The Fishing Line: Seeing Stripes

Today is ’Leap Day,’ an extra day added during a Leap Year, making the year 366 days long, not 365 days, like a normal year. I’m thinking that means we all get one extra day to fish.
It’s worth repeating here for anyone who didn’t read last week’s column that NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is advising freshwater anglers that a closure of the river herring (alewife and blueback) fishery is currently in effect for the marine waters of the State and a closure of the freshwater migratory herring fishery is also expected. The freshwater fishery closure will not include landlocked herring populations. More information on the herring closure, as well as changes in regulations pertaining to tautog, (and those changes are quite comprehensive) can be found at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2012/herring-tog_regchange.htm on the division’s website.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Horseshoe Crab Board approved Addendum VII. The Addendum allocates the ARM harvest output among four states (New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland) that harvest horseshoe crabs from the Delaware Bay population. The allocations will be implemented for the 2013 fishing season and will be available on the Commission’s website (asmfc.org) under Breaking News.
Teachers take note: Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a science-based program that teaches children about the importance of coldwater conservation through a hands-on approach to learning. Schools receive brook trout eggs in mid-October from the division’s Pequest Trout Hatchery. Students then hatch and raise these trout, monitor water quality, learn fish biology and anatomy, and much more. At the end of the school year, the trout are released into selected approved streams.
Raising trout is a hands-on activity that engages students and helps to connect them to real-life water quality and fish and wildlife issues and problems, and inspires them to seek solutions. Teachers interested in TIC for the 2012-2013 school year should act now. Tanks must be set up and running by the middle of September, which is why schools interested in participating need to start planning now. For more information visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/tic.htm .
U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) filed a Freedom of Information Act request for an Inspector General report on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) illicit purchase and use of a $300,000 luxury fishing boat. The details of his complaint can be found at www.savingseafood.org
SHOUT OUT to Captain Adam Crouthamel, Adam Bomb Charters with a sincere ‘mea culpa’ for any confusion resulting from the captions under last week’s photos in the Fishing Line column. Captain runs Adam Bomb Charters, adambombcharters.com and can be reached at 609-602-6834.
Many other Cape May County captains and charters are accepting reservations, so don’t delay calling to get your dates scheduled.
Send your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. All pictures submitted are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com.