30 lbs.
Bonito Mary Ann Angelone, 5.97 lbs., Kathi
Pogoda, 4.46 lbs.
False Albacore,
Kathi Pogoda 11.31 lbs., Paula Sullivan 9.99 lbs. Janet Messineo, 9.55
lbs.
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By dbalon on
8/10/2017 7:49 PM
Check
out the latest standings of the MVSA for Angler of the Year. These are
the standings as of the end of July 2017.
1. Cosmo Creanga (May-5, June-5, July-5) Total- 15
2. Jason Patterson (May-6, June-3) Total - 9
3. Ron Domurat (July-6) Total - 6
4. Ed Amaral (May- 5) Total - 5
5. Ralph Peckham (June-5) Total - 5
6. Jonathan Cornwell (May- 1, June-3) Total - 4
7. Don Scarpone (July- 3) Total - 3
8. Peter Johnson (June- 1) Total - 1
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