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.

The recent virtual meeting of the ASMFC and Mid-Atlantic Council approved New Jersey’s proposal for their fluke season that would open the Friday before Memorial Day (May 28) and make up for the delayed opening at the end of the season to conclude on Sept. 28. There was no change in other regulations for that fishery. It was a shame that there wasn’t a liberalization of regulations last year as the pandemic greatly reduced fishing opportunities for anglers.

Northeast winds return even though they are only 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 early tomorrow — along with sleet or rain.

The NY DEC has granted new state records for bonito and sheepshead as noted in the following release:

DEC ANNOUNCES NEW STATE MARINE FISHING RECORDS FOR BONITO AND SHEEPSHEADFall 2020 Catches at Atlantic Beach Reef and Reynolds Channel Set New Records

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced new state records for Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) and sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) in the marine and coastal district waters of New York. Both catches took place in 2020 and were recently confirmed by DEC as record-breakers. The bonito was caught off of the State’s Atlantic Beach Artificial Reef and the sheepshead was caught in Reynolds Channel.     “From the Atlantic Ocean to coastal bays and tidal rivers, New York’s marine waters offer exceptional saltwater fishing opportunities and I’m excited to congratulate Matthew Kessinger and James Torborg for setting these new State records for bonito and sheepshead,” Commissioner Seggos said. “It is particularly exciting that the record bonito was caught off one of New York’s recently expanded artificial reefs, proving that Governor Cuomo’s investments in improving water quality and enhancing marine habitats are benefiting New York’s fisheries and recreational fishing community.”   Matthew Kessinger of Oceanside reeled in a new marine fishing record for Atlantic bonito off of Atlantic Beach Artificial Reef in November 2020. Just last fall, Atlantic Beach Reef received 16 of a total 75 rail cars donated by Wells Fargo Rail Corporation to New York State as part of Governor Cuomo’s ongoing artificial reef initiative. The impressive catch, weighing a total of 13.45 pounds, exceeded the previous state record of 12.49 pounds set by Angelo Peluso in 2003. Similar to tuna and sharks, Atlantic bonito are largely pelagic species living mostly in the open ocean. These fish migrate to New York’s marine waters during the summer and typically start to swim south through the fall.    James Torborg of Atlantic Beach set a new record for sheepshead. His catch in September 2020 in Reynolds Channel weighed 13.9 pounds and surpasses the previous state record of 13.36 pounds caught in 2016 by Peter Kruczko. There is currently no recreational size and possession limits on bonito and sheepshead, and these fish can be harvested year-round. Kessinger and Torborg submitted details of their record-breaking catches to DEC’s Marine Fishing Records Program. Through this program, anglers submit entries of marine fish that may exceed the current record. Catches must be weighed at an official weigh station on a certified scale. Check out the complete list of New York’s Marine Fishing Records on DEC’s website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7906.html. If an angler thinks their next catch could be a record-breaker, visit DEC’s Marine Fishing Records Program for information about how to submit marine records for certification, or email fw.marine@dec.ny.gov. Visitors to New York’s Artificial Reefs are encouraged to share observations using the Artificial Reef Volunteer Fishing & Diving Survey and check out the Artificial Reefs Interactive Map to learn more about reef site characteristics, materials used, coordinates of individual patch reefs, and the history of deployments. Anglers are reminded to enroll in New York’s no-fee Marine Recreational Fishing Registry before going fishing and check the current Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations in effect.

The marine forecast is for north winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 Friday mornong before diminishing to 5-10 knots in the afternoon, However, the direction will change to the northeast after midnight just in time for the weekend.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar got out Wednesday for a pick of mostly short blackfish and some large bergalls.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is looking into the possibility of making some practical exceptions to its requirement that circle hooks be used with natural baits for striper fishing in order to reduce angling mortality. The states of Maine and Massachusetts were given two year windows to study the effect of using the tube and worm trolling technique .

That method is very popular in New England, and I’ve never heard of a striper swallowing the long tube after hitting the worm on the hook. Using a cirle hook on the tube would be very inefficient in that situation. Surprisingly. New Hampshire and New York voted against that proposal at the recent ASMFC virtual meeting. However, there was a unanimous vote to establish a committee to study the specifics of the circle hook rule. For instance, the natural bait definition means pork rind can’t be used on jigs which are rarely swallowed in any case. The same applies to the use of eelskins and rigged eels. Then there’s the question of incidental striper catches by anglers using bait for other species with J hooks.

Thursday’s forecast is for north winds about 10 knots with light snow and two-foot seas.

A break in winter weather has opened the possibility of blackfishing tomorrow.

The forecast is for northwest 10-15 knot winds which diminish to just 5-10 in the afternoon with 2-3-foot seas.

The Ocean Explorer intends to sail from Belmar, and the Mimi VI has set up a limited trip at 6:30 from Point Pleasant. The Mimi VI trip costs $120 and includes whitelegger crabs for bait. That boat will also sail Friday through Sunday at 6:30 for $90 with only green crabs included. Call 732 370-8019 for reservations.

After becoming another victim of the pandemic, the N.J. Governor’s Cup Surf Fishing Tournament is coming back in 2021 on Sunday, May 23 at Island Beach State Park.

Ric Gross of Point Pleasant got a rare Florida fishing thrill catching a wahoo while sailing aboard Deja Vu from Pompano Beach to 400-foot depths off Deerfield Beach.

Tuesday starts with light south winds before gusting to 20 knots. Snow in the morning may change to rain in the afternoon.