MSSA DORCHESTER CHAPTER 11

                                                                             Newsletter 2010

 

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July 10th, 2010

 

 

 

President and Secretary – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                           Vice President – Bob Geisler

Legislative Committee – Charles Hutchinson                                                                                                                                 Treasurer – Charles Hutchinson

Membership Committee – Bob Geisler                                                             Club Fishing Tournaments Committee – Chuck Prahl and Jesse Maffuid

MSSA Tournament Committee – Bob Granados and Dave Thomas                                                        Crab Feast and Raffles Committee – Jim Kubista and Norman Bell

Guest Speakers – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                                    Club Fishing Trips – Bob Geisler

Webmaster – Curt Brandt                                                                                                                                                                 Flea Market – Chuck Prahl

 

 

NEXT MEETING – THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010

7:30 p.m. – AMERICAN LEGION POST 91

 

The MSSA is working to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

 

NO UNITY – NO VOICE – NO FISH!

 

Personally, I would love to give you all a fishing report.  However, I have not been fishing since the last newsletter for I have been recovering from a back muscle pull.  I have received some good reports about the fishing in our area. The mid-bay area is holding a good number of Rockfish. Some are in the upper 30 inch variety. Surprisingly for this time of the year and the high water temperature, trolling for Rockfish is doing well.  The deeper you troll, the better fish are biting. Look for bait and/or birds, go deep and you’ll catch fish.  Storm Lures seem to be working very well and will until the Bluefish show up. Then that becomes expensive fishing. Blues love to bite off the tails of Storm Lures.

 

There are some large Perch around but they seem to be more in the Bay than the rivers. 

 

Croakers are everywhere. The larger ones are caught late in the day as it starts to get dark.

 

Spot are slowly showing up and that makes live lining a hit or miss situation.

 

In general, considering the excessive heat, fishing isn’t all that bad. So get out if you can and enjoy a day of fishing.

 

JULY 15TH FISHING TOURNAMENT

 

On Thursday, July 15th, the day of our monthly meeting, we will be having our summer fishing tournament. This worked out great last year and hopefully it will be a success this year.  The entry fee is $5.00 per person and all money taken in goes back to the winners. Also the Club is putting an extra $50.00 on each fish species. There will be a first and second place winner for each fish. The fish to enter are Rockfish, Bluefish, Perch and Croakers.  You must be a member of the MSSA to fish this tournament.  Fishing hours will be from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and all fish must be checked in at the American Legion between 7 and 8 p.m. The fish will be measured from tip of nose to end of tail. Ties are broken by earliest fish checked in.

 

You must be entered in this tournament by July 14th.  Contact Chuck Prahl (410-228-0251) or Clint (443-225-5545) to enter.  There will be no regular meeting but we’ll spend our time talking fish. Food, beer and sodas will be provided by the Club. Even if you aren’t in the tournament, you are still welcome to attend this event. Bring your kids if you want to, as you can with every meeting we hold.  It will be fun for them to see the fish that are caught and hear the fish stories.

 

AUGUST 14TH KIDS’ TOURNAMENT

 

Since this event happens before our meeting in August, I’ll try to give you all the info that I have.  Scott Fitzhugh (410-330-8016) and Jay Harford (410-476-5761) are heading up this tournament. We need all the help and support from our Chapter that we can get. Scott and Jay figure we need at least 20 volunteers.  Please contact them or me (Clint 443-225-5545) and give us your name and support as a volunteer. The tournament will be from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.  Registration will start at 7:30 a.m. by the office of the Municipal Yacht Basin.  Kids up to age 15 years old are welcome to participate in this event. There will be prize winners, trophies and every kid will get a certificate.  The fishing will be at Long Wharf and the Municipal Yacht Basin.  Bait will be provided for everyone. Bring your fishing equipment or it will be provided by the tournament. The Municipal Yacht Basin and the MSSA are sponsoring this event. Kids are the future of our waterways and fishing, so please support this tournament.

 

COOK’S POINT REEF

 

On June 28th and 29th, Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s boat the “Patricia Campbell” placed over 100 more reef balls on this Choptank River site. CBF informed me that they have another 80 or 90 more reef balls that will be placed later this summer on this site. That will put the number of reef balls on this well over 400 reef balls along with all the oyster spats that were attached to the balls before they were put overboard.  This is a program that I’m proud to say is well worth the time and effort. These reef sites in the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean will be productive for many generations of fishermen.

 

FINAL NOTE

 

Every member is welcome at our July get-together even if you aren’t in the tournament. Volunteer for the Kids’ Tournament in August.

 

See you at the meeting or on the water.

 

Clint

 

 

 

 

June 17th, 2010

 

 

 

President and Secretary – Clint Waters                                                                               Vice President – Bob Geisler

Legislative Committee – Charles Hutchinson                                                                     Treasurer – Charles Hutchinson

Membership Committee – Bob Geisler                                                               Club Fishing Tournaments Committee – Chuck Prahl and Jesse Maffuid

MSSA Tournament Committee – Bob Granados and Dave Thomas                                  Crab Feast and Raffles Committee – Jim Kubista and Norman Bell

Guest Speakers – Clint Waters                                                                                        Club Fishing Trips – Bob Geisler

Webmaster – Curt Brandt                                                                                                       Flea Market – Chuck Prahl

 

 

NEXT MEETING – THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010

7:30 p.m. – AMERICAN LEGION POST 91

 

The MSSA is working to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

 

NO UNITY – NO VOICE – NO FISH!

 

This year is about half gone and what a year it has been so far!  The year started out cold and wet and now is hot and dry, and I mean hot! With the heat, the majority of the larger Rockfish are headed out of the Bay heading north for cooler water.  I only hope some stay that are big enough to liveline when the Spot show up in numbers. There seems to be a good number of Hardhead or Croakers around, but the big ones haven’t shown up yet.  One thing that seems plentiful is the Skate. They seem to be everywhere in good numbers. We need to find a market for that pain-in-the-butt fish. White Perch seem to be plentiful.  Most are on the small side but now and then you get into a school of larger Perch.

 

Bob Geisler and I went Black Sea Bass fishing on May 24th with Monty Hawkins on the “Morning Star” out of Ocean City.  There was a load of Sea Bass caught. Bob came home with 22 and I had 17.  Now there are some good tasting meals coming up.

 

If you missed last month’s meeting, you missed another good one. Chris Dollar gave a good presentation on light tackle fishing out of a Kayak boat. 

 

The part of the meeting that I enjoyed the most was having one of the MSSA Scholarship winners at our meeting.  Stacy Willey was the person who won this award and the first from our area. Stacy is the daughter of Mike and Diane Willey who live on Hooper’s Island.  Mike is a member of the Dorchester County MSSA.  I am proud of Stacy and the work she will be doing to help improve fishing in the Bay area. We need more people with her desire to improve our fishing. 

 

ATTENDANCE DRAWING

 

At our June meeting, we will be giving away to two winners $50.00 each for attending our monthly meetings. At each meeting you attend, you get a ticket to sign and ten tickets if you bring a new member.  You have to be in attendance at the June meeting to win. We have two drawings a year, one at our June and November meetings.  The more meeting you attend, the better your chance to win.

 

KIDS’ TOURNAMENT

 

We are planning to have our kids’ tournament on August 14th.  Jay Harford and Scott Fitzhugh are doing a great job putting this event together.  Jay or Scott will report with an update on the tournament.  We need volunteers for this event. Give Jay, Scott or myself your name as a volunteer.  Kids are the future of our fishery.

 

JULY 15TH FISHING TOURNAMENT

 

On Thursday, July 15th, the day of our monthly meeting, we again are having our summer fishing tournament. This worked out so good last year and I hope will be a success again this year.  The entry fee is $5.00 per person with all money returned to the winners.  Also the Club is putting an extra $50.00 on each fish species. There will be two winners on each fish, 1st and 2nd place.  The fish to catch and enter are Rockfish, Bluefish, Croaker and Perch.  All people fishing in this tournament must be MSSA members. Try to enter at our June meeting or by July 14th. Contact Chuck Prahl (410-228-0251) or Jesse Maffuid (410-228-1756) or Clint (443-225-5545) to get entered in this tournament. Fishing hours are from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and all fish must be checked in at the American Legion between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The fish will be measured from tip of nose to end of tail. Ties are broken by the earliest entered fish. More details in our July newsletter.

 

VENDOR

 

I try to bring in a vendor each month with a different supply of products to make your fishing and equipment better.  This month is no different. The vendor for June is Charles Huddleson. Charlie specializes in canvas.  If you need canvas work, Charlie does it all: T tops, bimini tops, side curtains, cushions, just to name a few.  Come to the meeting if you need canvas work or just to see what he has to offer.

 

GUEST SPEAKER

 

This is the one I’ve been waiting to have back to our meetings.  Lenny Rudow is our speaker.  He writes books and articles for so many fishing magazines it would be impossible to name them all.  Lenny has been a good friend and has given me some excellent fishing tips through the years.  He has just completed a new book on jigging.  That will be his subject.  I love to jig for fish and can’t wait to see and hear what Lenny has to say.  I know I will be purchasing his new book. This is the meeting you definitely don’t want to miss.

 

See you at the meeting or on the water.

 

Clint

P.S. Please check your membership date.  If the date is 1/1/2010, your membership has expired.

 

 

 

May 20th, 2010

President and Secretary – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                     Vice President – Bob Geisler

Legislative Committee – Charles Hutchinson                                                                                                                         Treasurer – Charles Hutchinson

Membership Committee – Bob Geisler                                                  Club Fishing Tournaments Committee – Chuck Prahl and Jesse Maffuid

MSSA Tournament Committee – Bob Granados and Dave Thomas                     Crab Feast and Raffles Committee – Jim Kubista and Norman Bell

Guest Speakers – Clint Waters                                                                                                                     Club Fishing Trips – Bob Geisler

Webmaster – Curt Brandt                                                                                                                                                                    Flea Market – Chuck Prahl

 

 

NEXT MEETING – THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010

7:30 p.m. – AMERICAN LEGION POST 91

 

The MSSA is working to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

 

NO UNITY – NO VOICE – NO FISH!

 

Just a reminder. We now are meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month.  Mark your yearly calendars each month for the Dorchester County MSSA meeting on the “3RD THURSDAY” of the month.

 

The spring fishing started out good but now is so-so.  You really have to work for a daily limit of Rockfish.  I see a lot of crab shedding along the shorelines. That means fishing like Speckled Trout, Red Drum and Perch should be picking up.  Chuck Prahl has told me he has caught Speckled Trout already.  Big Tog have been caught offshore all spring.  May 22nd, Sea Bass will open up with a creel limit of 25 and 12½ inches long.  Also on May 16th, we can catch two Rockfish at 18 inches or 1-18 inch and 1-28 inch or better.  Also on May 16th parts of the Choptank, Chester and Patuxent Rivers open up for Rockfish. The Choptank River is five miles in from the rivers mouth to Buoys 12-A and 13.  June 1st the whole Bay area opens up.

 

MSSA “CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE CHESAPEAKE”

 

This Tournament was held April 30th, May 1st and May 2nd.  There were 580 boats registered and 544 Rockfish checked in. The heaviest fish was a monster 52.55 pounds caught by Kevin Howell.  Kevin won $21,750.00. Second place was a 41.90 pound fish caught by Steve Smith.  Steve was the big money winner for he entered all the TWT categories. Steve won $65,022.00.  Now that’s a lot of fishing dollars.

 

Some of our Dorchester County Chapter members were big winners. Sam Fisher had the most released Rockfish. Sam has won this title before.  John Waters checked in the heaviest Rockfish at Taylor’s Island weight station.  If there were more Chapter winners, let me know so I can give you recognition.

 

DORCHESTER JULY TOURNAMENT

 

July 15th is the day of our Chapter’s fishing tournament. This is an early announcement but I want everyone ready for this tournament.  There will be a $5.00 entering fee with all money going back to the winners.  There will be a 1st and 2nd place winner on all fish. The four fish to catch will be Rock, Blue, Hardhead and Perch.  All the rules and details will be in the June newsletter. Start getting ready for this tournament.

 

AUGUST 14TH KIDS’ TOURNAMENT

 

We will be having a kids’ fishing tournament this year. The Dorchester MSSA and the Cambridge Yacht Club are sponsoring this tournament. Scott Fitzhugh and Jay Harford are organizing this event. We do need volunteers. Please get involved for this worthwhile event.  More details to follow.

 

VENDOR

 

The vendor for our May meeting will be Charles White. Charlie specializes in things to go in your rod holders.  He makes cutting tables, combination rod holders of 2-3-4 tubes that go in your single rod holder.  If you have a need for extra rod holders on your boat, Charlie has got it or can make it.    He also makes excellent Flounder rigs, plus other lures.  If you want to increase your rod holders on your boat or need a cutting table or fishing lures, don’t miss the May meeting.

 

GUEST SPEAKER

 

Our speaker for May is Chris Dollar. Chris writes for the Fishermen Magazine and other fishing and outdoor magazines and newspapers.  He has his own outdoor guide service for fishing and hunting. Chris also owns a Kayak boat store in Kent Island.  Chris will be talking about fishing from a Kayak boat and other light tackle, skinny water fishing.  Kayak fishing has become very popular the last few years and you read about extreme fishing from a Kayak where people are fishing for large Rockfish and even large Sharks.  This should be a presentation you don’t want to miss to increase your skills as a fisherman. 

 

See you at the meeting or on the water.

 

Clint

 

P.S. Check the expiration date on your membership card or your mailing label.  If it says 01/01/2010 you need to renew.  Members getting the newsletter by email need to check their cards. With the new system in place, there is a little leeway, but you need to check this out.  I’m noticing a lot of members who need to renew.

 

 

APRIL 2010

 

 

 

President and Secretary – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                                              Vice President – Bob Geisler

Legislative Committee – Charles Hutchinson                                                                                                                                                    Treasurer – Charles Hutchinson

Membership Committee – Bob Geisler                                                                

Club Fishing Tournaments Committee – Chuck Prahl and Jesse Maffuid

MSSA Tournament Committee – Bob Granados and Dave Thomas                                                                           

Crab Feast and Raffles Committee – Jim Kubista and Norman Bell

Guest Speakers – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                                                       

Club Fishing Trips – Bob Geisler

Webmaster – Curt Brandt

Flea Market - Chuck Prahl                                                                                                                                                                            

 

NEXT MEETING – THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010

7:30 p.m. – AMERICAN LEGION POST 91

 

The MSSA is working to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

 

NO UNITY – NO VOICE – NO FISH!

 

ATTENTION:  NEW MEETING NIGHT – MARK YOUR CALENDARS

 

Our meetings will now be held the 3rd Thursday of each month. For years, we met on the 3rd Thursday. Then it was changed to the 3rd Wednesday.  Now we will be back to the 3rd Thursday.  Mark your calendars for our meetings on the 3rd Thursday at 7:30 at the American Legin. This new date starts at our April 15th meeting and goes to the end of the year.

FISHING

                The White and Yellow Perch spawn is about over and they are moving out of the small streams into the rivers and Bay.  The Flounder regulations are now set. There is a three fish limit per person a day. The season will run from April 17th through November 22nd, 2010. The minimum size is set at 19 inches. 

                There are plenty of Rockfish of all sizes being caught in the Bay.  Be sure you follow all the new catch and release regulations. The trophy season opens up on April 17th.  You then can keep one Rockfish over 28 inches.  Fresh water fishing for Perch and Crappie has been good and should get better as the water starts to warm up. 

MSSA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

                Here’s  a little info about the Scholarship Foundation. The MSSA Scholarship Foundation was established in 1992. The purpose is to provide financial aid to undergraduate students who major in Marine Biology or other fields related to ecology of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributarites.  If you have a child or grandchild studying or wants to enter these feields of education, please get them entered for this scholardhip funding.  You can get more information about the Scholarship Foundation by logging onto the MSSA website then clicking on Scholarship Foundation.  Anyone interested in applying for these funds then click on scholarship application.  APPLICATIONS MUST BE  IN TO MSSA HEADQUARTERS BY NO LATER THAN APRIL 30TH

DORCHESTER COUNTY CHAPTER EVENTS

April 25th – Tog fishing with Northern Bay Chapter out of Bowers Beach, Delaware

May 24th – Black Sea Bass – Ocean City – Captain Monty Hawkins

July 15th – Dorchester County MSSA fishing tournament.

August 14th – kids’ fishing tournament.

August 15th – Flounder fishing with Northern Bay Chapter out of Bowers Beach, Delaware.

September 20th – Poplar Island trip.

October 3rd – Dorchester County MSSA fishing tournament and crab feast.

 
MSSA “CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE CHESAPEAKE”

                The MSSA 27th Spring Tournment will be held April 30th – May 1st – May 2nd. This is the largest Rockfish tournament in the country. There will be $200,000.00 payout and a potential $100,000.00 winner.  If you are interested in entering this tournmanet, go online and enter on the MSSA website.  I’ll have tournament brochures at our meeting.

REEFBALL PROJECT

                Our reefball program is on-going and we are making reefballs at a steady pace thanks to our friends at C & D Concrete. C & D has been great in supplying the concrete for our reefball molds.  I want to thank the members who have been steady volunteers, Rick Marshall, Bob Giesler, John Bryde, Earl Neall (new member), Phil Todd and myself (Clint).  Without their help, and C & D concrete, this program would not be happening.  There is a large deployment of material scheduled on April 20th to be place on the Gooses Reef.  Taylor’s Island reef is scheduled for more material this year.  Our reef in the Choptank River off Cook’s Point will be getting more reefballs this year.  I will keep you informed on al the reef sites in the Bay area and off the Ocean. 

VENDOR

                We started having a vendor at our meetings so our members can buy equipment at flea market prices. Our vendor for April 15th is Kenny Barwick.  Kenny tells me he will have his home-made lures made for the spring Rockfish season. He also said he will have a lot of sassy shads at the best price in the area.  Plus trolling equipment for the upcoming season. Sounds like some good deals can be made at our April 15th meeting.  Don’t miss out on these bargains. Be at the meeting.

GUEST SPEAKER

                Our speaker for April is Jay Harford.  Jay is a sonar expert.  He has worked in this field for years.  Jay will tell us what is new in fish finders and how they work.  He will also cover color versus black and white in fish finders.  Also the importance of resolution in that equipment. New side scan technology will also be discussed. This is a fast changing field with new technology coming out every day.  Jay has stayed on top of this field of technology and should be able to answer your questions.

 

Don’t miss this meeting.

See you at the meeting or on the water.

 

Clint

 

PS  DON’T FORGET WE ARE NOW MEETING ON THE 3RD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH.  ALSO BRING IN YOUR PHOTOS OF THE BIG FISH YOU CATCH.

 

 

March 2010

President and Secretary – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                   

 Vice President – Bob Geisler

Legislative Committee – Charles Hutchinson                                                                                                                     

 Treasurer – Charles Hutchinson

Membership Committee – Bob Geisler                                                            

Club Fishing Tournaments Committee – Chuck Prahl and Jesse Maffuid

MSSA Tournament Committee – Bob Granados and Ken Barwick                           

Crab Feast and Raffles Committee – Jim Kubista and Norman Bell

Guest Speakers – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                        

Club Fishing Trips – Bob Geisler

Webmaster – Curt Brandt                                                                                                                                                          

Flea Market – Chuck Prahl

 

 

NEXT MEETING – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010

7:30 p.m. – AMERICAN LEGION POST 91

 

The MSSA is working to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

 

NO UNITY – NO VOICE – NO FISH!

 

Finally, February is behind us. What a month it was this year with blizzards, winds and steady cold below-normal temperatures!  Anyway, now is the time to start getting your boats and fishing gear ready for this year.  I personally didn’t get to fish this February as I have in the past because of the bad weather.  I, however, was able to peck away at my fishing gear getting it ready for fishing this year.

If you are going to do “catch and release” this year, be sure you understand and know the new regulations.  If trolling, no more than six rods at a time on a boat.  No stinger hooks on your lures.  No barbs on your hooks.  These are a few of the main rules. Be sure you understand and know the new regulations. Dummy lines also count as rods and are included in your six rod spread.

Be sure you get your federal permit number before you start fishing this year, along with your Maryland fishing license.

Any questions, be at our March meeting to get your answers.

FLEA MARKET

Another successful flea market this year.  Thanks for all the support, donations and volunteers in making our flea market a success again this year.

We had 35 different vendors. All tables were sold.  There were about 550 people who came through the doors to purchase all the different items for sale by the vendors. We matched almost to the person and profit that we had at last year’s show. That makes it another success this year. 

I want to thank all the volunteers and mainly Harry Miller for running our 50/50 raffle and making that wonderful display of what our chapter is doing for the artificial reef program in the Chesapeake Bay.

2010 ROCKFISH REGULATIONS

March 1 - May 3                                   catch and release only                        Susquehanna Flats

 

May 16 – May 31                                 1-18”-26” catch and keep                    Susquehanna Flats

 

SPRING TROPHY SEASON

                                              April 17 – May 15                                   1-28” or over                                         Chesapeake Bay –no tributaries

 

                           May 16 – May 31                                 2-18”-28” or 1-18”-28”

                                                                  and 1-28” or larger                                     

 

                                                       Chesapeake Bay plus areas  of Chester, Choptank and Patuxent Rivers

 

                                                                                 June 1 – December 15             same fish size as above                       

 

                                                                                all of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are open

 

MAY NOT POSSESS STRIPED BASS WHILE FISHING BETWEEN 12:00 MIDNIGHT AND 5:00 A.M.

 

20TH ANNUAL MSSA CONVENTION

The February 5-6-7, 2010 convention dates were cancelled because of bad weather. The MSSA convention is now scheduled for March 19-20-21, 2010 at the Princess Royale Hotel in Ocean City. Contact the MSSA office (410-255-5535) if you want to attend.  Our chapter will be sending a delegation down on Saturday March 20th for the convention meeting.  If you want to travel with your chapter, be at the March 17th meeting to get details.

NEW MEMBERSHIP CARDS

Hopefully, by the time you get this newsletter, your new membership card has reached you by mail. The new system is an annual type with all renewals going into effect January 1st of each year. Check your expiration date.  If it says January 1, 2010, you need to renew. We need to support the MSSA in our mission to protect and preserve the rights, traditions and future of recreational fishing. We need to support our chapter in Dorchester to help solve the Menhaden problem and suppor6t our reefball program of making reef sites in the Choptank River and Chesapeake Bay.  Any questions about your membership, call the MSSA office (410-255-5535).

GUEST SPEAKER

Starting with our March meeting, we are trying something new.  Not only will we have a speaker, but also a vendor.  Many members could not make it to our flea market to get some great savings on fishing supplies at flea market prices.  So we are bringing in a different vendor each month so you can get some flea market prices on equipment. The vendors will be setting up before the meeting. So come early to check out what they have to offer. Come early for best bargains.

Our vendor for March will be Chuck Prahl. Chuck makes great jigging lures and bucktail lures. The time is here to get your lures ready for the upcoming fishing season. 

Our speaker this month is Captain Charlie Schneider. Charlie gave a great fishing presentation last year.  One of the best I have ever heard. With the upcoming trophy season, Charlie will talk on trolling for big Rockfish.  He will also cover other types of fishing and answer your fishing questions.

         Don’t miss this meeting for a great speaker and flea market vendor savings on lures.

         See you at the meeting or on the water.

 

Clint

February 2010

President and Secretary – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                    

Vice President – Bob Geisler

Legislative Committee – Charles Hutchinson                                                                                                                      

Treasurer – Charles Hutchinson

Membership Committee – Bob Geisler                                                                

Club Fishing Tournaments Committee – Chuck Prahl and Jesse Maffuid

MSSA Tournament Committee – Bob Granados and Ken Barwick                              

Crab Feast and Raffles Committee – Jim Kubista and Norman Bell

Guest Speakers – Clint Waters                                                                                                                                          

Club Fishing Trips – Bob Geisler

Webmaster – Curt Brandt                                                                                                                                                            

Flea Market – Chuck Prahl

 

 

NEXT MEETING – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010

7:30 p.m. – AMERICAN LEGION POST 91

 

 

 

The MSSA is working to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

 

NO UNITY – NO VOICE – NO FISH!

 

 

With the weather we have been having, it makes no sense to talk about fishing. What I need to talk about is our flea market. Fellow members, we need help.  Last month in the newsletter I forgot to mention about donations to our club table at the flea market.  At this point, we have very few items to sell at our club table. I know every member has items in their tackle boxes, boats, sheds and garages that they haven’t used for a year or two that we could sell at the flea market club table. We don’t want junk, but everyone has something that would be worthwhile to someone else. So please try to bring an item to our February meeting, which is ten days before our flea market.  This is very important, so take some time to go through your fishing, hunting or boating equipment and bring it to the meeting or contact me and I would be glad to get the items. Our flea market is our biggest financial support for our fishing club and helps to cover all our activities throughout the year.

 

The flea market is February 27th, the last Saturday in the month. We have sold out all our vendor tables, so there will be plenty of things to purchase. The doors open at 8:00 a.m. to the public. There will be a vendor there to sharpen all your knives. He will be outside and you can drop off your knives and go inside to the flea market and pick up your knives when you leave.  Parking will be a problem. You can park at the old Midas lot on the corner of Route 50 and Maryland.  It is only one block from the American Legion.  I need volunteers to help with the parking.  Please support your flea market.

 

FISHING LICENSE REGISTERY

 

Just a reminder, if you are going to fish this year, you need to register with the federal agency NOAA.  It is all free. The free online website is www.countmyfish.noaa.gov and the free phone number is 888-674-7411.

 

MSSA CONVENTION

 

The MSSA convention was postponed in February because of bad weather.  It has been rescheduled for March 19-20-21 in Ocean City at the Princess Royale. So now there is plenty of time to plan if you want to attend the convention.

 

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

 

With the new program enforced that all membership renewals and sign-ups will be set for January 1st for each year, you need to look at your renewal date.  If that date is before September 2010, you might want to sign up at the flea market.  Also, remember all new members that sign up at the flea market will be half price. So now is a good time if you have people you know who want to join our fishing club and the MSSA is to join now at half price. That goes for everything, one or three year and family memberships.

 

GUEST SPEAKER

 

Our speaker for this month is Mid-Shore Electronics. Frank, Marty and the crew have been one of our best speakers and members through the years. This time they will tell us what to look for and do before we start our electric and electronics up on our boating equipment.  Since we have had such a bad winter, this is very important information. Also they will update us on all the new electronics that have come out this year.  If you have had problems with your electronics, such as depth and fish finders, radar or anything, they can answer your problems. This is a very informative meeting that everyone should be interested in, so don’t miss this meeting.

 

See you at the meeting or on the water.

 

Clint

 

P.S. Don’t forget to support our flea market. Bring in something for our club table. We have 35 different vendors so there should be something for everybody. There are show specials for renewing your membership and half price on all new members. There will be a 50/50 raffle given away that day. There will be food available. Don’t miss the “BIGGEST ONE DAY ON THE SHORE”.  There is something for everybody.


 

JANUARY 2010

President and Secretary – Clint Waters     
Vice President – Bob Geisler
Legislative Committee – Charles Hutchinson     
Treasurer – Charles Hutchinson
Membership Committee – Bob Geisler     
Club Fishing Tournaments Committee – Chuck Prahl and Jesse Maffuid
MSSA Tournament Committee – Bob Granados and Ken Barwick     
Crab Feast and Raffles Committee – Jim Kubista and Norman Bell
Guest Speakers – Clint Waters     
Club Fishing Trips – Bob Geisler
Webmaster – Curt Brandt     
Flea Market – Chuck Prahl


NEXT MEETING – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010
7:30 p.m. – AMERICAN LEGION POST 91


The MSSA is working to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect
the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

NO UNITY – NO VOICE – NO FISH!

Can you believe it’s January 2010?  Now do you say twenty ten or two
thousand and ten?  I really don’t care one way or the other.  All I
know is that time is flying by.  It’s the start of a new year with new
changes and beginnings.  First of all, if you are going to fish this
year, you first have to register with NOAA.  Then you must get your
Maryland license.  Here is the scoop as I understand it: Starting
January 1, 2010, Maryland anglers will need to register with NOAA
before fishing.  Starting January 1, 2010, Maryland anglers will need
to register for free online (www.countmyfish.noaa.gov) or call a toll-
free phone number (888-674-7411).

This requirement is an essential part of a national commitment to
effectively manage saltwater fish populations. The registry will allow
fishermen and policy makers to work together to assess the
contributions and impacts of saltwater anglers on ocean ecosystems,
coastal economics and fish population. Since the requirement includes
anyone who may catch an anadromous species (fish that travel between
salt and fresh water), anyone fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, its
tributaries and coastal waters, must be registered.  The program is
designed to produce accurate information that will help determine the
condition of fish stocks.  This data will allow anglers, fisheries
managers and others to effectively and fairly set strategies for
ensuring the long-term sustainability of recreational fishing in salt
waters.

MSSA is working with DNR and expects at the beginning of fishing in
2011 the Maryland fishing license will accommodate the requirements for
the National Saltwater registry. But, for 2010, anglers must all
register directly with NOAA.  This is all free and, if Maryland gets
registered, it will be free after that. There are anglers that do not
need to register and I’m working on that and will have all the answers
at our January meeting.  So be there if you have any questions or help
on this matter.

FLEA MARKET

Our flea market will be the last Saturday in February as it has for the
last few years. February 27th, our flea market will be again at the
American Legion. Doors will open to the public at 8:00 a.m.  There will
be information and flyers at our meetings.  A lot of time and effort
goes into putting this event together.  I need all the support I can
get from our members to make it successful again this year. There will
be show specials, special discounts and free entries in tournaments
available at the flea market.  I hopefully will have all this
information for our January meeting.  If you are interested in a
vendor’s table or helping with the flea market, be at our meeting.  
This event is our biggest money maker for the year and helps to support
all our Club’s activities.

MEMBERSHIP

The MSSA would like to inform you of some minor changes coming soon
regarding your membership.  In order to better serve our members, the
MSSA will be implementing a calendar year expiration date, January 1st,
for all members.  Depending on what membership plan you paid for, three
years or one year, your new membership expiration date is January 1st.  
There will be new more durable plastic cards available with sticker
decals to go on the back of the card.  Hopefully, this will eliminate
the problems we have had with our membership cards.  I’ll also explain
this new system better at our meeting.

MSSA CONVENTION

The MSSA convention will again be in Ocean City at the Princess Royale
on February 5-6-7, 2010.  If you are interested in attending the
convention, call the MSSA office (410-255-5535) for information and
reservations.  Our Chapter will be supplying the oysters and will
travel down for the main meeting Saturday the 6th.

GUEST SPEAKER

Our speaker this month will be Howard King.  Howard retired from DNR
after many years and positions with DNR.  His last position was
Director of Fisheries. I have known Howard for many years and attended
many meetings and conferences with him.  He still remains on many
panels and boards that look over our fisheries.  He will try to explain
the structure of all the organizations that control our fisheries and
why there is such a problem with the system.  Howard is very
knowledgeable of all our fisheries and will try to answer our questions
of any fishery that you have questions about.  

With this new registry system being put in place we need to know what
is happening with our fisheries.

Don’t miss this meeting!

See you at the meeting or on the water.

Clint
 

 

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