Chesapeake Bay young of the year survey is a disaster

I recently received the results of Maryland’s young of the year survey of striped bass, and it was a disaster. The number is 1.02, the second-lowest ever recorded since the survey began in 1954.

I do believe you can look forward to increased regulations on striped bass fishing, both recreational and commercial, in 2024. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will meet to consider exactly what those regulations will be, and then the new rules will go out for public comment.

I still think they need to consider the fact that there have been more female striped bass in the Hudson River complex over the past few years than ever before. Those fish did not just drop out of the sky. They had to come from somewhere, and it is just possible they came from the Chesapeake Bay. As global warming increased water temperatures, these big fish have moved north and now spawn in the Hudson River complex, not in the Chesapeake Bay. At least that’s my theory. Who knows, next year we could have an extraordinary young of the year in the Chesapeake Bay and, once again, the fish will make the people look like the fools we are.

Summer flounder survey 

Attention summer flounder fishermen! Researchers from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Department at Virginia Tech are conducting a research study to learn more about factors that influence fluke population dynamics in the United States. They would love to hear your valuable insights and opinions on abundance, regulations and other topics. The online survey only takes five to 10 minutes to complete, and as compensation for your time at the end of the survey, you can opt in for a $50 Cabela's gift card drawing (10 gift cards are available). All responses are completely anonymous and confidential.

The research lab website is kindsvater.fishwild.vt.edu/summer-flounder-fluke-research. The survey link is virginiatech.questionpro.com/fluke-survey.

I completed the survey and it only took a few minutes, as advertised. In my case, the questions concerning my flounder fishing this year were off since I have not been out much due to a bad shoulder. I will be getting a new model in December, and if all goes well, I should be back in fishing form by spring.

It is good to see Virginia Tech take an interest in recreational fishing. Back when I lived in Virginia, we were trying to get a tagging program going, and the powers at Virginia Tech basically said recreational fishermen were too dumb to properly tag and record the correct information on a card. One of their own biologists offered to set up classes to teach the great unwashed exactly how to do the job, and the tagging program has been a great success ever since.

Surf-fishing tournaments

I apologize for this being a bit late, but I had two sets of results and had to get the correct one from Delaware Mobile Surf-Fishermen President Clark Evans. The tournament ran Oct. 8-9 in not the best of fishing conditions.

In the Overall Division, Brian Hill came in first with five fish worth 61 points. Scott Aiken Jr. was second with three fish worth 37 points. In third was Lloyd Meeks with three fish worth 36 points.

The Women’s Division only had two winners. Meg Vinson was first with one fish worth 18 points, while Kelsey Cycyk was second with one fish worth 13 points.

Kid’s Division - Each kid was awarded a point for each eligible fish that was on the list, but under the size limit.

Jace Griffith came in first with four fish worth 17 points. In second place was Justin Toomey with two fish worth two points. Taking third was Aiden Sparano with one fish worth one point.

Now for the big-money fish. The Big Fish Calcutta went to Christopher Barnhard for his 17.5-inch flounder worth $750.

The Bluefish Calcutta was worth $1,190. That went to Scott Foltz for his 13-inch chopper. Jace Griffith had a 13.5-inch blue, but since he was underage and could not enter the Calcutta, he was awarded an Akios Airloop R-10 spinning reel for catching the biggest bluefish.

The Kingfish Calcutta was a tie. Both Scott Aiken Jr. and Chris Linton caught 12.5-inch kingfish, so they split the $1,130 prize.

Unlike the DMS surf-fishing tournament, the Assateague tournament is a team event. This year, the Delaware Mobile Surf-Fishing Club sent two teams to the event. Team No. 1 grabbed first place, with team members Jim Haug, Mike Walker, Darren Purcell, Scott Aiken Jr., Bob Dever and Acie Mankins.

Congratulations to all the winners!