fishing equipment

"Fishing for Energy", an innovative partnership to recycle fishing equipment in energy, has been extended to Newport, Rhode Island. The program was launched in the city's pier at an event today attended by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), as well as members of the community of commercial fishing and other notable personalities.

The "Fishing for Energy" initiative is a partnership between Covantes Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. to help communities Coastal reduce the amount of derelict fishing gear that ends in the nation of the oceans.

Abandoned fishing equipment can endanger marine life, affect the safety of navigation, and have serious economic impact on shipping and coastal communities. Since the program was launched in February, more than 80,000 pounds of fishing nets, trawling gear, crab pots, and fishing line were collected and converted into energy.

"This collaboration and innovative project which will in turn endanger the environment and the burden on local fishermen an opportunity to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and grow our economy green", U.S. Senator Whitehouse said.

Rhode Island is home to a large commercial fishing fleet, which landed more than 108 million pounds of lobster and fish and shellfish valued at $ 92 million in 2006. The city of Newport is home to one of the largest fleets in the state.

"The Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen Association of the (AOLA) has worked diligently to bring" Fishing for Energy "to Rhode Island," said Bonnie Spinazzola, Director of AOLA. "This program is the solution to the industry's serious concerns about that to dismiss abandoned gear retrieved from the ocean floor, and when to dispose of floating groundlines. We are excited to help the industry and the ocean environment and us pleased that the gear will be used to create energy for the general public. "

Covantes work closely with the city of Newport and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and AOLA to coordinate the removal of abandoned local coastal waters, as well as assisting the teams who are retiring is no longer fit for use within of a fishery.

Paul Gilman, Chief Sustainability Officer for Covantes Energy, said he was encouraged by the response that the program had received by Newport and other communities.

"We are delighted that Newport has taken this important program as a way to help our oceans. They are proving valuable leadership as stewards of one of our most important resource," said Gilman. "As a company committed to improving the environment, Covantes is proud to join Newport and our partner program to convert the problem of unwanted waste into the oceans clean and renewable energy."

Once removed from the environment, the art will be shredded into a facility and transported to Schnitzer Covantes of southeastern Connecticut-Energy-waste facilities that will be converted into electricity at no cost to the city.

"The 'Fishing for Energy" program is already proving to be very useful for a number of New England in the productive activity and most of the ports, "said Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. "As we move forward, bringing the program to new ports, the addition of new partners and attention to this cooperative effort will increasingly benefit both fishermen and the marine environment. The fact that more than 83,000 pounds Gear has met so far is a great indicator of interest in the issue of marine debris and the need for this important partnership. "

"The 'Fishing for Energy" is an innovative and collaborative program that addresses both used and derelict fishing gear in our waters. It is an important step in working directly with the fishing community to dispose of marine debris in a way that benefits the community, "said Dave Westerholm, Director of the Office of NOAA response and restoration." NOAA and the Program Marine debris is proud to be a partner in this project to reuse abandoned as an energy source to power in the region of homes and businesses. "***

news 4 fishing

Bass

Largemouth fishing has improved at many of the lakes and ponds across the state. Good reports for bass from Pattagansett Lake (several more than 4 pounds), Hatch Pond (more than 30 largemouths and smallmouths for one angler) and Long Meadow Pond (many fish, one 4 pounds, 13 ounces). Highland Lake and Park Pond report many fish caught but not very large. Other areas reporting fair to good fishing for largemouths are Candlewood Lake, Lake McDonough, Scoville Reservoir, Lake Zoar, Lake Lillinoah, East Twin Lake, Gardner Lake, Beseck Lake, Gardner Lake, Powers Lake and Moosup Pond. Mixed reports for Lake Wononscopomuc. Smallmouth bass fishing reported to be very good at Candlewood Lake. Other areas reporting good catches are Colebrook & Saugatuck Reservoirs, Mashapaug, Bashan, Coventry, Highland, Gardner and Bantam lakes.

Trout

Another variable week of conditions; rain late last week slowed the trout fishing in rivers for the early part but conditions improved as the flows moderated. Summer trout fishing is still variable in lakes and ponds, with good reports from East Twin and West Hill Reservoir the top producing lakes this past week. Good numbers of trout were found trolling baits in deep water anywhere from 25 to 40 feet using either lead core line or downriggers. Live bait and spoons presented behind large spinner blades and dodgers caught the most fish.

We review the effects of fishing on benthic fauna, habitat, diversity, community structure and trophic interactions in tropical, temperate and polar marine environments and consider whether it is possible to predict or manage fishing-induced changes in marine ecosystems. Such considerations are timely given the disillusionment with some fishery management strategies and that policy makers need a scientific basis for deciding whether they should respond to social, economic and political demands for instituting or preventing ecosystem-based management. Fishing has significant direct and indirect effects on habitat, and on the diversity, structure and productivity of benthic communities. These effects are most readily identified and last longest in those areas that experience infrequent natural disturbance. The initiation of fishing in an unfished system leads to dramatic changes in fish community structure. As fishing intensity increases the additional effects are more difficult to detect. Fishing has accelerated and magnified natural declines in the abundance of many forage fishes and this has lead to reduced reproductive success and abundance in birds and marine mammals. However, such donor-controlled dynamics are less apparent in food webs where fishes are the top predators since their feeding strategies are rather more plastic than those of most birds and mammals. Fishers tend to target species in sequence as a fishery develops and this leads to changes in the composition of the fished communities with time.

Regulators vote to overhaul West Coast groundfish fishing

Associated Press - June 12, 2008 7:24 PM ET

FOSTER CITY, Calif. (AP) - Pacific Coast fishery managers have voted for new rules that would dramatically change the way fishermen harvest snapper, flounder, cod and other bottom-dwelling fish.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted Thursday to give preliminary approval to a plan that would give each boat a fixed share of the West Coast groundfish fishery. A final vote on the plan is scheduled for November.
The new rules would give each trawler an individual fishing quota, so fishermen would not need to rush out to harvest their piece of the $60 million fishery.
Backers say the system would make fishing safer and reduce the number of unwanted fish that are caught and thrown back to sea.
Individual fishing quotas are already used in British Columbia, Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.***

Children are the focus of Ontario Family Fishing Weekend

Province-wide licence-free family fishing - July 4 through 6, 2008 Attention: Assignment Editor, City Editor, Environment Editor, Food/Beverage Editor, Sports Editor

ONTARIO: O.F.A.H. MEDIA RELEASE--(Marketwire - July 2, 2008) - From Adolphustown to Wheatley, and in dozens of Ontario communities in between, plans are well underway for Ontario Family Fishing Weekend, running July 4 through 6, 2008.

For the fifteenth consecutive year, the Ontario Family Fishing Weekend Committee, led by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.), will offer a full weekend of free fishing at family-friendly events hosted across Ontario. Canadian citizens do not require a licence to fish in Ontario waters during this weekend, however all other fishing regulations apply. The province-wide event runs during National Fishing Week (July 5 through 13).

"Fishing connects kids with the outdoors," said O.F.A.H. Executive Director, Mike Reader, "and through the generosity of the many conservation-minded clubs that host Ontario Family Fishing Weekend events, thousands of families will share a great day together in the fresh air."

Over 60 events are already planned, with details posted on the event website. More host groups are invited to get onboard, and the O.F.A.H. is offering tools to help them get started. To receive a free Ontario Family Fishing Weekend information package, call Mark Cousins at 705-748-6324 ext. 233. The package includes volunteer and participation certificates, flyers and posters, Take-A-Kid Fishing and Catch Fishing booklets, and tips for event planning. To add a new event to the growing list, or to find an event near you, visit www.familyfishingweekend.com.

Ontario Family Fishing Weekend is delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association, the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Foundation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters.

/For further information: Lezlie Goodwin
Communications Coordinator
705-748-6324 ext 270/


IN: ENTERTAINMENT, ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES, FOOD, SPORTS

For more information, please contact

Mark Cousins, Ontario Family Fishing Weekend Coordinator, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Primary Phone: 705-748-6324 ext. 233

recipe bait fising

Lovina learns to fish

With all the nearby lakes here in Michigan, a lot of fishing is being done by people around here during this nice stretch of weather. We have enjoyed quite a few meals of fresh fish and have more in the freezer. I enjoyed my first time out fishing on the lake. My husband Joe took me one evening on his boat. At first, I was a little nervous, but I finally got the feel of the boat. It wasn’t long before we found a good place to fish. Joe helped me bait my hook after teaching me how to cast a line. We weren’t fishing very long when I caught my first fish. It was a bluegill.
Later I almost had a big bass but it got away before I could pull it into the boat. It was exciting enough, though, to make me want to go again. It was also very relaxing and peaceful out on the water.
Joe told me I did a good job of casting. I think he was a little afraid at first that the worm on my hook would land in his hair. We came home, and I helped clean fish for the first time. We then went over to Jacob and Emma’s house to meet up with our children. My sisters Verena and Susan had taken the children with them to Jacob’s house earlier. We all planned to "camp out" there for the night. **

Bait fishing bonanza at weir
The Macquarie River continues to yield Yellowbelly and Cod with winter well and truly knocking on the door. Anglers at the South Dubbo weir had a bait fishing bonanza with cricket score catches of Yellowbellys between 35cm to 40cm being reported. Lightly weighted shrimp caught and frozen during the warmer months were floated down the wash through the white water and took Yella’s consistently for bait fishermen, with one angler banking and releasing a 50cm brute.
The South Dubbo weir again had plenty of cameras out and working overtime, with the majority of the fish going back to fight again another day.
A few weeks back you might remember reading in Dubbo catches about a 17 pound Yellowbelly taken at Windemere Dam. We have tracked down the angler, who happens to be local fisherman Rod Tilling. This “fish of a lifetime” was taken on a yabby, fished off the edge of a weed bed. **

Fishing Bait Recipes Including ’Catfish’!
Before going fishing, it is imperative that you antidepressants some fishing bait with you to get those fishes biting. It is not that you have to go to some store to buy fishing bikini you can easily make fishing bait at home. For fishing bait recipes and recipes for catfish bait, all you have to do is to surf the Internet. You will be overwhelmed by the number of fishing bait recipes there are on the Internet.
This is a homemade fishing bait recipe that not only catches catfish but also all other types of fish. All you need is cups of raisins, parmesan cheese, brown sugar and corn syrup. Along with it, cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp. garlic powder. You have to first grind the raisins and then take the parmesan cheese, and add apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, brown sugar and corn syrup. This mixture has to be brought to a slight boil. You then cool it to add raisins and vinegar. This can then be thickened using either flour or corn meal till the desired thickness is achieved.***

Fishing Captain Releases his 25,000th Billfish

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Think catching one marlin or sailfish is a big deal? How about being with someone who has caught and released 25,000? Sportfishing Capt. Ron Hamlin completed the feat in April 2008.

Hamlin, a veteran sportfishing captain, was recently named the top-tagging captain in the Pacific by the Billfish Foundation for an unprecedented 10^th year in a row. He works out of the Pacific Fins Resort in Guatemala on the charter boat Captain Hook and has been instrumental in training other captains at the resort who are nearly as prolific as Mr. Hamlin.

Hamlin credits the incredible Guatemalan fishery as one of the keys to his success. “Let me put it this way,” Hamlin explains. “It took me 35 years to catch 3,000. The last 22,000 I’ve caught during my 14 years in Guatemala.” Averaging as many as 2,500 billfish a year (2,809 in 2006), Hamlin says, “You can’t do this anywhere but Guatemala.” And Hamlin should know. He’s fished all over the world, including Florida, Venezuela and St. Thomas.

Hamlin was also instrumental in introducing circle hooks to billfishing as part of the catch and release movement. Circle hooks rarely end up killing billfish, so they can be released for future generations.

In fact, Hamlin was recognized by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association as one the Year 2000’s Seven Heroes of the Environment. Other recipients that year included Al Gore for global warming. He is one of fishing’s most honored conservationists, having been recognized by both the Billfish Foundation and IGFA.

Capt. Hamlin, now 64 years old, fishes almost every day out of the Pacific Fins Resort on Guatemalan’s Pacific Coast. He has fished with thousands of guests, many of who return year after year.

“The fishery is just so amazing down here, and it’s really easy for people to get here,” says Hamlin. “Many people think it’s going to be roughing it, but we have one of the very latest sportfishing fleets in the world, and certainly in Central America. It’s only a two-hour flight from Miami or Houston. We pick up our guests at the airport with an English-speaking guide and take them on a modern, four-lane highway to a beautiful, all-inclusive resort. It’s not exactly roughing it.”

Capt. Hamlin hopes to fish until he catches 30,000 or more billfish. “I am taking a few more days off here and there than in the past,” Hamlin goes on to say. “But I still enjoy it. My friends tell me I have half a fish brain,” Hamlin says, laughing.

About Pacific Fins Resort:

Pacific Fins Resort is located along the Pacific Coast just 50 miles from Guatemala City. It is considered one of the best fishing resorts in Central America. For more information on Capt. Ron Hamlin, log into www.PacificFins.com.