New York Metro &
New Jersey

May 28th, 2004

Ocean Commission's Report?

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Back in April a 16-member panel appointed by the environmentally challenged Bush administration completed the first major federal evaluation of the condition of the ocean and its connecting bays and tributaries in 35 years. It was no surprise that the 16-member Oceans Commission found massive declines in fish populations and habitat quality, caused by factors such as overfishing, pollution and failure of the costal management system and fisheries management agencies. It was also no big shock that the panel found the current fisheries management system to be inadequate and disorganized – incapable of doing the job it was tasked to do.

The report contained 250 recommendations to address what the commission recognized as a dire situation. Most notable was the commission’s recommendation to stop overfishing both nationally and internationally… (Duaaa!!!! Scientists, environmental advocates and anglers both nationally and internationally have been trying to open the nation’s eyes to this for over a decade!) The panel also recommended that local and regional fisheries management councils be required to manage the harvest of marine life based on the best available science and not the short term needs of the industry. (What? We’ve been saying this for 20-years!!!). I also found it interesting that the Commission recommended that fishermen or scientists with ties to the fishing industry be barred from serving on the councils, (Any moron can see that the present “the fox watching the henhouse” system is a blatant conflict of interest. Why has it not been changed already?) The commission further recommended that fisheries management agencies shift their focus to ''ecosystem-based management'' rather than assessing each species and habitat individually. (Long overdue!)

Okay… Now tell me something I don’t know! These are the things that environmentalists and anglers have been angrily pointing out and asking for, for decades while scientists told us that something needed to be done! The report is almost an exact replica of the Pew Commission report issued last year that the administration pretty much brushed aside. The only notable exception was that the Ocean’s Commission Report made no mention of the need for Marine Protected areas, although I personally think it really should have.

The panel further recommended the creation of a National Oceans Council to bring together and preside over the various national and regional fisheries management agencies. Funding for that council would come from offshore oil and gas royalties and other future uses of marine resources. Finally, a novel and constructive idea, with tangible applications! There was also a recommendation in the report that would require all saltwater anglers to be licensed. Those who read the fishwire regularly know that I’m a big believer in the clout a license brings anglers; although I’m sure there will be opposition from many of those “cheapskates” in the northeast who remain unwilling to pay their way.

Finally, the commission recommended doubling the funding for ocean and coastal research in the next five years, and urged congress to provide federal funding for education and outreach on ocean issues. Of course, the most difficult part will be obtaining such funding, particularly with regard to oil and gas royalties, which currently get diverted to the US Treasury general fund.

Now that we have these findings and recommendations from these “experts,” it should be interesting to see if they are acted upon. My guess is that they won’t be. I also suspect the release of this report (on earth day) was purposely done during a campaign year. More than likely it will be quickly forgotten about after the election. And I’m certainly not meaning to be partisan here. I don’t have much faith in “other” presidential candidate to act on these recommendations either. His voting record on fisheries issues has been… uhhh… less than good. We’ll just have to see what happens I guess… But again, I strongly suspect it will be nothing -- Status quo as we continue to fish down the resource and pollute our waterways. Regardless, it was nice to see these things in the public eye and gaining the attention of our nation’s leaders for once, even if it is, more than likely, short lived.

Now, enough of the “glass is half empty” stuff… Let’s get on to the reports:

Bluefish have invaded central New Jersey and the good news is that they have been up on the flats and attacking top-waters with reckless abandon. Raritan Bay and Northern New Jersey, while theses areas have slowed a bit, are still holding some whoppers, which early in the week were hammering big bunker flies on sinking lines. Over on the other side of the Harbor, Jamaica Bay has slowed quite a bit. While there are still some nice fish on the flats, getting them to eat has been a little more difficult. The bait guys are still killing them (literally) and it’s kind of a bummer to see so many hogs get gaffed in the space of just a few hours. Big bluefish have begun to trickle into the flats and I expect they will be doing their annual tailing thing any day now. Boy, when they do that they look just like permit… A ton of fun! Things have been pretty good on both the North and South shores of Western Long Island and the east is really beginning to come alive with some spectacular sight fishing in East Hampton.

Lots of boat and beach traffic this weekend I’m sure… But weather looks okay and if you get out there early enough you just might have a good day… So go do it man!

And don’t forget to email me your own reports. Tight lines all.

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

There is certainly something amiss with the weakfish this year, as Captain Gene Quigley from Shore Catch Guide Service reports below.  Whether it’s commercial pressure, the unusually warm temps we’ve been getting or just a cyclical phenomenon, no one really knows.  I just hope those netters off the coast didn’t just cut off the whole supply of spawning fish coming in this year.  Anyway, Gene reports some good opportunities for bass and bluefish.  Check it out:

John,
 
Its been an invasion of the bluefish down here, some of the best shallow water fishing we have ever seen in Barnegat Bay. You can literally go out any time of the day or tide, up in around two to four feet of water and catch a bluefish on a topwater Banger on literally every cast!!. Not only will one fish come up and hit the fly, but there are ten behind it just waiting to take it out of there mouths. Its been pretty amazing.
 
What has not been amazing, or even luke warm has been the weakfishing. We are averaging anywhere from zero to 2 fish a night and most of the boats going out are coming home empty. It has been a tremendous disappointment for us down here as it is something we wait for every spring.
 
Outside the Bass are starting to find the Bunker Schools along the beaches and it wont be long before the action is all out -- hopefully just like last season.
 
Our beach guides have been doing pretty good along the back side on Island Beach State Park with both bass and blues on deceivers and jiggies.

While I haven’t gotten a press release yet, I hear the Manhattan Cup went very well with some monster bass being taken on the fly.  Capt. Brendan McCarthy from Urban Fly Guides took the fly trophy with a 25-pounder.  There were some big blues on the board as well.  In Jamaica Bay, it did slow a bit but there are still plenty of fish in the flats.  They seem to, however, prefer to just look and occasionally swipe at poppers, rarely committing to the actual mouthing of the fly.   Bigger bluefish are beginning to show on the flats and they can be a total blast when the 13-pounders get in skinny water like that. 

Over in Raritan Bay they seem to be getting some huge fish on the fly.  Check out Capt. Joe Mattioli from On the Bite Charters’ report:

Hi John
 We had Big bass up to 30lbs earlier this Week by the end of the week they were hard to find. I fished the CCA Manhattan Cup on Friday with my crew Sandy Fraiser and Jack Hanke. They fished hard under schools of bunker. Sandy caught the largest Bluefishon the fly and won that divison.

Captain Brendan McCarthy from Urban Fly Guides also reports good action.  Check it out:

Well it is not like it has been but it has been some crazy fishin. had over a dozen breaking the 20 pound mark, not bad for within the boundries of the NYC subway map. Fished Kerry Hefernan and Tracy Warmus for the CCA Manhattan Cup on Friday and Kerry won the Fly division for Bass with a 25.5 pounder.Tracy got one of 21.5 at the same time (see pic) had Stephan out on his wedding anniversary on Sat and got 5 over 20 that day with the biggest going 28. call it what you will it is a personal best for my boat, and big animal. Can't sleep at night I am so keyed up, hope it never ends, but I am afraid to say that it has slowed down. hoping it is just a lull!!!
see ya
Brendan
ps had some calls this week that were erased from voice mail with the phone numbers-so if anyone out there is waiting for a call-back, please try again!

Western Long Island

From the North Shore, Salty Flyrodder Brian Bifano checks in with this report from the beaches of the Western Sound:

Fished Friday and Sunday last weekend here is my recap:

Friday Night -  (glen cove area) fished the evening outgoing tide for a few hours and got skunked.  Though others who were next to me (one spring guy and one fly rodder) hooked up with the illusive weakfish.  The flyrodder caught his on a pink and white half and half while the spin guy was using a bubble gum colored rubber worm with a white led jig head. The weather was favorable with winds out of the south, south west, water was gin clear. Though oddly enough still did not see schools of baitfish on the outgoing tide. Sand eels should be present now, where are they?
Sunday Morning - (glen cove area) I woke up a tad bit late,  and fished the early morning fog. Water was a bit cloudy with a small amount of wind coming from the northeast. Conditions still looked favorable as the low light conditions, minimal wind, and overcast skies were the perfect combination for us long rodders. I had two run offs but that was about it. Still hearing reports of some big bass being taken in the mouth of Hempstead harbor using bait, but for me the action has slowed down to a crawl.  I guess its time to head eastward.  Next stop the North Fork and the Salty Conclave.
That's if for now, going after them again this weekend.

Eastern Long Island

Capt. David Blinken reports good fishing in East Hampton.  Richard Regan connected with numerous schoolies on the flats on Wednesday.  Captain Amanda Switzer had Richard Reagan and Matt Nielson out the day before connected with a few nice ones.
Salty Flyrodder Joel Filner had a good week and submits this detailed report.  Check it out:

Sight fishing for striped bass is by far the most exciting,
enervating, and frustrating venture that we work at in our local
waters. Fished two days with Amanda with two distinct experiences:
one WOW, and one shoulda been there yesterday. And fortunately for us
we were there yesterday. Thursday was a day on the water that showed
us hundreds of bass, feeding, selective, and large. All quality fish
from the first casts until we ended the day enervated by the
experience of casting to fish, watch them take or refuse, and then
bringing them to the boat to be free once again. Nominal wind, bright
sunny day with a few clouds and fish all through Peconic bay.
Accuracy was never so important. Making the fly do what was needful
to either turn the fish on or off course or fly was the difference in
successfully hooking up. The one blue fish of the day we watched herd
the fly, go towards it, play with it like a cat with a mouse, and
finally eat it over what seemed like 10 minutes but when he ran he
just went off the flats  and finally bit the fly off. We didn't keep
count of the misses or the hits but we dreamed of the casts that
worked and even the one cast that was perfect, hooked the fish and
then dropped him without a curse word but of the satisfaction of the
beauty of the cast. We used a bunker fly of medium size for most of
the day, on intermediate lines, on 9 and 10 wt rods. By the end of
the day we no longer jumped with the fish when they hit and were able
to place the fly reasonably well. We certainly had enough practice.

Friday was another scenario, with wind, clouds, rain, and very few
fish to be seen or even hooked. Fished with poppers in the morning
and watched the few bass turn away and not follow. Only one strike
and that was half hearted. Fished the bunker, the epoxy, the secret
fly, the slugo fly, the squid fly, the hollow fly, the popper, the
gurgler... a good thing the three of us had 500 flies on the boat..
no chance to run out but little success. It was also good we had the
two days, one to revel and one to get back to reality.

Saturday was another day with marginal amounts of fish around but a
few keepers and more blues in Shinnecock near the inlet. Finally some
bait, little shiners, and peanut bunker in scattered pods. Sunday was
a nice rainy morning with the thunder rolling off but we went out
anyway for an hour, two bass, one blue and two sea robins. The only
fly that worked for me was an ugly shrimp pattern. No wind but picky
fish. There were some questions on my thermometer readings and I
checked them out this morning (dummy forgot the boots drying in the
garage). The back of the bay was 49 degrees, the front was 48 and on
the inlet and ocean, 47 degrees, checked with two different
instruments. Peconic Bay on Thursday and Friday was 58 to 60 degrees.
And now for the season.

That’s all for this week…  See you on the water…