For as long as recreational fishers fished and regulations were in place, there were always moans concerning the restraints on the catch. After all, the primary purpose of protecting our fisheries has been dominated by the reassurance of maintaining an adequate, commercially supplied food source. Commercial and recreational fishing are distinctly different activities that require different management tools. It was not until recently that the strong and unified voice of recreational fishers was heard and more attention was directed to their concerns.

This ultimately led to a better understanding of their fishery, the numbers of fishers actually involved (11 million), and the financial impact they had on the economy. What directed fisheries management was the enactment of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) on April 13, 1976 to promote “optimal exploitation of U.S. coastal fisheries.”

Now, years later, there is a new movement at the forefront to enhance the recreational side of fishing. It is in the form of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act (Modern Fish Act) that was introduced on April 6, 2017 to both the House of Representatives and the Senate to be included within the MSA. It passed the House on July 11 of this year with a unified bipartisan vote and now awaits Senate action. This new bill will give federal managers the tools and data they need to both improve access to federal marine waters and promote conservation of our natural marine resources. If passed, enacted, and administered effectively, it will be a win-win scenario all the way around.

It is time for the Senate to deliberate and act. Soon, the Fisheries Management Act (S. 1520) will come under its gavel. An affirmative vote would modernize recreational fishing. Learn more about this bill and then contact your state senator to state your position. To view S.1520 in its entirety, visit https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s1520/BILLS-115s1520rs.xml.

On the Water

All eyes were on Hurricane Florence in the crosshairs of the mid- and south-Atlantic states. In the north, we experienced some inclement weather from its remnants that dropped buckets of rain, churned the seas with 30-knot winds, and resulted in fog from colder nights meeting the fluctuating Sound’s 74-degree water. Fortunately, the weekend managed to gather a few calm days, before the more unsettling weather.

Calmer days brought out fishers looking for the typical early fall fish. From shore, the snapper blues maintained their aggressive feeding as they chased prey in and out of the harbors and bays on flooding tides. Lures, snapper poppers, and shiners easily managed to catch a daily limit of 10. Harbor blues are cruising the shoreline and some offshore reefs taking bait and lures, while the repeated blitzing of their larger cousins that garner the most attention is finally developing. Top water action has now increased amid more schools of larger bunker. While looking for the birds and the blues, note that weakies are still running, especially in central Sound in and around Madison and Guilford.

Time to catch some over-the-top striped bass as the autumn equinox and the harvest Full Corn Moon approaches. The reefs will become more active, as will the evening surf, and live eels will be the ticket. Look for action to increase at Hatchett’s Reef, Southwest, Faulker’s North Rip, The S’s, Brown’s, and The Beacon.

A mix of bottom fish indigenous to more southern waters continue to enjoy ours. From pufferfish to striped rudder fish, fishers using typical soft baits on light gear are catching a variety of these visitors. Most of the time they are a bycatch of porgy (scup) bangers looking for their limit of porgies. These delectables continue to please with catches amounting to more than a full family meal and have been providing fishers with an outstanding season.

Although weather has impeded running out to the deep water to fish the 100-foot spots, black sea bass fishing remains good. However, not all spots will be as productive as they have been prior to the spawn, so a little bouncing around from spot to spot may be required to locate the honey hole. Squid and clams are still the ticket, although jigs are still productive.

Lately, flukers are not having an easy time of it. Again, it is the deep water (90 feet and more) that has been giving up summer flounder worthy of comment. Working the bottom is key and those fishing deep with peanut bunker, snapper blues, or squid (perhaps teased with a scented bait) have been able to produce double-digit doormats. However, decent fish have been pulled from areas closer to beaches, inshore shoals, and avenues leading to the mouths of tidal rivers.

Here today, gone tomorrow. That is the story with albies and bonito by Tuna Alley, although they have not yet infiltrated central Sound like they did last year. Best advice: Watch for birds and be ready. Hickories are in, white perch are showing in main tidal rivers, and blue crabbing is very good.

Notice

Captain Morgan will be out of the shop from Monday, Sept. 24 to Wednesday, Sept. 26 to attend the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries meetings.

‘Tog Tourney

Captain Morgan’s is now accepting registrations for the ever popular 30th annual Eddie Beauvais Blackfish Tournament that will be held from Saturday, Oct. 13 through Saturday, Oct. 20. Prizes, surprises, and good food to follow at the awards banquet returning to the newly renovated Guilford VFW. Come join in on a fun-filled week!

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy including flies, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Tight Lines,

Captain Morgan

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