Throughout late fall and into the winter, I received quite a few emails from readers on various topics and issues related to recreational fishing in the region. To kick off our weekly run for subscribers in 2020, I thought I’d share a few of those letters, the first on a rather popular topic coming from the son of the late, great Ralph Knisell, our long time Delaware Bay field editor here at The Fisherman.
TROPHY STRIPERS
Hi Jim H.,
Throughout the years, like so many others, I dream of catching a fish that would get me into the 50-pound club. I haven’t gotten there yet, but still keep trying. With the new regulations, how can someone “officially” get recorded as having caught a 50-pounder? I would love to be able to send you a picture of me holding a fish similar to the one of my father on the cover of The Fisherman many years ago.
Best regards,
Richard Knisell
Rich, you can still send a photo of that big 50 you catch, just before you release her. To get a proper weight, tape out the length and girth of the fish and try using the formula – Length X Girth X Girth / 800 – for estimating weight. Also, IGFA now has an “All-Tackle Length World Record” that you could shoot for in 2020; for striped bass, that record is currently held by a West Virginia angler who made headlines in January for his 48.04-inch striper caught off Cape Charles, VA. While you may not be able to bring that first 50 home, you can certainly bring the all-tackle length world record back home! -JH
OH CANADA
Jim
I have been a Fisherman magazine subscriber since around 1982. Your article “Oh Canada” in the October 10, 2019 issue really struck home. I have been the fishing the Chesapeake Bay out of Reedville, VA since 1996. That is the Virginia home of Omega Protein.
I fish from my own boat and on a number of charter boats which sail pass the Omega facility on the way out of Virginia’s Great Wicomico River to the Bay. I have watched recreational fishing in the Bay decline severely over these past 23 years, including striped bass, bluefish, grey trout (weakfish) etc. I have observed the Omega airplanes spot menhaden, call out the ships and see them vacuum hundreds of thousands of fish. Many charter captains, local watermen and recreational fishermen in the vicinity believe that the high menhaden catch over the years has significantly contributed to the decline in striped bass, bluefish etc.
The Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries set regulations for Virginia fishing quotas except for the menhaden. That is done by the State assembly who are elected officials and depend on contributions to be elected. Omega does provide jobs in the rural Reedville area and needless to say that is an argument raised whenever a menhaden quota reduction is discussed. I do not know how much recreational anglers donate to election officials or how much businesses do. However, one does wonder why menhaden are managed differently within Virginia government.
Edward Fortunato
Edward, the good news since my column first appeared is the passage of new legislation in Virginia that does precisely as you recommend; it transfers management authority of Atlantic menhaden to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. -JH
