The Guide Post

False albacore management is back on the docket in North Carolina. The first time albies entered the conversation in February, we saw big wins for little tunny. In that comment period, the North Carolina state agency let us know that it’s been years since they received this many comments on an issue. This influx of passionate digital comments was followed by more than 20 guides and anglers giving thoughtful in-person testimony over the course of two days. Every single voice made a difference. False albacore won because of your efforts. We now enter Step 2 in the process. Learn more and submit your comment before next Monday's deadline by clicking here.

Join the American Saltwater Guides Association and Cheeky Fishing for a rowdy celebration of the beloved Little Tunny, a.k.a false albacore. The 2024 Tunny Tournament will take place on September 21, 2024 on Cape Cod, MA. This one day tournament empowers anglers from shore and boat to chase down albies, participate in citizen science and win epic prizes from some of the best brands in the industry. All funds raised during the event will support The Albie Project, a dynamic campaign connecting passionate anglers, cutting-edge science and precautionary fisheries management. September 21, 2024. Lines in 6:00am. Lines out 3:00pm. Awards Ceremony 5:30pm. Awards Ceremony will take place at The West End, 20 Scudder Ave, Hyannis, MA 02601.

Menhaden advocates from across the country tuned into today’s ASMFC Menhaden Board meeting. At one point, there were 163 people logged into the webinar. Why was this meeting so well attended? Because of a vague statement listed as the final agenda item:“Discuss Possible Chesapeake Bay Management (L. Fegley) Possible Action.”Now, you know as well as we do that Maryland is not exactly a bastion of conservation.  So, where could this be coming from? It didn’t take long to figure out. Pound net fishermen are not catching any menhaden in Maryland...#TheGuidePost

In this episode of Shop Talk, the crew sits down to share absurd guide tales and show love to underappreciated species like Jack Crevalle. The Shop Talk series provides access to the lighter side of the Association - less science and policy, more fish stories and healthy laughs.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

In this episode, Tony and Cody provide more context on the Local Singles Program - a collaborative community campaign to minimize the recreational angling footprint and reduce striped bass release mortality rates. Learn more and participate by clicking here.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

Take a deep dive into the Marine Biological Lab's incredible striped bass research, which utilizes local eel pond populations to better understand an important migratory species.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

In Episode 146 of The Guidepost, ASGA’s Will Poston sits down with Emilie Franke of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to discuss Draft Addendum II for Atlantic Cobia. Recreational data uncertainties, shifting distribution, and structural management deficiencies are some of these issues frustrating cobia management, and what Addendum II seeks to address. Cobia from Georgia through Rhode Island are managed by the ASMFC through Amendment 1, which utilizes a quota strategy to maintain the sustainability of the stock. However, because the fishery is overwhelmingly recreational, monitoring quotas and developing new management measures can be very challenging. The Marine Recreational Informational Program (MRIP) has its flaws, and recreational catch and effort of Atlantic cobia expose all the limitations of our data collection program, which is in part what Addendum II hopes to address.  Draft Addendum II considers new allocations schemes for the recreational sector, such as moving from a state-by-state scheme to regional or coastwide harvest targets, which would be better suited to utilize the recreational fishing data we have now. In addition, the addendum includes other alternatives which could give managers more tools to respond to new stock assessments and make better use of the available fisheries data. This document is open for public comment now until July 8th. Read more and develop your comment by clicking here.

Ted Upton, CEO of North Point Brands, swings by The Guide Post to talk about the most recent Cheeky Schoolie Tournament, a community celebration of an iconic species and the successful, 13-year development of an event with "dirt parking lot roots". ASGA is extremely humbled and honored by the community reception and brand support the Association has received at the Schoolie Tournament. Thank you to Ted, Ellen, Peter and the entire team - as well as the other non-profit partners who work daily to educate and empower the angling community.#BetterBusinessThoughConservation

In this episode, ASGA's Will Poston is joined by Dr. Genny Nesslage of the University of Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory to discuss an important piece of marine food webs: menhaden.

Tony and Will drop in for a rapid reaction from the ASMFC Spring Meeting. Topics include the latest on red drum, spanish mackerel and striped bass.#TheGuidePostPresented by Costa Sunglasses

With the life of a fishing guide already being so chaotic, it’s hard to imagine how a simultaneous career as a musician is even possible. Balancing both of these journeys along with family life has become the norm for Chuck Ragan, a fly-fishing guide and musician based out of California. While Chuck has experienced a professional life most could only dream of, his proudest memories are based around his son. In this episode, we highlight a game changer in the fullest sense: someone lives as a shining example of "doing it your own way".

Consistent spawning production is paramount to a fishery’s long-term health. Many environmental factors are suspected to impact annual spawning production, and understanding these effects is crucial for conserving this fishery. For Atlantic striped bass, the right conditions are linked to high flows, a cool spring and a moderate temperature rise through the season, but these three factors only don’t tell the whole story.In this episode, ASGA’s Policy Director Tony Friedrich is joined by Martin Gary, Director of the Division of Marine Resources for New York DEP. Marty’s previous fisheries experience includes time with PRFC and Maryland DNR. While the Chesapeake community dearly misses his four decades of experience and leadership, Marty has seen the best and worst of this fishery and will play a critical role in its future up in New York. #TheGuidePostPresented by Costa Sunglasses

Luyen Chou is the founder of the GotOne app. In this episode, Luyen stops by The Guide Post to recount tales of hunting sheepshead in the marsh of Louisiana and talk about the challenges of fisheries data. Luyen expresses hope for a revolution in capturing high-quality data at scale to better understand the fish we love to catch. #TheGuidePostPresented by Costa Sunglasses

The ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board held a formal review of the state implementation plans for the new regulations under the recently passed Addendum II. During this meeting, the Board voted to find the PA, MD and PRFC jurisdictions out of compliance. This vote passed 11-3-1-0 (full motion transcribed below):“Move to approve Addendum II state implementation plans as discussed today with the following exceptions:-PA: not planning to adhere to the May 1 implementation deadline; and-MD, PRFC: not planning to adhere to the commercial quota overage payback provision for deductions to occur in the following yearThese jurisdictions must submit revised implementation plans by April 12, 2024. The Management Board will review and consider approval of the revised state implementation plans at its May 1, 2024 meeting.” (11-3-1-0)#TheGuidePostPresented by Costa Sunglasses

It's nice to take a break from the doldrums of fisheries science and management to grab a seat at the bar and simply talk about fishing, from tactics you've never considered to fish stories too absurd to make up. In our our second episode of SHOP TALK, fishing guides spread out throughout the east coast sit down with the ASGA team to do exactly that. Pour a coffee, take a seat on the bench and join us for a bit of shop talk.

Ben Martens of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association stops by the Guide Post to talk about rebuilding in New England after big storms and the resilience of the working waterfront. "The impact of January's storms on Maine's working waterfront is currently beyond comprehension. The devastation occurred rapidly, yet the reconstruction process will likely span years." Learn more about the impacts of recent severe weather on the waterman community by clicking here.The Guide PostPresented By Costa Sunglasses

There are few people as well-respected in the outdoor industry as Hilary Hutcheson. Hilary is an experienced, veteran guide in Montana with a lengthy resume of global travels. In addition to her pursuits on the water, Hilary keeps a packed schedule on land, serving as a board member for multiple organizations including AFFTA and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Advocacy is laced into everything Hutcheson does, from her past career in journalism to film work and industry ambassadorship. Hilary truly walks the walk, pushing the brands she works with to recognize their role of responsibility in conservation and challenging them to be courageous in difficult conversations. We couldn’t think of a better role model for upcoming anglers, guides and industry members - and we’re extremely excited to bring a thoughtful conservation with one of the best to Blane’s podcast series.

Jessica Pate stops by The Guide Post to discuss the inception of the Florida Manta Project and how collaborative efforts with cobia fishermen aims to expand that understanding and increase angler success while reducing angler impacts.You can help expand our understanding of these incredible rays! If you have documented any manta rays off the east coast in recent seasons, reach out to Jessica on Instagram (@FloridaMantaGirl) or by email ([email protected])!Watch the Manta Project's new video - "Best Practices for Fishing Cobia Around Manta Rays" by clicking here.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

March 7th, 2024 - The new Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Commission voted 5-1-0 in favor of amending the new NOI for Redfish regulations from a 3-fish creel limit to a 4-fish creel limit. This episode features a condensed version of the public comment period, providing anglers and advocates direct access to the important discussions that can be difficult to tune in or attend. Old roots run deep, and long-standing mindsets take time to recalibrate. Though after hearing another round of overwhelming public comment from the passionate, thoughtful stakeholders who refuse to quit on this fishery, we know there is more progress to be made going forward.

Glen ‘Catch’ Cormier has decades of fly fishing experience. He's a certified casting instructor and a long-time Louisiana resident. In this episode, Catch stops by The Guide Post to break down the redfish management conundrum currently playing out in Louisiana.

On February 22nd, 2024, there was a North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission meeting and false albacore was on the agenda. The item for discussion was guard rail management for albies. The three options were essentially do nothing, monitor the situation , or if landings exceed 200% of a five-year average, take action. That action would be implementing regulations including a 3500lb trip limit for commercial vessels and a 10 fish per person limit (max of 30 per vessel) for recreational vessels. The vote was close, but Option 3 (take action) passed. For the very first time, false albacore finally have some level of state management.#BetterBusinessThroughConservationPresented by Costa Sunglasses.

Basic guardrail management has been proposed for the false albacore fishery in North Carolina. In simplest terms, the rule established basic guardrails for false albacore if the state finds a significant increase in landings compared to a five-year average of landings. Learn more and have your voice heard by clicking this link.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation Presented by Costa Sunglasses

Jay Nichols has enjoyed an incredible career in the fly fishing industry. As a former managing editor of Fly Fisherman magazine, Jay knows the ins and outs of writing, editing and photography. He has utilized those skills to amplify angling tales and spread fishing education to the masses while soaking up endless knowledge from some of the sport's greatest minds like Lefty Kreh, Bob Popovics & Bob Clouser. In this episode of Game Changers, Blane is joined by a good friend and long-time colleague to take an industry-deep dive behind the mighty pen and lens.

Capt. Kyle Schaefer grabs ahold of the primary mic to host his first episode of The Guide Post. In his inaugural freestyle, Kyle is joined by Canadian striper guide and good friend Andrew Murphy. The two striper angling aficionados discuss the history of the species over the border, the genetic distinctions between the internationally separated stocks and a unique outlook for a blooming fishery.

Last week, Capt. Kyle Schaefer was called to testify as a witness at the US Senate Budget Committee. Sitting amongst a panel of other brilliant minds, Kyle provided a first-hand account of the effects of a changing climate on ocean-based small businesses like his own. Schaefer's biggest takeaway was, "We belong here". Kyle exhibited a whole lot of courage and exuded passion for protecting our oceans. In doing so, he set a great example for anglers, outdoorsmen and business owners around the country. We're extremely proud of Kyle and hope to amplify this behind-the-scenes account of the preparation for this big day.

The Striped Bass portion of the ASMFC 2024 Winter Meeting is in the books. While the final results weren’t perfect, after five contentious hours on the webinar, we have an approved Addendum II in which conservation won on many fronts.The public comment summary for Addendum II was a landslide, calling for the most consistent and conservation-minded decisions to protect the future of this fishery.The following blog provides a brief summary of the action on the primary sections of Addendum II:https://saltwaterguidesassociation.com/addendum-2.../Key Moments:Move to approve in Section 3.1.2. Ocean Recreational Fishery Option B: 1-fish at 28-31″ with 2022 seasons for all modes. Motion passes 14-2-0-0.Move to approve in Section 3.1.2. Chesapeake Bay Recreational Fishery Option B2: 19-24″ slot, 1-fish for all modes, 2022 seasons. Motion passes 14-2-0-0.Move to approve in Section 3.2.1 Commercial Quota Reduction Option B: 7% reduction from ocean and Chesapeake Bay 2022 quotas with 2022 size limits. Motion passes 8-6-0-2.Move to approve in Section 3.3 Response to Stock Assessments Option B: Board could respond via Board action to change management measures by voting to pass a motion at a Board meeting. Motion passes 11-5-0-0.Move to approve the following compliance schedule: States must submit implementation plans by March 1, 2024. The Board will review and consider approving implementation plans in March 2024. States must implement regulations by May 1, 2024. Motion passes 10-4-0-2.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation #StripedBass #FisheriesManagement

A hearing to receive public comment on the latest Louisiana Redfish NOI took place yesterday morning. That hearing was not live-streamed, and it went off the rails rather quickly. In this Rapid Reaction episode, Capt. Bailey Short and Capt. Ty Hibbs, who attended the meeting, stopped by to provide commentary.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation This podcast is presented by Costa Sunglasses.

It may take the entire village to drive change, but every major campaign begins with a single voice. Our guest today is industry professional Nick Jones. Nick stopped by The Guide Post to explain how his unorthodox introduction into guiding opened doors for amazing work opportunities and his newfound passion for advocacy.

As many of our listeners already know, launching The Albie Project was a nerve-wracking process for our team. Nearly three years after the inception of this dynamic project, we're insanely proud of everything we have learned and what we're poised to learn in the near future. In this episode of the podcast, Ed Kim from the New England Aquarium stops by to provide insights on what we know so far, the latest data returns and our outlook for 2024.Presented by Costa Sunglasses

Making a leap of faith from the stability of a corporate career to passion-based entrepreneurial pursuits is daunting. In this episode, Ben Whalley tunes in from Maine to talk about building his career as a fly tyer and striper guide.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

This week, we're introduced to the "far from shy" Scotty Davis. Much more than just a great storyteller, Scotty is a great angler, retired guide, business owner (Low Country Fly Shop) and aspiring advocate for his local fisheries. We look forward to Scotty becoming a familiar guest on the podcast going forward.#BetterBusinessThroughConservationPresented by Costa Sunglasses

It's nice to take a break from the doldrums of fisheries science and management to grab a seat at the bar and simply talk about fishing, from tactics you've never considered to fish stories too absurd to make up. In our "inaugural" episode of SHOP TALK, fishing guides spread out throughout the Atlantic sit down with the ASGA team to do exactly that. Pour a coffee, take a seat on the bench and join us for a bit of shop talk.

Listen as Tony and Luyen take a deep dive into the first year of the GotOne App. Thank you to the growing community of over 1,500 data-driven anglers who contributed hundreds of thousands of data points during the inaugural year of GotOne! #BetterBusinessThroughConservation

What a year 2023 was. Recap the ups and downs of a rollercoaster year fighting to protect our wild fisheries with the ASGA team. Let's keep that same energy in 2024. #BetterBusinessThroughConservation

Capt. Kyle Schaefer tunes in from the Bahamas to talk about his summer business chasing stripers in Maine and the implications of the looming Addendum II comment deadline. Kyle shares experiences from this past season fishing for bass along Maine's coast as well as his developing business ventures that rely on abundant fisheries.

Chris Weiner from the Bluefin Collaborative swings by to talk about the methods, science and management of tuna fishing on the east coast.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation #BluefinTuna

After the Striped Bass Board approved this document at the ASMFC Annual Meeting, ASGA began reviewing notes, talking with partners up and down the coast, and drafting positions for Draft Addendum II. In the coming weeks, ASMFC will be holding virtual and in-person hearings from New England down through Virginia to collect public comment on this document. The deadline for public input is December 22nd, 2023, so be sure to look into the options within Draft Addendum II and share your perspectives before the clock runs out. The following provides a summary of our positions and a template to guide your public comments - CLICK HERE.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

After the Striped Bass Board approved this document at the ASMFC Annual Meeting, ASGA began reviewing notes, talking with partners up and down the coast, and drafting positions for Draft Addendum II. In the coming weeks, ASMFC will be holding virtual and in-person hearings from New England down through Virginia to collect public comment on this document. The deadline for public input is December 22nd, 2023, so be sure to look into the options within Draft Addendum II and share your perspectives before the clock runs out. The following provides a summary of our positions and a template to guide your public comments - CLICK HERE.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

In the face of historically insurmountable adversity, there is still a chance that conservation can win in Louisiana. These odds are directly due to the unification of a powerful community voice. We can’t quiet down now.Join us in calling on Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards to VETO the decision of the Joint Oversight Committee and approve this NOI to rebuild this world-class fishery in a fair, equitable, and timely manner.All emails should be directed to ([email protected]). Please send a respectful and encouraging email expressing your support for this NOI and your desire to see Louisiana Redfish back on track in the fastest timeline possible!SUBJECT: “Veto Oversight Committee & Support Rapid Redfish Recovery”BODY: “I support the redfish NOI with a reduction of 55% to get the adult population of redfish back to acceptable levels within a reasonable timeline.”There’s no time to wait. Send your email as soon as possible. Louisiana redfish need your voice.

Unprecedented news has been delivered from the primary spawning grounds of our beloved striped bass. 2023 is officially the fifth straight year of failed spawns for striped bass, as the newly released Chesapeake Bay Young of Year Survey reports the second-lowest YOY Index in the recorded history of stripers. The 2012 YOY Index still stands as the lowest on record, with an index of 0.9. Unfortunately, 2023 almost claimed that abysmal title with an index of 1.0. The vast proportion of juvenile striped bass are spawned in the Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay. The Hudson River can not save the coastwide stock. It is said that the amount of spawning age stripers in the stock has no impact on the spawn (no stock-recruitment relationship). That is true unless the stock falls below a certain level. We fear we have crossed that threshold. The time to save striped bass is now.

Charlie Witek stops by the Guide Post to get striped bass followers dialed in on next steps for Addendum II and the upcoming ASMFC meeting where we will get a better look into the future of this fishery.

From building his first store by hand with his father to building the largest Orvis dealer in the country within two years, Brian Flechsig from Mad River Outfitters has delivered on his commitment to angling education and making fly fishing community more inclusive. In this episode, Brian joins host Blane Chocklett to discuss a range of topics including a current campaign to conserve redfish in Louisiana, opening horizons with new target species and the value of customer service in the fishing industry. As Brian claims, “If it swims and can eat, it can be caught on a fly rod” - so gear up and tune in for another great episode with a genuine industry game changer.

ASGA is joined by the New England Aquarium research team to discuss the latest findings from the Albie Project including telemetry tagging results from the first research season. #TheAlbieProject #BetterBusinessThroughConservation

On July 6th, the Louisiana fishing guide community flooded the LWF Commission Meeting and let the state know that the recommended reductions are not enough to ensure the stability of their businesses. To the surprise of many, the LWF Commission did something amazing: they listened and moved to protect the resource. Capt. Bailey Short was one of the guides in that room, calling for proactive management actions to protect the future of his business. In this podcast, Capt. Bailey joins Blane to talk about building a business in Louisiana and the state of redfish.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

Today, ASGA announced a partnership with the GotOne app (“GotOne”) to help expand the data collection for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries’ (“MA DMF”) ongoing study on release mortality of striped bass.This partnership will utilize the capabilities of the GotOne to enable volunteer recreational anglers to track and directly submit data on landings, harvest and potential survival. ASGA has worked closely with GotOne’s founder, Luyen Chou, over the past year to ensure that the app protects anglers’ privacy, while collecting the data needed to support fisheries science and management. The partnership between the ASGA, MA DMF and GotOne supports directives from NOAA to explore new technology that enable more effective data collection utilizing the recreational angling community. This partnership between private, non-profit and government agencies can provide a broader template for recreational fishermen to contribute to science in a meaningful way.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

There's something to be said about a man that follows his dream and earns it the hard way. Capt. Ron Ratliff of Marshdawn Charters is one of those guys. Nothing has been given to him. He's not polished, nor is he politically correct. From working on oil rigs to sacrificing family time to guide in Alaska, Ron knows what it means to work hard and earn your place at the table on your own terms. In his latest podcast with ASGA, Blane Chocklett highlights a Louisiana native who loves his job guiding in the marsh and is committed to preserving the place he calls his office and his home. Crack a cold one and grab a seat at the fire with Capt. Ron Ratliff.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation

ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board fails to advance Addendum II for public comment.The ASMFC Summer Meeting, which concluded just a few hours ago, was lengthy and convoluted. An enormous amount of time was spent talking about carve-outs for special interests and very little time was spent talking about the health of our striped bass fishery. This will delay any reductions to the commercial sector until at least 2025.We are extremely disappointed with how this meeting played out. We told you they wanted to kick the can. Well, the can has been kicked.We'll have more details for you in the coming days as we sort through nearly 5 hours of soundbites packed with legislative gamesmanship. As always, we will do our best to break this down in a clear and concise manner.#StripedBass #BetterBusinessThroughConservation

With information gathered over the last couple of days, we’ve come to the realization that a new dance from the mid-Atlantic is in the process of being choreographed. They plan to “kick the can down the road.” Our latest episode provides a breakdown of why a delayed Addendum II process could be a nightmare outcome for striped bass. In this episode, we address a pending historical moment for striper spawns (not good), the lowest release mortality ever recorded for the Chesapeake and how the charter fleet in Maryland killed more fish than the charter fleet in the rest of the Bay and the Ocean combined.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation #StripedBass

ASGA firmly believes the story of the false albacore is still unwritten. If you’re new to the project and want a better understanding of the baseline from year one, head to our Albie Project Hub by clicking here. If you’ve been following along and supporting the project, we have some extremely exciting news for you. We received word that multiple spaghetti-tagged albies that were tagged and released off Cape Cod, MA in Fall 2022 were recently recaptured off the coast of Jupiter, FL! The cherry on top: those tagged fish were recorded and released to swim another day. While we are anxious to receive a full report on the data downloads from the receiver arrays along the coast, our partners at the New England aquarium have also let us know that our tagged albies swam from the islands off Massachusetts all the way to the Carolinas and even Key West, FL. We have merely scripted the first pages of the story of False Albacore, but already a compelling storyline is developing. We can’t wait to write this story together.#BetterBusinessThroughConservation #TheAlbieProject