The Backlash: April 2019 Newsletter

Cape Cod Salties April 2019 Newsletter

President's Message

April 2019 President’s Message

According to Jay Pavick, our esteemed treasurer, all the bills for the Annual Banquet are cleared, and the net for the night was around $4,700. A special thanks to all the members who participated in many ways, donating their time and products to the success of the event. A special shout out to Richard Schlitz in Bangkok for the rods, reels, and equipment he and his son Marwin donated. To the best of my knowledge, most of the nearly 100 attendees were satisfied with the location and the food, along with the socialization and networking opportunities. I thought it was great to have young people like Ivy Pavick and Cole Regan running around handing out cards to winning bidders. They were a great help! We will come out with a short survey to the attendees on your opinions on location, date, meal, prizes, etc. at a later date.

I know that all of our emails and communications all winter regarding the herring did not make any difference this year, but they should make a difference in the next couple of years. Ed and Lesley Callahan were in Brewster this past week and said you could walk on the herring - there were so many of them. Although we got shut out in our Yarmouth run last year, those of us counting this year have already seen hundreds in the pool.

We have been talking about the striped bass issue for the last several months. It seems like some of the Atlantic seaboard states have finally come to the realization that the striped bass are in trouble, and that their own surveys that say the fish are being overfished are true. I think the Cape Cod Salties and all other sportspeople have to be leaders in teaching by example on the importance of quick release back to the water for the fish we are not keeping. Over the next several weeks, when the schoolie type stripers first appear, it is recommended that single hooks be used so we don’t damage the fish any more than necessary and we can return them to the water as soon as possible. Those who take scales or photos should have your equipment ready so you can take the scale or picture quickly and get the fish back to the water. If the mortality rate for released fish is anywhere near accurate - 8-10 % - it is imperative that we reduce that number considerably, if we truly believe in conservation. And I should say the release is not just for striped bass for all the fish we catch but do not intend to keep. Below you will see a letter written from MA, RI, and VA to address the striped bass issue.

Thanks, and Smile with Amazon!

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

P.S. The 40 people with outstanding dues will receive a final notice in the next few days. Please get your checks in ASAP so we don’t have to remove you from the list. Your membership is important to us.

April 17, 2019

Chairman James S. Gilmore, Jr.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A
Arlington, VA 22201
Dear Chairman Gilmore:
We are writing today to express our serious concerns regarding the current status of Atlantic striped bass, and to request that the Commission take immediate action to prevent further depletion and start rebuilding striped bass stocks. As you know, a recent benchmark stock assessment found that striped bass are overfished and that overfishing is occurring. Even more troubling, new data show that striped bass spawning stock biomass has remained below its critical lower threshold since 2013, and the fishing mortality rate has remained above its upper threshold since 2010. It is evident that status quo management will be inadequate to return the striped bass stock to target levels of biomass and fishing mortality indicative of a healthy fishery.
For those reasons, we believe that it is absolutely necessary for the Commission to adopt a new Addendum to Amendment 6 of the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) no later than its 2019 Annual Meeting in October, with the goal of significantly reducing fishing mortality. We understand that instituting a full suite of conservation and management measures will require a new Amendment to the FMP. However, it is clear that we cannot afford to continue unsustainable levels of fishing while we work though the lengthy Amendment process. Amendment development should begin concurrently with development of an emergency Addendum, and should reject half measures in favor of strong and enforceable actions that firmly place the striped bass stock on the road to recovery.
While we do not prejudge which management tools could most effectively achieve harvest reductions, we agree that all options should be on the table, including measures to shorten fishing seasons, reduce release mortality, and ensure that more of the large female fish that are critical to spawning success remain in the water. Further, we believe that individual states should consider taking immediate measures to reduce fishing mortality in upcoming fishing seasons that occur before a new Addendum is implemented. We urge the Commission to incentivize states to be proactive by signaling that any reductions achieved during that period will be credited toward states’ conservation responsibilities under a new Addendum.
Scientific evidence and what fishermen in our states are seeing on the water tell us that bold action to protect striped bass is long overdue. Rebuilding striped bass stocks and sustaining them at target levels of abundance is incredibly important to fisheries in both of our states. We urge the Commission to implement measures that will reduce striped bass harvests to sustainable levels as quickly as possible.
Sincerely,
Katherine Dykes
Commissioner, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
State of Connecticut
Matthew A. Beaton
Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Matthew J. Strickler
Secretary of Natural Resources
Commonwealth of Virginia

2019 Membership Link

Click here to access Membership Application

Club News and Information

April Meeting Speakers

This month we will have Captain Jim Luce talking about this years tournament and second there is Captain John Martins from Outermost Harbor Marine.

The March Meeting

This month our meeting started with President Jack Creighton leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
There were a few announcements,
1. May 23rd there is Learn to Cast Day at the Nausett Beach in Orleans. This event is with the Orleans Senior Center, and we are looking for members that actually know how to cast to help out with this event.
2. Towards the end of June, beginning of July we have Learn to Fish Day at Smuggler's Beach. This is a great event with Riverview Bait and Tackle for kids and their parents as well. Riverview supplies all the equipment but we would like some volunteers to supply some of the experience and knowledge. This was a great event last year and looked to be the same this year.
3. The In House Derby, in the spirit of conservation this year we will be going strictly by measurement of the fish. So that those that fish "Catch and Release" will be able to enter into the derby as well. Entrance forms for this years derby are on the website. Remember ALL entries go into the raffle for a great prize so please submit all legal fish, you never know what you could win.
4. The Wives and Sweethearts Dinner is coming up soon. This is a chance to do something nice for your significant other before they kiss you goodbye for another great fishing season.
5. The Annual Fluke Trip is coming up soon and availability is limited so act fast and get in your paperwork and check in soon

Vice President Randall Sherman spoke about this years Herring Run Clean-Up. There were a record number of volunteers that showed up this year that made light work of a hard task. Thank you to all involved they did a fantastic job making sure the herring this year can make it. Here is as picture of just some of the people that made this years Clean-up a success.

Below the distinguished Reel Maven award is presented to Ed Burke for his efforts to exemplify the importance of yearly reel maintenance.

Also make sure to get hold of Randall if you can volunteer in the Herring Counting this year, there are a lot of time slots open that need your help to get filled.
Vice President Sherman also announced that 850 mailers went out to like minded people and businesses looking to donate to the Reef Enhancement Project. He has extras of the mailers so grab one from him if you know of anyone that might want to donate to this great cause. There is a lot involved in getting the materials that have been collected out to the reef so donations are crucial. It doesn't matter if it is $5.00 or $5,000.00 every penny counts and gets the foundation closer to its goal.

Lastly were we fortunate to welcome 3 new members to the meeting. Welcome!!!

2019 Annual Banquet

On April 6th we had our Annual Banquet at the Double Tree in Hyannis. A great time was had by all. There was great food, fun and people and the club made a few bucks to continue it's good work into the next year. Here are some of the highlights.....

Patty and Jack Creighton received the Distinguished Member Award for their years of incredible service to the Cape Cod Salties.

We look forward to seeing you all This Wednesday April 24th at the monthly meeting.

Kayak Clean-Up

A new season brings another round of kayak clean ups.
If you are interested in this event please contact email Thomas Planert
fredricplanert@aol.com

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. Still have some time left to get in on this!!!

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
Steve and Betty Misiewicz

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

J Serijan

Gold ($500+)

W Cottle

Platinum ($1000+)

Bass Pro Shops
D Dockery
J Dudac

Riverview Bait and Tackle
R Sherman
D Cavicchi

March Speaker

This month we had Ryan Collins and his coleag Garret of My Fishing Cape Cod. He shared his us his "Calendar for Fishing". He went over month by month the different species to target. He also shared some of his strategies and places to be successful with your fishing all year long.

Club Events

Next Club Meeting is April 24th at 6:30 pm

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