Making Waves - Spring 2016

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M A K I N G

MakingWaves Waves Spring Spring2016 2016 Making

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The Official Publication of the Recreational Fishing Alliance

Meet Mike Laptew - The Diving Fisherman RFA Members Take Key HMS Positions Florida's Ecological Nightmare Sharks - The Myths and Reality

SPRING 2016

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Making Waves Spring 2016

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M A K I N G

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MakingWaves Waves Spring Spring2016 2016 Making

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RECREATIONAL FISHING ALLIANC E

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

By Gary Caputi

AND THE WINNER IS.....

The winner of the RFA Contender/Yamaha boat raffle was picked on a busy Saturday evening at the New Jersey Boat Show. The year long raffle was held as a fund raiser and could not have been done without the generous support of Contender Boats, Yamaha Outboards and Ameritrail trailers. The prize--a new Contender 22 Sport powered by a 300 HP Yamaha F300 outboard sitting atop an all aluminum Ameratrail Trailer. As a game show host who shall remain nameless says, "And the Winner Is..."

CHARLES and ELLEN KIRKPATRICK of Kittery, ME! They picked up their new Contender at the RFA New Jersey office on their way to vacation in the Florida Keys. The timing couldn't have been better.

"We'd like to thank everyone who purchased raffle tickets for their support and Contender, Yamaha and Ameratrail for providing this amazing raffle prize," says Jim Donofrio. We will learn more about the Kirkpatrick's in our next issue.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Publisher’s Desk

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Executive Director’s Report: Election 2016

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Tournament Update: 4th Annual RFA Bass River Classic - Fun for the Whole Family

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Swimming with the Fishes: Mike Laptew, the Diving Fisherman

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Florida's Ecological Nightmare

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Breaking News!

NOAA and the Nat'l Monument Act

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Castafari Offshore Seminar

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Buccaneer Cup Scores Big

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Breaking Regulatory News! Bogan and Pierdinock Appoint-

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Sharks!

Myths & Reality On the Cover: Time to break out the kayak for some early season bass fishing.

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Executive Director’s Report

By Jim Donofrio

ELECTION 2016

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fter working on Capitol Hill for the members of the Recreational Fishing Alliance for the past 20 years I can tell you without hesitation that our two-party system is bankrupt. It is stacked against the citizens of this country and without some major changes it will only become less representative and more corrupt.

Congress and the Executive branch don’t work for the people anymore. K Street lobbyists live a life of luxury as they scurry like rats behind the scenes to influence political decisions. These high-priced, hired gun lobbyists are supported by clients who ante up 25K a month or more for their services. They have the ears of key Congressional staffers on the Hill because the actual members of Congress spend the majority of their time raising money for the next election cycle. Their main concern is staying in their plush jobs with the plush benefits they vote into existence for themselves that few of us will ever enjoy.

If you are from big agriculture, big oil, big banks, big pharma, Wall Street or are a defense contractor your issues get priority status because you can afford to buy it, plain and simple. Those are the

folks who provide members of Congress their "mother’s milk," campaign contributions to keep them in office. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent, they count and you don’t.

For 33 years the Democrats controlled the agenda and they were the party of big business while the Republicans were the clean water, clean air party. Now the Republicans control Congress and the shoes are on the other feet, but it doesn’t matter because nothing gets done. The system is rigged. Politicians know that there is more to be gained by not fixing certain issues because it keeps the flow of dollars coming for them and their K Street enablers. Congress milks their constituents and the lobbyist milk their clients dry. They all work together to screw the American people.

It’s a soap opera. If you watch Congress debating issues it’s enough to make you want to puke. Most politicians are nothing more than bad actors who play ever switching adversarial roles with the opposition. In reality they are all the same.

DC is the biggest den of scoundrels in the nation. I’ve referenced an Eddie Murphy Movie in prior newsletters called "The Distin-

guished Gentleman." I strongly suggest you watch it and look at the truths to be found in this satire. I've seen it first hand over the years and have come to the conclusion that its time for a major change in how things are done on the Hill. A political revolution of sorts is necessary or this great nation will be lost forever.

I think the American people are fed up with Washington business as usual and it's time for term limits, tax reform and a new slate of elected representatives that are willing to put America before party politics. In this election cycle there are candidates who say they want to rebuild their party.

Americans don't want to rebuild parties they want to rebuild America to what it once was before all the political corruption and political correctness created

by Washington. We are witnessing for the first time in many years a few individuals who are willing to challenge the DC machine.

Let’s pray we get a new president and an administration that can help us restore, heal, and make our nation strong again.

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RFA TOURNAMENT NEWS Get Ready for a Day of Family Fun at the Forth Annual Recreational Fishing Alliance

BASS RIVER CLASSIC M

ark you calendars for Saturday, June 4th, 2016 ney commences at 5 a.m. on Saturday with final for the annual RFA Bass River Summer Flounder weigh-in back at the dock n' dine dock at Viking Tournament. The one-day tournament will be held Yachting Center from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday with out of Viking Yachting awards ceremony at 7 Center on the Bass River p.m. Door prizes will be in New Gretna. This given out during the fourth annual event is awards ceremony and once again co-sponsored there will be special prizes

by Breeze's Bar & Grill and for anglers 12 and under.

Viking Yacht Company, Boundary lines for the with tournament procontest are Absecon Inceeds to benefit the Reclet to Barnegat Inlet. reational Fishing Alliance Pick up entry blanks to(RFA). day at Scott's Bait & Tack"Bass River Classic" cash le in Mystic Island, Viking prizes totaling $2,000 will Yachting Center in New be awarded to the top Gretna, Allen's Dock in three boats in the contest New Gretna, Absecon ($1,000, $750 and $250) Bay Sportsman Center in based on combined Absecon, Chestnut Neck weight of the heaviest Boat Yard in Port Republic two summer flounder. or the Boat Shop in Calcuttas will also be coorManahawkin, dinated for single heaviest The fourth annual RFA flounder and heaviest 5 Bass River Summer Flounfish bag. Entry is just $75 der Tournament is sponper boat through May sored by The Fisherman 18th and $100 after that Magazine, Gulp!, Sea-Tow date. Entry fee includes a of Atlantic City, S&S Buckt-shirt for the captain and tails, Barnegat Light Fiberfour wristbands for capglass, RH Custom Rods, tain and crew for the Friday and Saturday night festiviAmon Construction, Allen's Clam Bar, Doyle's Pour ties at Breeze's Bar & Grill (cash bar.

House, Munro's Marina, Tuckerton Car Wash, John & Captain's meeting kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday Sonia's Luncheonette, and the Boat Shop of Mananight, June 3th at Breezes. The one-day tourhawkin.

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Making Waves Spring 2016

By Capt. Barry Gibson

Celebrated underwater videographer and fine arts photographer Mike Laptew, widely known as “the Diving Fisherman,” has made a career out of showcasing what goes on beneath the surface of the sea.

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hode Island native Mike Laptew has one of the most unusual – and perhaps difficult – jobs in America. He takes a deep breath, drops beneath the waves, swims along, and films fish in their natural habitat.

Then, he’ll take hours, even years, of video footage and splice the best parts together to share with anglers who are targeting those very fish. Who

else do you know that does this?

It all started as Mike was growing up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His uncle had a home in Jamestown, where Mike spent a good deal of time in and around salt water. A fan of the 1950s TV show “Sea Hunt,” he soon took up spearing eels with a gig, then moved on to spearfishing bigger game. The

progression continued, and he began spearfishing competitively.

But something else was pulling at him. “In 1973 I saw an underwater video, and it blew my mind,” he explains. “I’d always been a photographer, but shooting underwater was really appealing because I realized I could share what I saw with others who might never get

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the chance to see things from that perspective.”

affordable and more reliable, and I simply got hooked,” he recalls, “and I finally got out of spearfishing.”

always seem to want to know why they can’t, or didn’t, catch fish on any given occasion.

Mike wrestled with the thenThey ask, ‘why didn’t’t the fish rudimentary underwater cambite?’ My video footage docueras and waterproof housings, Mike began to put together ments how fish relate to curand continued competitive videos to present at fishing rent, structure and lures that spearfishing. In 1979 he was clubs, seminars, and shows are presented to them. And crowned the North Atlantic around the Northeast, and be- the videos have also proved Champion in a four-way spear- gan being known as “the Div- that the biggest fish in any fishing match conducted by ing Fisherman.” “It was all school almost always hang the Underwater Society of about being able to show the near the bottom.”

America, but his interest would average fisherman what he or ultimately turn to photogshe really wants to know, what In 1995, Mike left his job with raphy. “Around 1988 undergoes on under the surface, Pitney-Bowes and started Lapwater video cameras became and how fish behave. Anglers pet Productions. He built a stu-

While Mike Laptew is best known for his amazing fishing videos his photographs of the underwater world showcase his amazing eye for the wonder and sheer beauty to be found in this alien habitat; even its most common creatures. (Images: Kung-Fu Crab above; Underwater Sunset opposite page)

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dio in his home in North Kingstown that he shares with his wife of 38 years, Donna, and plunged full-time into the video business. Now 65, Mike has produced dozens of underwater videos, and his stock footage has been used by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), National Geographic, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), the National Coalition for Marine Conservation (Wild Oceans), The Nature Conservancy, and numerous museums, aquariums, and a number of television fishing shows as well as

Making Waves Spring 2016

“60 Minutes.” In addition he has taken, and continues to take, video footage of wellknown anglers and charter captains, along with countless still photos, both underwater and above, of marine life, birds, seascapes, people, and animals, which have appeared in publications such as Salt

gest challenge and also what he enjoys most. “I take great pains to achieve an artistic look,” he explains. “It’s like telling a story, and it’s all about the underwater side of things.

Mike’s two top commerciallyavailable and widely acclaimed DVDs are Secrets of the Striper Water Sportsman, Field & Pros and Stripers Gone Wild.

Stream, Gray’s Sporting Jour“These are made up of nal, Northeast Boating, and he underwater video footage is a monthly contributor to The taken over a 10-year span,” he Fisherman. says. “A lot of it looks at the stripers’ habitat and prey, and Although Mike has produced how they interact. If I can help many videos and thousands of an average angler up his or still photos, creating DVDs for her score a bit through a betfisherman is perhaps his bigter understanding of fish beha-

Laptew is an avid fisherman and conservationist who, as a Rhode Island native, has an undying love and respect for the striped bass. The above piece is titled, "Let Her Go Let Her Grow. Let Her Reproduce." The photo on the opposite page, "Striper in the Surf" is evocative of his roots as a New England surf fisherman who ventured into the world of the fish he loves to catch.

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vior, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.”

challenging, yet accessible,” he says. “I’ve particularly enjoyed Maine, and have filmed off the As difficult as documenting un- Nubble Light area and in the derwater life may be just on its Saco and Mousam rivers. I’d face value, incredibly Mike say I’ve dived just about does almost all of his shooting everywhere from Maine to via freediving, simply holding New York where there are strihis breath, and about the only pers.” He’s also spent a lot of time he uses SCUBA equiptime underwater off Martha’s ment is when he does underVineyard, Cuttyhunk, Block water macro-photography. He Island, and Montauk. typically holds his breath for a minute to a minute-and-a-half, Every RFA member reading and at that rate can dive and this article should take a few photograph all day without minutes and visit Mike’s web undue stress on his lungs. site, Laptew Productions. Here you’ll find amazing preview Although Mike’s underwater footage for Secrets of the Striphotography has taken him all per Pros and Stripers Gone over the globe – Japan, Wild, (and you’ll likely end up Siberia, Hawaii, Costa Rica, purchasing one or both), and Panama, Puerto Rico, Bonaire – you can scroll through hunhe particularly enjoys diving in dreds of his fabulous still phothe Northeast, with striped tos. Mike is very active on sobass his favorite quarry. “It’s cial media and you can send

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him a friend request on Facebook (where he has over 6,000 images) or on Instagram. He also offers some terrific prints of the best of his world-class fish shots at Mike Laptew Fine Art Images and he is in demand as a seminar speaker at sporting shows on the East Coast where you can go and watch one of his presentations and meet him in person.

On top of all this, Mike’s an ardent RFA supporter and a strong conservationist. In 1994 he was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the Rhode Island environmental group Save the Bay for a video he produced on Narragansett Bay’s ecosystem. In 1998 he also created a video called “Gladiators of the Deep/Rape of a Resource” for the RFA which documented the

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Laptew produces amazing images above the surface, too. He calls this photograph "Surfcasting Heaven." Below is one of a series of images of the elusive false albacore. bycatch of billfish in the foreign and domestic longline fisheries, which was sent out to every governor, senator, and representative in the U.S.

term sustainability of our marine resources seemed to be

relevant as time went on, so I decided to support it from the get-go.”

“Mike and I became friends through the RFA,” says Jim Donofrio, the organization’s Currently a life Executive Director. “He member of RFA, was instrumental in Mike has been inhelping the RFA get the volved since the orword out to the fishing ganization’s inceppublic through his vition back in 1996. “I deos. Mike is a true befound the RFA’s misliever in the RFA mission statement to be sion and we are proud compelling,” he exto have him as a supplains. “Protecting the rights of the perfect blend of goals. It porter, friend, and life member. salt water anglers, the sport was an organization that I felt And, his undersea photofishing industry, and the long- would become more and more graphy is unmatched!”

Photography: www.mikelaptewfineartsimages.com Video: www.laptewproductions.com

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FLORIDA’S ECOLOGICAL NIGHTMARE

By Capt. T.J. Cheek and Gary Caputi

A battle is brewing the likes of which the State of Florida hasn’t seen since the net ban initiatives over two decades ago and RFA is pledging political assistance to the state’s saltwater fishing community.

A line of toxic lack water moves out of the St. Lucie Inlet south along the coast. Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Thurlow-Lippisch

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A

fter an unusually wet winter Florida’s Lake Okeechobee was bursting at the seams with water tainted by the Mid-State sugar industry. This is water that has been purposely diverted from its natural route south into the Everglades for decades to benefit Big Sugar, an industry that is a political powerhouse in state politics. Politicians knew the potential effects of the industry on the environment, yet money talks and environmental concerns have taken a back seat in a State considered corrupt in every sense of the word.

Making Waves Spring 2016

tees. It turned crystal clear water into a soup that light doesn’t penetrate and that fish can’t navigate.

mented it was often followed weeks or months later as coastal waters warmed by massive blooms of poisonous blue-green algae that is toxic to marine live Then it hit the coasts in the height of tourist season turning and people! the warm, clear, blue ocean and A former employee of the RecreGulf waters thick and brown. It’s ational Fishing Alliance who been top of the news in Florida moved to the Sunshine State for weeks and the situation is some years back decided he only getting worse. More taint- couldn’t stand by anymore and ed and toxic runoff is flowing watch what the politicians were into the rivers and there is no doing to fishing and the industry. His name is Michael Dosolution in sight.

After meetings and press inter- novan and he was mad as hell and wasn’t going to take it anyviews last week by BullSugar.org that pointed the more. He was recently hired as finger squarely at State Govern- executive directly of a political ment and their unholy alliance action organization incorporated specifically to address the with Big Sugar, Governor Rick Scott declared a State of Emer- problem. It’s name is gency for coastal communities BullSugar.org, a tongue-incheek reference to what many affected by the runoff nightmare. From all appearances it is in the State call Big Sugar, the little more than political theater agri-business at the heart of the as no assistance to stop the dis- problem. Donovan has been charges or help the people and organizing guides, charter communities financially affected boats, municipalities and individuals to help fight back by them is forthcoming. Scott, like most Florida politicians, has against the political muscle of been aware of the environmen- Big Sugar and to stop the ecological destruction of some of tal calamity in the making and this nation’s most productive continually turned a blind eye toward taking action and now saltwater fishing areas. We will it’s too late! The damage being delve more deeply into this with Donovan in the next issue of done is killing the sportfishing industry, the coastal tourism in- Makin Waves, but for now we wanted to shed some light on dustry and the implications could be as far-reaching as the what is happening for RFA members and the readers of this BP oil spill in the Gulf. In years publication. past when water releases of

Fishermen and activists have been demanding a plan be implemented that returns the freshwater runoff to the Everglades, which is its natural course. The current water system has been a disaster waiting to happen and the Big Sugar mess has hit the fan. With Okeechobee filled to capacity the State opened the locks releasing it into major rivers systems that flow east toward the Atlantic and west into the Gulf of Mexico. These are extremely sensitive river systems like the headwaters of the St. Lucie that feeds into an a delicately balanced estuary system. The toxic sludge turned pristine inland brackish waters into a slurry of thick, brown ooze that literally killed most everything in its path including vegetation, fish, mana- smaller proportions were imple- We dispatched RFA SE Regional

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Director, T.J. Cheek to meet with south of Lake Okeechobee so a new organization and he filed that water flow can once again be sent south as it naturally this initial report.

government. They don't want to sell the land that they already agreed to sell. They know that would instead of into Florida's time is running out to make the I had the pleasure of visiting saltwater estuaries where it kills deal happen and they want to Fort Myers, Florida on the 19th of February to attend a meeting fish, marine mammals, and criti- stall the process. organized by Captains for Clean cal sea grass.

It's very important that we don't Water with members of the lo- You may be scratching your let this happen. We have to cal fishing keep the community, pressure on community the politileaders, and cians to honMichael Door the will of novan from the people BullSugar.org. and protect The reason the environfor the meetment as well ing is that as the economany of my of south these hardFlorida. Floriworking capda voters tains and have already guides are spoken and currently out overwhelmof work due ingly said to massive "buy the amounts of land, and contaminated send the wawater being ter south!" released from Water rushes out of the locks from Lake Okeechobee head- That is the ed toward the coast. The damage is monumental both ecoLake Okeeproblem in a chobee into logically and economically. Photo courtesy Alberto Knie nutshell, but their coastal it’s going to estuaries. head and wondering why it is take a major shakeup in Florida The sad fact is that unlike the BP that we know what the probpolitics and usual to make it oil spill that took 87 days to stop lem is, know how to solve it, happen. BullSugar.org along have the money to make it hapeven though it was an unexwith a growing coalition of orpected disaster, this disaster has pen, and have the voters of Flor- ganizations, local governments ida approval yet are unable to been years in the making and and individuals are working to we already know what the solu- make it happen. You're not bring that change. We will proalone. That is exactly what eve- vide more information in our tion is. Not only do we know what the solution is, but Floridi- ryone that is watching the denext issue, but in the meantime struction of fish, habitat, and ans have already expressed head to the BullSugar.org Facejobs is wondering. their will by approving Amendbook Page for the latest breakment 1 with 75% of the vote.

The answer is that the sugar in- ing news and to learn how you dustry has deep pockets and far can get involved.

Amendment 1 provides the money needed to buy farm land reaching influence in Florida's

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BREAKING NEWS Will NOAA Use NATIONAL MONUMENTS ACT to Mandate Marine Sanctuaries & Restrict Fishing?

Expansion of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Proposed Recreational fishermen must ensure angler access is maintained.

By Barry Gibson

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he National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a Notice of Intent to initiate a boundary review of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS) off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The notice is the first step in a long public process to explore possible boundary expansion of the Sanctuary to provide protection for additional historic shipwrecks in the area knowns as the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

Designated in 1975 as the nation’s first national marine sanctuary, MNMS protects the wreck of the Civil War’s Union ironclad, the USS Monitor.

The vessel sank during a storm 16 miles off Cape Hatteras in 1862 and now serves as a special place honoring the memory and service of U.S. sailors who fought in the Civil War.

and women who went to sea in defense of their country.

Currently the Monitor site encompasses a single area about one mile in diameter. The MNMS’s Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) has developed four separate proposals or “approaches” that would expand the area to include dozens of these additional wrecks. Although there is no prohibition of recreational fishing in the Monitor site, anglers and party/charter captains are concerned that restrictions could be implemented via the new plan, and that they could encompass a much larger area or areas.

“Although no one knows exactly what the final document might look like, we don’t foresee any conflict with recreational fishing if the expansion goes through,” said David Alberg, the sanctuary’s Much later, between 1939 and 1945, over 1,200 superintendent. “Some activities such as bottom U.S. Merchant Mariners lost their lives off NC dur- trawling, anchoring, and laying cables are curing the Battle of the Atlantic. The remains of rently prohibited in the Monitor site because of nearly 100 merchant vessels as well as U.S. and potential damage to the wreck, and diving can foreign military ships lie in close proximity to the only be done by special permit. But we encourMonitor. This collection of shipwrecks is image sport fishing. I would not expect the regulaportant to the nation and the families of the men tions to change significantly and, in fact, some of

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the current language should be clarified to better be certain that access is maintained, and the way to do that is to let the Monitor Sanctuary and NOaddress recreational access.”

Evaluation of an expansion plan, according to the AA folks know how important this is to us, and how we feel about it. We cannot assume that our MNMS’ SAC, “should be accomplished in a way interests will automatically be considered. We that assures continued public access and takes need to make our voices heard.” into consideration the potential effects of an expanded area on all users including divers, fishermen (charter, recreational and commercial), boaters, and local communities near the sanctuary.

The advisory council strongly encourages the Sanctuary Program to work with all stakeholders as they evaluate this proposal.”

The RFA urges anglers to provide comment to Mr. Alberg in support of continued recreational fishing access within the expanded boundary or boundaries. “The proposed expansion encompass a huge amount of area that is critically important to sport fishermen and North Carolina’s recreational fishing industry,” explained Jim Donofrio, RFA’s Executive Director. “We need to

As of this writing the five initial public scoping meetings have already been held, but the comment period extends until March 18th. Anglers can visit www.monitor.noaa.gov/management/ expansion for more information and to view the four approaches under consideration. Comments can be delivered via the sanctuary web site by clicking on “Federal Rulemaking Portal” under the Electronic icon, and then clicking the “Comment Now” button. Mailed comments can be sent to David Alberg, Sanctuary Superintendent, 100 Museum Dr., Newport News, VA 23606. He can also be reached at (757) 591-7326, or by email at: David.Alberg@noaa.gov.

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CASTAFARI OFFSHORE FISHING SEMINAR MARCH 5 & 6, 2016 If you live in New England this is one seminar you don't want to miss out on. This popular series of how-to workshops, seminars, and displays for blue-water anglers promises to be the biggest and best to date!

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aptain Damon Sacco and Castafari, Inc., are working around the clock to prepare for the 2nd Annual Castafari Offshore Big Game Fishing Seminar. On March 5th and 6th. The 2015 event featured over 40 participating vendors and over 250 guests.

Capt. Damon is excited to announce that the 2016 event will be at a new location, the Newton Marriott Hotel in Newton, MA, which is a much improved and bigger location than last year. This will be the biggest and best venue they’ve hosted for any of their seminar events.

The Castafari Offshore Fishing Seminar will offer 30 different topics to choose from, 17 hands-on workshops, and the most comprehensive bait-rigging instruction ever offered at any fishing seminar (ballyhoo, mullet, skipjack, mackerel, skip baits, strip baits, stick baits, butterfish, and squid).

and offering a vast array of products and discounts.

J&B has more than proved to be one of the best and most reputable tackle centers in the Northeast.

They've been around for 35-plus years in the offshore industry, and for good reason.

Castafari, Inc., is no stranger to creating and hosting successful big game fishing events, which include the Hyannis Tunafest, Oak Bluffs Bluewater Classic, and Big Game Bash. The Castafari Offshore Seminar will offer updated cutting edge content, new and unique custom interactive workshops unlike anything out there, a vast expansion of vendor and product displays. Many of the speakers hold state and world records along with countless tournament wins and accomplishments. Attendees are encouraged to check them out ahead of time (see the Castafari web site).

“A seminar is only worth what the presentations and knowledge have to offer,” says Capt. Sacco, “which in the end will help save you time and money, and more Castafari has joined forces with J&B Tackle, which will importantly, connect you to fish!” be setting up a fully loaded retail store at this event,

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This exclusive 2 DAY event will enable you to experience ALL of the presentations and amenities we have to offer.

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Doors open at Noon on Saturday March 5th and 8 am Sunday March 6th.

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Complimentary Lunch Buffet On Saturday and Breakfast Buffet On Sunday

Making Waves Spring 2016

Tuna—Capt. Taylor Sears

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Day Time Chunking For Tuna at the Canyons—Capts.

Mark Decabia and Brian Bacon

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Bluewater Strategies For Fishing FADs, Flyers, and Weather Buoys—Capt. Jack Sprengel

 NEW Trolling Tricks for the Northeast Canyons–Capts.

Get a chance to win a FREE GALAPAGOS FISHING AD- Damon Sacco and John Galvin VENTURE if you register by February 15th! (Someone is  Fishing For Sharks and Tuna South of Rhode Island— going to win and go!)

Capts Brian Bacon and Shamus Mara  Over $15,000 in Door Prizes and 35 vendors setting up  How To Rig And Troll Skirted Mullet For All Species— at our show!

Capt. Joe Shute  Price of admission is $150.00  Intro To The Northeast Canyons Start To Finish—Capt.  SPECIAL HOTEL ROOM RATE OF $99 is available!

John Galvin 

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Ticket Holders will get incredible discounts on tackle and accessories.

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Advanced Secrets For Catching Bigeye Tuna—Capts.

Damon Sacco and Mark Decabia

2 full days of detailed presentations by 16 different cap How To Build And Fish An Artificial Dredge To Increase tains: Capt. Damon Sacco, Capt. Mark Decabia, Capt. Lou Hook-Ups—Capt. Taylor Sears Defusco, Capt. John Galvin, Capt. Jack Sprengel, Capt. Joe Shute, Capt. Roland Beamish, Capt. Tim Picket, Capt. Joe  Fishing Soft Baits And Jigs South Of The Vineyard— Ferulle, Dr. Mitch Roffer, Capt. Larry Backman, Capt. Brian Capt. Mike Hogan (Hogy Tackle) Bacon, Capt. Shamus Mara, Capt. Scott Sinclair, and Capt.

Bill Shouldice. Check out their bios on the Castafar web site!  Rigging And Using A Harpoon For Tuna And Swordfish—Capt. John Galvin There will be 30 different topics to choose from:

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 LAB Rigging Natural Trolling Baits (Ballyhoo and Fishing Stellwagon Bank and Cape Cod Bay For Bluefin Mackerel)—Capts. Scott Sinclair and John Galvin

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LAB Bridling Techniques For Live Bait—Capts. Damon Sacco and Scott Sinclair

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LAB Canyon Chunking Hook Baits—Capts Mark Decabia, Lou Defusco, John Galvin, Damon Sacco

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LAB Rigging A Natural Mullet Dredge Start To Finish-Capt. Joe Ferulle

Capt. Jack Sprengel

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Night Chunking Tactics At The Canyons—Capt. Mark Decabia

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LAB Rigging Strip Baits For Swordfish—Capts. Lou Defusco and Tim Picket



LAB How To Rig A Stick Baits And Skip Baits—Capts.

Damon Sacco and Scott Sinclair  Day Time Deep Dropping Techniques In The Northeast Canyons—Capt. Lou Defusco  LAB Rigging A Circle Hooked Ballyhoo—Capts. John  Trolling At Night for Bigeye, Yellowfin, and Bluefin Tu- Galvin and Scott Sinclair na—Capts. Damon Sacco and Mark Decabia  Finding Fish Using Latest Satellite Technology—Dr.  Deepwater Jigging and Popping Tactics For All Pelag- Mitch Roffer ics—Capt. Jack Sprengel  Finding Where To Deep Drop For Swordfish—Capt.  Fall Rodeo...How To Fish Canyons In October and No- Larry Backman vember—Capt. Mark Decabia  Deep Water Fishing For Bigeye Tuna—Capt. Lou De Finding Where To Deep Drop For Swords And Tuna— fusco Capt. Larry Backman How To Fish Effectively Around Draggers—Capt. Mark Decabia  Getting Ready To Deep Drop: What You Need And How—Capt. Tim Picket(LP Tackle) For more information and to register, visit  Chasing Wahoo South Of Cape Cod And The Islands— www.castafari.com and click on “Fishing Seminar.”

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Making Waves Spring 2016

BUCCANEER CUP SCORES BIG FOR PARTICIPANTS AND THE RFA

The Crew of the Kathy Jo shows off their trophies and went home with total winnings of $95,990!

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his year the toughest of the tough competed against each other and the weather in the 53rd Annual Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament. The field of 20 boats set out on Friday, January 22 in rough seas and rain and if that wasn’t bad enough the west wind on Saturday was blowing a gale throughout the day! Even in the face of severe conditions fish were caught by a group of the most hardcore tournament fishermen you’ll find anywhere!

was changing hands between three boats. The day ended with Tuna Tango, Della Ann and Intents in a three-way tie for first place release points.

Day two started off at 8:32 with a release by the 70’ Bertram, Kathy Jo, owned by Lewis Lakin and captained by John Millroy, a boat that didn’t have a single release on day one. It wouldn’t be the last we’d heard from this team as they trolled in rough seas nine miles off the beach and well north of tournament headquarters at Sailfish MaDay one the lead changed almost with every re- rina. Tuna Tango and Miss Annie called in fish lease called in to the radio room high atop the shortly thereafter, but Kathy Jo had found a pod Jupiter Beach Spa and Resort where Penthouse of fish and they were capitalizing on their good Paulie was manning the official tournament fortune. They called in a single at 9:22 and then channel. De-Bait-Able started the day off with the two doubles, the first round 11:00 and the secfirst sailfish trolling, which was quickly followed ond just before 11:30 followed by singles at

by Daryl Deka’s 39’ Contender, Doin’ It All/Hard 12:30 and 1:00, which was enough to seal the Way, calling in a double on live bait. The bite was deal as the competition continued scratching and slow, but consistent and by afternoon the lead clawing their way through heavy seas and winds

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trying to add to their totals.

crews. They earned the respect of everyone associated with the event.”

The awards dinner at the historic Sailfish Club of Florida saw a lot of very tired, battered and bruised fishermen who gathered for a top-flight seafood buffet, open top-shelf bar, a silent auction and some camaraderie where the beautiful Buccaneer Cup awards were presented along with $171,000 in Calcutta money. The Kathy Jo team took the trophies for 1st Place Boat, most points overall, most points on dead bait and won the charity Calcutta for a free entry into the 54th Buccaneer Cup along with a pile of Calcutta money. Skipper John Millroy was presented with the InTheBite Top Captain trophy.

The 2nd Place Boat award was secured by Tuna Tango with Della Ann placing third. Top Angler honors went to David Cash of the Della Ann, 2nd Place was Tony Huerta of the Tuna Tango and 3rd was Chris Manetta on the Old No. 7, who also received beautiful Buccaneer loving cups.

Tournament Top Lady Angler was Tamara Slayton on the Reel Candy, who also took home the Biggest Fish award for a 31.5 lb. blackfish tuna caught on Saturday.

Thanks to all the people who helped make the Buccaneer Cup and the donation of all the tournament proceeds to the Recreational Fishing Alliance possible, most notably event manager Courtney Bowden. Our onsite accountant/statistician Tom Trageser was invaluable and the work of the International Game Fish Tournament Observers proved indispensable. Thanks also to Capt. Paul Pietreska, Terry O’Neill and Craig Murphy for a great job handling the radio room and recording the scoring as it happened, which was presented live via the Reel Time Scoring App. When all was said and done the other big winner was the Recreational Fishing Alliance, which was presented with a check for $55,000!

"The Buc Cup is an important event for the RFA," said executive director Jim Donofrio. "The history, the mystique and the publicity it generates are great for the sport and the fact that it donates all the proceeds to the RFA makes it an important fundraising vehicle for us each year. A big thanks to Gary Caputi and Courtney Bowden for their hard work in making the Buc such a great tournament."

While dead bait trollers dominated the tournament this time around the kite flyers caught fish, too. Old No. 7 took the $5000 tournament cash and cup for the most points on live bait and a tidy A huge debt of gratitude goes to our sponcheck for several live bait categories. sor/partners which include MTU, Florida Detroit “The big story this year was the weather surDiesel, Johnson & Towers (awards dinner sponrounding the tournament,” said Gary Caputi, sors), Viking Yacht Company, HMY Yacht Sales tournament director. “Fishing had been slow the (captains party sponsors), Yamaha, Jarrett Bay weeks prior to the tournament, but the days lead- Boatworks, Ocean Properties, Ltd. and the Jupiter ing up to it saw the first significant cold fronts of Beach Spa & Resort, American Custom Yachts, the year red hot fishing. Interest in the tournaSalt Life Optics, SeaKeeper, Contender Boats, Inment was high, but the evening of the captains terlux Yacht Finishes, Release Marine, Cummins meeting at the Buccaneer Marina Restaurant the Power Systems, Hi-Seas fishing line, American weather forecast for the two fishing days was de- Fishing Wire, Bahama Boat Works, Viking Service teriorating rapidly, which kept participation Center, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Tsunami Tackle, down. The boats that fished had had their hands Maxel Reels, Bausch American Towers, Sailfish full and really tested their boats, equipment and Marina, Palm Beach Towers and Reel Time Apps.

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BREAKING REGULATORY NEWS RFA ASSOCIATES APPOINTED TO KEY POSITIONS IN HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES MANAGEMENT Ray Bogan Recreational Commissioner to ICCAT Capt. Mike Pierdinock Advisor to NMFS Highly Migratory Species

R

ay Bogan is a practicing attorney who has been the RFA Chief Council since the organization’s inception. He comes from a family with a long recreational fishing heritage and grew up fishing and working on party boats from an early age.

He has been involved with highly migratory species issues both domestically and internationally for many years. He was recently appointed to the position of U.S. Recreational Commissioner to ICCAT. Bogan explained that there are three U.S. commissioners to ICCAT-recreational, commercial and government. The government commissioner is the head of our delegations to ICCAT. ICCAT is an international body, created by Treaty to which the U.S. is a signatory, that regulates, conserves (eh hem), and coordinates research on highly migratory species covered by the convention.

Those species are: Tunas- tropical tunas such as yellowfin, skipjack and bigeye, and temperate, such as albacore and Bluefin, Billfish (marlins, sailfish and swords), highly migratory sharks (such as whites, porbeagle, mako, thresher, blue, hammerheads), with incidental regulatory authority over highly migratory turtles and certain sea

birds, such as albatross. There are currently 50 contracting parties to ICCAT, which include the European Union and territories of the United Kingdom. In addition, there are 4 Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties. The statute which implements the Treaty in the U.S. is the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, found at 16 U.S.C. sections 971-971 i.

"The U.S. commissioners are tasked at home with constituting an advisory committee to the U.S. section of ICCAT," Bogan explained.

"The advisors provide advice and recommendations to the Commissioners regarding international regulatory matters, scientific priorities, and domestic highly migratory fisheries. Species working groups have also been established to engage in a more in-depth analysis of ICCAT species issues.

These species working groups consist of advisors and technical advisors. While I was originally brought into the ICCAT process 20 plus years ago as an advisor because of my background and knowledge of the Bluefin fishery, I became the original convener of the BAYS committee (Bigeye, albacore, yellowfin and skipjack), and continued as convener for many years. BAYS are now considered my primary concentration, although Bluefin is a close second, while bill-

MakingWaves Waves Spring Spring2016 2016 Making

fish, particularly swords, have taken a significant part of my time on the committee."

The commissioners report the recommendations of the advisory committee to the Secretaries of State through his Ocean and Wildlife section, and Commerce, through the designee of NOAA. The commissioners advise the secretaries on the relevant issues of management and conservation, so as to help develop U.S. international fishery policy. When on delegations, the commissioners represent the U.S. position as developed through the process set out above.

"We could not be more pleased with the Administration's appointment of Ray Bogan as our US Recreational ICCAT Commissioner," expressed Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance. "While rebuilding continues to be strong with Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, we continue to face significant conservation issues with yellowfin and bigeye tuna in international waters. The US is perhaps the most conservation minded member of ICCAT. We are certain that Ray has the strong negotiating skills and understanding of the needs of our US fishermen to leverage the conservation and compliance record of the US when pressing other ICCAT members to reign in their overfishing on yellowfin and bigeye.

Their overfishing, especially on juvenile fish, ultimately has a direct and negative impact on fish availble to US fishermen. We can't think of a better qualified or skilled commissioner looking out for our fishermen.

C

apt. Mike Pierdinock of Plymouth, Massachusetts is president of the RFA-MA chapter and is the owner and operator of the charter fishing boat Perseverance. Since becoming involved with the RFA he has taken on a wide range of responsibilities and has become one of our most active members, especially on regulatory issues. Mike has been selected

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to serve on the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

The HMS AP was established under Section 302 (g)( 4) Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to advise NMFS on the collection and evaluation of information for developing or amending fishery management plans for Atlantic HMS. According to Eileen Sobeck, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, each AP member i s selected for his or her expertise in a particular area as well as his or her ability to contribute to multi-species management.

Each AP member serves a three-year term, with the current group of new AP members' terms expiring on December 31, 2018. At that time, if you so desire, you may seek renomination for another term.

Each of the five Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils working with highly migratory species, as well as the Chair of the U.S. Advisory Committee to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCA T) may designate a representative for the HMS AP. State fishery resource agencies and Marine Fisheries Commissions may also send ex-officio representatives.

"Captain Pierdinock will serve recreational fishermen well in his new position on the Atlantic HMS Advisory Panel," said Jim Donofrio, RFA Executive Director. "This is a purely volunteer position and at times will take Mike away from his charter business. This speaks volumes to his commitment to the fishery and his fellow recreational fishermen and we couldn't be more pleased to have someone of his caliber on the panel."

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SHARK MYTHS MakingWaves Waves Spring Spring2016 2016 Making

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and Reality

By Captain Barry Gibson

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The media often portrays sharks as dangerous and evil, but that’s mostly a lot of hype on the 6 o’clock news. Here’s the real scoop.

H

uman beings seem to have a fascination with sharks. We shoot movies about them, wear jewelry made from their teeth, and make villains of them in books and magazines.

ther, biologists don’t think hunger is the reason for these attacks.

Sharks and Swimmers

There are millions of sharks off the U.S. coastline, 24 hours a day. Many swim right into the And, we fear them. We conjure surf to feed on fish. The reason up visions of pearl-white, razor- more swimmers aren’t attacked sharp triangular teeth gliding is that few sharks (the great silently in the murky depths, ever white is an exception) are capaready to clamp down on the ble of eating anything as large arm of an unsuspecting swimas a college student. mer … or ready to grab our ankle and pull us under at the first op- Shark Repellent portunity, drowning us and then Forget it. There’s no miracle on coming back to feed. Yikes! the market. Some detergents will work to a degree, but you’ll Most of our trepidation is comhave to squirt the shark right on pletely unfounded. In reality, sharks are simply animals like us the snout. who are trying to make it Shark Vision through another day. They Many sharks hunt with their need some food, a clean environment, and a little peace and eyes. Sharks have color vision, quiet. They don’t cruise around and can see in lower light than looking for unsuspecting water we humans can, such as in skiers, nor do they attack boats murky water. But, sharks don’t always see things as accurately and helicopters. They’re not as we do, and can make mislooking for a fight. takes.

Eating Machines Electrical Sensing A lot of us think sharks want to eat us for dinner. Not true. Most Sharks can detect electricity as sharks only eat fish smaller than low as one-billionth the power of a flashlight battery. This is they are, and will not over-eat.

Some, like the lemon shark, eat probably one way that helps them feed. In the open ocean, only once every three or four days. So although there are bil- sharks can sense north, and electrically sense the speed and dilions of sharks out there in our rection of currents. oceans, only 100 or so people are attacked each year. And fur- Medical Benefits

No, not Obamacare. Sharks have powerful immune systems. Scientists have discovered a substance in sharks that will prevent cancer in laboratory rabbits.

Shark corneas have been transplanted into humans, the only cure for certain eye diseases.

Shark Reproduction Sharks must be several years old, at least, before they can reproduce. The mother shark creates a few, very well formed babies instead of the thousands or millions of eggs that other types of fish produce. This style of reproduction makes sharks very susceptible to overfishing.

Shark Evolution Sharks have been around for 400 million years. Actually, they are not really fish, but are classified as “fish-like vertebrates.”

When the earth was dominated by dinosaurs, sharks were the most prevalent fish-like creatures in the sea, and there were thousands of species. Today there are only 18 basic species.

Shark Research It goes on all the time. Biologists implant radio transmitters in sharks and monitor their travels.

Another discovery was that, at least for lemon sharks, the babies live separately from the teen -agers, which live separately from the mature adults.

Why We Need Sharks

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a shark is lost or released.

Any shark not to be retained for food should be quickly released at boatside. If the hook cannot be easily removed, just clip the leader as close to the hook as safely possible. Never try to club or “quiet down” a shark that is to be released.

Contrary to popular belief, sharks cannot take much stress at boatside, and will likely die shortly thereafter.

Finally, anyone who kills a shark simply bring it back to the dock to have it hung up and weighed will find themselves in much disfavor these days. Thankfully, most sport fishermen no longer do that, Mako and thresher sharks are popular species for recreational fishermen in and many – including a lot of the Mid- Atlantic, but brown sharks like this one are also common catches . charter captains – realize the tremendous recreational value of Maine’s game sharks and Sharks are “apex” predators at le, mild steel and/or barbless the very top of the food chain. If hooks. Heavy freshwater hooks make it their business to see that we took away all the sharks, work great on smaller sharks as most sharks are returned to the their prey (smaller fish) would they will quickly rust away when sea unharmed after an exciting battle. probably multiply to the point where they would die off from overcrowding, disease, or starvation.

The Threat to Sharks Sharks are in danger because shark fishing is uncontrolled in many parts of the world. Commercial fishermen kill millions of sharks each year. Some progress has been made in managing shark fisheries, especially in the U.S., yet many countries continue unregulated harvest.

What We Can Do There’s some good sport fishing for sharks here in the U.S., but we should be conservation minded. Use appropriate tack-

Thresher sharks have long tails to stun their prey and very small mouths.

They are hard fighters that jump frequently and are also excellent to eat.

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waves

M A K I N G

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The Official Publication of the Recreational Fishing Alliance

The RFA Mission Safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers Protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs Ensure the long-term sustainability of our nation’s fisheries.

Anti-fishing groups and radical environmentalists are pushing their agenda on marine fisheries issues affecting you. The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is in the trenches too, lobbying, educating decision makers and ensuring that the interests of America’s coastal fishermen are being heard loud and clear. Incorporated in 1996 as a 501c4 national, grassroots political action organization, RFA represents recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues on every coast, with state chapters established to spearhead the regional issues while building local support.

“The biggest challenge we face is the fight to reform and bring common sense and sound science into the fisheries management process, says James Donofrio, RFA founder and Executive Director. “Anti-fishing and extreme environmental groups are working everyday to get us off the water.” Despite the threats to diminish access to our nation’s resources, Donofrio says that RFA offers members hope in an organization that’s designed from the ground up to fight back. “As individuals, our concerns will simply not be heard; but as a united group, we can and do stand up to anyone who threatens the sport we enjoy so much – fishing!”

After nearly 20 years working inside the Beltway and within state capitols along the coast, RFA has become known as one of the nation’s most respected lobbying organizations, and our members have a lot to celebrate.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance Headquarters P.O. Box 3080 New Gretna, New Jersey 08224 Phone: 1-888-564-6732 toll free Fax: (609) 294-3812

Jim Donofrio Executive Director

Capt. Barry Gibson New England Regional Director

Jim Martin West Coast Regional Director

John DePersenaire Managing Director

Gary Caputi Corporate Relations Director

T. J. Cheek Southeast Regional Director