Prohibition On The Taking Of Alewife And Blueback Herring From CT Waters Extended

Prohibition On The Taking Of Alewife And Blueback Herring From Connecticut
Waters Extended For Another Year




The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that, effective
immediately, the taking of alewives and blueback herring from inland and
marine waters of the State of Connecticut is prohibited. This action was
initially taken in April of 2002 and then extended in 2003 with an
expiration date of March 31, 2004. The current action by DEP Commissioner
Arthur J. Rocque, Jr. extends the prohibition through March 31, 2005. "The
DEP initially took this action because river herring populations have
declined to historically low levels, potentially compromising their ability
to sustain themselves," said Commissioner Rocque, "In the subsequent years,
biologists have continued to monitor river herring runs statewide to
determine the status of these populations. During the past twelve months
there has been no evidence of a recovery. Therefore it is prudent to
continue this prohibition to protect these species."



River herring is a term used to collectively refer to alewife and the
blueback herring. Both species are anadromous, which means they hatch in
freshwater, migrate to the ocean to grow, then return to freshwater to
spawn. Historically, river herring runs into Connecticut rivers and streams
have numbered into the millions; however, runs have been declining steadily
since 1990. While the reasons for the decline are not fully understood, DEP
staff believe predation by increasingly abundant striped bass is an
important factor.



"River herring are important to our freshwater, marine and estuarine
ecosystems because adult herring and their young provide food for a variety
of predators including freshwater gamefish, marine gamefish, osprey, bald
eagle, harbor seals, porpoise, egrets, kingfishers, and river otter," said
Edward Parker, Chief of DEP's Bureau of Natural Resources. DEP wildlife
biologists have noted that strong runs of river herring enhance the survival
rate of osprey chicks.



Non-migratory alewife populations are also established in several lakes and
ponds in Connecticut, however, these landlocked populations are not
experiencing similar declines. The DEP prohibition does not include
landlocked alewives from Amos Lake, Ball Pond, Beach Pond, Candlewood Lake,
Crystal Lake, Highland Lake, Lake Quassapaug, Lake Quonnipaug, Rogers Lake,
Squantz Pond, Uncas Pond, and Lake Waramaug. Alewives in these lakes may
still be taken by angling and scoop net as established in state statute and
regulation.



The DEP indicates that the prohibition on the taking of river herring would
be in place throughout 2004 and would likely extend into the future.
"Protecting wild fish populations is one of our top priorities. We will
closely monitor the progress of the runs and will recommend an end to the
prohibition once river herring have recovered to the point where we believe
that they are out of danger," said Parker. Monitoring conducted during 2002
and 2003 indicated that the river herring stocks remained depressed, noting
that the number of blueback herring counted at the fishway at the first dam
on the Connecticut River reached an all-time low in 2003.



The DEP does not expect river herring populations to recover immediately.
"We believe that the fishery closure may reduce the threat of further
population declines and that it may enable river herring populations to
recover more quickly in years when striped bass are less abundant,"
explained Parker. The local abundance of striped bass can not be controlled
since they are highly migratory and harvest is constrained by a coast-wide
management plan.



The DEP will continue its other efforts to enhance river herring stocks by
transplanting adult herring from streams with healthy runs into streams
where runs have been eliminated or greatly depleted, removing obsolete dams
and building fishways that allow fish to migrate past remaining dams. In an
effort to learn more about river herring in the state, DEP is funding a
two-year study conducted by a graduate student at the University of
Connecticut. The study, which focuses on coastal streams and one Connecticut
river tributary, will conclude at the end of this year and is expected to
provide additional scientific information that will assist in assessing the
status of river herring populations in Connecticut.


Cyndi Redmond (860) 424-4100
Steve Gephard (860-434-6043)


--
James Ehlers

Outdoors Magazine
www.outdoorsmagazine.net

Are either of these fish also refered to as bunker?
George in Las Vegas

George wrote:
Are either of these fish also refered to as bunker?
George in Las Vegas

No. Bunker are Menhaden in these parts. Bluebacks and alewives,
aka buckeys(sp) are herring.
I have heard that the runs in R.I are doing well.

http://njfieldoffice.fws.gov/Coastal%20Award/Fish.htm
http://www.thefishinmusician.com/herring.htm
http://www.floridabayseafood.com/fis...20menhaden.JPG


--
Sphynx

I have been out of state for a while. It is something I should remember but
don't. I never caught a striper in CT. I have had good luck with blues
though. The only stripers I have ever caught were in Lake Mead.
George in Las Vegas

George wrote:
I have been out of state for a while. It is something I should remember but
don't. I never caught a striper in CT. I have had good luck with blues
though. The only stripers I have ever caught were in Lake Mead.
George in Las Vegas

Well, at one time, because of overharvest, the striper was a hard to find
fish. Now, they're everywhere. Lots more big ones around in recent
years as the protected year classes grow. I don't know about CT but
Rhode Island had lots more fish taken in the 25 to 50 lb range. I know
of one over 60 taken from shore and a 59.5 from a boat.


--
Sphynx

Well, at one time, because of overharvest, the striper was a hard to find
fish. Now, they're everywhere. Lots more big ones around in recent
years as the protected year classes grow. I don't know about CT but
Rhode Island had lots more fish taken in the 25 to 50 lb range. I know
of one over 60 taken from shore and a 59.5 from a boat.

My father caught one about 36" back in the 70s. He used to fish for stripers
during the winter in the Thames but quit because he wasn't catching
anything. My last trip home I heard that the situation had improved but I
haven't fished in Ct since the 80's. A couple of years ago a large striper
was caught in Lake Mojave, in the 60 pound range IIRC. I intend to start
fishing again this summer, I will probably have to fish at night to keep
from getting cooked.
George in Las Vegas

George wrote:
My father caught one about 36" back in the 70s. He used to fish for stripers
during the winter in the Thames but quit because he wasn't catching
anything. My last trip home I heard that the situation had improved but I
haven't fished in Ct since the 80's. A couple of years ago a large striper
was caught in Lake Mojave, in the 60 pound range IIRC. I intend to start
fishing again this summer, I will probably have to fish at night to keep
from getting cooked.
George in Las Vegas

If the weather and water are hot I would assume you must have to
fish deep, no?

Fishing at night for stripers is the way to go if you want a big one
from the beach here. I should have mentioned the 59.5 and 60+ were pounds
and not inches; sorry. Back in the 80's the bass were so badly overfished
that the fishing went bad everywhere. They finally protected the fish in 1989
I believe, and 1992 saw a big spawning success followed by even better
ones. Bigger fish get more prominent with each year. Last year we saw
entire schools of larger stripers cruising the beach at night. I just love
catching biggies on surface lures. My favorite is the Atom 40. I never
head to the beach without it.

Big bluefish are here in numbers too (summer and fall)and the weakfish are
getting better every year. Last year I got 11 and 10 lbs on consecutive casts
using a Red Gill and 9" Sluggo combo. Most of the big bass I got last year
(over 30 lbs) came in the summer instead of fall for some reason. The rigged
eel was the ticket.


--
Sphynx

Sphynx wrote:
George wrote:

My father caught one about 36" back in the 70s. He used to fish for stripers
during the winter in the Thames but quit because he wasn't catching
anything. My last trip home I heard that the situation had improved but I
haven't fished in Ct since the 80's. A couple of years ago a large striper
was caught in Lake Mojave, in the 60 pound range IIRC. I intend to start
fishing again this summer, I will probably have to fish at night to keep
from getting cooked.
George in Las Vegas


If the weather and water are hot I would assume you must have to
fish deep, no?

Fishing at night for stripers is the way to go if you want a big one
from the beach here. I should have mentioned the 59.5 and 60+ were pounds
and not inches; sorry. Back in the 80's the bass were so badly overfished
that the fishing went bad everywhere. They finally protected the fish in 1989
I believe, and 1992 saw a big spawning success followed by even better
ones. Bigger fish get more prominent with each year. Last year we saw
entire schools of larger stripers cruising the beach at night. I just love
catching biggies on surface lures. My favorite is the Atom 40. I never
head to the beach without it.

Big bluefish are here in numbers too (summer and fall)and the weakfish are
getting better every year. Last year I got 11 and 10 lbs on consecutive casts
using a Red Gill and 9" Sluggo combo. Most of the big bass I got last year
(over 30 lbs) came in the summer instead of fall for some reason. The rigged
eel was the ticket.



When you're fishing for bluefish from the beach, how far out do you
usually have to cast? I know it varies depending upon where the fish are
crashing on bait, but generally speaking, do they come in fairly close
to the shore?

barbz

barbz wrote:
When you're fishing for bluefish from the beach, how far out do you
usually have to cast? I know it varies depending upon where the fish are
crashing on bait, but generally speaking, do they come in fairly close
to the shore?

barbz

Here in New England, the fish are close to the beach most times and
a long cast is not usually required. At night, bluefish come in much closer
to shore than daytime, just like stripers. But stripers practically hug the
shore, so that you should be careful while walking along the sandy beach
not to spook 'em. IMO, bluefish tend to hang back a little but not too much.
So long as it's dark, neither require a long cast in most situations. However,
during the day and at certain places, longer casts are necessary because
the fish move out father. The fact that fly fisherman, who are all distance
challenged, still get bass and blues from the surf gives you an idea how
close the fish come. R'gards!


--
Sphynx