The Cape Cod Canal is one of the most popular, infamous land-based striped bass fishing spots in the Northeast. In total, the stretch runs seven miles of rocky shoreline, ripping currents, and a world of possibilities. The manmade waterway connects Cape Cod Bay to Buzzards Bay.

It’s popularity is obvious for a host of reasons. Most importantly, it’s accessible to non-boaters. The Atlantic striped bass use the canal as a shortcut during their annual migration. As opposed to going around the outside of Cape Cod — a much longer route — stripers save time and energy utilizing the strong currents to move north and south. With depths of up to 50 feet, not fishing from a boat, and tons of spots to choose from, the legendary canal can be an intimidating landscape. We want to help you tackle it. Here are five things you must have to fish the Cape Cod Canal.

Studded Boots for Fishing the Rocks

Let’s start with something that may not seem like an obvious piece of fishing gear, but is paramount when fishing the Cape Cod Canal — a nice set of studded boots. Many people visiting the canal, or the Northeast in general, don’t realize how large the tidal swings are on a daily basis. We are talking about differences from 6 to 12 feet depending on moon phases, time of year, and plenty of other variables. With such large tidal swings, this means that much of the rocky terrain that anglers use to cast and fish from is exposed to water on a daily basis. This exposure makes the terrain in the canal extremely slippery and surprisingly dangerous. Much of the shoreline is littered with rocks that can be as slick as an icicle.

Studded boots, from makers such as Korkers, give you the traction you need to land those big fish and, most importantly, stay safe. The drop-offs in the canal are huge and the current rips are no joke — it’s not a place you want to take a chance. The jetties are tall and looming, so safety is paramount.

Fish Grippers to Handle Striped Bass

Fish grippers are another tool that may slip many anglers’ minds, especially people who are used to fishing from beaches or boats. With the terrain you’ll be fishing from, to be able to safely land a fish, you want a pair of reliable fish grippers. Although it may not seem important, when you go to land that trophy striped bass, you have to climb down to get it. You’re going to be super happy to have those grippers. The grippers will also help you avoid taking a treble to the hand. Many of the baits people commonly use to fish the canal have large trebles. The grippers are vital to avoiding one of those hooks ending up in your hand.

Here are three lures I always have when targeting striped bass and bluefish in the Cape Cod Canal.

A 9-Inch Topwater Spook Lure

When it comest to lures, I want options to cover all parts of the water column. We want to fish the top,
middle and bottom to be successful. To cover the top, you’re going to need to tie on a 9-inch topwater spook. The color is not as important as the length. The striped bass and blues that come into the canal are feeding on three things: green mackerel, bunker or sand eels. Bass typically focus on the larger profile baits. To properly replicate that, you’re going to want a larger spook. Not only will the larger profile help “match the hatch,” it will also allow you to cover greater casting distances.

The Magic Swimmer Swimbait Lure

The Magic Swimmer could be the most prolific canal bait. This one lure has been responsible for more stripers than arguably any other lure in the Cape Cod Canal. It’s a hard plastic swimbait that is attached together by wire, similar to a glide bait. Berkley makes slow sinking and fast sinking variants. My recommendation is to always use the heavier fast sinking option so that you can cover more water.

If you need to retrieve the lure closer to the top, you can hold your rod in a more elevated position and retrieve faster. If you need to go lower in the water column, you can retrieve it slower. The depths in the canal vary, but they average greater than 20 feet. This bait is not meant to get to the bottom. The benefit of this bait is that you can do a straight retrieve against the ripping current. The action really stands out in the current, so stripers and blues love it.

The Savage Gear Sand Eel Lure

The Savage Gear Sand Eel is another icon of the Cape Cod Canal. Use the green mackerel color. This is a swim bait that incorporates a jig. A heavy jighead paired with a sleek, soft plastic paddle tail allows this bait to get to the bottom. With the currents and depths you’ll experience, bouncing bottom can be very hard to do at times in the canal. This swimbait is 5.33 ounces in weight, but you need that weight to get down to the bottom.

What makes this lure so good? Why so specific on color and size? Let’s start with why it’s so good.

The shape of the jighead on this swimbait cuts through current and sinks faster better than other baits. When it hits bottom, it’s meant to hit with the head down and the tail up. This movement replicates what sand eels do. They dig their nose in the sand and a striper typically eats them from the back. If you’ve ever seen striped bass eating sand eels in shallow water, they use their nose to dig them out of the sand and slurp them up. The color and size are important because, although this is meant to work on the bottom and replicate a sand eel, you are replicating green mackerel — another striper favorite in the canal.

Use these three lures at the Cape Cod Canal to catch trophy striped bass and blues. The best times to go vary year to year but traditionally, my favorite time is June and September. In June, the stripers are typically migrating north. In September, you can catch the fall run as they migrate south.

The post Five Must-Haves for Fishing the Cape Cod Canal appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

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On Saturday, May 20, the 12th annual Cheeky Schoolie Tournament presented by Simms, took place on Cape Cod. A pair of anglers combined to catch, photograph, and release 119.5 inches of striped bass to clinch the title, but the big winner was conservation. A check for $30,756 was issued to the conservation groups Keep Fish Wet, Stripers Forever, and the American Saltwater Guide Association at the completion of the event.

Understanding Release Mortality

We were invited up to the Cheeky Schoolie Tournament by our friends at Costa sunglasses. On Friday, before the start of the tourney, we all fished aboard the well-kept Jones Brothers center console piloted by Capt. Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing. In addition to the two members of the Costa team, Hannah Trotter and Joe Gugino, we were joined by Dr. Andy J. Danylchuk, Professor of Fish Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Much of Dr. Danylchuk’s research focused on recreational fisheries. One of his graduate students, Olivia Dinkelacker, is currently studying the effects of catch-and-release fishing on coastal striped bass. As you may know, data on release mortality of striped bass is a little lacking. Dinkelacker, Danylchuk, and others with UMass are collecting valuable info that will hopefully give the angling community better insight into exactly how stripers respond to capture and handling, as well as what happens after they are released.

According to Dinkelacker, the project aims to “identify science-based best practices to effectively reduce impacts of recreational anglers on striped bass stocks. This information will lead to a better outcomes for each striper that’s released.”

The project hopes to gather information on many hundreds of fish by the end of the 2024 striper season in the coastal waters off the Massachusetts. Data about the fish’s response to stress, such as being held out of the water for varying amounts of time, was recorded. Some of these fish were fitted with an accelerometer, which measures short-term movement and behaviors once released. The device is affixed using a small harness, which is attached to spinning rod and reel. Once properly outfitted, the fish is placed back in the water and allowed to swim freely for 20 minutes, reeled back in, and released. The info from the accelerometer is later downloaded and analyzed, which should give a better picture on how striped bass respond to the stress of capture and handling.

At the conclusion of the project, the researchers hope to give anglers the info they need to safely release striped bass in a wide range of conditions. They hope to develop a sort of “decision tree” that lets anglers make an informed choice as to whether or not they can safely take a picture of that fish, or simply unhook it while it’s still in the water.

In addition the science, Danylchuk and his team are doing a survey of striped bass anglers about their perceptions to the state of the fishery. If you fish for striped bass along the Atlantic coast, let Danylchuk’s team hear your opinion via this link.

Record Wins for Conservation

In case you’re unfamiliar, the Cheeky Schoolie Tournament is a one-day, catch-photo-release, fly-fishing-only striped bass tournament with teams of two anglers. The competition is wading-only, so you can forget about using watercraft of any kind—you aren’t even permitted to swim to a distant rock or climb up on a ladder. If you can’t get there on your own two feet, it’s out of bounds. Oh, and you can only fish the areas east of the Cape Cod Canal.

Cheeky partnered with Keep Fish Wet, and uses their principles in the scoring process. Anglers are given a waterproof ruler to measure fish, which may not be removed from the water. The tourney is scored using the culminative length of the biggest four fish captured by the two-angler team. Minimum size is 20 inches, which encourages anglers to return smaller fish to water quickly. Fish must photographed on the ruler in the water, and released as quickly as possible. Photos are sent to the judges.

“We love this event and love how the angling community comes together to celebrate the fish and work together to make the fishery better,” said Ted Upton, CEO of Cheeky Fishing. The tourney took place in some trying conditions, but that didn’t seem to dampen the spirit of the 264 competing teams. The day broke with temperatures in the low forties, and the wind built steadily as the day went on. But despite the tough weather, Upton believes “[T]his was the best Schoolie yet.”

It was a photo finish, with Team P Rex (Rex Messing and Peter Markano) edging out the second-place finisher, Flailing Fly Fisherman (Seth Gilroy and Steve Schaeffer), by only half an inch, with 119.5 and 119 inches of linesiders respectfully. Third place went to Team Schoolie (Marc Savaria and Chuck Scott), with 114 inches of fish.

At the closing ceremony, a check for $30,756 was issued to Keep Fish Wet, Stripers Forever, and the American Saltwater Guide Association. Cheeky is also 1% For The Planet member and has pledged 3 percent of revenue to water-based conservation with the Tip the Water program.

The post Cheeky Schoolie Tournament Big Win for Conservation appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

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Editor’s Note: This is an evolving story. We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.

States have until July 2, 2023 to implement tighter striped bass bag limits. At the May 2, 2023 Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting an emergency measure that would prohibit the harvest of striped bass over 31 inches in length by recreational anglers was passed.

Maine Issues Emergency Regulations

Maine is the first state to implement the new regulations. The Maine Department of Marine Resources issued the following statement on their website:

“For 2023: On May 18, DMR is implementing an emergency rulemaking to adopt a 31-inch maximum size limit in the striped bass recreational fishery. As a result, the slot limit for striped bass in 2023 will be 28-inches to 31-inches. This means striped bass from 28.0-inches to 31.0-inches may be harvested.

“This change is made in response to action taken by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to implement a 31-inch maximum size limit in the recreational fishery. Recreational removals substantially increased in 2022 as the 2015-year class moved into the previous slot limit. This higher level of fishing mortality significantly reduced the probability of rebuilding the striped bass stock by 2029. In order to provide better protection to the 2015-year class in 2023 and support rebuilding by 2029, the Commission implemented a 31-inch maximum size limit in the striped bass recreational fishery where a higher, or no, maximum size limit applies, excluding the Chesapeake Bay trophy fishery. A press release of the Board meeting can be found HERE.”

Overwhelming Passage of New Regulations

The motion was brought forth by Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Dr. Michael Armstrong, and seconded by David V.D. Borden, of Rhode Island. After the votes were tallied, the measure was approved 15 to 1, with the sole nay coming from representatives of New Jersey. The motion exempts the Chesapeake Bay trophy fishery.

The decision gives states less than a month to enact new regulations that would effectively make the striped bass slot size 28 to 31 inches, though the official motion states that they should be put in place as soon as possible. Once enacted, the regulation is to extend for 180 days. It may be extended for another 180 days if such an extension is approved at the October ASMFC meeting.

The commission issued a press release on May 3, outlining the changes: “The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board approved an emergency action to implement a 31-inch maximum size limit for striped bass recreational fisheries, effective immediately for 180 days (through October 28, 2023). This action responds to the unprecedented magnitude of 2022 recreational harvest, which is nearly double that of 2021, and new stock rebuilding projections, which estimate the probability of the spawning stock rebuilding to its biomass target by 2029 drops from 97% under the lower 2021 fishing mortality rate to less than 15% if the higher 2022 fishing mortality rate continues each year.”

Public Input Welcome

The ASMFC is seeking comment through a series of virtual public hearings to take place in the upcoming weeks. From a release issued on May 9: “The Commission will conduct four virtual public hearings via webinar to inform the public about this action and identify next steps for management. A summary of these hearings will be provided to the Board at its next meeting. Additional details on participating in the webinars can be found later in this release. All hearings are open to anyone from any state. If you are planning to attend multiple hearings, staff requests that you provide comments at only one hearing to allow time for all hearing participants to provide comments.”

Dates and Times of the ASMFC Virtual Public Hearings

• Wednesday, May 17 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• Monday, May 22 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• Tuesday, May 23 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• Wednesday, May 31 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Webinar Instructions

To have your voice heard, please follow these instructions provided by the ASMFC:

“For all virtual hearings, please note that in order to comment during virtual webinar hearings you will need to use your computer or download the GoToWebinar app for your phone. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 914.614.3221 and enter access code 424-938-669.

“For all virtual hearings, please click HERE and use the dropdown menu to select the hearing date you plan to attend to register for a public hearing webinar. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, and you can join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone. If you are new to GoToWebinar, you can download the software by (clicking here) or via the App store under GoToWebinar. We recommend you register for the hearing well in advance of the hearing since GoToWebinar will provide you with a link to test your device’s compatibility with the webinar. If you find your device is not compatible in advance of the hearing, please contact the Commission at info@asmfc.org (subject line: GoToWebinar help) and we will try to get you connected. We also strongly encourage participants to use the computer voice over internet protocol (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input at the hearing.

“For more information, please contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at efranke@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.”

Differing Opinions on Rebuilding Striped Bass Stocks

Though everyone is agreement that striped bass stocks need to be protected to ensure the long-term health of the fishery, there are different opinions on the best way to do so.

“The board has signaled they are ready to be very conservative on striped bass management, using emergency action to enact regulations without a plan to implement a mid-year change,” Michael Waine, Atlantic Fisheries Policy Director of the American Sportfishing Association told Salt Water Sportsman. “We know that something has to be done to reduce mortality. ASA is committed to work with industry and conservation groups to reduce mortality through education and messaging.”

Some organizations were pleased with the ruling. In a press release, the American Saltwater Guides Association expressed gratitude for the emergency measures: “The conservation community spoke, and our voice was heard,” said Tony Friedrich, ASGA’s VP and Policy Director. “Fisheries management is a long arduous process. Science informed us that there was little to no chance of rebuilding the stock under the current system. We unified the community with one voice that demanded a better future for the resource and our children. Thanks to every angler, brand, and guide who spoke up and to the conservation-minded Striped Bass Board members who voted for the health of the resource.”

New State Regulations Expected

How and when these new regulations will come about is still up in the air.

When reached for comment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued the following statement to Salt Water Sportsman: “DEC will continue to work cooperatively with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to sustainably manage Atlantic striped bass. Emergency regulations to address the finding of the ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board will be reviewed and implemented in New York State to remain in compliance with ASMFC requirements of the Fishery Management Plan taken on May 2, 2023.”

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection provided Salt Water Sportsman with the following statement: “On May 2nd 2023, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Management Board (Board) voted to take emergency action to implement a one fish at 28 inches to less than 31 inches size slot limit on the recreational striped bass fishery coastwide. States must implement compliant measures by July 2, 2023 or risk being found out-of-compliance. The emergency action will be in place for 180 days but could be extended by the Board. The emergency action will not affect the Striped Bass Bonus Program, which requires a permit to participate.

“Until a new regulation is formally adopted by the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council, the current striped bass regulations remain one fish at 28 inches to less than 38 inches. The public and media outlets will be notified once the new regulation is formally adopted.

“The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council will discuss these regulations during their meeting on May 11, 2023. To attend virtually, please register via https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/marine-council-meetings/.”

Rhode Island is diligently trying to come up with a plan to enact the new regs. Michael Healey, Chief Public Affairs Officer with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management told Salt Water Sportsman, “We are working on this right now. We should hopefully have an update for the angling public by the end of next week.”

The ASA has concerns directly related to the rollout of these measures, with the short timeframe to get the angling community up to speed. “This is a missed opportunity for the ASMFC and the states to come together and form a plan that will accomplish a mid-year regulation change that will actually deliver a conservation benefit,” said Waine. He hopes that the relevant agencies can find a way to get the word out as striped bass seasons are already underway in much of the Atlantic.

The post Emergency Striped Bass Regulations Enacted appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

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Montauk has long been known as “Mecca” for striped bass fishing, but I think that’s about to change. New York’s famed location is going to have to give up the title to its little brother, New Jersey.

Though I am a born and bred homer from the Garden State, I’ve fished and reported on the good days at Montauk, Chappaquiddick and the like. There has been a decided shift in the past 15 years, and now I believe the finest striped bass fishing on the planet exists in the Garden State. Here’s why.

Migration Hot Spot

Jersey is the pipeline for the migration. Like the Garden State Parkway, you have to use it to get to where you need to go. Consider it a virtual rest stop where stripers hang out and feed for months on both ends of the migration.

Forty pounders are caught nearly every day during the spring bass migration in Raritan Bay and its tributaries from late March through early June. Sure, many people’s claim of a “40” are actually 30-ish pound fish. But, you can easily score one of these 30-pound-plus fish without trying on any day out.

Striped bass spawn up the Hudson and Raritan Rivers, and breeding fish enter the bay as they swing around Sandy Hook. Boating anglers in Raritan Bay can easily release 50 to 60 fish on a half day trip. Jigging, plugging, spooning, trolling—all methods produce.

Not only are the fish being caught by boaters in Raritan Bay, but surf anglers are getting in on the action. The area north of the central coast of Barnegat Inlet has been nothing short of biblical as stripers migrate south during the fall. Last fall was like none other along this stretch. Days of 50-plus releases per man were not uncommon, with fish ranging from schoolies of 24 inches up to 50 pounders.

Abundant Bait

Jersey politicians did one thing right: Getting the Omega 3 bunker boats out of state waters. That has allowed a vast biomass of menhaden to proliferate throughout the year in Jersey waters. This draws behemoth bass into the bays, river systems and alongshore to fatten up on omnipresent adult bunker.

Walk up to the beach and black clouds of bait are present in the surf and nearshore from spring through winter. During the fall, massive schools of smaller baits such as peanut bunker, bay anchovies and spearing push out of the backwaters and inundate the surf line. From October through December, sand eels choke the surf waters.

A catch and release striper surf tourney on a small stretch of the Jersey coast last October reported 53 bass from 40 to 52 inches (25 to 52 pounds) released in one day. And that chew lasted for days.

No Commercial Fishing

Correction: Jersey politicians did two things right, outlawing commercial fishing for striped bass in state waters decades ago. Yes, striped bass are migratory. But with no netters scooping up hundreds of bass in a single set day in and day out, Jersey waters act like a protected oasis for bass. They don’t have to avoid wide nets or rumbling boat engines which push them offshore or deter their innate ability to migrate unhindered along the coastline.

Jetty Country

Jersey is certainly not known for structure, but the rock jetties at inlet mouths keeps bass holding tight to the beach. Though beach replenishment initiatives have buried many jetties, those remaining along the northern section of the Jersey coast act as magnets for bass and bait. Stripers pin and corral bunker schools against these structures, creating blitz conditions that last for three to four days at a time.

Residential Striped Bass

In recent years, a massive amount of bass winter over in Jersey’s backwaters. Where New York may be a little too cold, the slightly warmer waters of the Garden State are comfortable enough for them to stay put. These backwater locales are off limits to striper fishermen in NJ in January and February, but when opening day comes on March 1, you can guarantee anglers are thick into 20- to 34-inch class fish right from the get go.

Traditional schools of thought state the bulk of the migration heads northward to New England from June to August. But savvy Jersey bassers who haven’t had their fill of the spring migratory madness will skirt inside the 3-mile line of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), catching 40-pound fish through the heat of the summer months in 70 to 80 feet of water. We’re talking nearly year-round striper fishing in NJ.

Times Are Changing

Is this incredible bass fishing a one-off? Will it last two or three years then disappear? Shake the Magic 8-ball: All signs point to No. This caliber of striper fishing has been happening for 15 years straight now, maybe longer, with occasional lulls. But the past 4 to 5 years has been nothing short of legendary.

The script has been flipped. License plates from Rhode Island and New York now line the Jersey beaches in the fall. It may just be time for Montauk to give up the title belt. You had a good run.

The post Is New Jersey the New Striped Bass Mecca? appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

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Let me be clear.. While I embody a deep love of fishing, the charter fishing business is, well, a business. And in the end, if I don’t make a certain amount of money each year, then I’ll have to get a “real job,” as my parents used to call such a thing when I began my pursuit of a life on the water.

The truth is that, financially anyway, guiding is probably THE dumbest business in the world. Overhead is crazy (and getting progressively worse) and there are so many variables, I can’t begin to describe them here. Yeah, some years I crush it, but most, I’m just tryin’ to squeeze by. The point is that every trip counts, unless you’re a part-timer pretending to be a guide because you think it makes you one of the cool kids.

Thus, when one of my clients calls or texts me the night before a trip and wants to cancel because of a little rain in the forecast, steam starts coming out of my ears.

I have to capitulate and act like it’s OK. I mean, you can’t make people go, and ultimately you want them to book with you again. But I can assure you that it’s not OK! As soon as I hang up the phone, I’m letting loose a barrage of expletives that would burn out your ear hairs. While sometimes I can make a few calls and rebook the open slot, most of the time I can’t. It’s infuriating for a number of reasons.

FOMO

The first and obvious reason is the lost income, particularly when it’s during the heart of the season and I could undoubtedly have booked that day with someone who wasn’t a wuss. In a precarious business like this one, if you really want to make a go of it, you really need to fish every day that it’s doable.

But, while I kinda hate to admit it here, a bigger reason this pisses me off is more about FOMO. That’s “Fear Of Missing Out,” for those unfamiliar with millennial acronyms.

I mean, come on, anyone who’s been fishing for more than a few years understands that overcast/rainy conditions are the best fishing ones. And for a topwater junkie like me, it’s the perfect scenario. When I’m not out on such days, a little piece of my soul dies. Overdramatic? Maybe, but it doesn’t make it untrue.

Seriously, it hurts to not be out on a good day. And if you have chop-busting buddies like mine, they will most certainly turn the knife and let you know that you’ve missed what was “the BEST topwater day of the year,” where there were monster fish crushing topwater plugs on every cast. Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter. You believe it. (Of course, I’m obligated to do the same to them when they miss a day too. This is the way, young ones.)

Um, Rain Gear?

“What the hell? You’ve never heard of that stuff you wear that repels rain and keeps you at least somewhat dry? What? You don’t have any? Well, I have some you can use! And hey, I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I read on the interwebs somewhere that if you do get a little wet, you likely won’t melt.” Which is what I want to say in response. But I can’t. Although, I guess I’m saying it here.

Fishing is an outdoor sport where you’re on the water, exposed to the elements, and ideally enjoying that exposure while being a living active part of your surroundings (i.e. hunting fish). Yeah, you may experience some moderate discomfort as real rain sometimes finds ways through your rain gear, but come on dude, it is part of that experience. An important part. Embrace it! Don’t shy away from it. Full-send!

Seriously, if you’re afraid of a little rain, maybe take up pickleball or some other lame-ass sport that isn’t likely to hurt your delicate disposition.

Lastly, I wanna scream… “Lose my number!” Just kidding. I still really need your business, so please just schedule another date.

Silver Linings and Life Lessons

Yeah, getting cancelled on sucks, although it’s particularly irritating when it’s because of a little rain. But, while I can never get that money back, there is a silver lining. It is my son, who is now 14 years old. Unlike those who cancel because of rain, he actually has a pair, and doesn’t mind a little bit of wet stuff coming from the sky, so he’s just about always down to go whenever someone bails on me.

And usually, because of, rather than in spite of, those rainy overcast conditions, it’s dope fishing! And maybe it’s just me trying to rationalize things, but I often come off the water thinking that I’m glad I didn’t waste a good day on someone who maybe didn’t deserve it (insert no-guts-no-glory, or whatever cheesy cliché might fit here).

He was 7 the first time I took him because of a rain cancellation. And that was an epic day! It was literally raining sideways, but he stuck a 25-pound fat striper on a topwater plug and landed it nearly all by himself. I will never forget it, and my guess is that neither will he. Since then, there have been plenty of other real good days because of such cancellations. And while, yeah, I take a financial hit, it always seems worth it.

Maybe, one day when I’m buried under six feet of dirt he’ll remember me and such days fondly. Or maybe he’ll be telling a psychiatrist about how he had to indulge his crazy-ass dad who took him fishing in the rain all the time. Who knows?

But maybe, just maybe, through all of that, I’ve taught him that being a wussy and being scared of the uncomfortable means that you miss out on some of life’s most extraordinary and precious moments. While I certainly don’t claim to be an expert on life, I do know that this is so freakin’ true, not just in the context of fishing, but with pretty much everything. Life favors the brave. Just not the stupid.

So, hey, what’s the moral of the story? Don’t be scared homie. It’s just a little rain. LFG!!! (That’s “Let’s Freakin’ Go,” for those unfamiliar with millennial acronyms. )

The post Really? You’re Gonna Cancel at the Last Minute Because of a Little Rain? appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

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We were fishing big gear for bluefin tuna—which had shown up relatively close to shore—when one of the rods goes off. A few short, uneventful moments later, and I’m freaking out because we’re looking at the largest striper I’ve ever seen. After a quick measurement and photo, we sent her on her way. A whopping 55-inch fork length, and this thing was fat! Well over the 60-pound mark. 

That was just the beginning. For weeks, from right up on the beach to a few miles out, the largest concentration of 30-plus-pound bass I’ve ever witnessed were crushing plugs along the edges of massive bunker schools. I mean, seriously. We saw more 50-pound-class fish in the space of a few weeks than I’ve seen in the two decades I’ve been running striped bass charters.

By November, as peanut bunker left the estuaries, we became flooded with fish in the 26- to 35-inch range. Raging blitzes became a daily occurrence. 

This was not just happening in my neck of the woods (Western Long Island). It was happening from Montauk to Cape May. Yeah man, October and November were simply the best two months of striped bass fishing that just about all of us had ever seen in decades. 

As I write this in December, it’s still schoolie city out there. Acres of stripers in the 20- to 30-inch range continue to blast peanut bunker schools. It won’t last much longer, but it’s shown no sign of slowing down. 

After nearly a decade of declining striped bass availability along the coast, this fall is reminiscent of the glory days. But has there been a definitive increase in striped bass abundance? Is this going to be the new normal? I think it’s too early to make that assumption. 

Indeed, while the New York-New Jersey area seems to be the epicenter of a “perceived superabundance,” I should acknowledge a perceived lack of fish in the Chesapeake. But it’s clear at this point that striped bass numbers and availability were up (in most cases way up), at least from Maine to Delaware this year. And let’s be clear about something else: Yeah, fall was off the hook, but the spring here was pretty darn good too. And the summer months in Montauk, Rhode Island, the Cape, even all the way up to Maine? Well, most guys will tell ya they’ve been seeing more fish. 

These numbers don’t appear to be a one-year thing. This year was insanely good, but we’ve seen a steady increase over the past few seasons too, particularly in larger, more fecund females. This isn’t anecdotal. According to the latest stock-assessment update, striped bass numbers are indeed increasing. 

But Why? 

While there’s probably no single answer here, there certainly does seem to be a direct correlation to management actions. 

In 2019, after more than a decade of declining numbers, the agency that manages striped bass acknowledged that overfishing had been occurring for quite some time. The stock had become overfished. Instead of “constraining fishing mortality” by raising the size limit, it chose to implement a slot limit. The lower size would stay the same, but you couldn’t keep fish 35 inches or longer. 

A lot of people at the time didn’t like this move, for a lot of reasons, myself included. But it does seem like it’s working. And working well, particularly in regard to the availability of larger fish. 

I mean, really, why else would we be seeing and have access to all these trophy fish in the last few years? While it seems like an explanation that’s just way too simple—and yes, maybe premature—it’s not unreasonable to contend that these big fish are available to us in increasing numbers because they aren’t ending up in someone’s cooler. If you don’t kill big fish, they are still in the water for folks to catch, right? A lot of the larger fish we have been catching have clear signs of being caught before (scarring on and around the jaw). 

But the slot has only been in place for three seasons. Those big fish, particularly the 50s, had to survive for many years without its benefit. The question is, where were those fish before? Were they around and just under a lot more pressure, so we just weren’t seeing them in great numbers? And how do we explain the extraordinary numbers of slot-size fish showing up? 

Read Next: 10 Record-Setting Striped Bass Catches

There are likely a few things in play here, and thus a few assumptions we can make. Without getting too techie, though, the fish that are falling into the slot size right now are likely one of the strong Chesapeake Bay year classes (2011 and 2015) recruiting into the fishery. And those 30s to 50s? Likely other good year classes—2001 and 2003. 

But really, the slot limit’s general effect seems to be that it has worked to reduce fishing mortality overall. It sure does seem like we’re killing fewer fish. According to the stock-assessment update, fishing mortality is down quite a bit from where it was before the slot limit was put into effect. And the stock-­assessment update was clear in its assumption that we’re no longer overfishing. This has been clear on the water. It’s just harder to catch a slot fish than it is to simply catch a fish over 28 inches, particularly with all those larger fish around. 

The logic makes sense. But I’ve been around long enough to know that things can and do change rapidly, sometimes drastically and inexplicably, in the space of a few years. 

And just to throw some more cold water on things, we’ve got to be aware of recruitment problems in the Chesapeake Bay (by far the largest producer of the fish that join the coastal stock). Their juvenile abundance surveys have shown a definitive decline in productivity. While we may be seeing a good number of fish from a few good year classes produced long ago, there doesn’t appear to be much behind them. Although, there’s some evidence indicating the Hudson and Delaware estuaries might be picking up the slack.  

Managers played the slots, and while maybe it’s still to early to tell, given this year’s fall run, maybe they hit the jackpot? 

That would be a good thing—if the bet holds out. 

The post Are Slot Limits Improving Striped Bass Numbers in the Northeast? appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

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It had been a long time since I’d seen it, but this past November I watched a gaff sink solidly into the side of a hefty striped bass on a nearby boat. But apparently those anglers had misjudged the size of the striper, and the over-slot fish was returned to the Atlantic with a gaping hole in it.

This spectacle took place somewhere between the New York Bight and New Jersey coastline. Though the vessel was certainly close enough to read the registration numbers, I don’t recall what port it hailed from. But for anglers sailing out of New Jersey this year, a new state law now prohibits the use of gaffs for striped bass, likely aimed at preventing the “gaff and release” I had witnessed this past fall.

New Jersey Law Forbids the Use of Gaffs by Recreational Striped Bass Anglers

The new law, approved by the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council at its January 5, 2023 meeting, echoes existing policy at the federal level. Last May, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) implemented a couple of provisions under Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) designed to limit release mortality.

The ASMFC includes a prohibition on gaffing striped bass, as well as a section requiring any striped bass that is caught using an unapproved method be returned to the water immediately without unnecessary injury. This means that any stripers caught on a bait rigged on a J-hook must go back.

New Jersey’s new law, N.J.A.C.7:25-18.1, prohibiting any person to gaff or attempt to gaff any striped bass at any time when fishing recreationally, consistent with the Interstate FMP for Atlantic Striped Bass, hasn’t hit the books officially yet, though they are currently in effect. Anglers should look for the rule to be published in the April 3, 2023 New Jersey Register, the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Marine Digest, and on the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife website.

The post New Jersey Bans Gaffs appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

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This fall’s fantastic fishing makes it easy to be optimistic about the state of the striped bass fishery. But the results of 2022’s young of the year, or YOY, surveys give anglers a reason to temper that enthusiasm. There are three surveys of particular note, conducted on the upper Chesapeake, the lower Chesapeake, and the Hudson River. Overall, they show business as usual, though there are some reasons to get excited.

Upper Chesapeake Bay

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources conducts the survey on the upper reaches of the Chesapeake, pulling a 100-foot seine net the same way it has since 1954 to get its samples. The results are presented as an index, with the figure representing the average number of recently hatched striped bass captured in each sample. The results of the 2022 survey was 3.6, which is significantly below the 11.3 average for the life of the survey. Still it was higher than the previous year’s index of 3.2, providing some hope.

Lower Chesapeake Bay

There were no surprises from the study conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in the lower Chesapeake since 1967. This survey also utilizes a 100-foot seine but presents the findings as the mean number of juveniles collected per each haul of the net, which the researchers call the recruitment index. The 2022 value of 7.95 is slightly above the historic average of 7.77 fish per seine haul. It is the tenth consecutive year of average or above-average recruitment in Virginia waters, so the fish seem to be holding their ground there.

Hudson River

The survey conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the Hudson River offered another bright spot, with numbers of juvenile stripers caught in their seine pulls coming in just over the long-term average. This was up somewhat significantly from 2021, but well below the high in 2020. But if the fish from these two year classes, as well as those in the above-average years of 2014, 2015, and 2018, grow well fishing along the New York Bight should only continue to improve.

The post Striped Bass State of the Union appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

It’s that time of year again. The annual young-of-the-year (YOY) striped bass survey handled by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has wrapped up. This survey has been conducted the same way since 1954, and offers a glimpse into the health of the fishery.

During the summer, staff members visit 22 sites, three separate times and use a 100-foot seine net swept two times to collect juvenile fish. While the target is striped bass, they will keep statistics on 58 different species. This type of survey is called an index survey, with the figure representing the average number of recently hatched striped bass captured in each sample. The results show the relative abundance and provide an early indicator of future adult stock recruitment.

Results of Maryland DNR’s YOY Striped Bass Survey

The fact that this survey has been done for so many years and has reasonably good success in predicting the future population of striped bass makes it a valuable tool. This year’s index was 3.6, which is higher than last year’s index of 3.2. The 2021 index was also slightly higher than the previous year, so it is headed in the right direction.

But the average index for the life of the survey is 11.3, which why plenty of folks see this year’s index as a continuing indicator of a population that is in trouble. But through the nearly 70-year history of this survey, the index has come in below the long-term average approximately 63 percent of the time.

This means there are episodic high indexes that have supported striped bass numbers over the years and some of those highs have come from well below-average indexes the previous year. When the conditions are right, the success is substantial.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science Survey Results Also In

The Maryland survey is not the only one conducted in the Chesapeake Bay. Another long-term survey has been conducted by researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) since 1967. This survey happens in the lower reaches of the Bay and is carried out for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). Again a 100-foot seine is used at the selected sites and the number of striped bass is counted for each seine haul.

Unlike the Maryland survey, the VIMS survey uses the mean number rather than the average. The 2022 value of 7.95 is slightly above the historic average of 7.77 fish per seine haul. It is the tenth consecutive year of average or above-average recruitment in Virginia waters.

Is a Rebuilt Striped Bass Stock on the Horizon?

In April 2019, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) got a striped bass benchmark assessment that contained the bad news that the fish were over fished (the stock size was below the threshold) and over fishing was happening (too many fish being removed). This put the wheels in motion for Amendment 7 to the Striped Bass Plan which took two years to complete.

Language in Amendment 7 gives the ASMFC the ability to react quickly, if the rebuilding plan is not meeting its goals. In October 2022, an updated assessment was released. Well, it contained some good news. It indicated that “under current fully-recruited fishing mortality (F=0.14), female [spawning stock biomass] is expected to reach or exceed the [spawning stock biomass] threshold by 2023 with a probability of 70.2%, and exceed or reach the [spawning stock biomass] target by 2025 with a probability of 56.1%.”

What that simply means is striped bass are on target to be rebuilt with a high probability by the plan target date of 2029. That is very positive news. Some of this future success will depend on factors that we cannot control. However, striped bass have recovered from low YOY surveys a number of times in the past. Good management works and Mother Nature can make it work even better.

The post 2022 Striped Bass Young of the Year Survey Results appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

The possible transfer of striped bass quota between states had been on my radar, but I really did not pay enough attention to it. Because of past failed efforts to do this, I felt it would not get much traction. That may not be the case.

My previous coverage of the latest striped bass juvenile indexes and how they fit into the overall health and management of this important species assumed that the existing management measures would remain in place. However, some states want to change that assumption and that change could impact the rebuilding of the stock.

Possible Striped Bass Quota Transfers Between States

Just before Thanksgiving, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission issued Draft Addendum I to Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan. This addendum considers allowing voluntary transfers of striped bass ocean commercial quota between states that have ocean quota. This issue had been set aside during the development of Amendment 7.

While there was not a substantial pushback on this during the Amendment 7 discussions, there was also not a great deal of support for it. Also, when this previously came up in 2014, there was a lot of negative comment received by the ASMFC. Then during consideration of Draft Addendum IV to Amendment 6, the Technical Committee raised concerns that transfers had the potential to increase harvest at a time when harvest reductions were needed because the stock was still rebuilding. So transfers were not considered.

It seems as though the State of Delaware felt that the issue had simply been moved to the parking lot for future discussion. Draft Addendum 1 is the future and the future is now. Since this Addendum is a single issue, it seems to be moving along relatively quickly.

Initially, this Addendum was structured so that Delaware was the only state that might meet all the requirements. In other words, it was a way for them to get more quota without a full re-allocation process. That is no longer the case. It would allow for the voluntary transfer of commercial quota in the ocean region between states that have ocean quota.

Quota would be transferred in pounds, but since there are a wide range of sizes in different states this may not have an equal impact on the fish across all states. These transfers would likely increase the commercial mortality for striped bass, when stability of existing measures is needed.

Make Your Voice Heard on the Striped Bass Fishery

With the current favorable outcome of the Striped Bass Stock assessment released in October, some will push for allowing this kind of transfer. Yes, things are moving in the right direction. But striped bass are still under a rebuilding plan and in order to make that work the target mortality should not be exceeded. In the past, one of the main objections to this kind of transfer was that the stock was under a rebuilding plan. That objection is still true today.

So, what to do? ASMFC is holding hearings all along the East coast. Information on how to participate can be found at this list of public hearings.

Let’s keep it simple. There are 5 options (A, B, C, D, E) being put forward. Option A is status quo or no transfer. That is, IMHO, the preferred option. Another possibility or fallback position is Option E. This would allow some discretion for transfers, but would not allow approval of transfers when the stock is in a rebuilding plan.

Sportfishing’s collective response has made a difference in getting to where we are today with Amendment 7. So we need to be heard again. As they say at Nike, “Just do it.”

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