Topsail Angler's Fishing Blog
Fishermen In Support of Heroes
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Fishermen In Support of Heroes, Inc. launched their new website today, www.fishheroes.org. The organization is also known by its acronym, F.I.S.H and is dedicated to honoring and showing appreciation to our military members.
The website was designed to promote and support activities related to honoring our true heroes who serve our country so proudly. It features sections regarding our mission, news, events, donors and of course a gallery with photos and videos. We also will use the site to raise donations and as a central point for recruiting volunteers .
The organization’s primary focus is on Wounded Warriors at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base and Fort Bragg Army Base. As a group of fisherman, we do this by taking these men fishing and building a bond with them, letting them know how much we appreciate the sacrifices they have made for our country. We also purchase gear for their use and provide fishing licenses at no charge.
Fishermen In Support of Heroes, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the state of NC. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to donate or volunteer to help out his worthwhile community effort!
Visit our website or email us for further information; info@fishheroes.org
FISHERMEN TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON
Saturday, January 09, 2010
FISHERMEN TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON
“United We Fish” To Seek Congressional Support On February 24th
In a historic show of solidarity, recreational and commercial fishermen will gather together on the steps of the Capitol on February 24, 2010 from noon until 3 p.m. in an organized demonstration against the unintended negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the federal fisheries law which was revised in January of 2007. Coordinating the march under the flag of United We Fish, rally organizers are hoping to see a large show of force in defense of coastal communities.
“The closures keep coming and it’s good to see the collective fishing communities and industries, both recreational and commercial, calling for scientific based Magnuson reform,” said Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA). “We are all in this together.” Donofrio cited recent closures of amberjack, black sea bass and red snapper fisheries as examples of what he calls a “broken” federal fisheries law.
The groups organized through United We Fish are hoping to prove to legislators just how many American anglers and business owners are truly being impacted by the overly restrictive management requirements created by MSA based on non scientific arbitrary deadlines. According to Bob Zales of the Conservation Cooperative of Gulf Fishermen (CCGF), the time-specific deadlines mandated by MSA coupled with flawed data collection methods are forcing anglers off the water. “We fully support real science based management and the conservation of our marine resources while also being able to sustain recreational and commercial fishing activities, providing locally caught seafood, sustaining small family businesses, and supporting our coastal communities.”
This effort is being coordinated by many organizations and individuals including but not limited to the RFA, CCGF, United Boatmen of New York, United Boatmen of New Jersey, New York Sportfishing Federation, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association and the Fishing Rights Alliance. “Some people have asked ‘why, it’s winter’,” said Donofrio who said he’s gotten the required permits and expects a large crowd in DC on February 24th, regardless of weather. “We can’t let seasons stop the momentum, and if we wait any longer none of us will be fishing. Many members of Congress will be standing shoulder to shoulder with us,” Donofrio said.
Nils Stolpe, a consultant to the commercial fishing industry and columnist for SavingSeafood.org said that over the past three decades since the original Magnuson Act was established, fishermen have been gradually phased out of the fisheries management process, regardless of sector. “The scientists have been put in charge, and as the list of closures and restrictions up above painfully demonstrates, the Act has been turned into a weapon that is now being used against fishermen and fishing communities.”
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) first introduced the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2008 in the 110th Congress to incorporate “limited flexibility” into federal fisheries management. More than 100 fishing groups and industry members from around the country pledged their support for the legislation and the bill’s 19 bipartisan coastal cosponsors, but the bill languished during the volatile economic climate in advance of the presidential elections in November of 2008.
Realizing that fisheries closures would continue without congressional intervention, in March of this year, Rep. Pallone and fellow Representatives John Adler (D-NJ), Henry Brown, Jr. (R-SC), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), Barney Frank (D-MA), Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-NC), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Frank LoBiondo (D-NJ), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) and John Tierney (D-MA), reintroduced the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009 (HR 1584). Twenty-five total co-sponsors have since pledged support to date including Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Timothy Bishop (D-NY), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Peter King (R-NY), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Jo Bonner (R-AL), John Mica (R-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Clifford Stearns (R-FL), Donna Christensen (D-VI), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Ander Crenshaw (R-FL).
New York’s Senator Schumer is as concerned about his fishing constituents as he is about the fish, just as Congressmen Pallone, Frank, Jones, LoBiondo, Kennedy, Adler and others in the House of Representatives are,” said Stolpe. “Hence they have formed the nucleus of a growing movement in Congress that, in spite of the editorial opinion of the New York Times and the expenditure of many millions of dollars by the Pew Charitable Trusts, is aimed at preserving recreational and commercial fishing, the lifestyles of millions of fishermen, and the tens of thousands of businesses and hundreds of fishing communities that they support,” Stolpe added.
Following a letter-writing campaign by the RFA-NY and members of the New York Sportfishing Federation, senior Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York announced his Senate version of the bill (S.1255). Currently, the Senate bill to correct the flaws in MSA has no co-sponsors, which is something United We Fish organizers are hoping will change in February.
Organizers from within the recreational fishing sector are hoping to get commitment from all user groups and across varied state and regional boundaries. “This is much bigger than any one state issue or individual grievance,” said RFA’s Managing Director Jim Hutchinson, Jr. “Whether it’s our restrictive fluke fishery in New York, the arbitrary closure of state waters for our anglers in California, or the shutdown of red snapper and amberjack down south, our community has been divided by preservationist tactics for too long. It’s time to unite the clans in defense of our coastal heritage and traditions,” Hutchinson said.
“We need to let Congress and NOAA know that we are the collective voice of the recreational fishing community and the collective voice does not accept the current broken management system which wreaks such havoc on all of us and our businesses,” said Donofrio, adding “The goal on February 24th will be to get all of our congressional friends to attend.”
“At this point Senator Schumer and his Congressional colleagues in the House deserve the thanks and the support of every one of us who fishes, whether for fun or profit,” said Stolpe.
Bluewater Candy Team Wins the SKA Nationals!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
My good friend and owner of Bluewater Candy Lures here in Hampstead is beaming from ear to ear today. He and his team members Rick Croson and Russell Weaver, won first place in the SKA National Championship for their division (class of 23’). Quiet a feat considering the level of competition at this event.
The SKA National Championship tournament uses a two fish aggregate and is fished over a two day period. The BWC weighed in a 46.75 pound fish and a 44.54 pounder! The team took second place in 2007 but did not make the leader board last year, so that made this victory even sweeter.
NC and Hamstead was well represented in the nationals this year as they are in most years. Another team from Hampstead, Randell Eden’s team (East Coast Sports) took 3rd place in that division. They took first place last year. Both the Bluewater Candy team and Randall’s team fish out of Onslow Bay 23T boats which are made right here in Hampstead, NC by Brad Knight. Way to go guys!
The BIG news of the tournament was Brant McMullen’s team from the Ocean Isle Fishing Center (Ocean Isle, NC) catching a 74.10 pound king. You read that right, a 75 pounder! That set a new record for an SKA sanctioned tournament and also set a new Mississippi state record. That propelled them into first place and they secured the general division championship with a second fish weighing 44.03 pounds. That also gave them the SKA record for a two fish aggregate. Congratulations to Brandt and his team.
A lot of other NC teams finished on the leader board as well. Way to go guys!
State Record Yellowfin Grouper
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Mike Hall, Jr. of Hampstead caught the new state record Yellowfin Grouper (aka Fireback grouper) jigging off the coast of Topsail Island. Mike is a senior at Topsail High School and was fishing with his dad and David Mason aboard David’s boat the “Knot Kiddin”. He was using the Roscoe Jig from Blue Water Candy Lures.
They had been trolling all day without much luck. They decided to make one last stop and do a little bit of jigging. When Mike pulled up the fish, he knew he had a very nice grouper but had no idea it would beat the world record Yellowfin Grouper by half a pound. They proceeded back to the dock and didn’t even have the fish weighed until the next day.
When they weighed the fish the next day they learned that they had a record setting fish and called the NC Divsision of Marine Fisheries who sent a Biologist over to check the fish and certify it for the record. As it turns out even though the fish beat the world record by 8 ounces, the IGFA rules diswalified it from the record because when the fish was first hooked up the rod was passed to Mike from his dad. IGFA rules require that only one angler can touch the rod for the fish to count as a world record. Mike will hold the state record as NC has no such arcane rule.
On a side note, the new Roscoe Jig from Blue Water Candy now has been used to catch to new state record fish, this grouper and an Amber Jack caught last month. Way to Go ROSCOE!
State Record Tarpon
Thursday, September 18, 2008
A new North Carolina state record for Tarpon was set yesterday by Malcom Condie. He was fishing off the end off Sea View Pier at North Topsail Beach when he landed the 193 pound fish. Condie was using 30 pound test line with a pop-eye mullet as bait. It took him under an hour to land the Tarpon. The previous state record was a 175 pound fish caught in 2005 by Jesse J. Lockowitz.