The Backlash: February 2018 Newsletter

February 2018 President's Message

Hello, Fisherpeople!

Since I last spoke with you, Bruce MacLeod and I traveled to Danvers for the ASMFC meeting regarding haddock and codfish. This was a frustrating trip, and sometimes it is easy to see why the fishery is in disarray. I gave an update on this at the last Salties meeting. Most recently, Ken Whiting and I attended a symposium in Rhode Island regarding the Magnusson Stevens Act. One of the things that became very apparent at the symposium was the fact that recreational fishermen are not on any boards up and down the East Coast. You can get your own updates on the fishery by searching for NOAA Fisheries and MA Department of Marine Fisheries.

We are within 30 days of our only fundraiser of our only fundraiser of the year, and we hope to see all of you there. As you know, this year’s Annual Banquet is on March 3 at the Doubletree Inn in Hyannis. You can get an application to attend on our website. If you have anything you would like to donate, like gift certificates you have not used, or new/lightly used fishing gear, you can bring it to the Feb. 28^th meeting or contact me to pick it up.

In the past we have asked all members to bring in a new plug for the plug bucket, which is one of the raffle prizes awarded at the banquet. You can bring plugs in on the 28^th, also. I would like to thank Richard Kelley and George and Joan Ford, who have already donated gift certificates.

The Annual Banquet is our only fundraiser and we need your participation through donations and attendance to make it a success.

Just to give you an example, our lawyer, under the direction of Randall Sherman, has submitted all the paperwork for the Cape Cod Salties Foundation. This will allow us to accept donations and grants for the new updated reef in front of Bass River. This is an unbelievable project for us to be involved in, and events like the Annual Banquet are how we help to fund it.

I hope to see every member at the March 3 banquet for socialization and support of all our events.

The 10^th Annual Yard Sale being run by former Salties president Gary Brown for the benefit of the Cape & Islands Veterans Outreach Center will be held at the Riverway Restaurant on April 21 from 8:30-2:30. All proceeds go to this worthy cause. The Salties will have a table at this event. This is again how we use the money we raise.

Don’t forget about two fishing shows coming up next month!

RISSA/New England Salt Water Fishing Show, Providence, RI, March 9-11
MA Striped Bass Show, Pembroke, MA, March 24-25

In closing, please plan on attending your Annual Banquet on on March 3, and please consider donating something as a raffle prize

Thanks, and hold tight!

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

Club News and Information

February Meeting Speaker

Shanti Sport Fishing - Bass, Blues, Tuna, Shark

Introduce Yourself 360*

This month Introduce Yourself 360* was introduced. After the Pledge of Allegiance everyone introduced themselves to everyone else sitting around them. This is to get people more familiar with your fellow fisher people. You get to know more about people who have the same interests and get enjoyment from the same things that you do.

Cape Cod Salties Sport Fishing Club Foundation

Lots of progress has been made towards getting the foundation 501 3c status.
The Board of Directors recommended Randall Sherman to be the Chairman of the foundation as well as the adoption of the bylaws of the foundation. Motions were brought to the membership for these two issues, they were voted on and unanimously approved.

Interest Groups

The club is still looking at the formation of some special interest groups. This will allow people to interact and even fish with others with their particular interests such as surf fishing, boating, shell fishing etc. So far the club has started a fly fishing/tying group headed up by Bill Cottle, so if you are interested grab Bill at our next meeting. More group formations are just around the corner so come to the meeting and be a part of it.

Environmental Affairs

President Jack Creighton gave his report on the January 24th meeting of New England Coastal Fisheries on Cod and Haddock in Danvers MA. One of the issues was a possible penalty to Massachusetts for going above their Cod quota by way of it being a bycatch of Haddock. One proposed penalty was to close haddock fishing in the month of May, please refer to the survey in Jack's latest email to everyone and select option 1 so we do not loose our haddock fishing during the month of May. CLICK TO TAKE SURVEY
Also stressed the importance of proper resuscitation and release of all species as an improperly released striped bass can take 7 to 10 days to die.

Spring Haddock Trip

Don't forget to sign up early for this trip, it was hugely successful last year and everyone had a great time fishing together. As of the end of the January meeting this trip was already 25% booked. Don't be left on the dock, sign up today!

Dues - Dues - Dues

As the new year starts please remember that your annual membership fee is due so please get it in early as those funds go to so many worthwhile things within the club.
Click here to access the Membership Form.

Annual Banquet - Mark Your Calendars - March 3, 2018

We have the annual banquet coming up in March and to drive up the membership all are encouraged to bring a guest or two who might want to join the Salties. Donations are being solicited for our raffles, which provide additional needed funds for the club. contact President Creighton for additional information.
Click here to access the 2018 Annual Banquet Form.
Also don’t forget the Wives and Sweethearts dinner in April, it might be the last time you see them until the this fishing season comes to a close.

Book Report Suggestion

Jay Walpole suggested members give short book reports on related books that they have read that would be of interest to other Salties.
The same might be done for fish related recipes

January Meeting Speaker

We were supposed to have someone from the Coast Guard come and talk to us about boating safety....BUT, due to the government shut down at this time they were unable to attend. Jay Walpole was however able to find us a fantastic last minute replacement, Brad Morse from Paine Hollow Oyster Co. came in to talk about aquaculture. Brad has a 2 1/2 acre grant to farm oysters. He brought us through how he accomplishes what he does from seeding to harvesting and all the equipment and supplies needed along the way. I challenge you to find anyone more excited and enthusiastic about there full time job than Brad. He explains his work on and in the water as almost spiritual and how he has found his calling after trying many other jobs.