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OBSESSION SPORTFISHING 2006 NEWSLETTER

OUR 16TH YEAR

Fisheries updates

I've done a bit of research and all indications are that when infected stripers leave the Bay and join the coastal stock the disease seems to disappear. There are no indications that handling or eating striped bass caught in Maine is a health risk. Proper cooking of striped bass is recommended however. Regional and state fisheries scientists are watching the issue very closely. If any of you catch a striper with open sores or lesions please contact the fisheries division in the state that the fish was caught. FMI on mycobateriosis visit this site: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/infocus/striped_bass_health.asp




Herring

The lack of herring within our coastal waters is causing high prices and limited supply of this preferred lobster and tuna bait. Because of this there has been an increased use of inshore bait gill nets. Reports of striped bass being caught and killed in these nets are of concern to both recreational fishers and the Maine DMR. (see "Gill Net Regulations" above FMI) There are also indications that the lack of herring in the Gulf of Maine is causing a reduction in the numbers of offshore pelagic species such as tuna and shark. Just another indicator that every fishery has an effect on the en

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Striped Bass Research

Starting this spring Maine's Dept of Marine Resources will be expanding its research of native Kennebec River striped bass by including a radio tagging and monitoring study. This will help locate and identify spawning areas within the Kennebec estuary system and assess the over wintering population of striped bass. This research is similar to an ongoing DMR study of resident shortnose sturgeon in the Kennebec.

Gill Net Regulations

Maine DMR is working on new bait gill net regulations for the New Meadows River in an effort to cut down on striped bass mortality due to entanglements. The new regulations should be in place by late June.

Elvers

The elver (baby American eels) fishery has been expanded this year. There will be 650 fishermen (many with multiple nets) harvesting elvers. This is up from less than 300 fishermen last year. The 650 license cap is a small victory of sorts because the number of licenses could have been much higher without pro

active legislation by Maine DMR to freeze licenses at 2006 levels. As many of you know eels are a major forage species for fish, birds and small animals that live in and along our rivers and impoundment's. There is a good deal of concern about the American eel population at both state and regional levels.



Regional Striped Bass

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will be discussing an amendment to the striped bass management plan over the next several months. Striped bass disease in the Chesapeake Bay, the latest stock assessment and potential opening of the EEZ to recreational and commercial striper harvest will all be discussed. Depending on what comes out of these discussions we may have some real issues to address this fall with striped bass management. Stay tuned...

Striped Bass Mycobacteriosis
Several of you have asked if the disease infecting as many as 60% of the stripers in Chesapeake Bay is a concern here in Maine.