Cape Fear River Basin Action Plan for Migratory Fish

The Cape Fear River Partnership recently announced a request for public comment on its “Cape Fear River Basin Action Plan for Migratory Fish.”

The plan identifies threats to migratory fish populations, outlines actions to improve water quality, habitat conditions and fish passage, and will determine the community and economic benefits of improved migratory fish populations.

The Cape Fear River basin stretches from North Carolina’s Triad area near Greensboro to the mouth of the Cape Fear River near Wilmington. At more than 9,000 square miles, the river basin is North Carolina's largest watershed.

Poor habitat quality in the watershed's rivers and streams threaten American shad, striped bass, river herring, American eel, endangered Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, and other fish species. Dams and other structures limit the passage of migratory fish.

The Cape Fear River Partnership is a coalition of state and federal natural resources agencies, academic entities and private and non-governmental organizations, will accept public comments through Dec. 19.

For more information, visit www.ncwildlife.org

source: Cape Fear River Partnership

Fall Trout Stocking in White Clay Creek

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced that White Clay Creek in Northern Delaware has received its fall stocking of trout. DNREC Fisheries staff, along with volunteer help, stocked 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout throughout White Clay Creek from near the border with Pennsylvania downstream to Newark.

The volunteers used float boxes to carry hundreds of fish upstream and down from the truck access points along White Clay. Fisheries staff noted that the fish arrived healthy, most of which exceeded 12 inches in length.

Delaware’s trout stocking is conducted under the Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Trout anglers support the program directly through the purchase of the required trout stamp along with the normal resident or non-resident fishing license. Proceeds from trout stamps go directly towards the purchase of rainbow trout for stocking.

To purchase a fishing license or trout stamps, or for more information about trout fishing in Delaware, visit www.fw.delaware.gov, or call the Fisheries section at 302-739-9914.

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware Spring 2012 Trout Season

Delaware's DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced that its spring 2012 downstate trout season will begin Saturday, March 3 with the opening of two ponds stocked with rainbow trout.

Tidbury Pond near Dover in Kent County and Newton Pond outside of Greenwood in Sussex County will open for trout fishing beginning at 7 a.m.

According to officials, the ponds will receive 2 stockings of trout, including a few trophy-sized trout weighing more than 2 pounds.

Newton Pond, a restored borrow pit, will be stocked for its third year. The 10-acre site was renovated using Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration funds and features a boat ramp for car top boats and canoes with no gasoline motors allowed, a fishing pier, and shoreline access for fishing.

According to DNREC, anglers fishing in Newton Pond are allowed to keep up to six rainbow trout, as they are a cold water species and can only survive while water temperatures in the pond remain cool.

Tidbury Pond is owned and managed by Kent County Parks and Recreation, and anglers are asked to be respectful of the vegetation and fences erected to protect landscaped areas. Newton Pond is owned and managed as a state wildlife area by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Each pond will initially be stocked with about 300 pounds of rainbow trout, average size 11 to 13 inches. Some “trophy-sized” rainbows weighing 2 pounds and measuring well over 14 inches also will be included. Stocking will be repeated Thursday, March 15 with the same amount of fish in each pond.

source: DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife

Mid Atlantic Fishing Website

Recreational anglers in the Mid Atlantic region will have access to a new online resource for 2012. Formerly known as "Maryland - Virginia Saltwater Fishing", the new fishing portal will be entitled "Mid Atlantic Fishing".

The site features a much expanded fishing articles section, with a wide range of regional information ranging from New Jersey southward into North Carolina.

Other new content will spotlight freshwater fishing and dozens of freshwater species overviews. An online store will supply Mid Atlantic anglers with apparel, books, calendars, collectibles, tackle, and other fishing-related gear.

Spring Yellow Perch Fishing Techniques

Yellow Perch

Throughout the Mid Atlantic, anglers are seeing a resurgence of yellow perch, with the 2011 Spring season being one of the best in decades. After years of low populations, these colorful fish appear to be making a strong comeback.

Yellow perch are caught using a variety of live and cut baits as well as artificial lures. In many areas, live minnows are preferred as bait for yellow perch. Other popular baits include nightcrawlers, bloodworms, or grass shrimp.

A relatively new bait for catching yellow perch are the many synthetic baits that have become popular. These baits do not need special care and packages typically last a season or more. These scented offerings come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Some scented bait products are meant to be fished in the same manner as traditional baits.

Other scented products are molded into soft bodies which are used with conventional jig heads, worm rigs or other setups. These baits offer the best of both worlds; they exhibit lifelike movement while producing a strong scent trail.

Mid Atlantic anglers often use conventional artificial lures for catching yellow perch. Perch eagerly bite panfish jigs, small spinnerbaits, inline spinners, small spoons, crankbaits or other offerings. During cold periods, anglers may target drop offs, using vertical jigging techniques. As the water warms and fish move into spawning areas, more fish are caught in shallow water where small lures are more effective.

Some yellow perch specialists prefer to combine techniques, tipping their jigs with a live minnow or other natural bait. Small setups such as a 1/16 oz. shad dart tipped with a small minnow can be deadly when casted along creek structure and slowly worked along the bottom.

Once fish are located, anglers must choose to release their fish, or retain a few for the table. Yellow perch are known for being very hard to scale. As with all fish, perch should be kept chilled and wet prior to cleaning. For smaller fish, the angler must be persistent with a fish scaler, slowly loosening scales by making diagonal swipes with the scaler. Once scaled, perch can be headed and gutted before cooking.

Larger yellow perch can be filleted and then skinned. A larger fillet knife is needed to cut into the skin during the filleting process. Once the fillets are removed from the fish, a smaller, more delicate knife is useful for cutting fillets from the skin.

Yellow perch often contain roe during the spring season. These yellow pouches which are found in the body cavity contain the female's eggs. The angler should be careful not to nick the roe sac during removal. After rinsing, the fillets and roe are ready for cooking.

Yellow perch fillets, whole fish or the roe are often breaded or battered and fried. Fillets can also be baked. Their mild, sweet flavor makes them suitable for most baked fish recipes.