Updates From Rob
 

Spring Tournament
Apr 22-24
Mark your calendars now as the date has been changed to April 22-24. This is the weekend after opening day. The main MSSA is already receiving applications and you have until March 15th to get in for $150 per boat. We will have the tournament books at the meeting.

Frederick Chapter Tournament
In conjunction with the main tournament we will be hosting our own tournament, just for Frederick MSSA members. Only the captain needs to be an MSSA member. The sign up will start at the February meeting. It's $50 a boat through March 9th. Then it increases to $75 per boat from March 10th - April 13th. Details and sign up will occur at the meetings. Call Rob @ 301-696-7851 or 301-662-5360 with any questions.

Calcutta - See Gordon Jernigan at the meeting it's $100 and winner take all for the longest rockfish. We measure just like the main MSSA nose to the V of the tail. If you fish the main tournament, the yellow receipt will need to be provided for proof.

Accomodations:
The Comfort Inn in Solomons Island (410-326-6303) will be our headquarters again this year for the rockfish tournament. I have booked a block of rooms under the Group Name: FREDERICK MSSA which gives us the rooms for $70 per night. We have various rooms from smoking to non smoking, etc so just ask what's available. You need to make your own reservations.

Slips:
There will be a sign up sheet at the meeting for slips that are right at the Comfort Inn / Beacon Marina. The cost will be approx $1 to $1.25 /ft. We will contact the dock master for slip assignments and you will pay them upon arrival.

Scotty Clips for sale at the meeting - $5.50 each.

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The Scholarship Foundation needs a volunteer so if you are interested call the office for details at 410-255-5535.
 
Scholarship Applications:
Call the MSSA office at 410-255-5535 for applications. They are due back by April 30th.

MSSA Lifetime Memberships
are available for $500, payable in four installments; and, you will receive an MSSA Captain's jacket, MSSA license plate and a print suitable for framing.

Chincoteague Island, VA
Fishing Report by Charlie Koski
 
Well the winter doldrums have set in as I sit in my Lazy Boy and look at the ice flows moving down the Chincoteague Channel in front of my place here on the island. We faired ok in the first winter storm of 2005, snow, ice, thunder/lightning, rain, ice, snow, 40+ MPH wind all in 24 hours. Had to pour hot water on car doors to get them open. Thought we would get away from that mess when we moved here, oh well.

I have began preparing the vessel, ordering new tackle, licenses and etc. for the 2005 season. Good news, ASFMC has accepted these four proposals for the VA flounder regs., VMRC can choose any of these. They are; 16.5"(6 PP open all year), 16.5"(8 PP Mar 28-Dec 31), 16"(4 PP March 28-Dec 31 closed 6 days end of July), 16"(3 PP Mar 28-dec 31 mid-season closure.

If you wish to contact the VMRC to voice any opinions on these proposals you can visit their website at: www.mrc.state.va.us for contact info, or:

You can send your comments to: Mr. Jack Travelstead,
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 144 Eye Street NW, 6th floor, Washington, DC 20005 or email him at:


If you want to get into some fun winter fishing for Tautog contact my friend Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star in Ocean City, MD. by visiting his website at: www.morningstarfishing.com
The wife and I will be doing a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico the last 10 days February for our 25th Anniversary and plan on doing some fishing there if we can! Good Fishing to all!


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Updates From Rob

These are the absolute best clips for planer boards. Don't waste you money on inferior products and they have 2 settings and have a bright green tip to make these easy to see. They also work well as flat line clips. These clips are hard to find so get to the meeting early.

Umbrella Storage Bags:
$12.50 each

Back by popular demand these mesh and clear vinyl bags make keeping umbrellas organized easy and tangle free. We have a limited supply and they fit a large umbrella rig. They are 18" x 18" and you can fit 1-2 umbrellas in each one.

Giveaways at the meeting - we will have planer board plans, various magazines like the Mariner, Chesapeake Angler etc. We also have hard copies of the Chapter's Calendar of Events.