The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s summer flounder, scup and black sea bass board will recommend summer flounder quotas for next year when they meet from 8 a.m. until noon Wednesday at the Renaissance Philadelphia Hotel, 500 Stevens Dr., Philadelphia.

The science and statistical committee and the monitoring committee have met, and recommended a total allowable catch limit of 19 million pounds. The TAL is 15.77 million pounds this year.

The range that scientists considered in June and July was from 14.91 million pounds to 17.87 million pounds, and a lot will depend Wednesday on whether management officials feel comfortable with a recommendation that is higher.

John DePersenaire, research specialist with the Recreational Fishing Alliance, said the expected increase in quota is encouraging, but he feels the scientists may have to go back to the drawing board in the next couple of years, if the rebuilding goal at the end of 2012 remains fixed.

“The recommendation of 19 million pounds is pretty good for us,” he said.

“The scientists feel we’re right on track with 19 million, but they may have to go back and revisit the time lines and targets again before 2012.”

Jessica Coakley of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council staff, said the recent stock assessment workshop accepted the estimate that the spawning stock biomass was 95.6 million pounds in 2007. The rebuilding target is estimated to be 132.4 million pounds by the end of 2012.

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For three weeks a group of about 15 bottle nosed dolphins have been calling the Shrewsbury River home. Most likely they found their way into the river while chasing food, however there is no clear cut explanation for their reluctance to leave the river and return to the waters of the Atlantic. Speculators are saying they may be afraid of the noise from nearby bridge construction. Whatever the reason while they remain in the river, marine enforcement agencies are warning people to give the mammals a wide berth. Regardless of the type of vessel (including kayaks), there is a 50 yard exclusion zone to protect the animals. Anyone found to be harassing them could face fines of up to $10,000.

Of course we are now making the move to switching to bass/bluefish for the next month or so… For the most part, we will be jigging these fish from the get go, and with some OK reports this past weekend from the few boats that tried for them, we might have a very good month of May!

There are still some fluke till ya puke spots available on the trips that have been posted. I will of course post more as the summer nears.. Also, I will be posting the regular summer open boat schedule in the somewhat near future… For the most part, the FTYP trips give us more time to fish, and will allow us to get to spots that are at more of a distance from Manasquan Inlet; these trips will be 8-10 hours in length and the fare is $100. The regular, local open trips will focus more on local areas, and will be 6 hour trips, with the fare being $80.

There is a possibility of a couple of bass/bluefish open boat trips before we switch over to fluke, so I will keep everyone updated on those if those become available.

The website is updated with all up to date info and pics, so check it out!

SSFFF is a new organization made up of Party and Charter boat owners, Tackle and Bait Store Owners, Tackle Distributors, Bait Wholesalers, and others whose livelihoods are dependent on a healthy and vibrant recreational fishing industry. All of these business owners and professionals realize the importance of an equitable and scientifically accurate management strategy for Summer Flounder. The tremendous economic impact of this one species, Summer Flounder, is reflected in local tackle and bait shops, party and charter boats trips, dockside and over the road fuel sales, hotel/motel accommodations, marinas, as well as shore community restaurants and cafes. We, as participants in the Summer Flounder fishery, know that the summer flounder population is NOT in trouble and that current populations are substantial. We believe that the flounder regulations we now abide by are overly restrictive, and we fully expect that the quota will be even smaller in 2008. We cannot hope to keep this fishery thriving unless we act now as a well-organized group with a common agenda and a comprehensive vision for the future! It is our aim to act now before the certainty of a total fishing ban is put into effect in 2009! For more information on how to join us in the fight to keep this important traditional fishery open and to make your donation today, visit our website at www.ssfff.net.

Barnes made the record-setting catch in the Atlantic Ocean, about one-half mile north of the 4A buoy, which is located north of Rudee Inlet and off Fishermen’s Island, while fishing with Captain Pat Foster aboard the Country Girl, and the boats’ owner, Kenny Finck. The trophy striper hit a red and white Stretch 30, trolled from a Penn rod and reel, spooled with 50-pound test mono of unknown manufacture, according to the Captain. The group had landed and kept a pair of 20-pound class striped bass and released several smaller fish, when the Captain spotted bird activity at a distance. The Captain altered course and sped up to about 5 knots. The mate, Adrian Colapret, was in the process of bringing in the lines when the huge striper hit a rod still in its holder. Barnes grabbed the rod but nothing about the 10-minute fight of the fish prepared the crew for the first site of the striper. “Its head was huge, that was the first thing I noticed,” said Barnes, whose earlier thought was, “it’s just another 40-pounder.” Colapret leadered the fish and a discussion of how much the fish might weigh ensued as it lay on the deck. All agreed the fish had to be over 50 pounds. A quick measurement of the fish and the crew was now thinking they had landed a 60-pounder. It was just 11:00 AM and the group continued to fish for a brief time but decided to head back to Rudee Inlet as they became more curious of the weight of the fish.

Tournament Director Lewis Gillingham viewed the official weigh-in at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center by its weighmaster, John Crowling. “Every fin was perfect, every scale was in place and the fish just glowed. The fish was big from its head to its tail. It didn’t just have a big stomach,” noted Gillingham. In fact, when the taxidermist finished his work days later, a gut analysis revealed the fish’s stomach was empty. “To put this catch in perspective, at 73 pounds, this huge striper is one of only half-a-dozen or less striped bass weighing 70 pounds or more ever documented landed on recreational rod and reel along the entire Atlantic Coast,” added Gillingham.

The 73-pound, record-setting striper measured 52 inches in length and had a girth of 31-1/2 inches. The prior state record of 68 pounds, 1 ounce was caught in the Atlantic Ocean just south of Rudee Inlet by Clay T. Armstrong on March 4, 2006. The current International Game Fish Association (IGFA) All-Tackle World Record striped bass, caught in 1982 by Al Reynolds from the beach at Atlantic City, NJ, stands at 78-1/2 pounds.

Fees for the license are as follows…

·          Resident annual fishing license - $8.50

·          Non-resident annual fishing license - $20.00

·          7-day tourist fishing license - $12.50

·          Charter boat license (vessel hired on a per trip basis) - $150 for Residents/$300 Non-Resident

·          Head boat license (vessel hired on a per person basis) - $300 Resident/$600 Non- Resident

·          Recreational Boat license less than 20’- $40 - Same cost for Residents and Non-Residents.

·          Recreational Boat license longer than 20’- $50 - Same cost for Residents and Non-Residents.