I Kid You Not, Cod Fishing is Hot

I Kid You Not, Cod Fishing is Hot

Photo: Steve Brustein and Capt. Dave Monti with cod caught at the East Fishing Grounds three miles east of Block Island on No Fluke Charters. Cod fishing is good off the Rhode Island coast. Contraire to what is being experienced in the Gulf of Maine, cod fishing for recreational anglers off Rhode Island has been […]

2-for-1? Sounds Good, But Don’t Take the Bait

2-for-1? Sounds Good, But Don’t Take the Bait

How the Administration’s Actions Could Affect our Fisheries Top Photo: Arizona Aubrey with a Tillamook Bay sturgeon We’ve all been victims of regulation, and when President Trump rolled out his “1 new regulation in, 2 old ones out” executive order, I wasn’t sure that was such a bad idea. But then I got educated. In […]

Will “Steepness” Stymie Opponents of Fluke Regulations?

Will “Steepness” Stymie Opponents of Fluke Regulations?

If there is one constant in mid-Atlantic fisheries management, it is that restrictions on the recreational summer flounder harvest will always be controversial. That is particularly true in 2017, after six years of below-average recruitment—the number of young fish entering the population—has caused the population to decline to just 58% of the target level, forcing […]

At ASMFC, Fluke Wins, Striped Bass Loses

At ASMFC, Fluke Wins, Striped Bass Loses

The Difference Between These Two Species Shows Why We Desperately Need to Keep Federal Law Intact Just back from Alexandria, VA… So while all of this is still fresh in my head, I thought I’d get it down. First, summer flounder (aka fluke): As readers likely know, there’s been lots of controversy here. Because… well, […]

Summer Flounder Testing Our Resolve?

Summer Flounder Testing Our Resolve?

Summer flounder (like these caught on the author’s charter boat) have had a declining spawning biomass for six years. New regulation options aim to reduce harvest limits, putting fish first to rebuild the fishery. It’s post-inauguration and the dust hasn’t settled. In fact, nothing is settled. It’s more like a whirlwind. My greatest fear is […]

Knowable Unknowns of Fishing Catch Data

Knowable Unknowns of Fishing Catch Data

On January 10, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) released their Review of the Marine Recreational Information Program (known as MRIP). The report takes a comprehensive look at how well MRIP is doing in its goal of “modernizing the survey methods to reduce bias, increase efficiency, and build greater trust with the […]