Printer Friendly Version - NOAA Fisheries Sets Sights on Improving Stock Assessments

R/V John Dempsey is Connecticut’s 50-foot research vessel, carrying scientists and crew that performs Long Island Sound trawl surveys at 40 random stations each spring and fall, supporting local and coast-wide fishery management. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

One of the best catches for the crew of the R/V John Dempsey was made during a September 2023 Long Island Sound trawl that netted this Cobia, normally found in warm-temperate to tropical waters. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

NOAA’s newest addition to its fleet of 15 research vessels used to gather data for stock assessments and fisheries management around the country is the Reuben Lasker, a 208.7-foot sophisticated fisheries survey ship. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

A hot topic brought up at almost every fishery management meeting relates to fishing regulations, stock assessments, and surveys. In particular, marine recreational ones draw attention from the everyday casual angler to the die-hard fisher looking for trophy fish - in some cases, any fish - to the for-hire sector trying to earn a living from what appears to be, from their eyes, a dwindling fishery.

Although fishery management concentrates on maintaining healthy fish stocks in total and pays particular attention to regional, coast-wide and state-wide harvest, many anglers question regulations that do not seem to justify catches vs. purported availability. As a result, NOAA Fisheries announces recreational fishing data collection priorities for 2024 as a step toward improving stock assessments.

Stated further, “this plan underscores our continuous commitment to re-evaluate and update our large-scale surveys, as well as strengthen the state-regional-federal data collection partnership. It will guide the collaborative work of the state-regional-federal partnership that develops, improves, and implements a national network of recreational fishing surveys, enhancing the quality and reliability of recreational catch and effort estimates.”

– Conduct a large-scale follow-up study on our Fishing Effort Survey to support potential design modifications in order to improve respondent reporting accuracy and resulting effort estimates.

– Continue working with partners to promote survey consistency and data quality.

– Draft guidance documents for handling survey transitions during modifications and improvements, mitigating the potential disruptions to fisheries management due to survey improvements and updates to historical catch and effort estimates.

– Develop detailed cost estimates for addressing partner needs for data products supporting in-season management, greater precision, and more timely production of catch and effort estimates.

– Continue to prioritize support for partners to assist them in meeting their unique recreational fishing regional data needs, including funding for state-led surveys and other program initiatives.

– Collaborate with Atlantic and Gulf marine fisheries commissions to strengthen the estimate review process and improve coordination.

– Moving forward, blending human collaboration and technical advancements that bring us closer to real time management that will utilize more accurate stock assessments and reporting is an achievable goal. Getting all partners on the same page for the benefit of fish and fishers is a whole different story, with many chapters yet unwritten.

Frigid ice-forming air temperatures gave way to a weak frontal system that passed through the region before moving to the north. Temperatures warmed into the mid-50’s, preceded by rain-filled clouds and some mixed precipitation. The mercury dipped back into the mid-to-high 40’s just prior to another disturbance. An area of low pressure then developed farther south, as it tracked upwards and approached the region, bringing with it variable weather and moderating temperatures generally above the average daily high. Long Island Sound retained light winds, relatively calm seas, and water temperatures ranging from high 30’s to low 40’s.

Ice anglers continued to battle with safe conditions south of I-95 and along the shoreline. The few days of ice forming temperatures brought out fishers and their spuds, tapping their way to trustworthy spots favorable enough to pop a few holes. Some were braver than they should have been, while others found enough thickness to support light loads. Farther to the northwest, northeast, and some points in between, conditions were better, but even then, chancy depending on locations where largemouth and panfish were either flagged or jigged up.

For the most part, though, warmer air temperatures coupled with rain managed to eliminate most of the snow pack south of I-95, covering the New Haven to Old Saybrook area. Days were dreary, damp and wet - hardly ideal and a shame compared to some of those recent bluebird days. Up until then, live shiners were in demand, but that even eased due to weather conditions. Any angler looking to revert back to open water fishing did manage to squeak out some trout, bass, and panfish - even a toothy critter or two. River levels and flows varied that not only affected trout rivers, but also the Atlantic salmon ones. Tucked into the upper tidal rivers, striped bass were feeding, but not overly active and probably enjoying some well-deserved rest during the down time.

The upside to these flippant weather patterns is the time afforded for testing new gear. Super braided lines continuously are being upgraded for strength, flexibility, thinness and casting distance. Major reel manufacturers like Penn and Daiwa look to work on improvements for smoothness, drag enhancements, water resistance, and durability. Fishing rods are getting lighter, packing more punch into their delivery and hook sets, while lure manufacturers keep streamlining and re-designing lures, stretching the envelope of imagination.

Some of these ground-breaking innovations actually take changing fisheries’ habitats into consideration, as well as fishers’ requests. After all changes are considered, do the end results target the fisher, or do they actually enhance catch ability? As technology advances, so do materials, design and innovation - and perhaps, the way people fish. Do the way people fish steer technology, or vice-versa?

New has always been the key word in marketing. Venture to say, each year there appears to be a limited few new products that catch on fire, whether it is a lure design or color, a technological advancement in a fishing rod, reel, line, hook, any number of accessories, or something else. So, get out, explore, and maybe you might be the one who first latched onto this year’s winner. Or just maybe, it might be an old standby that has not seen water for quite some time.

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 the latest gear, flies/fly fishing, rods/reels, clam/crabbing supplies, fishing trips, licenses/permits, and much more, 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 and Authorized Penn Premium Dealer, where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.