Forget that the 2005 oyster harvest hit a new record low for the third straight year (Contrast 2005: 25,000 bushels to the 2.5 million bushels per year in the 1970's).

In 1996 the U.S. Geological Survey reported that there was a huge buildup of sediment and phosphorus in the reservoirs behind several dams on the lower Susquehanna River. The dams trap two-thirds of the sediment and two-fifths of the phosphorus that flow down the Susquehanna to the Bay in an average year (approximately 4.6 billion pounds of sediment per year). Once the dams (principally the Conowingo Dam in Md) are filled to their estimated maximum of 450 billion pounds of sediment, all that material will start to flow into the Bay. As a result, the USGS predicts that the amount of phosphorus reaching the Bay from the Susquehanna could increase by 70 percent, while sediment discharge would jump by 250 percent a year. The estimated explosion for this bomb: 2010-2015.

In 1999 the EPA noted that the poultry industry was the primary source of pollution reaching key portions of the Chesapeake. Nearly 6,000 chicken houses raising more than 600 million birds a year turn out more than 750,000 tons of manure. In 2001 five major poultry companies signed an agreement with Delaware officials to voluntarily reduce manure runoff. Neither Maryland, Pennsylvania or Virginia have (state) regulations in effect to control manure pollution. Pennsylvania presently is in violation of the Clean Water Act.

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New members:
No new members this month.

President's Message
( Continued from Column 01 )

We all know how bad the water conditions are in the Bay. And conditions are not getting better. Year after year I ask myself, what is it going to take to get State and Federal Elected Officials to force Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania to clean up the Bay? Maryland has outlawed the dredging of female sponge crabs in the winter. Not Virginia. Maryland has outlawed purse seining, Not Virginia. Delaware has moved to stop manure run off. Not Virginia, Maryland or Pennsylvania.

The result is oxygen depleted zones, red tides, diseased fish, and reduced stocks. For several months I have been writing about why your MSSA membership is so important. It's important to you, your children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, and anyone else who is remotely interested in preserving the Bay for any reason, let alone fishing. We all environmental efforts illustrate to elected officials that MSSA is more than just fishermen who are concerned about the quality of Maryland's waters.

Tight lines to all.

The Chesapeake Bay water temperatures have been hovering around 85 degrees with numerous oxygen depleted dead zones, prompting the fish to seek the cooler, deeper waters. Live lining for rockfish at the power plant has slowed, and chumming at the gooses is still producing some nice fish, but you have to work longer and harder. There are still captains chumming at buoy 72 and the target ship, with the best times being in the middle of the week. There are numerous schools of small rock and bluefish breaking on the channel edges for light tackle action. When casting to these small rock, I usually replace the treble hook with a single barb-less hook to try to keep the mortality rate of these future stripers down. Some captains are targeting Spanish mackerel by trolling around these schools with #1 or #2 planners. You want to keep your speed between 4 and 6 knots in doing this. I have seen some Spanish mackerel up to 3 pounds taken in this fashion. Bottom fishing in the river continues to produce spot and white perch. You may have to move around to find the larger fish. A few nice croaker are still being taken, but mainly late evening from 7 p.m. to after dark.

For any questions about legislative issues or fishing, I can be reached at my Frederick number, 301-663-4802.

For the latest fishing report, call me at the Fishin' Shack at 410-326-1891.