During a recent NC B.A.S.S. Federation Nation annual meeting members of the NC Wildlife Resource Commission reported on the current largemouth bass status in the coastal regions of North Carolina. These areas were hit hard by hurricane Irene in 2011 resulting in massive fish kills. Kevin Dockendorf, Coastal Research Coordinator, provided a detailed presentation that covered post hurricane Isabel (2003) findings, including research data from a massive restocking effort in 2004, with additional detailed information from studies conducted in the years following, continuing through hurricane Irene. To see the slideshow (PDF File) used during the presentation click below.

View Presentation

Coastal Game Fish Proposal Before Special Legislative Study Committee

The 2011 North Carolina General Assembly deferred action on the Coastal Game Fish Bill (HB 353) that would have designated speckled sea trout, red drum, and striped bass as coastal game fish.  Coastal game fish status would mean that these three fish could be taken only with hook and line and could not be sold. These fish are already game fish in inland waters where they occur but when they venture into joint or coastal waters, they are subject to commercial net fishing under liberal rules designed to maximize catch for sale, which has led to overfishing and depleted numbers.  Sport fishermen protested vigorously over the failure to act, which led the General Assembly to set up a special study committee to review the case for coastal game fish status and several other issues related to management of our marine fisheries.
The issues being considered by the Marine Fisheries Study Committee can be found at this link under the Marine Fisheries section.  The main issue about which NC Camo is alerting members is the proposal to create coastal game fish status for red drum, speckled sea trout, and striped bass; but, you may be interested in the others too. The findings and recommendations of the Marine Fisheries Study Committee will be reported to the General Assembly this Spring for action in their Budget Session.
Red drum, speckled sea trout, and striped bass account for only 3% of annual commercial finfish landings in NC by weight and account for only 2% of the dockside value to commercial fishermen.  In 2010, only 250 commercial fishermen had more than $2,000 in landings of these three species, separately or in combination, and less than 30 had landings that equaled or exceeded $10,000.  These figures as collected and presented by the Division of Marine Fisheries show that red drum, speckled sea trout, and striped bass are relatively minor components of the commercial harvest in NC by weight and by value to the commercial fisherman.
Conversely, figures from the Division of Marine Fisheries on the value of recreational fishery for these three species show the annual value to NC’s economy to be over $140,000,000.  This value comes from expenditures of recreational fishermen as they buy fishing equipment and supplies, travel to favorite fishing spots on the coast, and support thousands of small businesses and jobs in the process.  Sales of Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses show that well over 1 million people fish in our coastal waters each year.  Recreational fishing is big business for NC and can be even bigger.  The great thing about this source of growth in our economy is that no capital investment is required and it is truly “green” growth.  All we have to do is protect our fisheries resources and allocate them to their highest and best use for the people of NC.
The first meeting of the Marine Fisheries Study Committee was held on January 5, 2012 and was attended by dozens of recreational and commercial fishermen.  The agenda was mostly introductory for the committee members and no discussion with real substance occurred.  The next meeting is scheduled for February 2, 2011 at 1 pm in the Auditorium of the General Assembly, 116 West Jones Street.  The agenda for this next meeting is designed to give sport and commercial fishermen the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas to the Marine Fisheries Study Committee on the issue of coastal game fish status for red drum, speckled sea trout, and striped bass and the other topics before the Committee.
NC Camo encourages all recreational fishermen who can to attend and speak in favor of game fish status for speckled sea trout, red drum, and striped bass.  The case for conservation of these three fish via coastal game fish designation is given in the NC Wildlife Federation’s Fall Journal and can be read at this link beginning on page 2.

Interested sportsmen can catch up with the history of the coastal game fish proposal and keep up with new developments on the North Carolina Sportsman Magazine website at this link.  Also, a hot link to the e-mail addresses of every member of the Marine Fisheries Study Committee is included.  Use them to contact the members to let them know you favor game fish status for speckled sea trout, red drum, and striped bass.
Finally, NC Camo has prepared a Take Action message you can send to your elected State Representative and Senator as a part of this alert.  Read it over and if you agree that speckled sea trout, red drum, and striped bass need and deserve coastal game fish status, send it out with a click of your mouse.

NC Camo Coalition is a project of the NC Wildlife Federation.

New Efforts to Ban Lead in Fishing Tackle Demonstrate the Need for a Legislative Solution

Source: www.keepamericafishing.org

Last November, 43,000 anglers like you helped to defeat an attempt to ban lead in fishing tackle nationwide when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition to ban lead in fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Despite the EPA’s ruling, this issue is not yet fully resolved. The petitioners have filed a law suit against the EPA’s decision and submitted a similar new petition to the agency that could still result in a ban on lead fishing tackle nationwide.

KeepAmericaFishing™ is once again asking anglers to oppose this unjustified petition and to rally behind legislation that will put an end to these unwarranted attacks on recreational fishing once and for all.

The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act (S. 838/H.R. 1558) will prevent a federal ban on lead in recreational fishing tackle and help to ensure that any future regulations on fishing tackle are established based on scientific fact instead of unjustified petitions.

With anti-fishing organizations trying to stop fishing using whatever means they can, the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act is necessary to protect traditional fishing tackle, as well as ammunition, from unjustified bans that will harm the economy and reduce participation in traditional outdoor sports

Take Action Now!

To prevent the EPA from accepting this unwarranted petition and to assure passage of this important legislation, it’s critical that you send a loud and clear message to the EPA and your Members of Congress requesting their support of this effort.

For more information on why such a ban is unwarranted,visit the KeepAmericaFishing lead fishing tackle issue page.

Historic ‘mercury and air toxics standards’ meet 20-year old requirement to cut dangerous smokestack emissions

Actions by the Environmental Protection Agency to set emission standards for power plants to reduce mercury and other toxic pollutants will result in healthier lakes, streams and fish.

EPA estimates that “the new safeguards will prevent as many as 11,000 premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks a year. The standards will also help America’s children grow up healthier – preventing 130,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms and about 6,300 fewer cases of acute bronchitis among children each year.”
Mercury and other power plant emissions damage our environment. These compounds pollute our nation’s lakes and streams poisoning fish and the people and animals that rely on them for food. Other power plant emissions such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) can react in the atmosphere to form a haze of fine particle pollution and smog that reduces visibility in our nation’s scenic vistas and treasured national parks, and damages sensitive natural ecosystems.

The final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) will significantly reduce power plant mercury emissions. The equipment used to comply with MATS will also reduce emissions of SO2 and directly emitted fine particle pollution.

Emissions of SO2 from power plants can react in the environment to form weak acids that fall to earth as rain, fog, snow, or dry particles. They can cause lakes and streams to become acidic and unsuitable for many fish, damage forests, and cause deterioration of cars, buildings, and historical monuments. Sulfur deposition may also increase the rate of mercury methylation and the impact of mercury poisoning on fish and wildlife.

Once mercury from the air reaches water, microorganisms can change it into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish. As larger fish eat many smaller fish, mercury concentrations increase in their body tissues. Mercury contamination affects populations of numerous fish species – trout, bass, salmon and others. Waterfowl and mammals that eat fish, including loons and otters, and songbirds, bats, and amphibians that feed on insects can be exposed to high levels of mercury. Birds and animals suffering from mercury exposure behave differently and have less reproductive success. Over time, these new emission standards will help reduce the levels of mercury in fish.

Sportsmen and women played a major role in calling for these changes in the way we treat the environment. Clean air and water are the basis for the quality of life we enjoy and strive to preserve for our descendants.

Thank you for your support.

NC Camo Coalition is a project of the NC Wildlife Federation.

Happy Holidays

If you put E-15 in your boat, beware the consequences

By: Frank Sargeant, B.A.S.S. Times

Dec 14, 2011

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Understand upfront that proponents of E-15 gasoline, containing up to 15 percent ethanol, are not pitching the fuel as suitable for marine engines. In fact, it is a violation of federal law to use it for that purpose.

But E-15 is probably coming soon to a pump near you. Suppose you have a brain infarction and fill your boat with the stuff, which is just the push of a button away.

Not a good thing, based on tests concluded in June by Mercury Marine for the U.S. Department of Energy. Two of three outboards run on E-15 in Merc’s standard 300-hour, full-throttle endurance test failed to complete the run and showed severe internal damage, according to David Hilbert, thermodynamic development engineer for Mercury.

A 300-horsepower Verado experienced three damaged exhaust valves near the end of the E-15 run. Hilbert said the damage likely was caused by operating temperatures considerably higher than those recorded in a similar engine run in the same test on ethanol-free gasoline.

And a 200-horse 2.5 EFI 2-stroke in the test had to be shut down after 256 hours because of bearing failure. Hilbert said more testing would be required to determine if ethanol in the fuel caused a reduction in effective lubrication and brought on the failure, but an identical engine run on standard gasoline had no similar issues throughout the 300-hour run.

Martin Peters at Yamaha agreed that E-15 must not be used in any of the company’s outboards, but he reiterates that E-10 is fine for all late-model motors.

“Accidental one-time use of E-15 will not void your Yamaha warranty,” said Peters. “But for sure, it’s not a fuel you would ever put in your boat on purpose.”

Bottom line is that, while E-10 is acceptable as a fuel for all modern outboards, E-15 is not.

Note that the tests involved fresh fuel used immediately. They did not take into account the issues ethanol causes when it sits for weeks or months in a fuel tank and absorbs condensed water. Nor did they consider the accumulation of dissolved solids that might clog a fuel system.

In fact, the best gasoline for your outboard has no ethanol, and some states still allow service stations to stock straight gasoline. In Alabama, for example, gas stations advertising ethanol-free gasoline generate long lines of bass anglers on weekends.

Floridais considering a rule that would allow service stations to sell gasoline without ethanol, thus letting market demand control the amount of ethanol drivers choose to use. The state’s Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee recently voted 10-1 to approve SB 238,which would end the ethanol requirement that has been in place since 2008.

Ethanol alternative

Jeff Wasil, engineering tech expert at Evinrude/BRP, said the company has been involved in recent tests of butanol, a biofuel created from fermentation similar to ethanol, but with fewer issues in outboard engines.

“Butanol is much less likely to create phase separation with water in fuel tanks, and it’s not nearly as likely to dissolve varnish and other sediment in tanks and lines,” said Wasil. “Plus, it can be transported by pipeline, just like petroleum fuels, so the cost of getting it to a blending facility will be lower. Ethanol causes corrosion issues in most pipelines.”

Wasil said butanol can be used in higher concentrations (up to 16.1 percent) in gasoline mixes while delivering the same performance as 10 percent ethanol fuels.

“It’s still more expensive to make than ethanol, but improvements in technology are bringing prices down, and several ethanol plants are being converted to butanol,” he said. “We’re likely to see more of this product in the future.”

The final event for the 2011 Five County Bassmasters season took place on November 19th 2011 on beautiful Kerr Lake. A cool start to the morning greeted the anglers, but the cold temps didn’t stop the fish from biting as several anglers brought a limit of largemouth to the scales.

Grabbing another late fall win on Kerr was Tim Gardner. Tim bagged a solid five fish limit worth 13.92 lbs which also included the lunker for the event at 4.94 lbs. Keying in on rocky points near the main lake, Gardner used a couple variations of crankbaits to cover both shallow and deep water searching for fish feeding on nearby shad.

Following in the second position was Ed Collier with a five fish limit tipping the scales at 13.07 lbs. Joey Worley nailed down the third spot with his five fish limit weighing 12.31 lbs. Finishing in the fourth position was Jeff Narron with five fish worth 11.76 lbs. Andy Evans rounded out the top five with yet another five fish limit giving him a total of 10.15 lbs. Another notable five-fish limit included Wayne Worley with his sixth place finish where he was able to bring 8.04 lbs to the scales while fishing in the rear of the boat, behind third place Joey Worley.

With his win and bonus points collected from the event lunker, Tim Gardner vaulted himself from third place in points into a tie with Ed Collier for Angler Of The Year awards. Congratulations to you both on your accomplishment!!!

Clean Water Act Protections Under Attack

Take Action!

Duck hunters and anglers know the value of wetlands, and streams.  These places provide the opportunity for sportsmen to hunt and fish and enjoy our outdoor sporting heritage and traditions.
Immediate action is needed to stop an amendment to the federal Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill (HR 2354) that bars the Corps of Engineers from restoring longstanding Clean Water Act protections to isolated water bodies and wetlands that are critically important to fish and wildlife resources.  This disabling amendment also erodes the Corps’ ability to clarify the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction to include these valuable isolated water bodies and wetlands under protections of the Act.
Isolated water bodies and associated wetlands provide habitat for waterfowl, woodcock, fish, and furbearers and enable sportsmen and women to enjoy the outdoor traditions of fishing, hunting, canoeing and wildlife watching.  North Carolina is blessed with an abundance of riverine and estuarine waters and wetlands.  The Clean Water Act protects them.  We need to continue this strong stewardship of protecting our natural resources for now and into the future.
From the Smokies to the Outer Banks, streams, wetlands and the wildlife that call them home contribute to the state’s treasured landscape.  They also contribute to our outdoor recreation economy.  In 2006, residents and non-residents spent $2.7 billion on hunting, fishing and other wildlife-related recreation in North Carolina.
Please TAKE ACTION NOW and urge Senators Burr and Hagan to protect hunting and fishing by voting NO on crippling amendments to HR 2354.
The House passed HR 2354 on July 15, 2011 with a similar provision prohibiting funds to be used by the Corps to restore Clean Water Act protections.  So, if the Senate adopts this harmful amendment too, the provision has a good chance of becoming law, to the detriment of our streams, wetlands, and fish and wildlife.
Now, more than ever, North Carolina needs Clean Water Act protections clarified and applied to ensure the health and prosperity of our people, our economy and our natural resources.

NC Camo Coalition is a project of the NC Wildlife Federation.

Story: Randy Parker (Clayton High B.A.S.S. Club Director)

Six members of the Clayton High B.A.S.S. Club competed in the NC State Youth Tournament October 29 at High Rock Lake.

Kevin Peppers, Drew Honeycutt, Ethan Howard, Max Prince, Brock Johnson, Hunter Mizeur.

Max, Brock, and Ethan all fished in our Five County Bassmasters club tournament at Kerr Lake in September.

For Kevin, Drew, and Hunter this was their first bass tournament. Brock, Kevin, and Max weighed in one fish each.

Ethan and his father went down Friday. The rest of us left the Clayton Walmart at 3 AM for our trip to High Rock. Kevin plays football for Clayton. They had a game Friday night and then got about an hour of sleep and fished a 7 hour tournament. That shows his passion for the sport.

Conditions were less than ideal. It rained steady up until blastoff. Air temps were in low 40’s and about midday winds picked up to 10-15 mph

• Brock caught his on spinnerbait
• Max on shakey head
• Kevin on crankbait

The Clayton High B.A.S.S. Club is part of the Five County Bassmasters.

How four anglers juggle careers and their pursuit of the Classic trophy

It takes a lot of planning ahead to climb the Classic ladder

By John Neporadny Jr., B.A.S.S. Times

Oct 13, 2011

If there was a ladder that could lead you directly to the Bassmaster Classic stage in contention for the trophy, would you climb it? Of course you would!

For many bass anglers, the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation is that ladder.

Although some Federation Nation anglers strive to turn pro someday, others such as Tom Jessop, Brian Maloney, Joe Matt and Chuck Murray have succeeded at keeping a full-time job and qualifying multiple times for the Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship presented by Yamaha and Skeeter. These four amateur anglers offer the following tips on how to keep your day job and consistently go deep into the Federation Nation postseason.

Chuck Murray emphasizes that having your family support your fishing habit is essential to moving up in B.A.S.S. Federation Nation competition

#1

Juggle your schedule.

Jessop, a member of the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, is a self-employed cattle buyer and runner who does some of his work on the evenings of the tournaments. “I do a lot of my business over the phone on-site,” said Jessop. “When I get done with a tournament, though, I am completely exhausted because I am trying to keep up with what is going on at work.”

Jessop will get to experience that exhaustion again next month during the 2011 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship presented by Yamaha and Skeeter. There, he’ll compete against eight other anglers in his division for a spot in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River.

Like Jessop, New York B.A.S.S. Federation Nation member Joe Matt also has to plan ahead to allow for his part-time fishing career. As a funeral director, Matt can build up some comp time that he saves for Federation Nation postseason events. “I do have a little bit of a flexible schedule, but it is not as easy as it looks,” he said. “I put in tons and tons of hours when I am not fishing, especially in the wintertime when I cover the business pretty much 24/7.”

#2

Gain family support.

“Having your wife’s support is the No. 1 thing,” said Matt. “I try to incorporate some of the tournaments such as the championship as a vacation for my family. It’s a nice reward for them. I will also go up ahead of time at the divisional and take one of my sons with me to practice.”

Serving as finance director for Franklin County, N.C., has allowed North Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation member Chuck Murray to build up five weeks of vacation. “Four of those are spent fishing, and my wife is very supportive of this,” said Murray, who does work out a compromise with his vacation time. “One week I definitely have to spend at the beach.”

Murray won the North Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Eastern Regional/State Championship in spring 2011, qualifying him for the 2012 Bassmaster Federation Nation Southern Divisional presented by Yamaha and Skeeter. That means at least one week of next year’s vacation will go toward competitive fishing, and if he does well there, he’ll need another week for the Federation Nation Championship. His wife may need to consider booking the family’s time at the beach now to block out that time on Murray’s calendar!

#3

Do your homework.

After working as an AT&T design engineer by day, Brian Maloney spends his free time in the evenings searching the Internet, reading maps and consulting his diary to gather as much information as he can about his next tournament destination. “You can eliminate so much more by the time you get there,” said the Missouri B.A.S.S. Federation Nation member.

Maloney said he also avoids listening to dock talk and advice from local experts on what they would do. “That is what they would do,” he said. “My success in divisionals has been fishing my strengths and not getting wrapped up in having to throw this type of bait or work that type of area.”

Researching fisheries also gives Jessop a head start for his postseason practices. “I read a lot on anything that I can find out about a lake, its past history and tournaments and what part of the lake is usually best,” said Jessop.

Yearly Event Has Multiple Benefits

The annual Take A Kid Fishin’ Day event recently took place on October 1st near Louisburg, NC. Intended as a fund raising event for the Franklin County (NC) Community Foundation, this event serves as more than just a platform for generating grant money for area non-profits, it is also an opportunity for our future outdoor enthusiast to enjoy a day of great fishing and family fun.

Located on Mort Harris road, the property is covered with multiple ponds that allow the individuals to spread out and enjoy their own personal time of fishing enjoyment. The private location is only open to the public once per year for this event and usually draws a good crown of anxious locals dreaming of an opportunity at a “Mort Harris Monster”. Many anglers look forward to the chance at hooking one of the “Big Ones”, but most are just as happy to enjoy the offerings of many species of fish from these beautiful ponds.

As an incentive to introduce a child to the sport of fishing, each team competing in the event was required to consist of one adult and at least one child. Two children per team were allowed. Prizes for the largest Bass, Sunfish, Crappie, Catfish, and most fish total were awarded. All fish were weighed using equipment from local North Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation (NCBFN) clubs. The NCBFN set up multiple weigh stations around the ponds for easy access for the participants. Each team was provided with a weigh bag so that all fish could be brought to the weigh stations alive, weighed, and then released back into the water.