Frustrated anglers might have a three-day season or no season at all in 2020 Washington, D.C. – March 6, 2020 – At the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting this week, NOAA Fisheries announced recreational anglers from North Carolina to Florida could have a three-day 2020 red snapper season but may end up with no season at all. Since 2010, the recreational sector has been allowed to harvest red snapper in South Atlantic federal waters a cumulative total of 37 days despite increasing abundance of fish. Under the current regulatory framework, a recreational South Atlantic red snapper season of three or fewer days is prohibited. Changing that framework requires a rulemaking period which is in its early stages. Over the last decade, anglers have been baffled by NOAA Fisheries’ decision to radically limit public access to red snapper despite the plentiful number of fish they are encountering on the water. In 2018, the South Atlantic red snapper recreational sector Annual Catch Limit (ACL) was set at 29,656 fish. In the same year, NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) estimated that 3,174,288 red snapper were released alive by Florida anglers in the South Atlantic alone. Using the accepted 28.5% recreational discard mortality rate, the number […]
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Courtesy of the Public Works Department and Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and the Association’s Public Works Department work together to implement the fishery management program throughout our lagoon system. That includes fish stocking, salinity testing, electrofishing, juvenile seining, amenity improvements and the installation of lagoon structures for fish habitat. Each year CCA samples 30 lagoons by seining or electro-fishing on alternate years to determine population density and fish size. Sampling this year determined that the fish in nine lagoons (Lagoon 31, 122, 27, 70, 86, 51, 142, 131 and 145) were below average weight and required a better food supply. CCA purchased and stocked over 14,200 small blue gills to help increase largemouth bass and crappie size and improve the fishing experience in those lagoons. To date, CCA’s generous donations have resulted in well over 220,000 fish being stocked in our lagoon system. The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Skidaway Island Chapter is entirely dependent on donations, most of which come from homeowners in The Landings. In addition to managing the fishery program, CCA also produces The Landings Lagoon Guide that identifies which lagoons are freshwater and which are saltwater (brackish). The Guide also includes fishing […]
Call to Action Hold Canadian-Owned Menhaden Harvester Accountable Anglers sign petition to uphold non-compliance finding against company ignoring Chesapeake Bay conservation measures Omega Protein, the sole commercial harvester of East Coast menhaden, has brazenly announced that it knowingly went over its menhaden quota by almost 35 million pounds. The foreign-owned company harvested 67,000 metric tons (147,668,000 pounds) of menhaden from Virginia waters of the Chesapeake Bay and has been unapologetic about its intentions to no longer abide by the harvest cap lawfully set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). For this reason, the ASMFC voted unanimously in October to find the state of Virginia out of compliance with its menhaden fishery management plan. Virginia is the only East Coast state that still allows reduction harvesters in state waters. Commercial harvest of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay has been under intense scrutiny for decades due to its concentrated removals of a critical food source for striped bass and other important sportfish in their primary spawning grounds on the East Coast. Some studies indicate the menhaden fishery could be reducing striped bass populations by as much as 30 percent. Anglers have applauded the ASMFC for its decision to find the […]
October 20th marked the return of the CCA Savannah Crab Tournament to our local waterways. A once anticipated event in our area, this was the first crab tournament CCA Savannah has hosted in over 5 years. Thanks to planning by Savannah Chapter President, Austin Thurlow, the Savannah team revamped the event with all new sponsors and donors. Savannah Bend Marina were our gracious hosts on what started out with ugly weather, but quickly became a beautiful Sunday. Prizes were awarded to the 10 heaviest male crabs per team, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. All junior anglers in attendance were gifted Rising Tide Memberships made possible by a donation from a local angler. All the crabs caught participants, and also by Ben Goldberg, were promptly prepared by Savannah’s 5 star cooking team. All in all, it was great a great start to what will be an annual event once again in the Savannah area.
Red Drum Conservation Studies have shown that using short leader rigs with circles hooks can reduce deep hooking and improve the chances of survival for released red drum. This is especially true when fishing in slow or slack water. To be effective, we recommend the following: • a fixed weight or sinker clip that is not more than six inches from the circle hook; • sinker heavier than 2 ounces; • a barbless circle hook (a hook with the point directed straight back toward the shank, and with the barb either compressed or removed); • when using either braided or monofilament mainline, it is advisable to add a 5 foot leader of heavier 80lb– 100lb monofilament or fluorocarbon between the mainline and terminal rig to minimize abrasion and break offs. • depending on the tides, heavier weights may be required. DNR is offering to send you a couple of these rigs at no charge. Send an email with your address and request Kathy, kathy.knowlton@dnr.ga.gov , to send you the new FISH SMART, RED DRUM RIG.