It&#39;s peak season for blackfish and striped <b>bass</b>, trout stocking programs <b>...</b>

Kenney: Plenty of fish still in the sea - New York Daily News NYDN Home?CollectionsKenney: Plenty of fish still in the seaALEXANDRA KENNEYThursday, November 22, 2012

Welcome to the season for holidays and hibernating. Various plans for rebuilding our area’s hurricane-damaged shores are being discussed or are even under way. And in a couple of months the marine industry will launch its showbiz schedules as planned.

So anglers, don’t be discouraged from enjoying our first-rate saltwater and freshwater fishing. Remember it’s peak season for blackfish and striped bass. Check with party boat captains for cold-weather schedules. Some switch to res-only charter bookings. A hardy few fish year-round. You might also head to Wakefield. R.I., to board one of the cod-capturing Island Current boats wintering at Snug Harbor Marina.

Freshwater fans are reminded that trout stocking programs are now underway, especially on Long Island and throughout New Jersey. That means the trout are big and hungry.

In terms of a progress update, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have all posted have all posted helpful Hurricane Sandy updates on their fish and game websites. The U.S. Department of Commerce recently approved New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s request for a federal fishery resource disaster declaration which will trigger coordinated federal efforts to help rebuild decimated fishing industries in both New Jersey and New York.

Plus the Army Corps of Engineers has begun working to close storm-caused breaches on the east and west sides of Long Island’s Moriches Inlet. So rebuilding progress is being made.

This weekend’s nautical notes include a Fishermen’s Flea Market on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus building, 400 Broadway, in Lindenhurst, L.I.

Flipping to 2013 calendar pages, the New York Boat Show anchors at Javits Center from Jan. 3-6. Browse, maybe buy, one of the vessels on display. That includes luxury motor yachts, sport fishers and performance boats.

The agenda includes interactive boating seamanship workshops, a daily series of fishing tips and a new power-boat docking challenge. The show also features an indoor heated pool, providing a chance to scuba dive or paddleboard. Adult admission is $15 and accompanying youths under age 16 are free. Purchase advance tickets or view special event schedules at www.NYBoatShow.com

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ODFW stocking tiger trout in Fish Lake

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – ODFW will stock tiger trout fingerlings in Fish Lake for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Media is invited to the U.S. Forest Service boat ramp at 10 a.m. when the fish will be stocked.
“Tiger trout are a unique fish being used in a unique situation here at Fish Lake,” said David Haight, Assistant District fish biologist. “They tend to be more aggressive and are easier to catch than other predatory trout like brown trout. They should also feed on the minnows – tui chub and fathead minnows – that are in Fish Lake and be catchable by next summer. Angling will be catch and release.”
Haight explained the minnows were illegally introduced into Fish Lake and have taken over the lake’s ecology and harmed the trout fishery. Fish Lake has been treated with rotenone several times over the years, but too many springs prevented an effective treatment. ODFW has also been stocking spring chinook to provide a better fishery for anglers.
“We’re going to keep stocking spring chinook and will stock the tiger trout for several years. This combination has the potential to be a nice one-two punch of growing large fish on the exotic minnows that anglers will love to catch,” Haight said.
ODFW is stocking about 1,500 tiger trout fingerlings this year. These fish are a sterile hybrid of brook trout and brown trout. Both brook trout and brown trout are currently present in parts of the Rogue watershed.
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Contact:
David Haight or Dan VanDyke (541) 826-8774
Meghan Collins (541) 440-3353

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USFWS Will Continue Funding to Arizona's Fish Stocking Program

PHOENIX - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) as part of the Environmental Assessment of its proposal to continue to fund, in part, the Arizona Game and Fish Department's (AGFD) sport fish stocking program over the next 10 years.

The FONSI decision means that FWS can continue funding to support AGFD's hatchery operations and fish stocking activities that provide recreational opportunities for anglers.

As part of the Selected Alternative, a Conservation and Mitigation Program has been developed. The Conservation and Mitigation Program will implement actions to avoid, offset or reduce environmental impacts of the stocking action and ultimately contribute to conservation and recovery of native species. The program's development was a coordinated effort between the FWS's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), its Arizona Ecological Services Office, and AGFD.

The decision came out of an Environmental Assessment process that analyzed three alternatives which provided a range of recreational opportunities and impacts to biological resources.

After review of public and agency comments received on the Draft Environmental Assessment, WSFR, the Arizona Ecological Services Office and AGFD chose to modify the Proposed Action. The modifications to the Proposed Action include the removal of one previously proposed stocking site and the elimination and/or substitution of some species proposed for stocking at some sites. The modified Proposed Action has been identified as the "Selected Alternative."

Under the Selected Alternative, funding will support stocking of sport fish at 166 sites in selected rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, ponds and tanks in the state. It will also support continued operations and maintenance of five AGFD hatcheries that rear sport fish (primarily trout) for stocking. The actions in this alternative are the most comparable to Arizona's current stocking program.

Hundreds of thousands of Arizona residents and nonresidents take advantage of the state's recreational fishing opportunities each year. Based on 2006 numbers, there were 4,156,000 angler use days (AUDs) of fishing in Arizona, with a total annual economic impact of $1.3 billion (Southwick Associates 2007). Arizona Game and Fish estimates a resident demand of 6 million AUDs through 2012, with some growth anticipated in nonresident demand.

Under the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950, FWS has the authority to provide federal funding to state wildlife agencies for management and restoration of sport fish, as well as public use and benefit from those resources. Funding is provided on a match basis through the WSFR program. Sport Fish Restoration funds through that program come from a federal excise tax on certain fishing equipment and a portion of motorboat fuel tax revenues. In July 2011, Arizona received about $7.9 million in Sport Fish Restoration Act funds. Although the amount varies from year to year, about $2.5 million was allocated to sport fish stocking and hatchery operations.

To view a copy of the Finding of No Significant Impact document and the final Environmental Assessment, visit www.fws.gov/southwest/federal_assistance/index.html or www.azgfd.gov/fishea.

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD's programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director's Office as listed above.

Media Contact
Tom Cadden (623) 236-7392,
Public Information Officer, AGFD

Jose Viramontes (505) 248-6404,
Public Affairs Specialist, USFWS

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