Status of the striped bass stock has changed considerably as indicated by the 2018 benchmark stock assessment, which projected an overfished and overfishing condition. Important portions of the Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Amendment 7 were open for public comment via a two-hour Zoom webinar hosted by Emilie Franke, Fisheries Management Plan coordinator of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, on March 22.

The key proposed options to be considered were management triggers, recreational release mortality, rebuilding plan, and conservation equivalency. At the conclusion of all public comment periods, final measures will be selected by the Striped Bass Management Board consisting of partner states from Maine through North Carolina, as well as the District of Columbia, Potomac River Fisheries Commission, National Marine Fisheries Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whereby the policy board and commission is projected to approve Amendment 7 in May, ahead of the next expected stock assessment update in October.

The same recreational size and bag limits as Amendment VI will remain in effect, subject to change. There were in-depth discussions on management triggers that included fishing mortality, spawning stock biomass, recruitment, and deferred management action. On seasonal closures, 64 percent of respondents indicated they were in favor of a no-targeting, two-week spawning ground closure, while 59 percent were in favor of a no-harvest spawning area one from January through April. A prohibition on any device other than a non-lethal one drew a favorable 91 percent, while 65 percent were in favor of an incidental catch requirement. Additionally, 82 percent were in favor of using a more conservative approach when addressing low-recruitment assumption, and 87 percent were in favor of the board to vote to change management measures as opposed to the longer addendum process. Finally, when it came to conservation equivalency, 81 percent preferred any of the other options available rather than the board discretion status quo when it came to restrictions and requirements.

Justin Davis, PhD, assistant director of the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Fisheries Division, pointed out that without conservation equivalency, some states adhering to, for example, an 18-percent harvest reduction could conceivably be saddled with more than the required reduction, while others may come away with less than that. He also commented that Connecticut addresses in its existing legislation the prohibition of lethal devices on striped bass such as spears or gaffs.

Although it was not part of the public hearing, under the comment portion of the meeting, TJ Karbowski was permitted to comment on the commercial catch of Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay by Omega Protein. Previously cited, this maker of fish oil pills, in his opinion, is negatively affecting the food chain, thereby adversely affecting striped bass forage along the Atlantic coast and in Long Island Sound and should be further addressed.

In conclusion, it was unanimously agreed that this public hearing was organized, formatted, and conducted well throughout, especially in the way each of the component parts were isolated, discussed, questioned, elicited for responses, and commented upon. Kudos!

On the Water

High pressure continued and then shifted offshore mid-week, when a low-pressure system brought unsettled weather and some rain through early Friday. A series of weak cold fronts and troughs passed by for the weekend, leaving anglers with slightly better weather but gusty 20-knot winds and one- to three-foot seas. Long Island Sound nearshore water temperatures hit 43 degrees, while air temps reached the 50s, dropped into the mid-40s, and then went back again into the mid- to high 50s.

March was trying to go out like a lion, but didn’t quite make it as fishers continued to hit the water. Anxious to wet a line in the salt, fishers were looking to connect with striped bass in tidal rivers and along beaches using mostly hard and soft artificial lures and some baits, where inline circle hooks are the requirement. Others looked to search out the inshore bays and channels for winter flounder in preparation for the start of the season on Friday, April 1.

At the same time, ‘tog pullers are keeping an eye on the Sound’s water temperatures, eager to test the waters for blackfish (tautog) that also opens the spring season on April 1 to a daily creel limit of two fish at a minimum length of 16 inches. An optimal 53-degree water temp is the bite switch, although with the sun and warmer waters of tidal rivers, especially with power plant outflows, that approximate temp will typically hit sooner. Regardless, it is time to swing by and refill those ‘tog jigs lost last season and replenish your winter flounder rigs since their season also opens on April Fools’ Day.

Speaking of April Fools’ Day, that tradition seems to date back centuries—some say when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1582. Others claim that the jokes all began in 1700, when English pranksters took advantage of those who were slow on the switch by playing practical jokes on them as they continued to celebrate the start of the new year during the last week in March through April 1. A popular prank was to place a paper fish on their backs, referring to those unfortunate ones as poisson d’avril (April fish), which supposedly represents a young, easily hooked fish and gullible person. Regardless, April Fools’ Day has been celebrated for centuries by many cultures.

When reviewing March, one will see that trout fishing got into high gear early—reminiscent of April, only without an Opening Day. As word spread and anglers began putting weather aside in favor of wetting a line, it was quickly realized that fish were being caught and that many of the favorite rivers, steams, lakes, ponds, and trout parks were producing quality fish on live and scented baits, as well as hard and soft lures and flies. This trend continues today, however, it does not take long before a known spot becomes heavily fished, creating somewhat of a challenge for any latecomers.

Lakes and ponds are gradually seeing more bass boats working structure, drop-offs, weed lines, and creek beds. Artificials is the name of the game here from spinnerbaits to cranks and jigs, although a good ol’ night crawler can be hard to pass up. Yellow perch, black crappie, pickerel, pike, catfish, and upriver carp are in play as more waters flip and temperatures rise, inviting what promises to be a good pre-spawn season.

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 licenses, 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

captainmorganusa@hotmail.com

captainmorgan-fish.blogspot.com

twitter @captmorgan_usa