Rumors and speculation quickly spread about the catch and the angler, as they often do, because Myerson supposedly went into hiding, but according to the latest news, he was simply ignoring the multitude of calls he was receiving until the catch is officially documented and certified. Myerson is completing the appropriate documents to send to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for certification as the new world record striper. After being submitted, the line and leader used to catch the fish must also be tested, the scale on which the fish was weighed must be certified and no certification can be official until at least 60 days from the date of catch.

The current world record for striped bass is 78½ pounds caught off the coast of New Jersey in 1982. That particular fish was estimated at 20—22 years old. The Mass. state record striper is a three-way tie at 73 pounds, one fish from Quicks’s Hole in 1913, the second from Sow and Pigs off Cuttyhunk in 1967 and the third from Nauset Beach in 1981.

FAREWELL TO CAPT. LEROY

Capt. Leroy, an icon on New Bedford Harbor, Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, passed away on Monday at the age of 89. He ran Captain Leroy’s Fishing Parties out of Popes Island, famous for deep sea fishing trips for scup, tautog, sea bass and fluke. While the boats are now run by Captain Leroy’s son, Capt. Bryan Faltus, the elder captain remained active in the family business that spanned four generations. Captain Leroy had also served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.

SACRED HEART HAS A BALL

The Sacred Heart Nursing Home in New Bedford held its annual fishing trip for residents last week at the Mattapoisett Town Wharf. The fishing was a bit slow, but the residents managed to land at least once scup each with Renee Laflamme catching the first fish, Henry Grace catching the most fish and Robert Ostander catching the most amusing fish — a toadfish. The other residents attending were Rita Genereaux, Michael Gatherall, Domenico Morra and Omer Thibault.

“It’s one of their favorite summer activities — and mine too,” said Activity Director Annette Avelar Gallant. “It’s a summer highlight, and the guys (and lady) are still talking about Robert’s toadfish.” Volunteers who also assisted in rigging tackle, casting lines, baiting hooks and unhooking fish, included Annette’s son, William, and Farell Plank of Freetown.

SEASON OVER

MarineFisheries announced that the commercial “rod and reel” season for striped bass closed at the end of the day on Wednesday. Fishermen are reminded that August 2011 trip-level reports are due no later than Sept. 15, even if the permit was not fished. Failure to submit these reports for all months of the year in a timely manner may result in the non-renewal of your commercial permit and its endorsements in 2012.

Marc Folco is the outdoor writer for The Standard-Times. Contact him at openseason1988@aol.com

Canyons showing signs of life

Published: Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 8:53 PM     Updated: Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 9:33 PM

Al Ristori
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The Jenny Lee from Manasquan ran a crew trip to Hudson Canyon Saturday, and trolled two 45-pound yellowfin tuna plus four dolphin up to 30 pounds. Erik Villalobos(11) of Brick got into his first canyon action, including a shot at a blue marlin that was raised, but didn’t hit.

Capt. Lindsey Fuller of June Bug from Beach Haven took a party including artificial reef developer Bill Figley to Lindenkohl Canyon where they trolled a 160-pound bigeye tuna before catching small yellowfins, and then some larger ones.

Nick Honachefsky of Normandy Beach joined Dave Migliore on Blackbeards Revenge to fish Chicken Canyon — where only bluefish were found. They moved into the Glory Hole and watched 150-to-200-pound tuna crashing, but weren’t able to troll them.

Much further inshore, I joined Dave Lilly of Hazlet today for some deepwater fluking in Ambrose Channel from his center console out of Anglers Marine in Sea Bright. Lilly had enjoyed a decent bite of keepers the two previous days, but Anthony Altobelli of The Tackle Box in Hazlet and I couldn’t provide much help today. It was just a slow pick in a strong current, though we ended up with enough fillets from fluke up to 4 pounds  –  but not the doormat that Lilly was looking for.

Jack Gilligan of Sea Gills from Snipe Boat Club in Carlstadt did find the fluke he was looking for Monday as he drifted off Hoffman’s Island. He boated an 8.3-pounder, only to be upstaged by his cousin Larry who hooked a 10.3-pound doormat. They also caught a 5-pounder and over 60 shorts, though many of them were over 18 inches – not big enough in N.Y. waters where the minimum is 21 inches.

The Sea Devil from Point Pleasant had slower bluefishing Monday, but choppers up to 13 pounds were boated.

Capt. John Koegler of the Starfish from Beach Haven had good fishing for sea bass at Little Egg Inlet on Monday, when he was shocked to see a 21 1/2-inch cod caught.

NJ ASSEMBLY VOTES TO KEEP SALTWATER FISHING FREE!
RFA-NJ Applauds Passage of Free Saltwater Registry Legislation
March 22, 2010 –  With nine months to go before New Jersey‘s saltwater anglers could
be forced into paying for a federal saltwater registry program, the state’s full
Assembly today approved a bill (A823) to create a free, state-run saltwater angler
registry in New Jersey.  The vote by the New Jersey Assembly (54 in favor, 16 opposed,
6 abstain) clears the way for Senate discussion regarding the companion bill (S1122),
which if also passed and signed by the governor would exempt all recreational anglers
who fish in New Jersey coastal waters from having to pay NOAA to store their name
and contact information on file.

Primary sponsors of A823 include Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam, (D-District
1), along with representatives John Amodeo (R-District 2) and Celeste Riley (D-District
3), while co-sponsors include Assemblyman Scott T. Rumana (R-District 40) and Assemblyman
Gilbert “Whip” Wilson (D-District 5).  The Assembly bill which passed today matches
an identical Senate bill (S 1122) which was reintroduced last month by Senator Jeff
Van Drew (D-1) and would require the Department of Environmental Protection to establish
a free recreational saltwater registry in New Jersey.  The legislation would meet
new federal requirements mandating that the contact information of individuals who
engage in recreational fishing within state coastal waters be collected in a state
registry database.

As mandated by the Magnuson Stevens Act, federal surveyors who keep track of recreational
fish harvest will be required to use the new saltwater angler registry to contact
fishermen about their fishing habits. As of 2010, most anglers fishing in New Jersey
coastal waters are required to register with the federal government in an effort
to improve data collection (visit www.countmyfish.noaa.gov for details).  As of
2011, NOAA has said they may begin charging anglers up to $25 apiece to register
online with the federal system, unless states come up with their own system of gathering
angler information.  Both A823 and S1122 have been written specifically to allow
New Jersey to apply for “exempted state designation from the federal registration
requirements,” while also stating that the DEP shall not charge a fee for the required
registration program.

“This is the right thing to for the coastal anglers who fish in New Jersey, both
state residents and for those out-of-state fishermen who visit the Jersey Shore
every year,” said Capt. Adam Nowalsky, Chairman of the Recreational Fishing Alliance’s
New Jersey chapter (RFA-NJ).  Earlier this month, Nowalsky and other RFA representatives
testified before the New Jersey Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
in favor of A823, where the bill passed unanimously out of committee.  RFA argued
that the need for a federally mandated saltwater registry in the state was essentially
co-opted by advocates of a saltwater license, which is purely a funding debate.
“What has happened is people have seen the issue with regard to funding here in
the state of New Jersey specifically with fisheries and the two issues are being
mixed together,” Nowalsky told the committee back on March 9.

“Sen. Van Drew said it best when testifying for this bill in committee, that fathers
and sons, brothers and sisters, friends and family should all be able to wet a line
without worrying about lining someone’s pockets,” Nowalsky added.  ”We look forward
to continuing to work on this, getting additional sponsors for S1122, and getting
the Senate companion bill before Committee and up for a vote.”

The last time the Senate version of the free saltwater registry was due to be heard
in the Senate Environment Committee was back on December 3, 2009.  According to
the RFA, the bill had the votes needed to pass along to the Senate for full vote,
however, Committee Chairman Bob Smith (D-Piscataway) refused to allow the bill to
be heard, to the exclusion of the recreational fishing community in New Jersey.
“We’re not pleased with the way Chairman Smith handled this back in December,”
said Jim Donofrio, the RFA’s Executive Director.  ”All his committee members expressed
a positive view of the bill, but the Chairman felt it was better to help his friends
at the DEP instead of listening to the will of the people through their committee
members.”

As reported in the Atlantic City Press, Smith refused to allow public comment on
the free registry legislation and instead yielded the floor and his support to
the DEP position in favor of a $15 to $30 fee that saltwater anglers would have
to pay before being allowed to fish.  Donofrio said it’s regrettable that the need
for a simple phonebook of saltwater anglers has been intentionally manipulated by
advocates for a saltwater usage fee.  ”In a down economy where state bureaucracies
have been caught misappropriating millions of dollars away from so-called dedicated
accounts, it’s hard to believe that there are some in our own recreational community
who would attempt to intentionally mislead our state legislators about the registry
requirements.”

Donofrio said today’s Assembly vote is a strong indication that legislators in New
Jersey have been able to see through the rhetoric.  ”The RFA is thankful for the
efforts of those Assembly and Senate sponsors for keeping the discussions focused
on the rights of our fishing community, and we’d especially like to thank the Assembly
Speaker Ms. Sheila Oliver for recognizing the importance of this legislation and
for putting the free registry bill up for a full Assembly vote as quickly as she
did,” Donofrio said.