Recreational Outreach Project for Veterans
Fishing Trips for Service Members Under Way

Department of Natural Resources
Annapolis, Md. (October 19, 2010) -

Governor Martin O’Malley announced the creation of the Recreational Outreach Project for Veterans and its new website, as part of Maryland’s commitment to members of our armed forces. The program, administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), provides veterans and their families with unique opportunities to enjoy the rich natural habitats of Maryland, including the Chesapeake Bay, coastal waters and park lands

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to give something back to our veterans, who so courageously serve on our behalf – in this case, a day of fishing on our beautiful Chesapeake Bay,” said Governor O’Malley. “In addition to planned recreation, our commitment extends to veterans by promoting employment, education and training through the ‘Warrior to Worker’ initiative. Both of these programs provide our soldiers with the resources necessary for an easier transition from combat back into their communities.

DNR Fisheries Service employee and Army veteran Dennis Robinson is coordinating 35 fall fishing expeditions for veterans with Maryland Charter Boat captains, the state’s Chesapeake Bay Ambassadors. To date there have been four fishing trips with more scheduled on October 23, 29 and 30, weather permitting. The recreational outreach project will eventually expand within DNR to the Maryland Park Service, Wildlife & Heritage Service and beyond. A new website offers information on the program, photographs and comments from veteran participants.

“These trips not only give us a chance to thank our returning soldiers in a small way,” said DNR Secretary John R. Griffin. “Through a unique partnership, we are also supporting the Bay’s important charter boat industry. The program is benefitting everyone involved.”

“My wife joined me and some friends from the base. This was my first time fishing in anything other than a pond so I had no idea what to expect,” said Staff Sergeant Sean L. Durgin of Middle River, a veteran with the Maryland National Air Guard. “I can’t believe what a rush it was catching those blue fish. Even though we only got a couple small rockfish, I am definitely ‘hooked’ on fishing in the Bay. We all had a great time. Thank you DNR for giving us the opportunity.”

“It was a great day to be on the Bay, making lasting memories for me and my daughter,” said Senior Master Sergeant Stan Bembenek of Joppa, with the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard

Expeditions are coordinated by DNR and the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) through: Fort Meade Warrior Transition Unit, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Maryland National Guard, Baltimore Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center, Forbes Hall Veterans Home and veterans groups at 15 colleges and universities in the State.

“Connecting Maryland’s veterans and veterans’ groups with our partners at the Department of Natural Resources is essential to assuring veterans and their families can engage in and enjoy our state’s vast recreational resources,” said Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Edward Chow, Jr. “We are delighted to offer these fishing trips to our veterans and service members so they may enjoy exploring Maryland’s natural environment.”

“As a veteran myself, I can’t say enough about how privileged I feel to be offering these charter boat expeditions to my fellow service-members,” said Robinson. “Recreational experiences like these say a lot about our State’s commitment to veterans, not only as a way for us to say ‘thank you’ to our men and women in uniform, but also as a vehicle for introducing them to the amazing natural-resource based opportunities we have here in Maryland."

Visit the Veterans Project website at www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/veterans/.


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MSSA's Mission to End Overfishing of Menhaden
Malnourished Rockfish More Susceptible to
Disease and Less Likely to Spawn

Menhaden Muddle #16
by Charlie Hutchinson

As the November 8 ASMFC Menhaden Management Board meeting approaches, new information is surfacing. The Menhaden Technical Committee and the Multi-Species Technical Committee will be able to evaluate for the Board the effects of Maximum Spawning Potential (MSP) reference points requested by the Board at the August meeting.

While the specifics won’t be available until the meeting, it is apparent that Omega Protein is gearing up for a fight. They have hired additional fishery scientists apparently for the purpose of refuting the need for changes in the fishery plan.

For many years Omega has defended their exploitation of the menhaden stock, saying the best available science showed that there was no problem, and that overfishing was not occurring. Recent stock assessments say otherwise, and new standards for judging adequacy of the stock levels have been recommended. For Omega to suddenly reject the methodology that they have heretofore embraced, would simply demonstrate that Omega will do whatever it feels is necessary to avoid action restricting their ability to meet their production needs, irrespective of the costs to the ecology and the public.

There is little doubt that Omega’s scientific advisors can poke holes in the existing science. Fishery science is imprecise at best, and a good deal of judgment is required in what data is put into the models to generate stock assessments and related parameters. Accordingly, one scientist’s guesses are as good as another’s. At least the present system has some consistency. Knowing this, all parties up to this point have accepted the best available current science to guide their stock decisions.

All the bickering over technical analysis begs the issue as to what is at stake here. It is an accepted fact that the present management methods have resulted in the lowest stock levels on record. It is also generally accepted that we cannot satisfy predator requirements and that of an industrial scale commercial fishery. If we cannot have both, then a decision has to be made as to who or what gets what portion of the stock. That decision cannot be made on biological information alone.

The products Omega makes from menhaden can be made from sources that do not require fish as raw material. While menhaden-based products are useful, they do not represent the most beneficial use of this resource to our economy. Economic analyses repeatedly indicate that commercial and recreational fishing contribute many times the economic input of the reduction fishery. Common sense would then indicate that the most important contribution to the economy be given precedence. Economics and ecology both dictate that forage fish be managed for the public interest.

It appears that the ASMFC Menhaden Management Board has accepted the fact that significant changes have to be made in the fishery management plan to restore the stock. As more information becomes available, it is becoming clear that forage species have to be managed differently than the predator and other species which depend on them. Taking halfway remedial measures will not get us out of the hole we’ve dug. The sooner we get proper regulations in place, the better. Most of the stakeholders in this issue will be supportive of decisive action on the part of the ASMFC to stop the bleeding, and get us on a path to having menhaden free to perform the ecological role they were designed for.

To read more of Charlie's Menhaden Muddle Series Please Click the Link: Menhaden Muddle Series


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Chesapeake Bay Fall Classic - Nov. 20 & 21
Bay's Largest Fall Rockfish Tournament
REGISTER ONLINE - Click Here

The Chesapeake Bay’s largest fall rockfish tournament is just weeks away. Now in its 18th year, this year’s annual tournament will be held Nov. 20-21, 2010. Sponsored by the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA), the event is open to all professional and recreational anglers.

“Not only is this a great tournament but you will not find a better place to catch rockfish in the fall than right here in our own Chesapeake Bay,” said MSSA Executive Director Dave Smith.

There will be seven convenient weigh stations located from Sandy Point State Park to Point Lookout State Park. In 2009, tournament participation was at an all-time high with 200 boats and $80,000 in actual prize money with the tournament’s top winner taking home $45,000.

“Even though this is an open tournament, we typically see the recreational or amateur anglers win it all,” Smith said.

Anglers can register for the tournament at any of the four Captain’s Meetings hosted by MSSA prior to the tournament. The meetings take place at local tackle shops and restaurants where there are door prizes, beverages and plenty of fish talk. Anglers may also register by phone, online, mail or fax.

For more information or to register, please visit www.mssa.net or call 410-255-5535.


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2011 MSSA Tournament Series Sponsorship Opportunities
Direct Contact with Thousands of Anglers

The Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) would like to invite you and your business to become one of our elite Sponsors of the 2011 MSSA Tournament Series. The MSSA Tournament Series consists of three major fishing tournaments throughout the year: The 22nd Annual Offshore Tuna-ment, The 19th Annual Chesapeake Bay Fall Classic, and the largest spring rockfish tournament in the country - The 29th Annual Championship on the Chesapeake.

We anticipate having over 700 boats in the 2011 Championship on the Chesapeake, with nearly 4,000 anglers participating in this three day event. As a sponsor your business name and logo will be in direct sight for all our tournament anglers and spectators to see. In addition to the Championship on the Chesapeake, our two other tournaments attract another 230 boats and nearly 1100 anglers. In a world of high cost advertising this is an extremely effective and cost efficient way to get your business and products directly in front of a targeted group of consumers.

We realize that you have many requests for advertisement opportunities, however we can offer you and your business a unique opportunity to not only be seen by the tournament anglers mentioned above, but also by MSSA’s 7,000+ members.

Please review the enclosed information describing our 2011 sponsorship opportunities. We sincerely thank you for your consideration and hope you will find this opportunity valuable to your business. Please contact me at the MSSA main office if you have any further questions.

Call Dave Smith for more information and pricing
410-255-5535