Fish Harvesting Could Return at Harwich’s Herring River

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber 

HARWICH – Harwich officials have approved a Sustainable Fishery Management plan for fish harvesting at Herring River. 

River herring harvest was banned in Harwich in 2004 out of concern for dwindling fish populations, with Massachusetts following suit with a sweeping statewide ban in 2006, says Brad Chase with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries.

“The state felt like it was their job to shut it down, and Harwich was proactive. Harwich said ‘okay we’re going to shut it down early’ and the state said they couldn’t do that. And then two years later we shut it down for everybody. So it’s a credit to the town of Harwich in terms of natural resource management,” said Chase.

The plan calls for no more than 600 permits total over a maximum of a 5 week season, as well as a 20 fish per week bag limit. 

Chase told the board that the change would make a big difference for those who like to fish but can’t afford a boat.

“People like to collect these fish to use for bait or to eat them. It’s a practice that has faded away in recent times, but if you go back a few generations it was really important. A lot of people use these fish.”

The proposal will next be examined by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in October. 

If Harwich gets approval, it can hold harvest seasons when it chooses. Source:  Grady Culhane

Przekurat Shuts Door on Bassmaster Elite Rookie of the Year Race

 Posted by Wayne G.Barber 

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Calm, cool and collected. That is the demeanor Jay Przekurat exudes on the Bassmaster Elite Series each day, whether he is hoisting his first Elite Series trophy or fighting to stay above the cut line.

That attitude is what helped Przekurat weather a midseason storm and ultimately win the 2022 Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race.

By qualifying for Day 3 at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River, the Stevens Point, Wis., pro clinched the coveted award — and the $10,000 prize that goes with it — outlasting a late charge from Missouri’s Cody Huff and Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz.

“This is a lifelong dream of mine to be standing here right now,” said Przekurat, who sits in 12th place in the final regular-season event. “Hats off to the other rookies who competed against me this year. They caught them all year long and I had to catch them. I had some tournaments where I struggled as well, and it just happened that I was fortunate enough to take this trophy.

“Everyone you look at that has won Rookie of the Year is still fishing on the Elite Series today. I don’t know what the future has in store for me, but I know right now life has been pretty good bass fishing so far.”

Entering the season as a 22-year-old, Przekurat’s number one goal was to win the ROY race. It just so happened he was able to clinch the title in front of a baseball stadium full of friends, family and supporters in his home state.

From watching his father Jason, a renowned walleye tournament angler, Przekurat learned quickly that a calmer, steady approach to tournaments would be the way for him to succeed. That ability to center himself and focus on the task at hand is what helped him navigate the two-tournament setback.

“I think it carries through when you are like that,” Przekurat said. “When it comes down to a fishing day, there’s so much stress that comes into it. There are so many things to be thinking about, but when you relax and don’t worry about those things, good things seem to happen.”

As an angler, Przekurat quickly learned that having an open mind would be the best way to navigate the grueling four-day derbies. But more than anything, he said winning this trophy gives him a new level of confidence and lets others know he is here to stay.

“This shows I can compete with these guys over nine tournaments on places that I have never been to in my first year. It is a confidence thing for me. Obviously, I am happy and this is awesome, but it gives me so much more confidence.”

With Rookie of the Year under his belt, Przekurat heads out for Day 3 of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite on the Upper Mississippi River in 12th place with 28-3, with just over a 3-pound deficit between him and first-place Chris Johnston with 31-14.

New Connecticut Salt Water Fishing Regulations

 Posted by Wayne G.Barber  

Christie conquers the Bassmaster Classic

 Posted
by Wayne G. Barber 

GREENVILLE, S.C. — For years, Jason Christie has had to live with the crushing weight of leading pro fishing’s biggest event twice on the final day, only to fall short.

But no more. 

The 48-year-old pro from Park Hill, Okla., led once again going into Championship Sunday and this time sealed the deal in dramatic fashion with a final-day limit of 17 pounds, 9 ounces that made him the champion of the 52nd Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell. His three-day total of 54-0 was only 5 ounces better than that of second-place finisher Kyle Welcher, who shared the lead with Christie going into the final day.

The event drew a Classic-record 154,932 fans.

“Honestly, when I was sitting at the door waiting to come in and weigh my fish, I thought I had given it away again,” said Christie, who pushed his career earnings with B.A.S.S. to $1,668,011 with the $300,000 victory. “Stetson Blaylock had just weighed in a big bag, and Kyle Welcher used to be a professional poker player, so I knew he had more than what he was saying. 

“I knew it was gonna be close. I honestly thought there could be a tie, and that was scary for me because I didn’t have any fish left.”

Christie certainly found plenty of fish throughout the week as he alternated between deep- and shallow-water patterns that were about as different as two techniques can be.

He caught half of his weight targeting bass on Garmin LiveScope in a 15- to 30-foot drain that he said held “hundreds of fish” the first two days. He used a spinning rod with a 3/16-ounce jighead and a prototype lure from Yum that only this week earned an official name, the FF Sonar Minnow, which stands for “Forward Facing Sonar Minnow.”

“It’s a bait that I can cast to the fish and work the rod and keep it on him; the bait does not move forward,” Christie said. “It’s a technique that I’ve been working on for about five years now.

“A lot of times you throw a swimbait over the top of them and they’ll just trail it. But you can drop this bait right to the fish and keep it on top of him.”The event drew a Classic-record 154,932 fans.

Maine Game Wardens Honoring our Veterans: Brook Trout Ice Fishing