Printer Friendly Version - A Snapshot of the Status of Fish Stocks

Northeast Fisheries Science Center based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in affiliation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conducts trawl surveys to acquire data utilized in stock assessments. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

It seems that our fishing regulations are changing more frequently now than in the past. Science and technology have improved. The methods of assessing stocks, establishing annual catch limits, and using comparisons between catches and overfishing limits all play an important part in regulation decisions. Monitoring and managing our fisheries is an ongoing process. The timing of data being acquired, managed, and disseminated plays a crucial role in effective management.

If there is a sudden spike or fall in a fish stock, indicating its health status may be questionable, whether good or bad, while using an earlier assessment could create a domino effect. When regulations err on the side of caution, they may not reflect the more up-to-date and accurate account. An example might be the latest change(s) in the 2018 black sea bass regulations. By increasing efficiency, as with the use of electronic trip reporting, issues like that can be curtailed in the future.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) just released the latest status of our fisheries report to Congress for 2017. In it, overfishing and overfished stocks are recapped as managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Of the 317 stocks with known status, 287 (91 percent) stocks are not subject to overfishing, while 30 (9 percent) are. Of the 235 stocks with known status, 200 (85 percent) stocks are not overfished, while 35 (15 percent) are. Meanwhile, 44 stocks made the rebuilt list. Winter flounder remains on the Southern New England overfished list.

By contrast, of the 316 stocks with known status in the report to Congress for 2016, 286 (91 percent) stocks are not subject to overfishing, and 30 (9 percent) are. Of the 235 stocks with known status, 197 (84 percent) stocks are not overfished, while 38 (16 percent) are. Meanwhile, 41 stocks made the rebuilt list.

Overfishing refers to a stock that has a harvest rate higher than the rate that produces its Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). Overfished refers to a stock that has a population size that is too low and jeopardizes the stock’s ability to produce its MSY.

NOAA Fisheries, eight regional fisheries management councils, and other partners, are constantly putting forth efforts to maintain healthy fisheries with a focus on rebuilding fish stocks and monitoring those listed as overfished and where overfishing is occurring. As a result, these current lists are at an all-time low.

Slipping through most of the holiday weekend unscathed, Long Island Sound inshore water temperatures edged above the mid-50-degree mark as both day and night air temperatures remained in the comfort zone. Seas were rather calm considering the tidal range hit extremes during the upcoming full moon phase. It boiled down to how one looked at the weather and what was planned.

Striped bass remained in the limelight as the fish to catch and are now showing more signs of reef activity. Fishers have been looking to Six Mile, Faulkner’s Island, Charles, The S’s, Brown’s, and The Beacon as more migrating stripers are entering the Sound and spreading out. Lower tidal rivers and harbors continue to produce good catches on light gear to match the schoolie bite. Using live eels, other natural baits, and an assortment of artificials are resulting in multiple hookups, including a few surprises.

Black sea bass fishers have been anxiously waiting for a break in the weather to be one of the first to successfully hunt the reefs for early humpbacks. This past week gave them that opportunity and, although results were mixed, several limits of these jewels were caught. Simple rigs tipped with squid or clams did the trick, although those who dropped jigs also caught fish. Depending on depths and locations, shorts proved to be unavoidable.

Weakfish runs through the mid-Sound, along the beaches, and into key tidal rivers have kept weakie casters on their toes. Generally, they have been taking worms, bite-sized squid, and bucktails with trailers fished at the lower part of the water column. Right about now, bluefish should be showing up in more numbers, although the cooler water temperatures have had an effect on their migration. The bunker are just ahead of them and have been steadily showing up. A hike of a few more degrees will make a big difference, so keep an eye peeled for the usual bird activity and keep some wire leaders handy.

Fluke action remains fairly flat in the Sound, causing flukers to head to outside waters in hopes of intercepting a doormat. Bottom drifting with big baits will get followers that will follow a rig a lot farther than one would think before making a move. The opposite holds true for winter flounder catches. Limits are being caught much closer to shore in the bays and channels. Sandworms and clams are the best bets here.

As the reefs become more inhabited, schools of porgies begin to congregate for food and protection. It will not be long before scup and other bottom fish, like sea robins, will be caught regularly from shore. For now, heading out to a place like, let’s say, Kimberly Reef, should put porgies in the box.

Fresh water has seen a good uptick in trout catches. Due to recent wicked storms, some of the normally stocked waters have been inaccessible. Hindered by fallen trees, trout scheduled for some waters had to be stocked in others. Lakes and ponds have also seen more activity, but here, it has been mostly due to increase in water temps, vegetation growth, and bait movement. Look for a variety of fish species to be biting on live shiners, natural baits, and artificials.

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy including clam supplies, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Conner McGill (left) caught this colorful sweet water rainbow on an artificial lure while fishing his local waters. Fellow Madison native Jason Gold (right) intercepted this migrating striped bass in Raritan, New Jersey during its northern migration. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan