The Backlash: March 2019 Newsletter

Cape Cod Salties March 2019 Newsletter

President's Message

MARCH 2019 President’s Message

DATES TO REMEMBER!

March 22-24: New England Saltwater Fishing Show, sponsored by RISAA
March 27: Salties Monthly Meeting
March 30-31: MA Striped Bass Show
April 6: Salties Annual Banquet/Fundraiser
April 13: Used Tackle Sale at the Riverway Restaurant, with all profits going to our reef project
April 24: Salties Monthly Meeting

I know many of you are adjusting to either getting ready to move back for the summer or just getting back from wintering elsewhere, but we are about 25 people down from our average on the Annual Banquet, so if you intend to go, please send your check ASAP. This is our only fundraiser of the year, and it helps us accomplish so many things.
We are still waiting for dues from 43 of you for 2019. That accounts for $1300 missing from our rent for the hall, our insurance policy, and donations. Please get your checks in for the banquet and for your dues. Many thanks!
Last month we talked about attending meetings for different parts of the fishery, and we had a good turnout at MA Maritime for the striped bass hearing. I have to go on record as saying I am very discouraged that Marine Fishery’s answer to the striped bass situation is circle hooks (which many of us already use) and not being allowed to use gaffs. I witnessed three bass being taken away from fishermen in their boats by great whites, so I understand the intent, but I won’t be discouraged by anyone using a gaff in lieu of reaching down into the water with their hands. I know that using nets is the preferred way, obviously, but many of the bass I saw caught in the canal last year would be hard to get into a net.

The March 11 bulletin from NOAA Fisheries on bluefish specifications noted the following change: “The final 2019 specifications are fundamentally the same as 2018, with only minor adjustments to the final commercial quota and recreational harvest limit to account for most recent full year of recreational catch data (2017), and a 4.0 million lb. of quota transferred from the recreational to the commercial sector rather than 3.5 million lb. in 2018.” I think it’s amazing that a half a million more pounds of bluefish have been taken from recreational fishing and assigned to commercial fishing. No one from NOAA must have realized that bluefish were scarce in Massachusetts last year, for both recreational and commercial fishermen. With the number of bluefish allocated to North Carolina (2,471,746 lb. for commercial), it’s no wonder that so few made it to MA.
In case you have not seen it, black sea bass, probably the most abundant fish we have, will stay the same this year in MA - ’ five fish at 15”.
On local radio yesterday, the announcer spoke about a recent environmental meeting on the Cape, and he was surprised that they did not mention seals as an issue. Many of us have been saying for seven to eight years what the seal issue is doing to the fishery. I just read an article that said a large portion of a seal’s diet is sand eels. I am not a scientist, but if the seals on the outer Cape beaches eat all those eels, there should be no more sand eels on the Cape as we speak. When wild turkeys were first introduced in Western MA in the early 1970’s, I don’t know if they ever thought it would be so successful! I think the seals have caught up to the turkeys in their numbers! I think all Cape Codders, especially fisherpeople, should ask the organizations/caretakers responsible for the Cape’s environment what their long-range plans are for the seals.
Hope to see you at the meeting on March 27 and at the banquet on April 6! Get those dues in! Whenever you get a platform, make your feelings known on the seal issue.

Thanks, and Smile with Amazon!

Jack (jecreighton45@gmail.com, 508 394-2983)

2019 Membership Link

Click here to access Membership Application

Club News and Information

March Meeting Speaker
This month we are lucky to have Ryan Collins of My Fishing Cape Cod. Ryan will be sharing his outlook for the 2019 season as well as a recap on the 2018 season

February's Meeting

     This month our meeting started with President Jack Creighton leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
     President Creighton went on to talk about decline of fish stocks, in particular stiped bass over 34" long. The majority of the keeper sized fish caught on the canal last season were 31"' to 33" long, there was such a shortage of bigger fish that the commercial quota was not met. Even the bluefish seemed to be around in much smaller numbers. The Martha's Vineyard Derby this year had more participants in 2018 then in any previous derby, yet there were fifty percent less bluefish reported.
     One way that we can help is to lead by example. We need to practice proper catch and release procedures and help to educate others to do the same. So the next time you see someone handling a fish that they are going to release in a way that almost ensures that the fish will soon die...help them. Show them a better way. This could be a great first step in helping the fishery. Every little bit helps.

     Lastly we have a couple of other important issue:
1 - Membership Dues, it is March already, if you have not submitted your annual dues please do so. The club counts on those dues to continue the good work and annual donations.
2 - Annual Banquet, The annual banquet is scheduled for April 6th at the Doubletree in Hyannis MA. If you plan to go please get your response in as soon as possible. This is the clubs only fundraiser not to mention it is an opportunity to have a meal and couple of drinks with some truly fantastic people.

Herring Run Clean-Up

Members:

It is time to commit if possible to our annual effort to clean the Yarmouth Long Pond Herring Run. The first proposed Date is Saturday March 23, 2019 starting at 9 A.M. gathering at Swan Pond Village on Forest Rd, in S. Yarmouth. Severe weather date of Sunday March 24, 2019.

If you are available to help and did not already sign up at the February meeting please e mail me your name, email and phone number to rrdscrs@gmail.com .

Members will need either waders or hip boots, iron or clam rake, bush cutters and gloves. I will supply a chain saw or 2.

Many hands make lite work and if we get enough help we could finish in one session.

C. Randall Sherman

VP CC Salties

508 280 8825

rrdscrs@gmail.com

Kayak Clean-Up

A new season brings another round of kayak clean ups.

April's Kayak Clean-up will be April 14th at Gull Pond in Wellfleet.
If you are interested in this event please contact email Thomas Planert
fredricplanert@aol.com

HELP WANTED

One of the local tackle shops that is also a friend to the club is looking for some help,

COME BE PART OF THE TEAM AT SPORTS PORT
FULL OR PART TIME
WORK FLEXIBLE HOURS AND HAVE FUN
CALL... AMY .. 508-775- 3096

CATCH-A-FISH
Louis MacKeil is in his 30th year of giving this course.

Lou MacKeil has extensive knowledge and experience fishing the waters of Cape Cod. As a past president of the Cape Cod Salties, Mr. MacKeil blends theory with practicality. His eight week course will cover such areas as what to catch, where and when! Equipment and gear needed for your type of fishing! Catching devices for the discriminating angler! The effects of wind, tides, weather and moon! Types of bait - when to use what! Boat and shore safety! The classes are held from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays starting April 23rd. If interested in signing up go to www.nausetcommunityed.org for more information.

Cape Cod Salties Foundation News

FOUNDATION NEWS

Nothing new to report this month.

Cape Cod Salties Foundation
2017 - 2019 Foundation Donors

Copper (up to $49)

Dick Kelly
S Israelian

Tackle Sale
John and Maxine Rice
Peter Richenburg

Bronze ($50+)

Harold Nichols
P Geiges

John Sorcenelli

Silver ($100+)

Rick Cain
J Creighton
K M Hibbard
Allen Brook Family

Hook, Line, and Eel Day
Barry Sullivan
Paul and Joanne Simoneau
Rich and Beverly Stec

In Memory of J Branzetti
Peter Geiges
Ed Buke

Brad Chase
Joe Apiscopa
Joe and Barbara Healy

Gold ($500+)

W Cottle

Platinum ($1000+)

Bass Pro Shops
D Dockery
J Dudac

Riverview Bait and Tackle
R Sherman
D Cavicchi

February Speakers

This month we were lucky enough to have two great speakers.
The first speaker was Bruce Brady of the local Coast Guard Auxiliary. He went over all the safety equipment that every boater should have. We all hope that this is equipment that you will never have to use but having this equipment can stop something bad from turning into something tragic. He also went over all the new apps for your smart phones available from the Coast Guard.

These are apps where can do everything from schedule a Coast Guard inspection for your vessel or call for emergency help.

Next up was Abigail Archer who is also known as the "Herring Lady". Abigail went over the current data on the herring stocks as well all the different methods they use for counting and tracking herring in different stages of the runs. She also went over several of the restoration project that have been completed as well as the ones that are planned. It is projects like these that will hopefully help in restoring the herring stock to what they one were.

Club Events

Next Club Meeting is March 27th at 6:30 pm

April 6th is the Annual Banquet at the Doubletree Inn in Hyannis MA.

Click for form and additional information

Salties 2019 Haddock Trip

Capt. John, Plymouth, MA
Sunday, May 5, 2019
(Rain Date May 7)
Leaves dock at 7:00 a.m.!
Cost: $55 Members (limited to 40)
Sorry Sold Out!!!

Click for Haddock Trip Form

Salties Fish Tales

Here are a few of the fish Bruce MacLeod caught on a sunny morning in Florida.