NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology Director Evan Howell reflects on the importance of collaborating on a fresh approach to the recreational fisheries data collection partnership in the United States. Nationally coherent, regionally specific.
The press release goes on to point out that the agency collects recreational fishing data from anglers through its network of surveys. This, along with commercial, observer and biological data, helps with stock assessments and resulting fisheries management advice. Howell claims the aim of all of this is to provide optimal fishing opportunities while balancing the need to protect marine fisheries resources.
The press release goes on to say they need the public’s help in developing a new data-collecting system whereby better information on effort and discards can be known. They made the mistake of giving me an email address where I could send my comments, and that’s is exactly what I did – fisheries.mrip@noaa.gov.
First off, I chastised them for even allowing a report to be published that said only 13 pounds of summer flounder were harvested by head boats in Delaware during 2023. Virginia only harvested 19 pounds of flounder during the same time period.
Delaware has seven head boats that fish Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean on a regular basis, and to even think that seven boats carrying hundreds of people over a fishing season would only catch 13 pounds of flounder is ridiculous. Yet, they published that figure with a straight face.
In my opinion, that mistake alone should had discredited the entire report. Of course, my opinion and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
Then I suggested my idea of an electronic reporting system to record the fishing activity of every saltwater angler with a FIN number. I have mentioned this idea here before, so I won’t bore you again with the details, but I see no reason why this would not work. I have not heard back from Mr. Howell or anyone from his office.
Cape Henlopen fishing pier
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced June 12 that the last 145 feet of the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park will remain closed until structural repairs can be made. In addition, the public will not be able to access certain closed-off sections along the side of the pier and two areas marked as no-standing zones.
The pier has undergone a complete inspection, including a dive team review of the pilings, and the findings indicate the need for repairs to the pilings. The estimated cost is close to $1 million. Once funding has been secured, the estimated time for the repairs is three to six months.
Fishing report
Once again, I struck out. On Monday, I fished the Indian River Inlet at the beginning of the incoming current looking for bluefish. I left there without seeing any sign of life and went up to 3R’s Road. Fished there until about 1:30 p.m. I did have a few bites on my Gulp! bloodworms, but never came tight.
Others have done much better. Blues were caught on Monday on the end of incoming water. Kings were caught from the beach by others on bloodworms. A few keeper flounder were caught in the ocean. Bill Slayer had three bigeye and three yellowfin tuna.
The night shift at the inlet has been catching and releasing big striped bass from the North Jetty on white bucktails with a white worm or Gulp! trailer. Plugs like the SP Minnow have also accounted for some of the stripers.
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Eric Burnley is a Delaware native who has fished and hunted the state from an early age. Since 1978 he has written countless articles about hunting and fishing in Delaware and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast. He has been the regional editor for several publications and was the founding editor of the Mid-Atlantic Fisherman magazine. Eric is the author of three books: Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast, The Ultimate Guide to Striped Bass Fishing and Fishing Saltwater Baits. He and his wife Barbara live near Milton, Delaware. Eric can be reached at Eburnle@aol.com.
