Virginia Saltwater Fishing

croakers

The Atlantic croaker, sometimes known as hardhead, is one of the most popular saltwater fish caught in Virginia. These hard fighters are sometimes caught in great numbers by anglers fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and along the Virginia coast.

Croakers range from about 10 inches up to monster fish of several pounds. In most areas, keeper croakers fall in the 14-24 inch range. These fish are silvery in color with metallic flecking along their flanks. Croakers have a sharp spine on each gill plate. Their body shape is very similar to their larger cousin, the red drum or redfish.

Virginia fishing piers are famous for their croaker runs. Piers along the Chesapeake Bay and coastal beaches are especially productive. Along Virginia’s Atlantic Coast, the Virginia Beach and Sandbridge piers are good areas for catching croakers. In the Chesapeake Bay, there is the Sea Gull Pier, Lynnhaven Pier, and piers at Buckroe Beach, Kiptopeake, Morely’s Wharf, Saxis, and other locations.

Croaker are also caught in the major rivers, with the James River fishing pier being one of the popular spots.

In addition to fishing piers, several jetties and sea walls along inlets are known to be good spots to catch croaker. In Virginia Beach, Rudee Inlet and Lynnhaven Inlet are popular spots for catching croakers.

Croakers are also caught while surf fishing. In Virginia, beach access can be found at Sandbridge, Virginia Beach and Assateague Island.

In Virginia, a wide range of head boat operators, charter boat captains and fishing guides offer croaker fishing trips. Some of the best places to go croaker fishing in Virginia include Point Lookout, Reedville – Northern Neck, Hampton Roads, Onancock, Chincoteague, Wachapreague, Cape Charles and Kiptopeake.

For anglers that want a more individual experience, there are guided fly fishing trips in the shallows of the Chesapeake Bay. These areas of aquatic grasses and other structure offer some of the best croaker fishing in Virginia.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board recently approved Addendum I to Amendment I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Croaker.

The Addendum changes the management unit to one region (New Jersey through the east coast of Florida) and modifies the biological reference points used to assess stock condition.

The 2010 benchmark assessment indicates that Atlantic croaker is not experiencing overfishing. Atlantic croaker is now considered to be a single stock on the Atlantic coast.

Copies of Addendum I will be available on the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org

For more information, please contact Danielle Brzezinski, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at dbrzezinski@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

source: ASFMC

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board has approved Draft Addendum I to Amendment I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Croaker for public comment. The Draft Addendum proposes two changes to the Atlantic croaker management program: (1) changing the management unit to one region (New Jersey to the east coast of Florida), and (2) modifying the biological reference points used to assess stock condition.

Both proposed measures stem from the recommendations of the 2010 benchmark assessment, which indicates that Atlantic croaker is not experiencing overfishing. Based on the findings of the assessment, Atlantic croaker is now considered to be a single stock on the Atlantic coast.

The previous stock assessment, which formed the basis of Amendment 1, divided the stock into Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions due to difficulty assessing the resource as a single unit. The 2010 assessment used data from both regions to produce a single, coastwide assessment. Draft Addendum I proposes adopting the single stock unit to be consistent with the current science on Atlantic croaker.

Draft Addendum I also proposes modifying the biological reference points (BRPs) used to assess stock condition since the results of the 2010 assessment cannot be compared to the Amendment 1 BRPs, which are specific to the Mid-Atlantic region only. The proposed BRPs are very similar to those in Amendment 1. They use the same definitions for the targets and thresholds (e.g., fishing mortality rate threshold = FMSY), but they differ in that absolute estimates of spawning stock biomass (SSB) and fishing mortality (F) are not estimated.

Estimates are not given because of uncertainty in the assessment resulting from inadequate data on the magnitude of croaker discards in the South Atlantic shrimp trawl fishery. The determination of stock status is thus based on the ratios of F and SSB to their respective target and threshold. The proposed targets and thresholds are:

F target = 0.75*FMSY                        SSB target = SSBMSY
F threshold = FMSY                        SSB threshold = 0.70*SSBMSY

Under the proposal, if F/FMSY is greater than 1, then overfishing is occurring. If SSB/(0.70*SSBMSY) is less than 1, the stock is overfished. In other words, F must be lower than its threshold, and SSB must be higher than its threshold, or the stock will be considered to be experiencing overfishing or be in an overfished condition, respectively. The targets would still represent the levels that management measures are designed to achieve.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum through written comment. The Draft Addendum can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740.

Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on January 31, 2011 and should be forwarded to Robert Beal, ISFMP Director, 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201-2196; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Atlantic Croaker).

source: ASMFC press release

As Virginia summer fishing nears an end, anglers begin gearing up for Fall spot and croaker runs. Spot and croaker are among the most sought after fish in Virginia during the early fall. Both species are known for their habit of schooling up and feeding heavily before moving into the ocean for the winter.

Spot and croaker fishing is easy; fishermen need only a sensitive rod and reel in good condition. Tackle is basic, consisting of top and bottom rigs and baits such as bloodworms, squid strips, pieces of shrimp, cut peeler crab or one of the processed bait products that do not need to be kept cold.

By late summer and early fall, piers and local fishing spots often experience excellent fishing for both species. As the season goes on, a larger class of spot arrive, known for their bronze or yellow coloring.

Spot and croaker fishing often improves until hurricanes or Noreasters pass thru Virginia. Many anglers prefer the fall as the summer crowds have left and the temperatures are cooler. During the fall runs, spot and croaker are joined by bluefish, sea trout, rockfish and others.

The term panfish describes small fish, many of which are caught by recreational anglers for food. They are named because they are small enough to be cooked whole in a pan. Among the most popular saltwater panfish found in Virginia waters are croakers, spot, porgy, white perch and pigfish.

Atlantic Croaker or “hardhead” are popular panfish common in Virginia. The fish get their names because of the “croaking” noise they make when removed from the water. Croakers are hard fighters and prolific feeders. They are caught on a variety of baits and lures. They are among the first fish to be caught in the spring and are caught over a wide range of habitats. Croaker can be caught from piers, jetties, inlets, in bays and from the surf.

Croaker baits include shrimp, crabs, squid, cut fish, bloodworms and more. In addition to cut baits, croaker are caught on a variety of jigs and other saltwater lures. They can also be caught in the shallows and grass beds using fly fishing gear.

Spot are among the most popular Virginia panfish. Spot can be identified by the distinctive dark spot above the pectoral fin. The species is abundant in coastal bays, creeks and other estuaries. They are especially common around fishing piers where they are caught in large numbers. Spot are caught using small hooks and baits such as bloodworms, crab or other baits which can be presented in small pieces.

White perch are small but tenacious fish that are found in rivers, creeks and bays. White perch prefer brackish water but can live in environments that range from fresh water to fully saltwater. These hardy panfish are caught with small baits such as grass shrimp or bloodworms, or by casting artificial lures or flies. Perch can be caught year round, even thru ice. They school up to spawn in early spring and can be caught in large numbers.

Scup or porgy are another saltwater panfish. They range from New England to North Carolina and are occasional visitors to Virginia coastal waters, inland waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Adult scup feed in schools of similar-sized individuals around piers, rocks, offshore ledges, jetties, and mussel beds. They move inshore in summer but return to deeper waters offshore or migrate southward when temperatures cool. Large scup generally occur farther offshore than do smaller, younger ones.

Pigfish are colorful members of the grunt family. They are marked with a bluish upper and a silver lower body, with a series of attractive stripes on the sides and bands on the snout and head. The species ranges from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico and are common in Virginia during the summer and early fall. They are easily caught around piers, reefs and rough bottoms using small pieces of bait such as bloodworms, crab, squid or shrimp.

A new climate-population model developed by NOAA scientists to study rising ocean temperatures and fishing rates on one East Coast fish population could also forecast the impact of climate change and fishing on other fisheries.

The model is one of the first to directly link a specific fish stock with climate change. In a paper in the March 2010 issue of the journal Ecology Applications published online by the Ecological Society of America, NOAA researchers forecast the future of the Atlantic croaker fishery in the mid-Atlantic under various climate and fishing scenarios.

Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) is a coastal marine fish inhabiting the east coast of the United States with an $8 million annual commercial fishery. Previous studies have shown a strong link between croaker abundance and winter temperatures.

“Some fish populations will increase and others decrease as a result of climate change,” said lead author Jon Hare of the

Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) laboratory in Narragansett, R.I. “Our results demonstrate that climate effects on fisheries must be identified and understood, included in the scientific advice to managers, and factored into fishery management plans if sustainable exploitation is to be achieved.”

For various temperature and fish population scenarios over the next 90 years to 2100, the researchers forecast that at current levels of fishing, the spawning population of Atlantic croaker would increase between 60 and 100%, the center of the population would shift 50 to 100 kilometers (roughly 30 to 65 miles) northward, and the maximum sustainable yield would increase 30 to 100%.

With ocean temperatures expected to increase through the 21st century, the researchers developed the population model for Atlantic croaker based on the hypothesis that recruitment, or survival of juveniles to adulthood, is determined by winter water temperature. Atlantic croaker spawn in the coastal ocean and larvae enter estuaries in Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and Pamlico Sound 30 to 60 days after hatching. Juveniles spend their first winter in these estuarine nursery habitats.

Temperature during this winter period is very important to juvenile survival. Temperature forecasts were obtained from 14 General Circulation Models (GCMs) used by the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to simulate three carbon dioxide emission scenarios through 2100: atmospheric carbon dioxide fixed at 350 , 550 and 720 parts per million (ppm). By comparison, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide in February 2010 was 389.91ppm.

Hare and colleagues from NOAA’s Northeast and Southeast Fisheries Science Centers, in collaboration with climate modelers from NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colo., linked the Atlantic croaker population model with forecasts of minimum winter temperature from the 14 GCMs. These linked modeling efforts provided estimates of the abundance, distribution, and yield of the Atlantic croaker population under different climate change scenarios and different fishing rates.

With increasing minimum winter temperatures, the NOAA model predicted that Atlantic croaker abundance will increase. Higher temperatures result in higher recruitment, which leads to a larger spawning stock. At current levels of fishing mortality, all 14 GCM models and all climate scenarios predicted higher population abundances than observed since the early 1970’s, when estimates of spawning stock were first developed. Even at higher fishing mortality rates, the models and climate scenarios predicted higher populations than observed in the past.

“Although our model does not include all potential environmental complexities, the recruitment hypothesis on which it is based is supported by both laboratory and field work, and is consistent with current fishery population models,” Hare said.

“The modeling work represents one of the first attempts to link a group of general circulation models to fish population models. The outputs from 14 GCM models are all consistent, so we have confidence in our long-term forecasts.”

This approach could be used for other species where an environmental link to population dynamics is established.

“Most stock assessments that inform fishery management decisions do not include the effect of a changing environment because they are conducted annually or every few years and do not provide a long-term view,” said Hare. “Understanding and quantifying the effect of climate change on populations, in combination with the effect of exploitation, is a major challenge to rebuilding and maintaining sustainable fisheries in the coming decades.”

Another challenge is developing climate models that forecast on shorter timer scales than the current 50 to 100 years.

source: NOAA press release

Spot

Spot are named and identified by the distinctive dark spot above the pectoral fin. The species is also known as lafayette, goody, or Norfolk spot. Spot are common from Cape Cod to Florida and through the Gulf of Mexico. Spot rarely exceed 10 inches in length, making them highly sought after as live baits. These fish are abundant in the Chesapeake Bay, coastal bays, rivers, creeks and other estuaries of Virginia.

Atlantic Croaker

The Atlantic croaker, also known as croaker or hardhead are a common bait for sea trout, striped bass and for offshore fishing. Croaker usually arrive in large numbers in summer, moving into the ocean in fall.

Pinfish

Pinfish, also known as sailor’s choice, or pin perch is sometimes caught It ranges from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico, being more abundant from Virginia south. Pinfish are known to coastal anglers as a “bait stealer,” but are sought after as a live bait for other larger fish. Pinfish are  Pinfish are typically 4-8 inches in length.

Pigfish

Pigfish are colorful members of the grunt family. They are marked with a bluish upper and a silver lower body. Each scale has a blue center and bronze edge, which forms a series of yellow-brown stripes on the sides and sometimes exhibits orange bands on the snout and head. The full range of pigfish extends from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico, although they are rare north of Virginia. Pigfish make excellent live baits for striped bass, cobia, sharks and other species.

Silver Perch

Silver perch, also known as silver croaker ranges from New York southward through the Gulf of Mexico to northern Mexico. Because of its relatively small size, the silver perch are popular as a live bait species but is occasionally harvested for the table.

Striped Mullet

Striped mullet are common in the back bays, creeks and in the surf. Immature mullet are 3 to 8 inches long, making an excellent choice for live bait. The fish have a rounded, silvery body, dark bluish green back and dark stripes on the sides, and a small mouth. Striped mullet can often be seen jumping to evade predators.

Atlantic Menhaden

The Atlantic menhaden is a toothless herring with a blue, blue-green or blue-brown body. The sides, fins and belly are silvery, often with a yellowish sheen. Menhaden are a favorite prey of many predatory fish and other species, including bluefish, weakfish, striped bass and others. Small menhaden can be caught in creeks, sheltered coves and canals using cast nets or seines.

Atlantic Herring

The Atlantic herring is one of the most abundant species of fish on the planet . They are small, pelagic fish known for their schooling tendencies. Herring are iridescent, greenish or grayish blue dorsally with a silvery abdomen and sides. They can occasionally be caught in the late winter or early spring using jigs and make excellent baits for predatory fish found off the coast of Virginia.

Atlantic Silverside

Atlantic silversides live in small creeks and shallow areas. They are an important forage fish for predators such as striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and Spanish mackerel. Silversides are caught with seines, traps or small mesh cast nets. Their small size makes them difficult to fish as live baits but the results can be well worth the effort.