MAFMC and ASMFC to Hold Public Hearings for Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) are seeking public comment on management options under consideration in the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment. This amendment contains alternatives to:

·       Revise the fishery management plan (FMP) goals and objectives;

·       Modify the bluefish allocations between the commercial and recreational sectors;

·       Modify the commercial allocations to the states;

·       Initiate a rebuilding plan;

·       Revise the quota transfer processes;

·       Revise how the FMP accounts for management uncertainty; and

·       Revise the de minimis provisions in the Commission’s FMP.

Comments may be provided at any of 5 virtual public hearings to be held between March 24 and April 8, 2021 or via written comment until April 23, 2021.

We encourage you to visit the Council’s Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment web page or the Commission’s Public Input web page, where you can read the Public Hearing Document, the Draft Amendment, and watch the public hearing presentation (to be posted by March 12, 2021). The Council’s Public Hearing Document is an abbreviated version of the amendment which summarizes proposed management options and impacts. The Commission’s Draft Amendment is a more comprehensive management document that will resemble the Commission’s final amendment once approved. Both documents contain identical options for public input, but each have been developed according to each management body’s differing requirements. Commenters need only to submit comment on one of the documents. We have also developed a Quick Reference Guide which provides an overview of the alternatives under consideration in the amendment.

Virtual Hearing Schedule

Interested members of the public are encouraged to provide oral comments at any of the following public hearings. While we encourage you to attend the hearing that is targeted toward your state or regional grouping, anyone is welcome to participate in

Webinar Connection Instructions

To register for a public hearing please click here: Public Hearing Registration and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. When connecting to audio, we strongly encourage participants to use computer voice over internet (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 1-866-901-6455 and enter access code 140-544-592. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. For technical assistance setting up and logging into GoToWebinar, contact Dustin Colson Leaning at 703-842-0714.

If you are connected only by phone in listen only mode, you will not show up as a webinar attendee. In the event that there are no webinar attendees, the public hearing will be cancelled unless state staff request that the hearing content is presented. 

Written Comments

Written comments may be submitted through April 23, 2021 by any of the following methods:

1.       ONLINE:	https://www.mafmc.org/comments/bluefish-allocation-rebuilding-amendment
2.       EMAIL:	mseeley@mafmc.org
3.       MAIL:	Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive DirectorMid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council800 North State Street, Suite 201Dover, DE 19901
4.       FAX	302-674-5399

Please include “Bluefish Amendment” in the subject line if using email or fax, or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.

Tips for Providing Public Comment

We value your input. To be most effective, we request that your comment include specific details as to why you support or oppose a particular alternative. Specifically, please address the following:

·       Which proposed alternative(s) do you support, and which do you oppose?

·       Why do you support or oppose the alternative(s)?

·       Is there any additional information you think should be considered?

Contacts

If you have any questions, please contact:

Matthew Seeley, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, mseeley@mafmc.org, 302-526-5262

Dustin Colson Leaning, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, dleaning@asmfc.org, 703-842-0714

A copy of the press release can also be found at http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/6033ed2bpr21-04_Bluefish-Amendment-Hearings.pdf.

——————–

Tina Berger

Director of Communications

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N

Arlington, VA 22201

703.842.0740

www.asmfc.org

The marine forecast is for west winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30.

Chuck Many says ice fishing was slow — but not dead.

It didn’t amount to much, but at least there was some life on bottom whven the Ocean Explorer got out from Belmar today. It was breezy, but fishable — and bergalls were active on the bottom.

One legal blackfish was boated and a few shorts plus a short cod were released while a few ling came aboard. That was enough tp justify another attempt in good weather — perhaps on Wednesdy.

The lighter northwest winds didn’t last for long, as they shift to southwest tomorrow at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 and rain.

Though the northwest wind continues in the morning,that 15-20 knot forecast drops to just 5-10 during the day. As a result, the Ocean Explorer from Belmar is planing to sail Sunday for blackfish.

Those preferring to stay home can get a taste of rhe tropics at 8 a.m. by watching George Poveromo’s new show on yellowtail snapper fishing in the Florida Keys on the Discovery Channel. I’m enjoying the Florida cold snap (down to the 50s), but spending the day in Palm Beach Gardens to welcome my first granddaughter which Cyndi delivered two days ago. Elizabeth Gonzalez is a real keeper at 8 pounds — and Luis has her first rod and reel ready to go.

Despite all the “global warming” this winter, there may be an opportunity to go blackfishing Sunday on the Ocean Explorer.

That Belmar party boat has canceled for Saturday. but hopes to fish Sunday 15 to 20 miles offshore to give anglers a shot at the seasonal tautog pool which is currently tied with two10.8-pounders.

The marine forecast is for northwest winds of 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30 Saturday as small craft warnings are up to that afternoon. Sunday’s forecast is for for 15-20 northwest to start with before diminishing to 10-15 knots in the afternoon.

George Poveromo starts this year’s World of Saltwater Fishing TV series at 8 a.m. Sunday on Discovery Channel with It’s Snapper Time in the Florida Keys.

The IGFA has restructured and appointed famed N.J. angler Michael Criscola II to its Board of Trustees as per the following the release:

IGFA Announces Significant Changes to Board of Trustees
Exciting changes follow annual board meeting

DANIA BEACH, FL – February 18, 2021 – The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recently announced several changes to the Board of Trustees following the organization’s annual board meeting, including new leadership in the executive committee and the addition of five new board members.

Executive Committee

IGFA Chairman Charles “Carlos” Duncan, III, who had served in this role with distinction since 2015, announced that he would be stepping down as IGFA Chairman. “The years that I’ve spent serving as IGFA Chairman have truly been rewarding,” said Duncan during his final board meeting as IGFA Chairman. “Between working with fellow board members and staff, I am confident that we have collectively made the organization stronger than when I assumed this role.”

Assuming the role of IGFA Chairman is Roy Cronacher, who has been an IGFA Trustee since 2010 and who has most recently been serving as Vice Chairman & Treasurer for the organization. “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Carlos over the years, and he and I have always worked as a team and will continue to do so. I look forward to continuing the legacy that Carlos, the  IGFA Board of Trustees, the directors, and staff built during his time as IGFA Chairman,” said Cronacher. “I’m excited to get to work!”

Additional changes to the IGFA Executive Committee include the appointment of Chase Offield to the role of Vice Chairman, and the appointment of Robert Kurz as Treasurer.

Board Expansion

In addition to the changes within the IGFA Executive Committee, there were also five new individuals appointed to the IGFA Board of Trustees during the recent board meeting. The appointment of these five individuals increases the total number of the IGFA Board of Trustees to 23. Listed below is additional information on the five recently appointed Trustees:

Michael Criscola, II
Michael is the Executive Vice President and Principal for the Crisdel Group, Inc, which is a family‐owned company that provides specialty construction and contracting services including asphalt and concrete paving, excavation, heavy civil and highway construction, site development and utility infrastructure construction throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. In addition to his responsibilities with Crisdel, Michael is currently a Heavy Highway Representative on the Board of Trustees for the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACC of NJ). Michael is a passionate angler that also serves as the Chairman of the Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Guides Trust Foundation in Florida. Michael fishes both inshore and offshore with conventional and fly tackle.

Molly Fleming
Molly Fleming has been an active member of the International Women’s Fishing Association (IWFA) since 1972, and an IGFA Lifetime Member since 2001. Her mother became an IWFA member in 1960, just five years after it was founded. Molly is especially adept in fishing with light tackle and has won a number of IWFA fishing tournaments. She fishes for virtually everything that swims, from black marlin to bluegill, on conventional and fly tackle. Molly has an encyclopedic knowledge of fishing history, especially when it comes to women’s influence and involvement in the sport.

Nassim Joaquin
Avid fly angler Nassim Joaquin of Cozumel Island, Mexico, founded the Peninsula Fly Fishing Club‐‐Mexico’s only saltwater fly-fishing club. He co‐authored the book “Flyfishing in Mexico: The Yucatan Peninsula” with Juan Pablo Reynal and Daniel Beillinson, and has achieved three IGFA World Records and numerous IGFA Inshore Grand Slams on fly. Working with Dr. Aaron Adams of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Joaquin launched the bonefish and permit tagging program in Mexico. Former president of Amigos de Sian Ka’an A.C.‐‐ the largest fishing conservation organization in Southeast Mexico‐‐ Joaquin also served as president of the State of Quintana Roo Sport Fishing Committee. He founded the e‐fly fishing magazine “Pesca Con Mosca” and contributes to numerous publications worldwide. Nassim has been an IGFA Lifetime Member since 2001 and an IGFA Representative since 2005.

Nathaniel Linville
A resident of Key West, Florida, Nathaniel Linville owns and operates the Angling Company, a premier fly shop in the Florida Keys. Linville has been an IGFA Representative since 2015, and is a passionate tournament angler and an IGFA World Record chaser. In his angling resume, Linville has won the March Merkin Invitational Permit Tournament twice and the Del Brown Tournament once. He has also won the fly division in the Cuda Bowl four times and the Superfly three times. Always looking to advance the sport and educate others, Linville is credited with developing the “Cobranagle” knot for tarpon fishing, and he writes regularly for his blog and teaches fly casting in Key West to students from around the world. Nathaniel also has a strong roster of six IGFA Tippet Class World Records to his credit, including the IGFA Men’s 6‐lb Tippet Class World Record for tarpon record for a 140-pound, 4-ounce fish, and the IGFA Men’s 2‐lb Tippet Class World Records for a 16-lb permit. Nathaniel is a staunch proponent for adhering to IGFA Angling Rules and was instrumental in developing the inaugural IGFA Permit Invitational Tournament.

Stephanie Choate‐Oppenheimer
Stephanie Choate is the daughter of IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame member Tim Choate, and has been an IGFA Representative since 2017. Influenced by her father’s love of fishing, she continues the family’s dedication to the sport by fishing competitively in tournaments around the world. Stephanie has won the Blue Marlin World Cup, the Bermuda Triple Crown, and is the recipient of the IGFA Gil Keech Heavy Tackle Award. She also holds the IGFA Women’s 50-lb Line Class World Record for black marlin with a 1,111-pound fish. In her fishing travels, Stephanie spreads the IGFA’s mission and vision while inspiring younger generations of anglers. Stephanie is also a board member of Wild Oceans ‐‐a nonprofit that collaborates with IGFA to strengthen the ethics of the fishing industry.

“These five individuals are valuable additions to the IGFA Board of Trustees,” said IGFA President Jason Schratwieser. “Each of which bring experience and varied perspectives to the IGFA Board. I am confident they will help us better accomplish the IGFA’s mission for years to come.”

The IGFA Board of Trustees is responsible for setting the goals and policies of the association, and ensuring that its strategies, programs and initiatives fulfill the vision and mission of the organization. Drawn from across the global recreational angling community, the IGFA Board of Trustees includes business leaders and passionate anglers who have materially contributed to the advancement of ethical, conservation-based sport fishing.

To learn more about the current IGFA Board of Trustees, please visit: https://bit.ly/3uaBJdM.

About the IGFA

Founded in 1939, The International Game Fish Association is a nonprofit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making, record keeping and recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the field of angling. The IGFA maintains world records in freshwater, saltwater, fly-fishing and junior angler categories. The IGFA has members in more than 100 countries.

The marine weathere forecast is for north winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25. Seas will be 5-7 feet with snow, rain or sleet. Small craft warnings are up through Friday afternoon.

Tom Fote, of the JCAA. sent along the following:

The first two public hearing webinars for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment will be held this week, on Wednesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 18. Additional hearings will be held on February 24, March 1, and March 2. All hearings will begin at 6:00 p.m. Written comments may also be submitted through March 16, 2021.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) are developing this joint amendment to consider adjusting the allocations of catch or landings between the commercial and recreational fisheries for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The amendment also considers options that would allow a portion of the allowable landings to be transferred between the commercial and recreational sectors each year.

Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Thursday, February 18 -N.J.

Monday, March 1 – Virginia & N.C.

Tuesday, March 2 – CT. & N.Y.

To register for a public hearing please click here: Public Hearing Registration and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. When connecting to audio, we strongly encourage participants to use computer voice over internet (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 1-877-309-2074 and enter access code 128-060-916. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. For technical assistance setting up and logging into GoToWebinar, contact Savannah Lewis at 703-842-0715.

If you are connected only by phone in listen only mode, you will not show up as a webinar attendee. In the event that there are no webinar attendees, the public hearing will be cancelled unless state staff request that the hearing content is presented.

Written Comments

Written comments may be submitted through March 16, 2021 by any of the following methods:

1. ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment

2. EMAIL to kdancy@mafmc.org

3. MAIL or FAX to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

800 North State Street, Suite 201

Dover, DE 19901

FAX: 302.674.5399

Please include “Fluke/Scup/Sea Bass Allocation Amendment� in the subject line if using email or fax, or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.

Tips for Providing Public Comment

We value your input. To be most effective, we request that your comment include specific details as to why you support or oppose a particular alternative. Specifically, please address the following:

• Which proposed alternative(s) do you support, and which do you oppose?
• Why do you support or oppose the alternative(s)?
• Is there any additional information you think should be considered?

Contacts

For additional information and updates, please visit: https://www.mafmc.org/actions/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment. If you have any questions, please contact:

• Kiley Dancy, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, kdancy@mafmc.org, 302-526-5257
• Dustin Colson Leaning, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, dleaning@asmfc.org, 703-842-0714

The weather isn’t getting any better as northeast winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 25 are forecast in the morning along with snow before increasing to 15-20 plus gusts to 30 in the afternoon. Snow or rain will add to the fun.

Fish taging had long ago established the basics of striped bass migratory movements from spawning areas to summering grounds, but it wasn’t until the very recent use of pop-off Gray Fish Tag Research devices that the assumption of basically straight line coastal migration was torn apart.

It just seemed logical that stripers would follow the coast and forage sources such as menhaden all along the way, but that assumption was shattered right away when two post-spawn large Hudson River stripers received satellite tags a couple of years ago which revealed movements out to the edges of canyons that had never been suspected.

Despite the challange of the pandemic, the tagging continued last summer as two stripers over 45 inches were tagged from Chuck Many’s Ty Man off Sandy Hook – and a 46-incher was added from Pollock Rip at Montauk. Though these bass basically headed for Nantucket Shoals, they mostly stayed in federal waters closer to the reach of tuna fishermen than to legal capture by striper anglers. Then the Montauk bass ended up shedding her pop-off tag on Nov. 3 way back in Delaware Bay near Fortescue. The fascinating story is detailed by Jim Hutchinson Jr. in the February editions of The Fisherman magazine.

The marine weather forecast for Wednesday calls for northwest winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30. A switch to northeast and snow follows. Chuck Many should like that for ice fishing such as in the photo he sent:

If catching a giant tuna is in your bucket list, the time to do it is now as the winter run in N.C. provides numerous opportunities. The Canyon Runner isn’t down there this winter, but they are chartering another boat for their customers as per the following release:

Canyon Runner Chartering Again for the 2021 Winter Bluefin Bite which is perennially the best Bluefin Fishing of the Year up and Down the Coast. Like in 2020 – we’ll put you on the very comfortable and fast 55′ Custom Carolina Patriot for the trip of a lifetime with one of our former Canyon Runner Captain Pete Doran. Full day trips from Sun up to Sun down can see multiple giant tuna and on some days over a dozen mediums. So instead of chasing these ghosts when they slide by up north – come down and put the odds in your favor for multiple fish of a lifetime – in one day! Trips start at $2,495 a trip for a full day . We only have 10 dates left in the calendar for this so don’t delay Call ASAP – 732-272-4445 Here are Some Pics from 2020 Including the 55′ Patriot

The forecast is for southeast at 10-15 knots before going west with gusts to 25 by late morning. Rain continues until late afternoon.

Saltwaltwater anglers looking for even a possibility of decent fishing conditions may be able to get by on Washington’s Birthday. Though the forecast is northeast, it’s only for around 10 knots. There is a 50% possibility of freezing rain in the afternoon.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar got out Saturday for blackfish, but there was little life on bottom both inshore and offshore. Just a few shorts and bergalls were caught, but hope springs eternal whenever ocean conditions are suitable.

There was a report on Facebook of good-sized cod being boated not too far offshore off eastern Long Island on the King Cod from Center Moriches (631 605-1404.

Nick Honachefsky has the first showing of his party boat episode Beasties Bottom Fish on the Sportsman Channel at 4:30 p.m.

Anglers have their last chance to bid on valuable fishing tackle and fishing trips of a lifetime during the IGFA International Auction which concludes at 6:30. E-mail Michelle Andersen at mandersen@igfa.org at 6:15 to join the live auction.

The northeast wind continues Sunday with 10-15 knots predicted plus gusts to 25. Washington’s Birthday sounds better with north winds at just 10 knots — though with the possibility of freezing rain.

At least the weather is right for pickerel through the ice as Chuck Many has been proving.