Fishing Line: April 22

I hope everyone made it through our recent storm unscathed. It was another slap in the face for anyone who wanted to get out and practice social distancing while fishing.
Nobody was out on that day, and wisely so. That’s not to say there was no fishing though. Let’s check out what happened over the last week.
I received word that the striper action, when conditions allow, is decent along the bayside. This isn’t surprising, since this is always a nice area when the season starts, and it has already produced, as previously reported, even at this early point in the year.
Almost on cue, I received a report from an angler named Jim Tyrrell. He was out on Easter and made the most of his opportunity.
He reported catching six striped bass while using bloodworms. One of them fell into the proper slot, and he was able to keep a 35-inch, 17-pound fish, adding that this was the smallest of the fish he caught. It’s nice to hear that all the other fish were larger since this would indicate there is a nice population of larger breeders. Let’s hope those indicators are accurate.
A fact to think about if you’re striper fishing involves the hooks you’re using. Since a lot of the fish will be below or above the allowed size, you should try using circle hooks.
The reason behind their use is simple. Due to their design, there will be fewer gut hooks. That occurs when a striper eats your bloodworm or clam offering and swallows it.
If you’re using a “J” hook and it’s set, it tends to become embedded in the stomach. A circle hook will come out of the stomach and is designed to hook into the corner of the fish’s mouth. The resulting hook-up is easier to remove, causes less damage to the fish, and if the fish doesn’t fall into a legal range, it can be released and the mortality rate will be much lower.
Obviously, the fish could survive to breed again and be caught at a later date, when it may fall into the legal category.
Ryan Morse, our local freshwater connection, reported that he was fishing at the Ponderlodge recently. During his day out, he hooked a nice rainbow trout that hit a worm bait. Ryan returned the trout to the water, so it could swim another day. Thanks for the report and picture, Ryan.
Unfortunately, Cape Assist canceled the inaugural 2020 Hope One Striper Surf Fishing Tournament. They hope to have it next spring, but no firm date has been set.
They would like to assure everyone that any sponsorships, entry fees and donations for the silent auction will be returned. If you have questions, call (609) 522-5960.
As the month rolls on, more and more tackle shops are opening up. Most have curbside delivery or a takeout window for your convenience and everyone’s safety. Some are taking phone orders, while others are using Facebook, Instagram or their email.
You should also check with the store of your choice to see what hours they are open. It’s not the usual early morning until early evening hours that we are all used to. Nothing is normal, but that has already been established.
Let’s make the best of what we face now by supporting our local bait and tackle shops, as they navigate their way through these uncertain times.
An email from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council announced that scoping hearings for a black sea bass commercial state allocation amendment will be held on two future dates. If you want to follow along, the dates are May 11, from 2-3:30 p.m., and May 14, from 6-7:30 p.m. To participate in the webinar, visit mafmc.adobeconnect.com/bsb-com-allocation-scoping/.
Audio connection instructions appear upon connecting, or you can call 1 (800) 832-0736 and enter room number 5068871#.
I received another memo, also from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, designed for tilefish anglers. Under proposed regulations published by NOAA Fisheries, private recreational vessels, including for-hire operators using their vessels for non-charter recreational trips, would be required to obtain a federal vessel permit to target or retain golden or blueline tilefish north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. Operators would also be required to submit vessel trip reports (VTR’s) electronically within 24 hours of returning to port for trips where tilefish were targeted or retained.
You can visit mafmc.org and click on the “Latest News” section for more information about the proposed requirements. From there, you can tour the FAQ section concerning Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting.
To learn more about electronic reporting, you can join a webinar April 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., by going to www.mafmc.org/council-events/2020/tilefish-rec-reporting-webinar. To participate (ask questions), you will need to connect your audio via telephone. For other questions, you can contact Matt Seeley, at mseeley@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5262.
Stay safe and sane everyone. If you can get out, remember to maintain your distance.
Tossing out a line is taking on greater importance as these times continue. It is a sign of what we anglers know as normalcy. It’s a stress reliever and a welcome distraction.
Even if it’s only for an hour, enjoy it. Take care, and I’ll see you around.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.