http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray The ecological musings of a fly fishing guide Wed, 13 May 2009 19:32:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en By Capt. John McMurray I could write tens of thousands of words on this, but I’m going to keep it short as the weather is warm and the bass are in, and any editorial might ruin that wonderful feeling spring brings to anglers. So here’s the skinny, and I’ll try ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=26 New York takes it on the chin with 2009 Summer Flounder fishing regulations By Capt. John McMurray It’s likely that New York will have a very short season, very high minimum size and a very small bag limit for summer flounder (locally called fluke) in 2009, while in adjacent states’ regulations will ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=25 COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION NEW YORK RECOMMENDS IMPROVEMENTS TO PROPOSED SALT WATER LICENSE West Babylon, NY—In comments addressed to New York Governor Patterson and provided to other leading administrative and legislative officials, Coastal Conservation Association New York recently recommended several improvements to the recreational salt water fishing license proposed by the Governor ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=24 By Capt. John McMurray Governor Patterson's proposed 2009-10 budget bill includes a provision to establish a recreational salt water fishing license. Indeed such a license is long overdue and if properly administered, we should support it. Such a pay-to-play system would immediately put a concrete figure on the number ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=23 There’s been a lot of discussion on declining bass stocks on this site as well as plenty of others. After witnessing some of the epic bass blitzes this year in Montauk, it’s hard to believe that there could be a problem. But indeed there does appear to be ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=22 It’s been over a month now since I saw the link-referenced letter to the Gloucester Daily Times regarding the “dissolving” of the New England Fishery Management Council. If that link dosen't work on your computer, you can cut and paste this one into your browser: http://listserv.uri.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0809&L=riseagrant-l&D=0&T=0&P=48. Sounds ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=21 By Capt. John McMurray Readers of this blog may or may not read my column in Fly Fishing in Saltwaters Magazine (FFSW). I’m not trying to promote it here, but I do want to point out the recent column on bluefin tuna: (http://www.flyfishinsalt.com/species/conservation/the-bluefin-dilemma-1000064910.html ) I’m told by the ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=20 If you’re an avid striper guy (my guess is you are if you are reading this) then by now I’ll bet you’ve seen the ASMFC press release regarding the new reference points for the striped bass fishery. If not, you can find it here: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64183 Yeah, ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=19 Just this week a summary report of the most recent Summer Flounder Stock Assessment Workshop was released. It’s a difficult read for a civilian but it looks as if the only real change is an increase in the natural mortality estimate (the number of fish that die from natural ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=18 Just getting in from what amounted to yet another good day of fishing in my neck of the woods. Without a doubt, this has been a good year so far and today was no exception. But to get back to the marina, I had to run the solemn ... http://www.reel-time.com/blogs/mcmurray/?p=17