Thank God For Bluefish…

Thank God For Bluefish…

Why We Should Be Focusing On Fish In The Water, Rather Than Extraction While it’s probably not great for business for me to admit it, I’ve gotta be honest, on the striped bass front, it’s been tough going this spring. Lots of small fish around, but those 30-plus inch fish, (I’m talking specifically about the […]

‘Modern Fish Act’… Not Okay

‘Modern Fish Act’… Not Okay

Top photo: Bluefish are managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Supporters of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act try and unify anglers around the bill… But it sure as hell ain’t good for most of “us” Let me start this off by saying things seem pretty dark lately. They always do for me during this time […]

This is What I’m Thankful For

This is What I’m Thankful For

Top photo: Menhaden off Montauk. Credit Captain John McMurray Editor’s note: Captain John McMurray’s piece first appeared on FISSUES.org. We are sharing it today because we believe it reflects what many of us are also thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving. 2017 was a good year, but in the end, it can all go away pretty easily […]

With Menhaden, Industry Arguments Just Don’t Make Sense

With Menhaden, Industry Arguments Just Don’t Make Sense

Next week, will ASMFC heed common sense and on-the-water experience? Top photo: A striper eating bunker Last week, I received a brief release from the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition, titled National Wildlife Federation Revives Menhaden Myths with Latest Petition. The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition describes itself as “a coalition of menhaden fishermen, related businesses, and supporting industries,” […]

On The Disdain For Abundant Fish Stocks

On The Disdain For Abundant Fish Stocks

Editor mocks fly fishermen, light-tackle anglers, and everyone else who benefits from “abundance.” Last week I stumbled across what seemed like a somewhat useful piece from The Fisherman Magazine titled “ALPHABET SOUP: TOP 25 FISHY ACRONYMS.” The intent at first seemed to be to bring some clarity to the mess of words/acronyms regularly used in […]

On Bunker, It’s Time To Show Up

On Bunker, It’s Time To Show Up

Starting next week, ASMFC is holding Menhaden Amendment 3 hearings… and we need to be there. I’m not going to wax this time about how recent aggregations of menhaden have created extraordinary conditions for fishermen targeting striped bass, sharks etc., or all the other life the massive pods have drawn, most notably the whales. It’s […]

No… It’s Not Okay…

No… It’s Not Okay…

Photo: Bluefin Tuna, by Captain John McMurray As we get into the thick of tuna season right now, and plenty of “large-medium” and “giant” class bluefin tuna are being caught by anglers around Cape Cod, and “small mediums” as well as good-sized yellowfin in the New York Bite, I thought it more than appropriate to […]

Thanks New Jersey…

Thanks New Jersey…

Some may be cheering the Secretary of Commerce’s decision to overrule ASMFC on summer flounder, but in the end, Jersey may have really screwed us If you are a regular reader, you likely know the controversy surrounding summer flounder (aka fluke). And I’m guessing you’re probably up to speed on the striped bass situation, too […]