Survey numbers revealed and it’s not great news

The word from Ken Lamb at the Tackle Box in Lexington Park is that no one has caught any ocean-running rockfish in the 40- to 50-inch range locally yet, but they should be here any day now.

Besides the generally larger size, we’ll know they’re here for sure when we spot the sea lice.

Whenever I get one of those letters from the school about lice detected in one of my kids’ classrooms, my first reaction is, “Ewww.” But when it comes to rockfish, lice is a different story altogether.

Visible sea lice are a welcome sight which means the big migratory fish are here. There are plenty of domestic stripers in the 19- to 30-inch range in the rivers and in the Chesapeake Bay that are being caught by trollers and live-liners just about everywhere.

Whenever you get a bunch of fishermen together to talk about striped bass, the conversation inevitably trends toward discussion of the class of 2011 and what happened to all the fish that were counted eight years ago by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Every summer, fisheries biologists perform a survey to measure the success of the annual spring striped bass spawn in and around the Chesapeake Bay. Most years, the survey results have been pretty dismal, with the exception of 2011 and, more recently, 2015. That exceptional class of striped bass from 2011 indicates that we should be enjoying a glut of 30-inch stripers in our water, however that has not come to fruition.

DNR just released this year’s survey numbers, and again the prognosis isn’t all that great.

While the 2018 young-of-year index, 14.8, is slightly higher than the 65-year average of 11.8, you’ve got to take into consideration that the lowest of the low numbers (ones that were recorded in the 1980s and led to a moratorium on fishing for stripers) are included in that average.

And let’s not forget, we’ve also had two of the worst years on record in the past decade (2012 and 2016) since the survey began back in 1954.

Fish found at Deep Creek Lake

DNR fisheries biologist Alan Klotz shared the results of the annual fish population survey at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland via the Maryland Angler’s Log.

While the fishing season at Deep Creek Lake has wound down until the start of ice fishing, now actually might be a good time to take a trip out to Garrett County for some fishing.

Biologists counted numerous yellow perch, with the number of 12- to 15-inch fish in the

sample being quantified as incredible.

Many walleye greater than 20 inches were collected. Other species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and a notable 27-inch chain pickerel. Deep Creek Lake has some fine fishing all year round.

Junior hunter day is here

Tomorrow is the first of two junior hunter days for the 20182019 deer season.

Junior hunters in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties can enjoy a second opportunity to bag a deer this Sunday on private property only. Over 200 deer were harvested in the tri-county area of Southern Maryland during the junior hunt last November.

While it’s long been the safety standard that hunters must wear fluorescent orange when in the field, a new law in Maryland has made it legal for hunters to opt to wear fluorescent pink instead or in addition. It is my sincere hope we’ll have a lot of gals wearing pink in the woods this weekend.

The law requires that any person hunting wildlife or accompanying, aiding or assisting a hunter in a field, marsh, wooded area or on the water (like a mentor would) is required to wear a fluorescent orange/pink outer garment or hat. It’s also mandatory for children, spouses and property owners hunting on their own private property to wear fluorescent orange/pink.

And even if you’re a non-hunter, you’ll probably venture out in the next few weeks to admire the changing leaves, and it would be a good idea to get yourself some fluorescent gear as well so hunters will see you and not mistake you for a deer.

Park passports are available

If you’re a frequent state park visitor, you might want to consider purchasing a Maryland 2019-2020 annual State Park and Trail Passport.

There are several state parks in Southern Maryland, including Calvert Cliffs, Chapel Point, Chapman, Greenwell, Jefferson Patterson, Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Newtowne Neck, Point Lookout and St. Mary’s River. If some of these names are new to you, you should also consider getting a pass so you can check these places out.

The cost of the park passport is $75 for residents and $100 for nonresidents.

One change this year is the annual passport will be valid for a full year from the month of purchase instead of for the calendar year. And if you purchase a passport now, it’ll be good through December 2019. The passports are sold online at www.shopdnr.com/.

A park passport would make a great Christmas gift for the outdoor enthusiast on your list. So would a calendar or subscription to the Maryland Natural Resource Magazine.