I’ll be honest, I haven’t thought all that much about summer flounder in the past few years, and that’s not just because spring is still a ways away. These aggressive flatfish can be, under the right conditions, quite fun and accommodating.
However, the fact is they have not been that accommodating for me.
Still, once spring returns your best shot at a keeper flounder is on the seaside, or in Virginia’s part of the Chesapeake Bay. In fact, for me these days landing a keeper flounder in the bay is quite rare.
And you might rightly ask: “Where’d they go in the bay?” Don’t ask me. I’d posit the answer is not readily known. Perhaps the scant numbers are due to over harvest. Or a lack of suitable habitat or preferred prey. Or poor water quality, salinity levels askew, or shifting migratory patterns.
If I had to guess it’s likely a combination of all these factors — and maybe a few yet to be determined. All I know is that that in my fishing world there’s scarcity of flatfish, especially in Maryland’s part of the Chesapeake Bay.
Whatever the root causes, summer flounder are in decline, according to fishery managers. And that means a 28% reduction in the recreational harvest of summer flounder is required for 2024-25.
Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission will co-host a virtual-only public hearing from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 1 to get the public’s feedback on proposed cuts to summer flounder anglers in the 2024-25 recreational season.
Overall, the public comment period will run from Sunday through Feb. 8. Written comments can be sent via email to fisheriespubliccomment.dnr@maryland.gov. Additional comments will be recorded during the hearing.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced a variety of summer flounder options. All the jurisdictions in the region must implement the same option. To review the various options, visit: ccamd.org/summer-flounder-regulation-options-shared-feb-1st-meeting/
Poor striper spawn
If you got in on the awesome rockfish bite over the past month or so, good on ya, mate! And my apologies for what I’m about to share, though there’s a good chance you’ve already heard this news.
The 2023 Hudson River young-of-the-year striper survey is near an all-time low, according to the most recent update from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
Fishermen and managers had hoped for (and I suspect some managers may have even banked on) good news coming out of this historic river, particularly given that over the past five years straight Maryland’s juvenile striped bass survey has been an abject failure.
Despite some observed changes to rockfish’s migratory patterns, Maryland’s part of Chesapeake Bay remains the primary nursery for these iconic gamefish.
So, it isn’t clear what exactly is driving these poor spawns. What is known is that like all aquatic animals, stripers require clean water and quality habitat, both of which are in short supply in key parts of the Chesapeake Bay.
Also unknown are impacts from the expanding range of blue catfish and snakeheads, though we suspect these invasive species are having some impact, but to what extent is not definitive.
Mix all of this together and no doubt members of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, who meet next week in Virginia, have tough but necessary decisions to make about striper next steps.
Atop their list is to finalize Draft Addendum II, which is designed to reduce the overall striper removals from fishery by 14.5% to remain on track to rebuild the striped bass population. Later in 2024, the ASMFC Striped Bass Board will receive a stock assessment update and determine what further action is needed to conserve this important fishery.
Absent from the addendum, however, is a reliable path forward to reduce the Chesapeake’s commercial harvest, which accounts for as much as 80% of total commercial harvest in numbers of rockfish. This glaring omission is troublesome to say the least. More fun and games in the fishery policy arena. I’ll be covering the ASMFC meeting so look for an update on outcomes next week.
Calendar
Through Jan. 31: Third split of the regular duck season. Check DNR website for specifics.
Through Jan. 31: Second split of migratory Canada goose season. Two birds per day. Check DNR for specifics.
Through Jan. 21: Third annual Chesapeake Bay Boat Show. Fishing and boating seminars, live music,
kids events. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. Details at: thechesapeakebayboatshow.com.
Feb. 3: Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day. Visit DNR website for details.
Feb. 7: Free State Fly Fishers Monthly Club Meeting. Capt. ‘Walleye Pete’ hosts a Q&A on bay fishing. Come join us for an informative talk and questions and answers. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Davidsonville Family Recreation Center (behind Ford Hall), 3789 Queen Anne Bridge Road.
Feb. 17: Free State Fly Fishers. Mark Bange’s presents “Kayak Fly Fishing in Local Waters.” 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Davidsonville Family Recreation Center (behind Ford Hall), 3789 Queen Anne Bridge Road.