The Backlash

January 2016 Newsletter

January 2016 President's Message

Personally, I am glad to see 2015 in the rear-view mirror. I hope everyone had a great holiday, and I hope 2016 brings everyone a super year! Let’s get started and take steps to make this a highly successful year for the Cape Cod Salties:

On January 14 at 4:30 p.m. at the MA Maritime Academy, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will hold a hearing on draft addendum xxvii, regarding sea bass, fluke, and scup. Anyone who fishes these fish should attend to make sure they get a fair shake on the season. For more information, go to asmfc.org. under Draft Addendum 27.

On January 22-24, the Marlboro Fly Fishing Show will be held. Of special note -- all day on the 22nd, our own Joe O’Clair will be tying flies for EZ Body Braid Company. You can check them out at myflies.com. Going along with that theme, our January meeting speaker on the 27th will be Dex Chadsley speaking about fly-fishing.

The New England Fishing and Outdoor Expo will be held in Worcester at the DCU Center on January 29-31.

Our affiliate the RI Surfcasters will be holding their fishing show on Feb. 26-28 in Providence. (I personally think this is the best show on the East Coast.)

On March 12 is our Annual Awards Banquet at the Doubletree Hilton in Hyannis.

On April 2 and 3 is the MA Striped Bass Association’s Annual Sport Fishing Expo in Hanover, MA.

Our Annual Wives and Sweethearts Dinner is on May 14 at the Yarmouth House.

On May 25, we will have our first Fish Supper Meeting of the year. We can talk about the fish we are catching.

If you have not had a chance to get your dues in, please do so at your earliest convenience. Let’s make the membership person’s job easier. In closing, we would like to thank Tony and Barbara Finnerty for donating their Sears 12’ aluminum open boat and Lil’ boat trailer, with two small outboard engines, all of which will be highlighted before the March banquet as one of our special auction items. We also want to thank Jack Ardini of Harwich for donating several rods and reels and boxes of tackle from his father’s collection, also to be shown on these pages for auction at the March banquet. Over the next few months, all the planning for the year will be discussed and implemented, so if you want to be involved, please send me an email and we promise not to refuse anyone’s assistance.Thanks, and hold tight! Jack (jecreighton45@gmail.com, 508 394-2983)P.S. Does anyone know where I got that “hold tight” saying???

Club News and Information

Club Elections Kent Dumont was elected Treasurer of the club and Steve Israelian was re-elected to the Board of Directors. Congratulations to Kent and Steve!

Annual Awards Banquet 2016 will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton Cape Cod on Saturday, March 12. Click here for information and the Banquet form

Wives and Sweethearts Appreciation Dinner 2016 will be held at the Yarmouth House Restaurant (same place as last year). The new date is Friday, May 14. Click here for reservation form and details

2016 In House Derby The latest entry form is available on line..
Click here for 2016 In House Derby form

December Meeting Speaker

Priority Fishing Charter Captain Rick Bellavance

Captain Rick is the current President of the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association and a member of the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council. He sits on several regional advisory boards.

Since Rick's charter boat is based on Rhode Island and the Salties primarily fish Cape Cod, he decided to include several topics, along with fishing, in his presentation. Topics included: Fisheries Management, Climate Change, Data Collection, Striped Bass, and finally a bit about his Charter business. It was informative to hear the names of and functions of the various state agencies, regional commissions, regional councils, and federal agencies. Key Laws were reviewed including the: Magnuson-Stevens Act (the primary governing marine fisheries management in the United States), The Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act (Congressional action in 1984 which is credited for the past recovery of the Striped Bass population allowing for a new limit of 2 bass at a minimum of 28" in 1995), The Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Passed in December 1993. It presents a new and innovative approach to coordinated management of coastal migratory fisheries along the US Atlantic coast) and finally State Regulations were cited. Climate Change highlighted familiar issues to us here on Cape Cod such as ocean warming, sea level rise, and ocean acidity.Being a charter boat captain himself, Rick was able to relate his experiences with new data collection techniques, including the use of software that facilitates the real time recording and upload of trip catch data to appropriate agencies.In conclusion, Rick had an upbeat forecast for the Striped Bass population based on current 'Young of Year' charts. This enthusiastic expectation was not shared by several Salties in the audience; and this triggered a constructive discussion.
Rick closed with an informational plug for his Charter Business on the Priority Too, a 36' Harris Sportfish. His talk was well received.

December Workshop

Education Chairman, Terry Tessein, demonstrated the easy construction of a Plug and Stuff hanger. It is hung in a fishing vehicle's rear window, made from a framed piece of hardware cloth, with added suction cups. Great for hanging plugs and leaders with hooks. Great winter project!

2016 Awards Banquet Plug Bucket Reminder

Remember to contribute your plug donation for the plug bucket, a featured prize at the Awards Banquet. For those who travel to warmer climates during the winter, this is a reminder to participate now. Your help is appreciated.

Salties Talent

Lou MacKeil (not shown at right) is a well known Cape Cod fishing expert and is our Salties Government Affairs Director. Lou teaches a 'Catch a Fish' class periodically each year for those wanting to get started in Salt (and Fresh) Water Fishing. Winter Classes are held at the Nauset Regional Middle School (70 Route 28 in Orleans). The first 2016 class starts Tuesday January 19 and runs weekly for eight weeks. Two field trips are included in the month of May.Contacts:

Nauset Middle School: 508-255-4300

Lou MacKeil: 508-221-2089

For additional Cape Cod Salties talent contacts, see our 'Member-to-Member' page which is selectable from the navigation line in the Newsletter. Click here for a link to the Member-to-Member page

Another Saltie that you can find on our 'Member-to-Member' webpage is Ken Whiting. Besides being

an avid fisherman, Ken is a well known wood carver on Cape Cod. He has won many accolades for his artistry. At left is one of his latest creations.

Club Fishing Events

Salties Fish Tales

Jack Creighton, pictured here, second from left, winner of several awards at this year's Martha's Vineyard Bass and Bluefish Derby. "Holding tight" one of his plaques.

Senior Grand Leader Awards

Madison Alwardt Memorial Award - Shore: