New York State Sues the federal Department of Commerce

June 24th, 2008

THIS IS FANTASTIC!

We, the New York recreational fishing community, needed this BIG TIME!!

Below is a press release with the details of the law suit:

Due to the efforts of The United Boatmen of New York, The New York Fishing Tackle Trade Assoc.,(NYFTTA), and the lawsuits architect , Tony DiLernia, The New York Attorney General, Andrew M. Cuomo, has instructed his office to  defend New York’s recreational fishing industry and Long Island’s fishing heritage by filing suit against the Federal Department of Commerce.

Industry has work with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), on the issue that the Marine Recreational Fishing Statistic Survey  (MRFSS) is inaccurate and inefficient for allocation of our summer flounder “fluke.” Using MRFSS for a State by State allocation is now being challenged by a single coast-wide allocation. “Over 4 years of work came to fruition today with this lawsuit” said Captain Dennis Kanyuk.

This could not of been done without the efforts and understanding of Governor David A. Paterson, Senator Chuck Schumer, Assemblyman Bob Sweeney, Assemblywomen Ginny Fields and NYS DEC Commissioner Peter Grannis.

Tony DiLernia
Fisheries Consultant
(718) 368-4558
(917) 691-6489

Dennis Kanyuk
President UBNY
(516) 481-2841

John Mantione
Spokesman for NYFTTA
(631) 255-1588

More
CUOMO SUES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO OVERTURN ILLEGAL MARINE FISHING
REGULATIONS THAT THREATEN LONG ISLAND’S RECREATIONAL FISHING INDUSTRY

Federal Regulations Based on Unsound and Outdated Science, Severely
Limit Long Island Anglers While Benefiting Fishing Industries in
Neighboring States

NEW YORK, NY (June 23, 2008) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today
announced a lawsuit against the federal Department of Commerce for
violating federal law with its new limits on recreational catches of
summer flounder along the east coast.  The suit charges that their
regulations will harm New York’s anglers and the recreational fishing
industry, without benefiting the long-term health of these popular
sportfish.

“The federal government, through its use of outdated and unfair data,
has created a perfect storm for fishermen and recreational boaters
across Long Island,” said Attorney General Cuomo.  “Long Island
fishermen should not be at a disadvantage to anglers who come from a New
Jersey port.  These arbitrary limits on fluke fishing are hurting our
recreational fishing industry, yet are not properly protecting our
fisheries.  My office is working to ensure that New Yorkers are no
longer subject to these illegal regulations.”

Each year, the Department of Commerce, through the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), sets limits on size, daily catch, and fishing
season length for recreational catches of summer flounder - commonly
referred to as “fluke” - for the coastal waters stretching from
North Carolina to Massachusetts.  The NMFS then chooses either to adopt
one “coast wide” set of regulations for the entire coast or
different regulations on a state-by-state basis.  If the NMFS chooses a
state-by-state approach, federal law requires that all states are
treated fairly and that the regulations are based on the best available
scientific data.

In May 2008, the NMFS adopted state-by-state limits for regulating
summer flounder catches for the current season.  In violation of the
laws governing state-by-state regulations, the new regulations subject
New York anglers to the strictest catch limits of any other state,
including neighboring states.  For example, New Yorkers can keep four
fewer fish per day than New Jersey anglers.  New Yorkers are also only
allowed to keep fluke over 20.5 inches — two and a half inches longer
than those that can be kept by New Jersey anglers — barring New Yorkers
from keeping most of the fish they catch.  Furthermore, the NMFS based
the new regulations on a one-year survey conducted almost 10 years ago;
experts have severely criticized this survey as being scientifically
invalid.  Finally, there is no evidence that the state-by-state
regulations adopted by the NMFS properly conserves the population of
fluke, which is the ultimate goal of these regulations.

The suit filed today seeks to invalidate the new federal regulations
and to direct the NMFS to adopt the alternative “coast wide”
approach for managing recreational east coast catches of summer
flounder.  The lawsuit was filed in the United State District Court for
the Eastern District of New York.

The suit is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Gershon
under the supervision of Special Deputy Attorney General for
Environmental Protection Katherine Kennedy.

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Freeport Hudson Anglers 36th Annual Shark Tournament

May 17th, 2008

This is one of the LARGEST shark tournaments in our area, with one of the LARGEST PAY-OUT’S TOO!

You can typically find a couple of the Causeway Crew in this tournament as well!

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Noreast Striped Bass Memorial Classic… May 24-26, 2008

May 17th, 2008

noreast-bass-tourny.jpg

SIGN UP RIGHT HERE, IN THE SHOP! 

Weigh-In’s can be done here too!!

The 3rd Annual Striped Bass Memorial Classic is here! If you are going to be fishing for striped bass on Memorial Day weekend, then this tournament is for you. The heaviest combined weight of two fish measuring 30-34″ can net you $10,000! This year, we are featuring a new prize, the port prize. Every team will choose the state (port) in which they are fishing. If you have the heaviest combined weight for your state, you win $1,000! So, even if you don’t catch the heaviest overall, you still have a chance to be crowned the champ of your state. You can fish your own local waters because we have tackle shop weigh stations in all four states participating.

This tournament is a boat only tournament. Each team can have 1-4 anglers participating. The entry fee is $125 per team. You have the entire weekend to weigh your two fish between 30-34.” You can register online or at your local weigh station.

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2008 PORGY (SCUP) REGULATIONS

May 6th, 2008

Sounds like the NYS DEC has finalized the 2008 Porgy regulations now too!

For Anglers aboard licensed Party/Charter Boats:

Season = This is sort of a SPLIT SEASON:

From June 12 (06-12-08) to August 31 (08-31-08) anglers can keep 10 fish… with an 11″ size limit…. THEN….. from September 1 (09-01-08) to October 15 (10-15-08) anglers can keep 45 fish with the same 11″ size limit.

For SHORE-BOUND anglers, PRIVATE BOATS and RENTAL BOATS:

Season = May 24 (05-24-08) to September 26 (09-26-08)

Size Limit = 10 1/2″

Bag Limit = 10 Fish

There it is… like the Fluke regs, it’s rediculous, but it’s better than nothing.

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2008 FLUKE REGULATIONS SET!

May 6th, 2008

Rumor has it, the DEC has signed the 2008 Fluke (Summer Flounder) regulations… making it official. However, the DEC website has NOT been updated… surprise, surprise.

Season = May 15 (05-15-08) to September 1 (09-01-08)

Size Limit = 20 1/2″

Bag Limit = 4 fish

It’s rediculous, but it’s better than nothing!

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FREE Junior Anglers Fly Fishing Clinic

April 1st, 2008

The New York State Parks Department is offering a free Fly Fishing Clinic to boys and Girls, ages 7 to 15. The clinic will be held at Caleb Smith State Park on Saturday, April 26 2008. They are planning 2 sessions… 9:00 am to 11:00 am and the other from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Topics will include Fly Fishing equipment, stream ethics, conservation, safety and fly casting techniques.

For reservations call: Caleb Smith State Park Preserve at (631)-265-1054

jr-angler-caleb-smith.jpg

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