Islamorada Journal 2011…30 DEC

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Many readers know that for the past several years we’ve made an annual trip to the Florida Keys…for fishing, and to escape Connecticut’s winter. This year, despite increased age and advancing decrepitude, we’re doing it again. Day one found us driving I-95 from Connecticut [14°F at 0730] to Virginia [49° at 1500] where we’ll stay overnight before boarding the Amtrak AutoTrain. The traffic…it being the day before New Year’s Eve…was horrendous. Worst part was going through Maryland where it was three lanes in both directions…all lanes full of cars and 18-wheelers…all doing 70-75…without enough space between bumpers to insert a miser’s charity list. I may be exaggerating slightly. Thank goodness, we saw no accidents and arrived in VA in one piece…although a bit frayed about the collar. We got into our hotel room. Checked for bedbugs [Caryl apparently has studied up on how to do that]. Found none. Went across the street to the town pasta & pizza place which turned out to be a Greek diner disguised as a store-front. I had fresh salmon, grilled…Caryl a fettuccini/marinara that was also very good. We then hoofed down four store-fronts to the Baskin & Robbins for desert [I passed on that]. Just hoping now that the slight bubbling in my stomach is not going to turn out to be the Grecian Grumbles. Back at the hotel after a shower I was feeling substantially less frayed. This place has the best shower. The showerhead is made by Kohler…can’t find a model number…and am thinking seriously of sneaking it out of the hotel in my baggy cargos. Tomorrow we’re off to Amtrak where we’re stuck riding in coach for the first time [I called too late], and although we started out in position #2 on the waiting list for a private room, we’re still second in line. Can’t imagine what it’s going to be like in a coach full of revelers on New Year’s Eve. Can always catch up on sleep once in the Keys, I guess. There won’t be an Islamorada Journal for Day Two as we’ll be on the train and there’s no Internet connection…so check back with us early next week for the exciting conclusion to our three-day travel story and the first of our Journal entries directly from the Keys. First project once we get settled? Go get Shoo-Fly 3 from the marina and bring her to the dock in front of our rental house. Should be interesting as the only boat I’ve ever run in the Keys has been little 17-foot Shoo-Fly 2. Three is a 22-footer and weighs twice as much as -2…and with so much shallow water on the Bay side…am looking forward to seeing how it works out.

Support Your Small, Local Commercial Fishermen

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“I met up with Phil a couple weeks ago to learn all about small, family-owned commercial fishing operations in the New York area. For 7 hours, I watched as Phil and his grandson Carl dragged for fish in the Long Island Sound. It's a lot of manual labor for a 2-man operation...a lot of nets, gear, fish sorting, fish gutting and fish packing while exposing yourself to whatever elements Mother Nature decides to bring that day.” HuffingtonPost

Interested in Basic Handgun Instruction?

For those of you who want to get started, Academy Firearms has three NRA Basic Pistol Courses scheduled early in 2011:

January 15, 2011: (www.nrainstructors.org/SignupStudent.aspx?id=36475)
February 5, 2011: (www.nrainstructors.org/SignupStudent.aspx?id=36476)
March 12, 2011: (www.nrainstructors.org/SignupStudent.aspx?id=36477)

This class is required to obtain your Connecticut CCW [carrying a concealed weapon] permit.

Click on the included links to sign up for one of these classes. Sign up before December 31, 2010 and receive a $20 discount on your tuition.

For further information: usna92llc@gmail.com

Study: Drifting Fish Larvae Allow Marine Reserves to Rebuild

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“Marine ecologists at Oregon State University have shown for the first time that tiny fish larvae can drift with ocean currents and "re-seed" fish stocks significant distances away – more than 100 miles in a new study….” Eurekalurt.org

Coast Guard: Paddlers’ Alert

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“The Coast Guard is looking for help from paddle sports enthusiasts in an effort to help save lives and taxpayers’ dollars. “Capt. Joseph Vojvodich, Commander of Sector Long Island Sound, New Haven, Conn., wants to emphasize a campaign that encourages kayakers and canoeists to label their boats, paddles and safety gear with their names and contact information. This campaign helps the Coast Guard to determine if gear was accidentally lost, or if someone is in real danger, when it is found adrift.” CoastGuardNews.com

1,100 Pounds of Cocaine!

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“The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis interdicted a go-fast vessel carrying more than 1,100 pounds of cocaine and also detained five suspected smugglers off the coast of Nicaragua, Dec. 3.” CoastGuardNews.com

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• 2011 Connecticut Angler’s Guide Available Soon The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection announced that the 2011 editions of the Connecticut Angler’s Guide and the Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide will be available online on the agency’s web site in early January. The guides can be found at www.ct.gov/dep/hunting and www.ct.gov/dep/fishing. The print versions of the 2011 guides will be distributed in late March. Connecticut DEP

NOAA Sets $15 Fee for the National Saltwater Angler Registry

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“NOAA announced today that the fee for registering with the National Saltwater Angler Registry will be $15 as of January 1. The change affects anglers, spear fishers and for-hire fishing vessels in Hawaii, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I., although some anglers are exempt. “Fishermen in other coastal states are exempted from the federal requirement when they comply with state saltwater license or registration regulations. Twenty-two of the nation’s 24 coastal states have saltwater angler registries or licenses and have been exempted from the federal requirement because they are providing registry information to the National Saltwater Angler Registry. “Fishermen are also exempt from registering if they are under 16; only fish on federally permitted charter, party or guide boats; hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling permit; or are fishing commercially under a valid license. Fishermen who hold a valid fishing license from an exempted state are automatically entered into the registry, and do not need to take further action. Finally, people fishing in an exempted state who are not required to have a saltwater fishing license in that state – as is sometimes the case with seniors or active duty military – are not required to register. “Persons who meet the definition of “indigenous person” in the final rule for the registry program are required to register, but will not be required to pay the registration fee if they affirm during the registration process that they qualify.…” NOAA News

Invasive Species

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• Trying to Find Something Good about Them “An invasive sea squirt is increasingly being found spread like batter on the ocean floor off New England, but new research shows that's not all bad news, despite fears about damage the animal could cause.” The Wall Street Journal

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• Nothing Much Good about This One “This unique freshwater fish, with sharp teeth and a ravenous appetite, can survive out of water for several days. Using their gills and muscular bodies, some snakehead species can climb out of the water and wriggle along the ground for hundreds of yards a day in search of new lakes and new prey. Snakeheads are even more worrisome because they breed rapidly—a single female can release 15,000 eggs, five times a year—and so can quickly take over lakes and ponds. They’ve been spotted in at least nine states—most notably Maryland….” TheWeek.com

Offshore Wind Is Next Clean Energy Wave for New York

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“’Nine hundred and eighty four offshore wind turbines are spinning right now in Europe and not one in the Atlantic,’ said Curtis Fisher, Offshore Wind Initiative Leader at the National Wildlife Federation. ‘The six gigawatts of proposed Atlantic offshore wind projects are a great start, but we need a coordinated and comprehensive effort of government and the market to bring these and other projects over the finish line in a way that values the precious Atlantic Ocean ecosystem and its fish and wildlife resources. This new industry holds great potential to create jobs, cut pollution, and reduce our reliance on dirty fossil fuels.’“ Hamptons.com

Coast Guard Stresses Safety for Ice Fishermen

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“•Always check the weather and ice conditions before any trip out onto the ice. Ice thickness is not consistent, even over the same body of water. •Always tell family and friends where you are going and when you are expected to be back, and stick to the plan. •Use the buddy system. NEVER go out onto the ice alone. •Dress in bright colors. Wear an exposure suit, preferably one that is waterproof, and a personal floatation device. •Carry a whistle or noise-making device to alert people that you are in distress; carry a cell phone and/or a VHF-FM radio in order to contact the nearest Coast Guard station in the event you see someone in distress. •Carry two screwdrivers or a set of ice awls. If you fall through the ice you can use these items to help get yourself out. They are more effective than using your hands.” Coast Guard News

So Where Does this Stuff Eventually End Up?

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“The following public notices have been posted on the CT DEP website: “(New Haven) Notice of tentative determination to renew a permit for Sargent Manufacturing Company to discharge to the sanitary sewer. To view this public notice, please visit: www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2586&Q=468808&depNav_GID=1511. “(Wallingford) Notice of tentative determination to renew a permit for Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to discharge to the sanitary sewer. To view this public notice, please visit: www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2586&Q=468842&depNav_GID=1511.” Source: CTDEP

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• Taking Out the Trash…Brooklyn-Style “Four people and four businesses at a Brooklyn shopping center face criminal charges over the dumping of raw sewage and restaurant grease into Shell Bank Creek in Sheepshead Bay, home to bluefish, crab, striped bass and other fish, in addition to a marina.” NYTimes.com

Ice-Breaker in Long Island Sound?

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“A Connecticut-based Coast Guard cutter is scheduled to deploy to the Great Lakes Nov. 29, 2010, to assist in the service’s icebreaking mission there throughout the winter months. “The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Morro Bay, a 140-foot icebreaking tug, will arrive in the Great Lakes region a few weeks after it departs its homeport of New London, Conn.” Coast Guard News

“Every End Is a New Beginning”

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Charles Walsh in the Connecticut Post with some more year-end reflections on fishing Long Island Sound and the Lower Housatonic River…. CTPost.com

New Salt Water Fishing TV Show in April

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“A pair of fishing industry leaders, WFN: World Fishing Network, North America's only 24-hour television network and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the leading authority on angling pursuits and the keeper of the most current world record fishing catches, are teaming up to present IGFA Saltwater Adventures - a 30-minute weekly fishing travel show airing on WFN beginning in April.” WFN.tv

Long Island Towns Say “No” to State Fishing License

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“A state court has ruled that New York State cannot require residents of several Long Island towns to have state saltwater fishing licenses if they are fishing within town waters.” 27East.com

Salmon, Steelhead Raised in Circular Tanks Are Buff

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“Researchers experimenting with juvenile salmon and steelhead at a Washington fish hatchery say fish raised in circular tanks with a swift current are faster and tougher than fish raised in the commonly-used rectangular raceways.” OregonLive.com

Storm Coming Sunday?

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“Get your boots and gloves ready. There's an increasing threat for a coastal storm to produce snow in Connecticut later this weekend.” Courant.com

How Much Monofilament to Spool Under the Braid?

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You’ve got 150 yards of 30-lb. braid that you want to put on your reel…but 150 yards will not fill the reel to capacity. So, how do you figure out how much 12-lb. mono you have to spool on first so that when you add the 150 yards of braid the reel is properly filled? Two methods: First, you can buy an extra spool for the reel. Put on the braid and then fill the spool with mono. Then attach the mono to your reel and reverse the line from the spare spool onto your reel. Second, let’s say your reel has a capacity of 260 yards of 12-lb. test which is usually .014” in diameter. 1. Multiply the spool-capacity yards by the diameter of the specified line size: Spool capacity X mono diameter = 260 yards X .014 = 3.64. And, let’s assume that the braid has a diameter of .011. 2. Multiply the number of yards of braid by the diameter of the braid: Braid yards X braid diameter = 150 yards X .011 = 1.65. 3. Subtract the braid number from the spool-capacity number = 3.64 – 1.65 = 1.99 4. Divide the result by the diameter of the mono = 1.99/.014 = 142.1. You need to spool on 142 yards of .014 diameter 12-lb. test mono…and then add the 150 yards of .011 30-lb braid to fill your reel to capacity. To measure the Mono you can buy a mechanical line counter or measure the distance between two objects out in the yard and use that to determine how much mono you’ve put on. Source: International Angler [International Game Fish Association], Sep/Oct 2010, p. 34

Torrington Flood-Control Project on Naugatuck River Completed

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“The flood-clearing project completed this month at a cost of about $200,000 has returned the river to its appearance in 1959, the year the Army Corps project was completed.” Rep-Am.com

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• U S Fish & Wildlife Publication Available “Eddies seeks to inform its readers of the work – past, present, and future – of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Conservation. Each issue has several feature stories and five regular departments. Assistant Director, Bryan Arroyo, leads each issue with his Headwaters column. Watermarks covers the newsy and noteworthy, including a column by the curator at the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery. If you like Antiques Road Show, you’ll like Randi Smith’s stories. “American Fisheries covers the life history of an important fish, from catfish to the cutthroats, each story written by those who know the fish well. Readers learn about the men and women of conservation from the past – those Pioneers who have worked in fisheries for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1871. “Meanders closes each issue. There, readers find sinuous thoughts and mature and evocative writing – some good story-telling – that pushes at the edges like a mature river wanders a valley floor. The back cover is reserved for a parting snapshot of data that point up the work of the Division of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Conservation.” USFWS

Two Stories...

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• 2,731 Pounds of Poached Striped Bass “At approximately 4:00 a.m., the officers confronted Janda Jr. and the two other occupants on the vessel, Jerome William Janda, 3rd, 28, from Tilghman, and Burton Robert Curtis, 25, of an unknown address. The officers found the individuals loading untagged striped bass onto a truck. The Officers seized the 2,731 pounds of untagged rockfish.” SOMD.com

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• Tow Boat Captain…Towed “JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A missing operator of a Tow Boat U.S. vessel was rescued Monday approximately one-mile east of St. Augustine, Fla., near Anastasia State Park following a joint search and rescue by the Coast Guard, St. John’s Fire and Rescue, St. John’s Sherriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.” Coast Guard News Photo is not related to this story

CT DEP Peddling Christmas Gifts

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“What’s the perfect answer for your holiday shopping needs? Do you have a family member or friend who seems to have everything? Are you trying to buy “greener” gifts this year? Do you want to encourage outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, biking or kayaking? If you can answer “yes” to any of the above then the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Store is the place for you to holiday shop this year.” StamfordPlus.com

So, Was It a Good Season, or Not?

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“If you fished mostly deep water reefs and structure like the buoys outside Bridgeport Harbor or off Branford using bunker or mackerel chunks on the bottom, you are probably pretty satisfied with the season. The bass may have been sparse, but the big blues lurking there pretty much made up for it. "If, however, you were a wade fishermen or a boat guy casting swimmers and poppers into the Long Island Sound shallows….” Charles Walsh in CTPost.com

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• License Fee Credits Now Available During the 2010 session of the General Assembly, legislation was approved and signed into law in April reducing many of the fees for sportsmen’s licenses and permits. This was followed in June by legislation authorizing a credit to be applied against the fee for any 2011 sportsmen’s license, permit or tag when purchase of a license, permit or tag had been made at the higher prices in place between October 1, 2009 and April 14, 2010. The credit amount will be the difference between the higher amount paid during that time period and the amount set by the new fee structure established April 14, 2010. For information about these credits, please visit the DEP website license fees and credits page

Engine Plant, Cod, Scollops, Salmon, and Tangling Hackles

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Note: This report is from 2010; for the latest information, please go to:http://www.connecticutsaltwaterfishing.com • 78 Acre Facility on Housatonic River Back Up for Sale “STRATFORD -- The old Army Engine Plant is back on the auction block, evidence of the federal government's recently galvanized efforts to purge stale properties from its national real estate inventory. “Set on 78 acres along the Housatonic River, the sprawling factory is one of 39 sites available for purchase from the General Services Administration, the nation's federal real estate management agent.” Connecticut Post

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• Out at Montauk… “The snow that flew on Monday morning signaled the switch from surfcasting to cod rods. Although small “rat” bass were still being caught toward the end of last week just before sunset, striped bass have essentially flown the coop, at least for beach-bound fishermen.” EastHamptonStar.com

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• A-Scolloping We Shall Go…. “Commercial scalloping has been a dicey proposition since the East Coast scallop population inexplicably crashed between 1984 and 1987. No one has been able to explain why the scallop fishery collapsed or why, in a given year, like 2009, the scallop harvest rebounds to glut the market. “Achieving a consistent harvest from year to year is the goal for fisheries managers.” The Martha’s Vineyard Times

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• Salmon in the Naugatuck River “2010 fall broodstock Atlantic salmon update – Final 2010 stockings scheduled. DEP plans to complete its 2010 fall broodstock Atlantic salmon stockings early next week. The Naugatuck River is currently scheduled to be stocked this Friday (12/10) and the Shetucket River is scheduled to be stocked on Monday (12/13). Each river will be stocked with approximately 125 fish. These stockings will bring the total number of salmon stocked this fall to over 950 fish. In October and November stockings, DEP had released over 700 salmon into the Naugatuck River (250 fish), the Shetucket River (255 fish), Mt Tom Pond (104 fish) and Crystal Lake –Ellington (104 fish). All the fish stocked this year are from DEP’s Kensington Hatchery, average 8 pounds apiece and range in size from 3 to 20 pounds each. See page 2 for summary of broodstock Atlantic salmon regulations. Source: Connecticut DEP

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• New Fly Fishing in Salt Waters Issue “Ask Lefty Q & A… “Q: I frequently use a fly with hackles tied in at the bend of the hook. It is a very effective pattern, but the feathers tend to foul on the hook when I cast, particularly if I double-haul....” FFSW

Weather A Major Factor in Striper Production

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“When the work was done, the biologists had averaged 5.6 juvenile striped bass per net haul. That was less than half the long-term average of 11.6. After all of their field work, they had reached the same conclusion as Martino. “His model, which was developed with data from the Maryland DNR, confirms what biologists have thought for years: The weather during any given spring plays a huge role in determining how many larval striped bass survive to be "recruited" into the overall population.” BayJournal.com

Bridgeport: Fisherman Killed by Lighting

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“A Stamford man was killed and three Stratford men injured after they were struck by lightning on a fishing jetty at Seaside Park. Police said the deceased is Romeo Briscoe , 29. The three other men -- 43-year-old Yogananda Powell , 44-year-old Burtley Banner, and 39-year-old Winston Powell , all of Stratford -- were taken to Bridgeport Hospital . All of the injured men were....” Norwalk Citizen

Best Fly Gear Ever Made

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"So instead of a list of the best new gear for the guide, I decided to do a list of what I believed to be the all-time greats. After all, if you’re looking for a gift, don’t you want to find the 'best-ever' as opposed to just the 'best this year'? Forbes.com

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• Fly-Casting for Breast Cancer Recovery “’I discovered this Zen feeling about fly-fishing that I never would have experienced otherwise,’ she said in a recent telephone interview. ‘But I got hooked on it.’ “Ms. Carey was one of 556 breast cancer patients participating this year in the 42 free retreats coordinated by Casting for Recovery. Lori Simon, the group’s executive director, said the program had grown significantly; in 2005, it had 331 patients in 30 such events.” NYTimes.com

“Two fish, 90 feet out. Two o’clock . . . 80 feet . . . 70. Go! Go!"

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“I dropped the fly where he directed. I hadn’t yet seen the fish, which isn’t uncommon in bonefishing. Their silver-gray bodies blend into the ocean making them almost transparent. Often only the guide, who stands on the boat’s elevated platform, can spot the fish.” Boston.com

Winter’s Use of the Umbrella…Rig

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“…at the Sunnyside boat launch on the Housatonic River in Shelton, the Micinilio brothers, Jim and Michael, are all bundled up for a long, cold day of striper fishing. For them, winter is just another season to catch fish. “At precisely 8 a.m….” Charles Walsh’s Fishing Report

Striper Blitz Video

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Charlie W. says we should go to reel-time.com and check out the video of the Montauk striper blitz. Reel-Time.com

NYC & Eastern Long Island Sound Report

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“Over in Long Island Sound, the Island Current IV will be making its final local trip for blackfish on Sunday. That's the day Connecticut's blackfish season shuts down (in N.Y. and N.J. it continues into December), thereby spoiling the fun….” NYDailyNews.com

Refresh Your Boating Skills this Winter

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“Your boat may be out of the water and properly winterized, but you don’t have to wait until spring to begin planning for the next season of enjoyment on the water. Why not take advantage of the winter lull to refresh your boating skills…or learn new ones…in courses conducted by the local flotilla of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary?” Coast Guard News

NJ Teen May Have Record Striper

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“Juliana Merighi may have set a world record when she recently pulled in a striped bass that had her fishing-loving father and brother looking on with envy. “But it's hard to say whether the soft-spoken and diminutive 13-year-old Vineland resident knows what a big deal that is in the world of fishing.” Philly.com

Virginia Sturgeon May Be Key To Ancient Fish's Recovery

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“Sturgeon populations across the world have been threatened because of overfishing, pollution and dams that prevent the fish from reaching spawning grounds. Earlier this year, the Washington, D.C.-based Consortium for Ocean Leadership reported that 85 percent of sturgeon populations worldwide were at risk of becoming extinct.” Associated Press

Big Plugs, Big Stripers

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“He talked about how he surf casts for stripers in Rhode Island. He is one of those guys that you hear about -- you know, the ones who consistently catch large stripers in the 30-40-pound category. It was interesting to hear how he gets to them.” Berkshire Eagle