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Herman Harke shows off a hefty rockfish he caught in the Chesapeake Bay. |
W E ASSEMBLED a group for our traditional spring trophy rockfish (striped bass) trip in the Chesapeake Bay recently and had our usual successful outing with captain Ryan Rogers and his well-outfitted Midnight Sun boat.
Eighteen lines, most rigged with 80-pound-test Spiderwire line leaders, were in the water as we trolled Maryland waters just north of the mouth of the Potomac River. The umbrella rigs featuring white and yellow sassy shads and hefty bucktail jigs, set at varying depths and distances from the boat, must have given the appearance of a bountiful morning buffet to any big rockfish traversing the bay either to or from its spawning area.
We boated at least 14 fish on the trip, including several in the 31- to 33-inch range that were quickly returned to the water. The minimum length for keepers this year increased to 33 inches and the fish we released would have gone into the ice chest in year's past.
The increase worked out well for our group, though, as everyone ended up with keeper fish ranging from 36-42 inches. The filets looked great and tasted wonderful.
Rogers said recent news reports about bay rockfish being overwhelmed with mycobacteriosis have impacted the number of anglers charter boats are taking out this year.
Mycobacteriosis is a zoonotic disease that can affect all organs and tissue of the fish in the severest cases, In the worst cases, infected fish sometimes appear emaciated or have scar tissue or lesions on the skin.
The disease is also transmissible to humans and results in a treatable, arthritic-like condition known as "fish handler's disease." Maryland Department of Natural Resources estimates show as much as 60 percent of the fish have some level of the infection with 3- to 5-year-old fish showing the highest incidence.
The fish we caught were all likely between 8 and 11 years old. This is based on a chart developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that provides striped bass age estimates from length or weight measures.
We looked closely at each fish we caught and didn't see any outward evidence of infection on any of them. Rogers said our experience was representative of other parties he has taken out during this year's spring fishing season.
Tips are available for anyone handling rockfish. Basically wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after handling or processing. Only cook fish that appear healthy. For more on this issue, see dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/infocus/striped_bass_health.asp.
On the freshwater world of the striped bass, you can also take advantage of one of the best fisheries in the region at Lake Anna. Fishing with guide Glenn Briggs a couple weeks ago, we boated a couple of nice-looking, healthy striped bass. Good-eating stripers up to 10 pounds are often caught when trolling live bait, or by casting a variety of lures.
The early-morning bite when fish are breaking the surface pursuing baitfish can be very productive. Birds diving on the water usually tip you to marauding stripers.
Deer plan comments soughtThe Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is seeking public comment until June 16 on its "Draft Virginia Deer Management Plan." This plan supercedes the one written in 1999 and is intended to guide management practices through 2015.
In announcing the public comment period, the department said it is important that the process used to develop and revise the plan incorporate both public values (e.g., economic, sociological, and political) and biological considerations.
Included are four goals. These look at general directions for deer populations, deer habitat, deer damage, and deer-related recreation. It then lists strategies and objectives.
The white-tailed deer remains the crown jewel of hunting in the Old Dominion, in terms of popularity and the revenues it brings from license sales. In my view, every deer hunter should examine what is proposed for the next decade.
The draft plan is available at dgif.virginia.gov/draftdeerplan. Readers can review and submit comments online or mail comments to: Deer Management Plan, VDGIF, P. O. Box 996, Verona, VA 24482. For more information, contact Nelson W. Lafon, assistant deer project leader, at nelson.
Email: lafon@dgif.virginia.gov or 540/248-9295.
Lovettsville artist Tim Donovan's depiction of a pair of American black ducks was selected to be the 2006 Virginia State Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp.
Donovan has competed and won in other duck stamp competitions, including Virginia's 2000 and 2001 voluntary duck stamp contest; the Kentucky state duck stamp contest in 2000; and the Ohio state duck stamp in 1998. He recently placed fifth in the 2006 Federal Duck stamp contest.
In its first year of existence last year, 18,879 migratory waterfowl conservation stamps were sold, generating $169,911. Ducks Unlimited manages the state stamp program under contract with DGIF. The new stamp will be available in July, according to the DGIF.
KEN PERROTTE can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia Street, Fredericksburg, Va. 22401, by fax at 540/373-8455 or e-mail
Email: outdoors@freelancestar.com.
