New York Metro &
Northern New Jersey

Despite President's Commitment, Fisheries Protection is Foundering;

Tom Fote, legislative chairman of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, supplied the following report:

Members of Congress and Leading Conservationists Call On NMFS To Implement Fisheries Law as Congress Intended

WASHINGTON, DC - Two weeks after President Clinton proposed spending $194 million to rebuild and sustain America's fisheries, both environmentalists and the Chairman of the House Fisheries Subcommittee are concerned that the government's regulatory body on fisheries issues - the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - may be missing an historic opportunity to turn the President's rhetoric into reality. At a Washington, D.C. media briefing sponsored by the Ocean Wildlife Campaign and Environmental Media Services today, both policy experts and politicians agreed that 1998 represents a critical juncture for ensuring the long- term health of ocean resources.

But according to Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ), the NMFS suffers from a split mission that has them promoting markets for fish, and trying to conserve those same fish after the market has depleted the populations. Saxton said new policies are needed to end overfishing and limit destructive fishing methods. And he stressed that the United States can't use other countries' poor conservation policies as an excuse for inaction. "It seems to me," he said, "that for at least some in the international community, if they see a real American conservation effort in some of these areas they may be inclined to follow suit."

Other speakers at today's briefing were Dr. Carl Safina, director of the Audubon Society's Living Oceans Program; David Wilmot, director of the Ocean Wildlife Campaign; and Mike Nussman, vice president of the American Sportfishing Association. Under the amended Magnuson-Stevens Act (Sustainable Fisheries Act), NMFS and the regional fishery management councils are required, by September 30, 1998, to deliver a fishery management plan for each species in accordance with the goals of the Sustainable Fisheries Act.

Several speakers said that contrary to the clear intent of Congress, NMFS' current proposals for implementation will do little to prevent overfishing, rebuild depleted fish populations, reduce bycatch (unintentional catch of animals during fishing operations) and protect essential marine habitats. "NMFS is bowing to pressure from commercial fishing and non-fishing industries and considering actions that will undercut the goals of the Sustainable Fisheries Act," noted Dr. Safina. "We believe their proposals to date are contrary to the intent and the language of the act, and in some instances, simply illegal. NMFS must use this opportunity to establish fishery management plans that actually keep more fish in the seas and allow severely depleted populations to rebuild."

There is little debate that the oceans are in a state of crisis. Particularly affected are Atlantic highly migratory fish, such as sharks, swordfish, marlin and tuna, which have been reduced by more than 80% in the last two decades. Reducing bycatch and associated mortality is essential to these species. "We can do this do this by promoting the use of closed areas in conjunction with other techniques," said Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) in a written statement. "Doing the right thing also makes dollars and cents sense," noted Nussman of the American Sportfishing Association. According to the association's latest report of the economic impacts of marine recreational fishing, the $8.7 billion spent by anglers alone in 1996 reaped $25.1 billion in total economic benefits. As one example of the economic benefits of conservation, he noted that efforts to rebuild the Atlantic striped bass population over 10 years have resulted in a five-fold increase in fishing trips and associated expenditures. "Our challenge is to ensure that the National Marine Fisheries Service delivers plans that will actually accomplish what they are intended to do," said Wilmot. "That is, halt overfishing, minimize bycatch, establish rebuilding plans for all overfished species, and protect habitats that are essential for marine fishes."

Editors Note: The Ocean Wildlife Campaign is a coalition of the National Audubon Society, National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Wildlife Conservation Society and World Wildlife Fund. OWC's mission is to tackle the complex challenge of conserving and restoring large ocean fishes, including sharks, tunas and billfish. Primary funding for OWC is provided by the PEW Charitable Trust.

Copies of the American Sportfishing Association's report, "The Economic Importance of Marine Recreational Fishing in the United States" is available on ASA's website.

Seems to me that if we want the present high level of sport fishing opportunities to continue into the future that some level of activism is needed from all of us!

Speaking of activism, NJ Assemblyman Anthony Impreveduto has withdrawn as prime sponsor of bill A2165. The bill would have legalized netting of striped bass in NJ coastal waters. In response to the many phone calls, faxes, and letters that he received, Mr. Impreveduto was eager to withdraw his support, especially when informed about the negative impact the bill would have on the multimillion dollar sport fishing industry

Exceptionally warm weather in the northeast has shifted the focus of area fly rodders to the hours between sunset and sunrise. See the individual sections for details.

Don't forget to send me your own reports, and until next week...

Tight Lines!

Bob Woolley

New York & New Jersey's Fisheries

Western Long Island Sound

I’ve gotten several reports complaining about jet ski traffic in the north shore harbors and around Breezy Point. One fly fisherman at Breezy said

Fishing was next to impossible at the jetty last weekend during the day due to heavy jet ski traffic. They were swarming like flies and buzzing up a storm. Although park (Gateway National Rec. Area) rangers were stopping joggers and fishermen from disturbing Piping Plovers they could do nothing with the water born bikers, who, while not allowed to beach their craft, ride just feet from the shoreline.

Looks like another reason to stay off the beach during daylight hours

Loads of small bluefish were reported off the beach at Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge. This park, located at the end of Lloyd’s Neck, is open from sunrise to sunset to the public for a small fee and may well be worth checking out in an area with almost NO access of any kind

The midweek storms seem have kept most people at home and reports have been scarce. However, fish should still be around Jones Inlet and Fire Island Inlet and the bay side should clear by the weekend. Weakfish are still around in good numbers but you have to be willing to search for them. One report from an undisclosed spot told of fish in the 10 pound range feeding on baby herring.

Eastern Long Island Sound

As with last week, the real story lies at the east end of Long Island. Reel time's two newest sponsors, Capt. Paul Dixon of To The Point Charters and Capt. Dave Blinken of North Flats Guiding both report good sight fishing for stripers on the flats in Gardiner's Bay when the wind allows. Lets welcome both of them to the Internet's premier salt water fly fishing site.

David reports lots of bait in the form of sand eels and large schools of bass off Montauk, which will most likely be a zoo this weekend and a good place for the shore bound flyrodder to avoid. Try the jetties on the inside of the harbor after dark.

Shinnecock Inlet and Bay continue to produce. Capt. Ken Turco says there are lots of bass up to 25 pounds feeding on sand eels and squid. "Salty" flyrodder Joel Filner sent me the following account of the club trip to Shinnecock last weekend:

Saturday nite trip with Bruce Marin was somewhat shortened because of social problems but 7 of us started about 230 am in the inlet and David Penn and I went further east to the island. Bruce and Frank Abbate and friends caught sporadically thru 5 am-all nice 20 25 inch bass on deceivers and Clouser minnows. David and I had a steady nite on poppers until 6 am and then switched to sand eel and squid flies. In all I caught 10 fish, one keeper & 7 bass 20 to 25 inches and two blues of medium size. David had 8 fish from 22 to 25 inches fishing further out in the channel; he walks farther than I do and he's taller so the holes are not as deep for him.

All on the outgoing tide with most of the activity between 4:15 and 5:45. (slack tide); on the incoming very picky and sparse but still there and only smaller fish. A good time was had by all.

Meanwhile it was exciting to catch and see a keeper on my line for the first time this year. The wind was up and there was no moon.

Sorry for the disjointed report but work is interfering with my fun.

Somehow that sounds all too familiar, eh?

Capt. Joe Blados of Maverick Charters says the sound side is so full of small bluefish that they have become a plague. He also issued this warning to boaters:

the water in the eastern end of the sound is full of debris washed in by the recent rains. Much of it, including whole trees, came out of the Connecticut river.

Sandy Hook - Raritan Bay

The advent of summer and with it night fishing has it’s own unique set of problems. “Jersey Jack” Denny had the following thoughts:

Anything Goes with Jack: “Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jump’n and……..”, well maybe not jumping but they will continue to feed. Fishing will become tougher, the game will change a bit as the fish look for cooler water temperatures with a little more oxygen to make them feel comfortable. Night time fishing will bring out the bugs that seem to feast on fly fisher blood. The constant buzzing and aerial display in front of your face is no picnic either, it is enough to drive you off the water. DEET is an effective insect repellent and in strong concentrations will do the job just be very careful on how you use it, follow instructions. If you can get 100% DEET then application directly to the skin should be avoided, just dab some on you hat, your collar or even put some on a separate piece of cloth and clip it to your clothes. Keep it away from plastics especially fly lines. A cheap cigar will ward off some bugs and I have seen the “bug hat” (netting that drops over your face) and bug suit as an alternate to bug juice. My mother went to Canada many years ago to fish ice out for lake trout, pike and the other freshwater species. She used the “bug hat” and found it worked very well on the dreaded black flys. I think it is still down the basement, I’ll have to give it a try. But this leaves my hands exposed to attack by those blood thirsty little critters. No-see-ums, those invisible vampires, are the worst in my opinion because they are feeding on you before you realize it. At least mosquitoes can be whacked and give you a sense of getting even but not so with the no-see-ums. Gnats are just a bother, they buzz around your eyes, your ears, your nose and get under glasses. They are just a pain in the butt! Green flys are big and can take a big bite of out of you, making you feel like you just gave a pint of blood at the Red Cross. A good wind can be very helpful by blowing insects away from you but it makes casting tougher (I’ll take the latter thank you very much). Spiders set up their webs right across the trail leading to the water. There is no repellent for these creatures, just swing a stick in front of you as you walk through suspected spider territory. Yet, through all the hardships fly fishing continues and some good catches can be made. Remember to be very careful as you approach the water and make a few casts before walking in the water. If a summer storm should pop up and blow hard for a short time look for some good fishing to follow. Have a safe summer, remember fall is just around the corner.

Capt.’s Dino Torino and Frank Crescitelli of Fin Chaser ChartersFrank had a 16 1/2 lb bass on one charter; good size bass are to be had on depth charge lines and large flies and some decent bluefish are also around the harbor. North Carolina guide Gordon Churchill had a taste of big apple fly fishing and said he and his wife had a great time in spite of windy conditions. Dino also said that they saw a Peregrine falcon take out a cormorant. Just goes to show that anything can and will happen in the waters surrounding Manhattan

Sandy Hook and, to a lesser extent, Raritan Bay continue to yield bass and blues but it’s basically a nightime thing for the rest of the summer.

Island Beach State Park

The recent heavy weather has clouded the water on the bay side but it should be clear by the weekend. Try areas 15 and 21, again after dark and make certain you have some heavy duty insect repellent. The wet weather and resulting standing water has made this one of the worst mosquito seasons in recent memory