Md. anglers must register with feds before fishing

[Rob Snowhite]

check this out:

http://wtop.com/?nid=598&sid=1848624
December 24, 2009 – 5:56am

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – State officials say all Maryland recreational anglers must register with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before fishing in 2010.

The requirement is part of a federal initiative to help ensure the long-term sustainability of America’s fisheries.

Although the survey is focused on saltwater species, some ocean fish travel between salt and fresh waters, so anyone fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries and coastal waters must register.

Anglers must provide their name, birth date, address, telephone number and the regions they plan to fish. Registration information is available online at http://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov.

State officials say they expect to make the annual registration part of the Maryland fishing license application process starting in 2011.

(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

[Bob Riggins]

Well, they are grabbing control of banking, health care, energy and now fishing.

[tyler bruce]

It’s funny that they monitor that while Omega is slaying the menhaden stocks off the coast unregulated. There won’t be any sustainability without the most important baitfish in the bay.

[dave nyberg]

This is ridiculous.  What Tyler said is one of the real problems. Another is certainly pollution.  
I do not see the purpose in this.  I live in Cumberland and fish the bay a couple of times a year with some one that has a boat.  
Omega kills a lot of menhaden, the government should do something about them.

[matt boutet]

It’s not just MD, it’s coastwide, and it’s very much needed.

[john switow]

80% of total Striper mortality is due to sportfishers?

[matt boutet]

80% of total Striper mortality is due to sportfishers?  If you believe that I’ve got a great deal on a piece of property right on the Madison river!   You just said the data on the recreational side is “poor” so where does the claim of 80% come from?   😕
Best,
John

John,

That number comes from the ASMFC (http://www.asmfc.org) – the body responsible for managing the coastwide striper stocks.

[jeff s]

Hi,
We’re from the government and we’re here to help you.
🙂 🙂

Jeff

(edited because something said with tongue firmly planted in cheek sometimes just does not come across that way in print.)

[dave nyberg]

Have a question.  Do these hook disgorgers kill a lot of fish?  I use to go out on charter boats using chum.  Small stripers [rockfish] would be flipped over board via a metal hook disgorger.  On one trip, I remember osprey behing us and other boats picking up stripers.  Must say I was impressed with the size of the fish the birds could pick up.
The fish do see some rough handling.  
Switched to fly rodding over 10 yrs. ago.  I feel this is much better for the fish.  
I find fly fishing to be an addiction.
I do know that the chum was

[regan c. kenyon jr.]

I just fail to understand how recreational angling could impact striper pops more than the decimation of their forage.

[matt boutet]

I just fail to understand how recreational angling could impact striper pops more than the decimation of their forage.  Stop emptying the waters of the shad, menhaden, etc. and the stripers will do well.  Hell, the commercial fishery for stripers might even rebound.  Recreational fishing in oceans will never compare to the industrialized rape of wild fishery populations.

Regan,

You’re right that the industrial fisheries for forage species (specifically menhaden in the bay and herring at sea) are a major factor, as is the incredibly poor water quality in the Chesapeake (in part, also the fault of industrial menhaden fishing), but don’t discount the destructive potential of a few million guys with fishing rods.

[markus ernst]

Big Brother is not just after striper fisherman….Us Waterfowlers have had to register with the (HIP) Harvest Info Program every year.

[J.T. Griffin]

rob, it’s true for Virginia too. Apparently some states are exempt depending on what they require for their own licenses. This year is free to register, but next year it will cost.

Not sure how I feel about this. I visited noaas web site and it is vague on what they are doing. I’m happy to pay my fair share, but if uncle Sam wants me to pay money to tell me the Chesapeake Bay is dying that’s a load of crap. We all know it is, what will the money do to help fix it.

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