CAPE GAZETrE, Friday, February 23 - February 29, 1996 - 45
State expands commercial striper season
The commercial fishing season
for striped bass is about to be ex-
panded dramatically. Roy Miller
from the Division of Fish and
Wildlife said that commercial
fishermen can take 146,660
pounds of fish tin 1996, most of it
during March and April.
Commercial fishermen were
only allowed to take a total of
42,334 pounds of the fish last
year. But Miller said he does not
think the dramatic increase in
commercial fishing for striped
bass, one of the few fish which
seem to actually be doing well in
these days of dwindling limits and
whispers about moratoriums, will
hurt the fishery.
Recreational fishermen had
been limited to one fish as offi-
cials took a cautious approach af-
ter a number of lean years for the
fishery. Those lean years prompt-
ed a total moratorium which is
credited with reviving the badly
faltering fishery. Recreational
fishermen can now take two fish a
day which must be at least 28
inches in size.
Commercial fishermen have al-
so been tightly regulated and can
not take fish smaller than 20 inch-
es in size.
Miller said that federal regula-
tions allowed Delaware fishermen
more fish last year, but that that
allowance didn't come until late
in the fishing season. That means
the extra poundage allowed last
year was carded over to this sea-
son.
The allocation from last year
was for an extra 52,666 pounds
and that will be carded over to this
season. That is considered part of
the 146,660 pound allocation.
"I don't think there will be too
much impact," Miller said, adding
that this is the first real loosening
of regulations for commercial
OUTDOORS
Mike Short
fishing. Ninety percent of the
commercial fishery comes in
March and April. The remaining
ten percent of the commercial
fishery is a hook and line fishery
(the 90 percent allocation is for
gill netters).
Miller said commercial fisher-
men catching shad or other
springtime fis.h often catch
stripers (known regionally as
rockfish), but have not been al-
lowed to keep the fish. That
means the accidental or bycatch i s
simply tossed back dead, he said.
Captain Jerry Blakeslee, presi-
dent of the Delaware Captains As-
sociation, said recreational fisher-
men were probably more worded
about the impact of a proposal
which would open up the area be-
yond three miles offshore to com-
mercial and recreational fishing.
Blakeslee said the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commis-
sion had proposed opening up the
fishery beyond that three mile
EEZ (economic exclusion zone),
but that it looks like the area will
remain closed at least for now.
That reminded Blakeslee of the
massive striped bass harvests that
preceded the population crash that
led to a moratorium in the 1980's.
TIDES
Indian River
Date Inlet
12:341 5:44
1:26 / 6:37
2/26 ii[
2:18 1 7:38
3:14 / 8:39
4:13 | 9:34
2/29 iliiiiii:ii i
5;i0 ii0125
6:01 111:22
Roosevelt
Inlet
1:34 I 7:47
:::::!,,:' :1'" ",z.211:: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
3:33 ] 9:44
4:34 110:42
5:28 111:34
G i ii;2;
Oak
Orchard
4:28 111:07
5:24 112:08
6:23 11:04
7:20 I 1:53
8:05 1 2:39
"The bottom line of whatever is
done is that it has to be done very
prudently."
He agreed with Miller that there
is already a heavy bycatch of
striped bass and said he hopes
commercial fishing is not extend-
ed too dramatically.
"They have as much of a right
to fish as we do," Blakeslee said.
"(Still), I hate to see too much ex-
pansion of commercial fishing."
Dinosaurs of the sea
Horseshoe crabs look to be the
most useless creatures on earth.
But beneath that homely exterior
which has barely changed since
prehistoric times, lurks a diamond
in the rough.
Horseshoe crabs have proven to
have a vast array of uses to med-
ical science, ranging from optical
research on their eyes to use of
their blood. The crab's blood con-
tains a clotting agent which at-
taches to dangerous fever-causing
toxins frequently produced by
bacteria, according to a Marine
Advisory Service bulletin from
the University of Delaware Sea
Grant College program.
The clotting agent is known as
LAL and today it is considered the
standard test for injectable and in-
travenous drugs required by the
Food and Drug Administration.
The horseshoe crab's chitin
(found in the shell) is also used to
produce sutures. Research has
shown the sutures can reduce
healing time.
The eggs of the crabs are vitally
important for millions of migrat-
ing shorebirds. Those eggs pro-
vide food for birds during their
migration along Delaware Bay, a
trek of many thousands of miles
during the springtime.
That migration makes Delaware
Bay one of the word's great bird-
ing areas during the springtime
and the stopover by the shorebirds
allows them to gorge on tons of
crab eggs needed to fuel the re-
maining miles of their journey.
The crabs are also used as bait
for eels and other species - yet an-
other reason why what was once
considered a nuisance is becom-
ing a treasure.
The problem is that the once nu-
merous horseshoe crabs may be
experiencing a downturn in popu-
lation. Because of concerns about
the crabs, the University of
Delaware Sea Grant Marine Advi-
sory Service has organized a fo-
rum on the crabs.
"We saw trends that were of
concern," said Joe Farrell of the
Marine Advisory Service. Those
tl:ends prompted today's (Feb. 23)
forum, which is aimed toward fish
and wildlife officials, representa-
tives from the pharmaceutical in-
dustry, scientists, environmental-
ists and other key players in this
crabby dilemma.
Trout season coming
For those who thought winter
was never going to end, one of the
perennial harbingers of spring is
on the way. Trout will soon be
stocked at Gravel Hill.
Trout season ranks with the first
dogwood blossom as a sign of
spring. Trout fishermen have been
known, however, to go fishing
when ice will freeze in the rod
guides.
Nevertheless, stocking will take
place March 7 in Tidbury Pond
near Dover and Gravel Hill pond
between Georgetown and Harbe-
son. Five hundred fish will'be
stocked in each pond on March 7
with another 500 stocked on
March 21.
This is purely a put and take
fishery with the trout not expected
to live through the summer or
spawn and reproduce:
Fishermen are limited to six fish
per day. Residents and non-resi-
dents between the ages of 16 and
65 are required to have a
• Delaware fishing license.
A juvenile trout stamp is re-
quired for children between the
ages of 12 and 15. A trout stamp is
required for people who fish in the
ponds between March 7 and April.
1. After April 1, a trout stamp is
not required for those ponds.
OPEN YEAR ROUND
-- Open Thursday for Dinner thru Monday Night --
320 Rehoboth Avenue 226-BREW
:s Benefit
2nd Annual 5K RUN*& 1 MILE WALK
Saturday, April 6th at 10 am (Rain or Shine)
"RUN TO THE BEACH"
Sponsored by Lewes Physical Therapy
(302) 644-2530
For more information please contact:
Race Director, Tim Bamforth
645-7748
*Seashore Strider Racing Series
