Fish Pic Friday - Hookin 'N' Cookin

Hi I'm K! Join me for some fishing fun, beautiful views, boating, hiking, and a lil cooking too!

Not the most variety ever.

Fish Pic Friday - Jessica Marie White-Page

 And some fish from Arkansas:

Thida, AR, C&J Training

The Bay Has More Oysters and Watermen Want Them

Bay Journal, Bill could open future Bay oyster sanctuaries to commercial harvest

Environmentalists are decrying language added to a U.S. House spending bill that would open future federally supported oyster restoration projects around the Chesapeake Bay to commercial harvesting.

U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland’s lone Republican member of Congress, inserted the provision into a bill funding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The House Appropriations Committee passed the bill on a 32-28 vote in May. It is expected to come up for a vote by the full House in the coming weeks.

The provision is likely to face stiff opposition if it reaches the Senate. A similar measure was stripped out of last year’s funding package before it became law. But it is part of a growing number of efforts in Washington, Annapolis and Richmond aiming to soften or remove the protected status of restored reefs amid the bivalve’s rebound in the estuary.

“It comes at a time when ideas like this maybe have more legs,” said Ben Ford, the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper. “Everyone wants more oysters in the Bay. But people see the success of meeting the oyster restoration goals in the Bay Agreement and think the job’s done.”

It's worth noting that Andy Harris, the sole Republican in Maryland's congressional delegation, represents a district on the Eastern Shore, where the politics are dominated by watermen and agriculture. Watermen have long balked at having oyster sanctuaries protected from harvesting, and they've been known to sneak in under cover of darkness and pillage them. 

Although oyster populations have improved in recent years, they are nowhere near the numbers that existed before the widespread oyster mining of the late 1800s and early 1900s. I'm still in favor of stopping the harvest of "wild" oysters for 5-10 years to find out how well they will be able to flourish in the modern Bay.

Fish Pic Friday - Lil Red Heidi Hood

Heidi Thomasson@lilredheidihood God, Family, & the Great Outdoors • YouTube “Your Way Living” 

youtu.be/bY7dES9u0U0?si=TVCgnXEYEDXmeyZq

Some of her videos have been featured in Gone Fishin' posts.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Redhead in Denim up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain. Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

Back From Fishin'

Another walk on trip, another early morning, another sunrise picture from the bay. 

This was "Location X." There were no fish in evidence here

There is new construction going on a James Island, where the Army Corps of Engineers is restoring the island as a dredge disposal area to place sediment from Baltimore Harbor. You can see a huge mound of sand that's new there, and a tug pushing a barge loaded with rocks and a loader.

Pete found us fish here, on some submerged old islands with drowned logs. The four of us managed to catch our limit stripers, one each plus "one for the captain," there, and left to try elsewhere. At one spot, one of the other fishermen caught a single Speckled Trout. They seem to be relatively rare this year thanks to a winter kill this winter.

We went as far south as the southern tip of Hoopers Island, and caught a few more fish at most of the places we tried, but it was not an easy day.

Gone Fishin'

 Maybe a little like this:

or this:

Back later with fresh lies.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Melon Season up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Fish Pic Friday - Laura Ericksen

L a u r a@ lauraoutdoorz 📍FLORIDA | Exploring nature & all its critters! I find wildlife & share its beauty with you. 🌴 🐊 🐍 🦀🦎 🐣 Ocean & Swamp ... more

She's quite the snake charmer. 

Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Melon Season  up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Fish Pic Friday - Parker Outdoor Adventures

Another catfish killer.  Ohio Sate Record holder for the largest bluecat in the limb line category 101.11 pounds.  You go girl!

Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America! up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.

Menhaden and Ospreys

 From the National Fisherman, Study fuels Atlantic menhaden debate

As the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission prepares to revisit Atlantic menhaden management later this year, an economic study is adding momentum to shift more of the coastwide quota toward bait fisheries, while recent debate in Virginia continues to highlight disagreements over research and management of the species.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) issued a release on June 24 about a study by Southwick Associates that estimated that recreational fishing trips using Atlantic menhaden as bait generated approximately $1.5 billion in total economic output and supported more than 7,200 jobs nationwide in 2025.

According to the study, anglers spent roughly $804 million on fishing trips involving menhaden bait while using the species during an estimated 13.9 million fishing days along the Atlantic Coast. Of those trips, approximately 2.5 million occurred in New England, with another 6.3 million in the Mid-Atlantic and 5.1 million in the South Atlantic.

"Atlantic fishing trips involving menhaden generate more than $1.5 billion in annual economic output," said Ben Scuderi, lead economist at Southwick Associates. "That figure represents the full spectrum of spending that occurs for fishing trips where menhaden are used as bait, from direct purchases of equipment, food, fuel, and the many other items needed for a day of fishing, to the downstream effects that spending has on retailers, manufacturers, and countless other businesses."

The report arrives ahead of several major Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decisions expected this fall. In November, the commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board is scheduled to establish a new coastwide total allowable catch for the 2027-28 fishing season and may also decide whether to begin formally reconsidering how state menhaden quotas are allocated.

Tom Horton at the Bay Journal,  The mysterious case of disappearing Chesapeake ospreys

This bird of prey, called a fish hawk by some, is known along shorelines from Japan to Australia, from India and the Strait of Hormuz to much of Europe and North America. “Ospreys and people have been overlapping since there were people,” said Alan Poole, author of two books about Pandion haliaetus.

In 2023, when Joanie began the Virginia Osprey Foundation out of their cottage at Colonial Beach, she observed robust production of 55 osprey chicks from 36 active nests around the community. Baywide, ospreys were continuing their heartening comeback from the dark days of DDT — from a historic 1972 low of about 1,500 nesting pairs to an estimated 10,000-12,000 pairs now throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.

Then, a sudden and mysterious population crash: Only five chicks reached adulthood in 2024, eight in 2025. Young ospreys were seen walking aimlessly, dazed and apparently starving. There were fish crows stealing osprey eggs as females left them in search of food the males could no longer provide. Adults were eating their dead babies. “That is difficult to watch, and the whole town takes it to heart,” Barry said as they prepared for the town’s seventh annual osprey festival this spring.

Baywide, a similar picture was emerging, with poor nesting success throughout 80% of the estuary and its tidal rivers and an estimated 5,500 young ospreys starving to death, according to Bryan Watts, a Virginia scientist known for his decades of Chesapeake osprey research. Ecologically, cannibalism of dead young “makes energetic sense when calories are scarce,” says Watts, who is the director of William & Mary University’s Center for Conservation Biology. But, Joanie said, it breaks your heart to watch.

The reversal of ospreys’ fortunes has been dramatic and well documented. While scientists mostly think there is no single cause, the decline has reinvigorated a dispute over the commercial harvest of menhaden by Omega Protein. a Canadian company with a fishing fleet based in Virginia.

Omega’s fleet of six ships, guided by spotter aircraft, takes about 125,000 metric tons of menhaden annually, fishing from the lower Chesapeake and along the Atlantic Coast. Menhaden are small, oily fish that are packets of superbly calorie-dense energy, beloved by larger fish like striped bass, and by ospreys. Along with tinier but abundant Bay anchovies and silverside minnows, menhaden form the forage base underpinning the Chesapeake’s productivity.

Watts and others have documented that ospreys are doing worst in the saltier parts of the Chesapeake and Atlantic coastal bays where menhaden make up a critical part of their diets. Only in areas with less salty water, the upper Chesapeake and its tidal rivers, are ospreys producing enough young to sustain their populations — though not enough to offset the plummeting reproduction in the rest of the estuary. 

Prey options in fresher water are more varied, with gizzard shad and catfish providing ample calories. Nesting ospreys with young need to catch five or six fish a day to sustain the family.
...
One of Watts’s graduate students has shown that osprey reproduction can be revived if humans give them extra menhaden. He has heard from “quite a few people” around the Bay who are feeding hungry ospreys. “I’m fine with that,” Watts said, “but it’s not a solution to the current deficits.”

In recent days, schools of "peanut bunker", 3-4 inch Menhaden have been circling close to shore at the beach. Osprey, on the other hand, seem pretty scarce; I have only seen one most days. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America! up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.

Fish Pic Friday - Jessica Jackson

 A girl on a mission:

On a journey to fish in all 50 states 24/50

Is it too late to start?

Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.  The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Redness a bit late, but within reason.

Fish and Wildlife Service Redefines Shellfish

 FWS.gov, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Modernizes Shellfish Definition, Reduces Regulatory Ambiguity. "Final rule clarifies that cephalopods such as squid are included in regulatory definition of shellfish."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a final rule updating the regulatory definition of "shellfish" to eliminate outdated language, improve regulatory clarity, and reduce unnecessary burdens on the regulated community.

Under 50 CFR part 10, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulates the import and export of wildlife and wildlife products. The regulations provide an exemption from certain import and export requirements for shellfish.

The final revisions clarify that cephalopods—including squid, octopus, and cuttlefish—are included within the regulatory definition of shellfish. The update aligns federal regulations with modern scientific understanding and longstanding commercial practice.

 

“America’s seafood industry operates in a global marketplace, and our regulations should reflect modern science and common sense,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik. “This update removes an unnecessary regulatory burden on U.S. squid fisheries, provides greater certainty for seafood producers and exporters, and aligns our regulations with longstanding commercial and international practice.”

These changes help ensure that commercially harvested squid fisheries are treated consistently with other seafood products under existing import and export regulations. By clarifying the scope of the shellfish exemption, the rule reduces unnecessary regulatory requirements and associated costs for seafood producers, processors, importers, and exporters.

The Service developed the rule in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help ensure consistency across federal agencies.

The rule does not alter existing conservation authorities, wildlife protections, or management responsibilities. Instead, it updates definitional language to better reflect current scientific understanding and longstanding industry practice.

OK, that make sense, but I wonder how many days they spent working on it. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Redness a bit late, but within reason.

Skates in the Upper Bay?

Probably not the Choptank

Chesapeake Bay Mag reports a New Visitor to the Bay: Skate Spotted in the Choptank

A ShoreRivers team monitoring underwater grass beds in the Lower Choptank River in Maryland spotted something unusual in the water recently: a juvenile Skate.

Cownose Rays are common in the Choptank—a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay—but other Rays and Skates are not.

“It’s unusual because they are a high-salinity animal, so prefer other spots,” says Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper. “We are more mid-salinity, in the 12-15 ppt (parts per thousand) range.”

Definitely not the Choptank

 Higher salinity generally means more Sea Nettles, too. I have to say, I haven't seen any yet. But we expect them by July 4.

By comparison, the Atlantic Ocean—the saltiest major ocean— is 33 – 37 ppt.

The fish was located close to Irish Bay, although it hasn’t been seen since. But it’s presence—and an increase in the number of Cownose Rays—tells us something may be changing in local waters. “It tells us we are saltier than normal,” Pluta says.

In case you spot a Ray—or Skate— look but don’t touch. “When it comes to wildlife, keep your distance and just observe,” Pluta recommends.

I've seen a couple of small ones caught in the bay, or washed up dead. Those of us who know better have to remind a lot of folk that the much more common Cownose Rays are not skates.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Redness a bit late, but within reason.

Fish Pic Friday - Kristine Fischer

Kristine Fischer@midwestfishergal. Defy the stereotype. Ball cap aficionado. Closet musky angler trying to cash checks bass fishing. Joshua 1:9

Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Obligatory World Cup Post up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Back From Fishin'

A 6 AM start, with the sun rising. 

We made the usual stop at Cedar Point, with nothing happening.

A bit of a lumpy ride  across the bay to Hoopers Island, and a couple of rock piles and creek mouths without success.

We fished the north end of Bloodsworth Island, with nice clear water and good grass beds, and found nothing.

We ended up at the Target Ship (the American Mariner) if you can't read the writing on the stern, where we found a slow, but rather steady bite of very large (about 30 inch) Bluefish, with amazing fighting power.

We just had fresh Bluefish for dinner.

Gone Fishin'

 But not like this:

or this: 

Back later with fresh lies 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Obligatory World Cup Post up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Fish Pic Friday - The Reel Hilary Sue

Aka Hilary Sue Martin:

Hilary Sue Martin@thereelhilarysue
✞ 1 Peter 5:7 Just an outdoors girl trying to do big things🎣
Tik tok | Youtube: TheReelHilarySue

Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama. The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: More About Agriculture up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Oregon, My Oregon

Vicky Taft has another West Coast, Messed Coast™ — Oregon Is a Step Closer to Outlawing Hunting and Gathering

Oregon is the land of the farthest of far-left nutters, and I can prove it. People circulating petitions for a measure that would outlaw hunting and fishing — in other words, people getting their own food — have passed the signature threshold to get placed on the November ballot. Signature verification will follow.

Initiative 28, called “Peace Act" (not a typo), would, according to the Oregon Hunters Association, “remove legal exemptions protecting hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming from Oregon's animal abuse statutes — turning nearly one million Oregonians into criminals.”

Under this initiative, one could not even use a mousetrap.

Proposed measure would make those practices, and other common practices involving animals, criminal offenses if injury/death occurs. Criminalizes breeding practices for domestic, livestock, and equine animals; exception for 'good veterinary practices' and self-defense. Applies to mammals (including vermin), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish. Eliminates hunting and fishing licenses, which would remove funding from wildlife management. Directs state money to fund for animal welfare, food assistance, job training for persons who lose livelihood due to initiative’s enactment. Other provisions.

 

Initiative 28, the “Peace Act,” an acronym standing for People for Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions, would make it illegal to hunt, fish, or get rid of pests such as mice, rats, moles, or gophers in Oregon.

The organizers needed 117,173 signatures and just crossed that threshold this week. The Secretary of State’s offices will verify the signatures to determine how many of those are legitimate. Heh.

I can't describe how sad this makes me. Many of my best memories of my Oregon sojourn are hunting and fishing with my now deceased younger brother Ted. I hope the voters of Oregon resoundingly defeat this stupid proposal, assuming it makes it to the ballot. Unfortunately, I have no confidence in them. anymore. 

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: Outstanding In Her Field up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Fish Pic Friday - CMD Fishing Girl

 Aka Cassie Malson-Dixon, South Wales

Cassie Malson - Dixon@cmdfishinggirl salt&fresh water🐟, PADI open water🤿

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: Outstanding In Her Field up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain. Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

Fish Pic Friday

With Lauren Ashleigh and a few favorite Aussie fish:

A relatively fresh account, but I have a lot of hope for it.

Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: A Common Enemy up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Thursday Tanlines

Not a problem at the beach.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: A Common Enemy up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.