DNR summer Fishing recommendations

[Big Mike]

My local news had the following release from DNR:

Seasonal high water temperatures and low oxygen can cause fish to become sensitive and stressed, with increased mortality during catch-and-release. Larger striped bass – 24 inches or larger – will have the most difficulty with these conditions.


The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recommends that fish be unhooked in the water using a pair of needle-nosed pliers. Anglers should also avoid excessive handling that can damage the fish’s protective layer, and cause skin lesions and sores.

During these hot summer months, the department also encourages anglers not to practice catch-and-release fishing for rockfish after reaching their two-fish limit.

I’m guilty of some days just catch and release fishing, even keepers. With the warmer water I’m going to alter my approach and switch to keeping and going after perch if by some miracle I do get two keepers.

[ronaultmtd]

A lot of my fishing is catch and release, without regard to the size of the catch. That is why I have gone to single replacement hooks on my hard baits and file the barbs off...one great advantage of a single barbless hook is the ability to quickly release fish (including CNRs)...and as long as you do not give the fish any slack and keep constant pressure on the fish they stay hooked...

Using too light gear for the target fish will prolong the fight and end up with stressed fish that will not make it..so having the right rod and reel for the expected fish reduces mortality...

[Slobber Bob]

During these hot summer months, the department also encourages anglers not to practice catch-and-release fishing for rockfish after reaching their two-fish limit.

VA has a closed striper season in the bay during the summer. It makes a lot of sense for this very reason. There are a lot of other fishing opportunities in the summer to take advantage of.

I am fortunate that I live near the ocean and can find just about any species you can think of within a short drive. So stripers hardly even cross my mind in the summer when I have the chance to get out. I realize that is more limiting for others on the western side of the bay, but summer is a great time to try new fish and new places. The stripers will be there in the fall for you when they are fatter and more numerous anyway.

[Mark]

VA has a closed striper season in the bay during the summer. It makes a lot of sense for this very reason...

Thank you for posting.

I didn't know that about VA.

I looked up VA regs on-line and saw that the spring/summer recreational season ended on 15 June. That's for possession, I assume. I saw nothing that said C&R fishing for stripers after 15 June was illegal. Does anyone know if VA forbids C&R then? That would be quite extreme. VA reopens its season on 4 October.

My immediate thought when I saw this regulation was how does the VA DNR placate the charter captains? Does VA not have a large charter boat fishery for stripers like MD? Even if VA allows C&R for stripers after 15 June, I would think the VA charter fleets would not be pleased. Maybe they can offer reds and specks to their clients in lieu of stripers and that's the answer. I've heard anecdotally that MD charter boat anglers typically want to keep their striper limits and that the MD captains are in line with that because it means business for them. They want their customers to be happy.

In my quick look at VA rules, I also saw no mention of circle hooks, which evidently has caused angst among the MD charter fleets and bait anglers here this year. Yet, the requirement to use them is an attempt by MD to reduce C&R mortality. If MD is concerned about that, why would it not go the next step and close the warm water season for possession like VA? The answer must be economics.

There are no easy answers. I suppose some could argue that C&R rather than catching your limit and stopping could lead to higher striper mortality in the long run.

It just seems odd that two states that share a waterway, have vastly different rules for the same fish.

[J.A. Veil]

The concept of banning catch-and release fishing is taken to an extreme in Switzerland. About a decade ago, reports circulated that in Switzerland, it was completely illegal to fish in a catch-and-release manner. This raises some questions about animal cruelty and sustainability. After reading this current Snaggedline thread, I returned to Google to see if I could confirm that. I came across this article that gives a tempered point of view http://expeditom.com/catch-and-release-in-switzerland/. In any case, there is strong pressure in Switzerland to fish until you catch your legal limit, then stop.

I hope that we do not get carried away to that extent here in the Chesapeake Bay region. I personally keep only a few fish each year. If catch-and-release fishing were prohibited here, I might need to take up golf instead.

[ronaultmtd]

Good point John...and think about the costs in economics on boat dealers, marinas, bait and tackle shops, charters, sporting goods stores, ect...if a sizable number of folks drop out of the fishing fraternity and take up other hobbies...

[Cluelessandfly]

Well, if the other hobbies include bait building and fly tying, then hell yeah! haha. I primarily fish freshwater, but even that slows down in the summer outside of panfish. I usually use this and the frigid winter days to restock fly boxes and experiment with new ties. Doesn't quite scratch the fishing itch, but it's like putting on some anti itch lotions...

it's something

[Mark]

Good point John...and think about the costs in economics on boat dealers, marinas, bait and tackle shops, charters, sporting goods stores, ect...if a sizable number of folks drop out of the fishing fraternity and take up other hobbies...

Yes. And most certainly those economic impacts play a role in MD's fisheries management decisions. I still find it curious that the Bay's two neighboring states with similar tidewater occupational histories and presumably similar tidal recreational fishing have different regulations on stripers.

[Slobber Bob]

I don't think anybody is advocating for banning catch and release fishing. That seems a bit extreme in this instance. You can still catch and release stripers in VA in the summer. But I think the fact that you can't keep any right now there certainly lowers the fishing pressure they receive and lessens stress or mortality that may result from being caught in summer water temperatures that can get near the fishes upper range of tolerance.

I think the whole point of DNR's comment was more of a reminder to people to take a second and think whether or not you need to catch and release fish that you could risk unintentionally causing mortality to.

I gather that most of us on this forum have the sense and wherewithal to handle and release fish responsibly.So catch and release all you want - I'm not judging. But summer draws out fishers of all fishing skill levels that might not think twice about this kind of stuff. Every summer we hear the stories and see the pictures of released stripers floating dead down current of the fleet of chummers and what not. Water temperatures are certainly a factor to consider before you head out.