New Emergency Regulations for Hooks, Bait, Striped Bass — May16 through Oct. 12

[mchottie]

With the ever changing rules and regulations of MD DNR, I just received the information below via email directly from MDDNR@public.govdelivery.com

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Fishing and Boating Services

New Emergency Regulations for Hooks, Bait, Striped Bass — May 16 through Oct. 12


The Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee has approved emergency regulations pertaining to hooks, bait and striped bass. The committee has approved these regulations on a temporary basis through Oct. 12, 2018.

Effective May 16, in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries:


Anglers must use circle hooks when live-lining or chumming;
Anglers must use circle hooks or "J" hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait, or when using processed baits; and
The minimum size for striped bass is 19 inches.
Additionally, the department is moving forward with the normal regulation process, which would keep these temporary regulations effective through the 2018 and 2019 fishing seasons.

The department is accepting public comment on these regulatory changes through May 29, 2018, and has also scheduled a hearing, which will be held at 6 p.m. May 17, 2018, at the Annapolis Friends Meeting House located at 351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Appropriate accommodations will be provided upon request.


Please visit our Changes to Fishing Regulations page and click on HOOKS, BAIT, STRIPED BASS for detailed information about the hearing and to submit comments.

[silasvirus82]

New Emergency Regulations for Hooks, Bait, Striped Bass — May16 through Oct. 12

What’s the emergency? Seems like they are lowering the size limit to 19”.

[mchottie]

Everything i've seen until today was 'Proposed' and had not yet been finalized in the legislation. This now confirms the 19" size, and also be careful of hooks if using bait.

[yakscientist]

I'm completely ok with these regulations, but I can see why a lot of people will be angry at how rushed they seem (even though they've been in the works for a while now). Circle hooks while live-lining will save countless fish

[bignose]

I received the same email from the DNR and frankly, I'm very confused. They seem to have reversed a previous reversal of the regulations.

It seems to leave way too much room for selective interpretation and to make consistent implementation and enforcement impossible or at the judgement of the officers.

Circle hooks are now required when live lining or chumming. I'm O.K. with that although the charter captain I work for will have his head explode.

But the second part where circle hooks or "J" hooks can be used when using "fish, crab or processed baits" seems to leave an awful lot of room for interpretation.

Isn't chum or live lining using fish? (I figure a processed bait is something like "Fishbites.")

We use cut crab a lot instead of live lining.
If we are "Perch fishing" using "J" hooks, are the striped bass we "accidentally catch" legal? Probably not, but once again there is not enough specific clarity in the regulations.

The regulations ought to make all bait fishing circle hooks only regardless of species, not just Striped Bass fishing.

They do not mention circle hook size in the new regulation. Prior it had to be at least 1/2" across.

There was a definition of chum somewhere but I couldn't find it on the DNR site.

[Big Mike]

I can understand the reasoning for dropping to 19" (trying to reduce unintended mortality by keeping this size instead of releasing) given how many I caught last year that taunted me at just below 20". This of course presumes that the person is keeping fish and that they will stop fishing after keeping their two fish. Many of us catch and release, which unfortunately in the warmer months does have some level of mortality to the fish. We can help minimize it by fishing with tackle adequate to get the fish to the boat in a reasonable period of time.

I rarely fish with bait and I've gone to all circles if I do. Of course training folks to not set the hook is harder than it seems.

[ronaultmtd]

Yesterday I was using barbless single hooks on all the lures I trolled including XRaps...no hit on the XRap but it was there just in case...knowing I was fishing a barbless hook, it is critical to never allow any slack and keep constant pressure on the fish...I use j hooks on small double bottom rigs, mostly size 6 Carlisle hooks to catch spot for live line fishing the Bay Bridge piling...and when fishing live bait, I always use non-offset circle hooks...and this is a requirement in many of the Gulf States fishing for snapper...catfishing is definitely a circle hook fishery...

[J.A. Veil]

What’s the emergency? Seems like they are lowering the size limit to 19”.

The term "emergency" refers to moving a regulation into place quickly and not following the usual administrative procedures. It has nothing to do with the content of the regulations themselves.

I am confused by this phrase of the regulations: "Anglers must use circle hooks or "J" hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait, or when using processed baits".

First, I am trying to figure out what types of hooks are available other than circle or J hooks. Perhaps this refers to treble or double hooks (although the individual hook components on those devices are J hooks). Second, I am not sure what is meant by "processed baits". Potentially this refers to Gulp baits or Fishbites. For me personally, if use Gulp or Fishbites, it would always be on a circle or J hook anyway.

Since I do not chum or live line, and rarely use bait, I am not particularly concerned about the new requirements. Also I rarely keep rockfish, so the new size limit is irrelevant to me. Those who do practice those fishing styles and like to keep rockfish should become familiar with the new requirements.

[manlystanley]

I can understand the reasoning for dropping to 19" (trying to reduce unintended mortality by keeping this size instead of releasing) given how many I caught last year that taunted me at just below 20". This of course presumes that the person is keeping fish and that they will stop fishing after keeping their two fish. Many of us catch and release, which unfortunately in the warmer months does have some level of mortality to the fish. We can help minimize it by fishing with tackle adequate to get the fish to the boat in a reasonable period of time.

I rarely fish with bait and I've gone to all circles if I do. Of course training folks to not set the hook is harder than it seems.

Big Mike, I'm with you. Last year, I let go 3 times as many RF as I kept. This is good news across the board. IMHO.

June 1st.... Rockfish on the Severn......ready or not here I come.......


Best Regards,
Stan

[ShaunGT]

I think that some use treble hooks when live lining and chumming. I interpreted this as a stop to that. A swallowed treble hook = game over for any rockfish especially in warm water. I can understand the 19” limit except I guarantee you will catch as many 18 3/4 fish this year as you caught 19 3/4 fish last year or 17 3/4 fish in years past.


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[nhunter344]

Of course training folks to not set the hook is harder than it seems.

This made me laugh. I've taught my son from the start not to set the hook, but I swear every time I use circle hooks, the first couple of bites I inevitably try to set the hook. What makes it worse is being told by a 6yr old, "Dad, just let him take it. Don't set the hook.!"

[ronaultmtd]

I remember the first time using circle hooks, we were 50 miles off shore wreck fishing out of Orange Beach Alabama for red snapper...using live croakers at .50$ apiece...the mate looked at me and smiled when I jerked the rod...he said...”that is just an expensive way to feed fish...” people that had zero fishing experience were reeling in red snappers because they listened to the mate explain the process...us old salts had to learn new methods the hard way...

[baitball]

I think that some use treble hooks when live lining and chumming. I interpreted this as a stop to that. A swallowed treble hook = game over for any rockfish especially in warm water. I can understand the 19” limit except I guarantee you will catch as many 18 3/4 fish this year as you caught 19 3/4 fish last year or 17 3/4 fish in years past.


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+1

[Slobber Bob]

How can they make the regulation effective 5/16 when the public comment period for the regulation runs through 5/29?

[bignose]

A little clarification:
I felt that the wording of the regulation was unclear, but according to some of the others I have spoken to:

If you are fishing with ground fish in the water as an attractant, you are "chumming" and required to use a circle hook, as well as if you are live lining a whole bait fish.
I don't know anyone who chums from a kayak, but I am aware that several of us live line near the bridge pilings.

If you are fishing with cut up fish, crab, or "processed" bait (i.e. Fishbites) you may use either a circle hook or a J hook.

I encourage anyone fishing with bait to use circle hooks, if in water where stripers are present. I know many here have switched to single hooks on their hard baits to replace treble hooks, and many who use swimbaits and paddle tails mash the barb down as well.

I will be working on my captain to change his techniques and attitudes!