The Council is asking the public to take one or more online surveys to provide their ideas and comments on fisheries management policies and processes. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to share their varied perspectives and opinions with the Council.

In addition to the main survey, there are short species-specific surveys where anyone interested in a particular species can provide detailed input on the management of that fishery. Links to all surveys are posted on the Visioning website: http://www.mafmc.org/vision.

Organizations also have the opportunity to submit position letters that will be included in the Visioning data package. Any organization, including non-governmental organizations, recreational fishing clubs, and commercial fishing associations, can submit a letter addressing areas of particular concern or providing recommendations to the Council. Position letter guidelines are available on the Visioning website.

The deadline for submission of surveys and position letters is February 29, 2012. All input received will be presented at the April Council meeting, at which point the Council will begin crafting a vision and accompanying strategic plan designed to achieve that vision. For additional details about the project, or for survey links and position letter guidelines, visit http://www.mafmc.org/vision or contact Mary Clark at mclark@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5261.

source: MAFMC

                          

NOAA will use the new method to calculate estimates for the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico for use in fishery management and stock assessment by NOAA, regional fishery management councils and states.

The method is part of an overall effort to improve the accuracy of recreational catch data collected by the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). The improved estimation method was developed by a team of NOAA scientists and outside experts.

NOAA also released recalculated estimates going back to 2004 using the new method. The revised data will be used by the regional fishery management councils, the states, and other stakeholders in their fisheries science and management programs.

A major part of the Marine Recreational Information Program is the National Saltwater Angler Registry. Scientists hope the angler registry will improve the accuracy of fishing effort estimates by increasing the proportion of fishing households that are surveyed.

According to NOAA, additional improvements to increase the accuracy of the estimates are being developed, including revised dockside survey methods, testing of approaches to improving data timeliness, and use of electronic logbooks in the for-hire vessel sector.

To learn more about the Marine Recreational Information Program, go to: http://www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov

source: NOAA press release

                          

The workshop will focus on charter business management with sessions on fisheries management, legal issues, insurance needs, marketing and finance tips and lessons learned from current charter operators. The workshop is open to all charter and head boat operators and marina professionals.

The registration form can be found online at: http://www.vims.edu/research/units/centerspartners/map/_docs/charterboat2012.pdf

Registration cost for the workshop is $15 and will cover lunch and resource materials. The pre-registration deadline is Friday, March 2, 2012. On-site
registration will be limited and will increase to $30 the day of the workshop.

source: Virginia Institute of Marine Science

                          

A successful light tackle jigging trip usually begins by studying charts or maps of the areas to be fished. Jigging can be productive along channel edges, oyster bars, reefs, tidal rips, and other structure. Tides and currents are also important when jigging. Fast running currents make jigging near impossible. Slack tides can also be unproductive as fish often stop biting. In between the two events, peak fishing often occurs.

Light tackle jigging is sometimes done by following flocks of gulls and other birds. Although frustrating at times, this technique can yield results. Inexperienced anglers often move from flock to flock, only to find the fish have moved each time they arrive. A more effective strategy at times is to watch for a general pattern of movement and then slowly approach a school of fish from upwind or upcurrent. Although the birds may move away at a moment’s notice, fish often remain below. By patiently jigging these areas at lower depths, anglers often catch striped bass, weakfish, or other species.

This technique relies on a key element of fish behavior. When schools of fish push bait to the surface, the upper water column is often dominated by small stripers, bluefish, and other species. Often undetected by onlookers and surface casters are larger fish that shadow the school. The fish below feed on injured baitfish that sink to the bottom. The action of struggling baitfish is exactly what light tackle jigs must accomplish in order to be effective.

Anglers use a variety of lures for light tackle jigging. Metal slab jigs are the most common, although other types of jigs are effective. Jigs are usually selected that are similar in size to baitfish. In most areas, bay anchovies are the most abundant baitfish. Lure weight can be critical when light tackle jigging, especially when currents are strong. Most anglers stock several sizes of metal slab jigs and other lures, each being designed for a specific range of currents and depths.

When strong currents warrant additional weight, some anglers resort to using tandem rigs. These special rigs combine two lures, either twins, or unbalanced, on a single outfit. Some tandem rigs are useful when extra weight is not a requirement. These lighter rigs combine two light jigs, or possibly a weighted jig with a soft plastic body, fly, or other specialized lure. The pairing of two lures on a single line has countless variations and is known for being extremely effective.

Tandem jigs are usually most effective when jigged vertically. Their movement mimics fleeing baitfish, which in turn triggers fish to attack one or both lures. Another popular tandem rig design combines a large bucktail or other jig with a much smaller lure. When jigged properly, the rig looks much like a small fish chasing its prey.

When light tackle jigging, only basic outfits are needed in most conditions. Anglers typically choose spinning or baitcasting outfits rated for 10-20 pound line. Graphite rods are preferred as most are stiff, yet very sensitive. As with most saltwater applications, the use of braided line for light tackle jigging is debated.

Braids, although difficult to use, offer several advantages for jigging. Braided lines cut through the water much more effectively than mono, allowing anglers to jig at greater depths and in higher currents. Braided lines are also more sensitive which helps anglers detect light bites. Despite these qualities, braided lines have several disadvantages. They are hard to tie successfully, vulnerable to cuts, tangle easily, and are expensive to purchase.

                          

Black drum fish often travel in schools, occasionally feeding together with red drum or other bottom feeders. In both spring and fall, anglers sometimes encounter these heavyweight fish in great numbers. When drum fish are not traveling in schools, single fish or small groups sometimes forage in the surf zone and are occasionally caught by anglers fishing for other species.

When targeting black drum, Most surf anglers prefer medium to heavy rods, equipped with 20-40 pound monofilament line, Drum fishing rigs are simple, usually consisting of a fish finder rig or a simple leader attached to a three way swivel. A variety of hook styles are popular, with large circle hooks or live bait hooks being among the most popular.

Anglers fish a variety of baits including surf clams, quahogs, peeler (shedder) crabs, soft crabs, mole crabs, squid, cut fish, bloodworms, or other choices. Some anglers claim that during the spring runs, black drum mainly feed on molting blue crabs and will go to great lengths in order to obtain high quality peeler or soft crabs for use as baits. Another popular bait is often called a “sandwich”, which is a combination of both crab and clam.

Catching black drum from the surf can be incredibly easy or very frustrating, as reasons for success may be hard to pin down. Some successful anglers feel that black drum feed best only on certain tides, while others swear that a particular time of day is critical. Still other anglers fish during almost any time of day, preferring to spread their efforts over a variety of conditions.

                          

Throughout Virginia, spot are usually available in the surf from late summer through early fall. These delicious saltwater fish are a favorite among surf fishermen for food and as fishing bait.

Spot arrive in the surf early as June but the best runs usually start around Labor Day and continue into October. They can be caught close to the breakers and only light tackle is required.

Spot are bait stealers but can be caught using small pieces of bait and small hooks. Bloodworms are by far the most effective bait, although squid, peeler crabs, clams and scented baits such as fish bites are also effective in the surf.

When targeting spot, most anglers fish small, two hook, surf float rigs on light to medium action surf rods. Some anglers release spot of keep them for the table. Another popular technique is to fish 2 setups. When a spot is caught, it is rigged whole or cut and casted out beyond the breakers as bait for red drum, seatrout, striped bass, bluefish, sharks or other species. Excess spot can be brined and frozen for later use.

Spot kept for the table are scaled, rinsed and carefully filleted or simply headed and gutted. Before cooking, spot should be refrigerated and soaked in water and a dash of sea salt. Before frying, rinse and drain thoroughly before breading. Dredge each piece in egg and then coat with flour, corn meal or a seafood breading mix. Spot is delicious fried in hot peanut oil until lightly browned and served hot with seasonal side dishes.

                          

Tropical storm-force winds and heavy rainfall may have resulted in strong currents, marine debris and hazards to navigation.

Additionally, Coast Guard small boat station crews have returned from the inland staging areas where they deployed to during Hurricane Irene, but some are still surveying their assets. As a result, they will have reduced search and rescue capabilities until their resources are re-established.

Likewise, some Coast Guard aircraft have returned to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and are conducting damage assessment overflights. Their search and rescue capabilities may also be diminished.

Hurricane Irene caused considerable disruptions in Virginia. According to the National Weather Service, portions of Virginia received  as much as 16 inches of rain in some spots.

                          

The Hunt Fish VA app allows users to search for a wide variety of Virginia hunting and fishing related information on their smart phones.

Having the new app will allow anglers and hunters get the latest news from DGIF,  look up hunting regulations, seasons, and bag limits while in the field,  view freshwater fishing regulations and state record fish,  identify fish caught,  get sunrise and sunset times, record trophy harvests, find nearby boat ramps, Wildlife Management Areas, lakes, and more.

The free DGIF Hunt Fish VA iPhone® App is available at: HuntFishVA.com/app

                          

Saltwater kayak fishing is extremely popular in Virginia, with anglers catching a variety of species. Throughout the state, fishing habitats range from tidal creeks and sheltered estuaries to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

In much of the state, flounder fishing is possible by kayak. The eastern shore has hundreds of miles of narrow creeks and shallow bays, many of which are accessible by kayak.

Popular launching areas for flounder fishing on the eastern shore include Chincoteague Island, Gargathy, Accomac, Wachapreague, Quinby, and Oyster.

Flounder are also caught by kayakers around the concrete ships at Kiptopeake State Park and in the creeks and bays on the southern tip of the penninsula.

In Hampton Roads, kayakers fish the Lynnhaven River,  Rudee and other areas for flounder.

Many of these same areas offer excellent fishing for croaker, spot, kingfish, bluefish, trout, and other species.

Striped bass, known locally as rockfish, are another popular fish in Virginia. Advanced level kayak anglers target these species in areas such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT), Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT), Rudee Inlet, concrete ships, and others.

Along the Chesapeake Bay, kayak launching areas are available near most towns.  From Point Lookout, south to Norfolk and all along the Eastern shore, kayakers will find a variety of areas suitable for saltwater fishing.

Many of these launch areas provide access to Virginia’s most productive rivers where striped bass, croaker, trout and other species are likely to be found.

Rather than go downstream, many anglers prefer fishing the backwater coves and small creeks that feed into rivers or the bay itself. These areas often have excellent fish habitat, especially grass beds, tidal rips, oyster beds and other fish attracting structure.

These shallow, remote areas are home to some of Virginia’s most sought after species, including monster red drum, striped bass, speckled trout and even tarpon.

The following tips may be useful to saltwater kayakers:

Pack light whenever possible. Re-use items. A lunch cooler can double as fish storage. Bring only essential lures and rigs, packed and ready to use

Always check weather forecasts and tidal information before making a trip. Wear a PFD at all times and carry safety equipment.

Research potential fishing areas before launching. Study a navigational chart, topographical map or maps.google.com to find and analyze fishing spots before a trip.

Visit the Virginia Marine Resources Commission website for fishing regulations, safety tips, launching locations, and other information. Additional launching areas can be found in most state parks.

To find productive kayak fishing areas, talk to local anglers or join a fishing club.

Consult a field guide to saltwater fish to learn more about fish identification.

                          

In addition, NOAA’s Fisheries Service announced it would begin a review of domestic bluefin tuna management to address allocation issues, discards of dead bluefin tuna and the best ways to reduce unintended catch of bluefin tuna.

The total U.S. quota was set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in November, the international body made up of 47 nations and the European Union that manages this highly migratory species.

The General category, which includes commercial fishermen who use rod and reel, will receive 435 metric tons, nearly half the 2011 U.S. quota. Allocations for the other categories are as follows: Angling category (which includes recreational fishermen),  182 metric tons; purse seine fishermen, 171.8 metric tons; longline fishermen, 61 metric tons; harpoon fishermen, 36 metric tons; trap fishermen, 0.9 metric tons; and a reserve of 70.6 metric tons. The reserve is set aside for scientific research and to account for landings and dead discards.

For more information on bluefin tuna go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2011/05/bluefin_tuna.html

source: NOAA press release