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Updates from Rob:

Shows
If you are interested in working any shows for the MSSA please give myself (Rob 301-696-7851) or the MSSA office a call @ 410-255-5535. By helping the MSSA you get free entry to the event and the ability to purchase tournament t-shirts at cost, not to mention meeting some other MSSA members and talk fishing. Give it a try as we are always looking for volunteers.

Upcoming events:

Jan 11th -
Dinner Meeting at Dutch's Daughter

Jan 12-15 -
Timonium Fishing Expo

Jan 21-29 -
Chesapeake Bay Boatshow @ Baltimore Convention Center

Jan 21-22 -
Chesapeake Fishing & Outdoor Expo @ Showplace Arena in Upper
Marlboro

New members:
Jeff Townson.

Updates from Rob
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Offshore Fishermen
Do not forget to get your boat permit (Highly Migratory Species), it's $22 and you can do it online at www.nmfspermits.com and print it yourself or call 888-872-8862. It's good from June 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006.

Chincoteague Fisherman
Secure boat storage is available on Rt 175 next to Ray's Shrimp Shanty. Tell them you are Frederick MSSA to get the discounted rate of $30/ month. Call Colleen at 757-990-2404.

Possible rockfish changes in 2006
Since we caught 20,000 lbs in excess according to the DNR we may be in for some changes in 2006. The MSSA is proposing an increase in the size limit up to 34 to 36 inches rather than reducing the creel limits or season.

MSSA Tournaments
If you have any feedback or changes please get them to Steve Shechtel or Bert Edmonston as the next committee was postponed from Oct 25 to later in November. This is your chance to get any recommendations or changes to the Tournamnet board of the MSSA for changes in 2006.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, Ralph Cope, Gary Hennick (a Cove Point neighbor) and I decided to tempt some big stripers onto our lures. It was a cold morning, and the boat was covered in frost. I had all of the lines set by 8 a.m. as we passed over large schools of bait. The sunrise was beautiful; the weather couldn't have been any better for a mid-November morning as we waited for our first pull. And we're still waiting for our first pull. The water temperatures in the Bay have been relatively warm for this time of year and up the East Coast, prompting the stripers not to migrate as usual into the Bay. If you're one of the lucky few, you can hook up on some really nice fish in the 50-60 pound class, but they're very few and far between at this time. There seems to be a few large fish taken south of Point Lookout at the mouth of the Potomac River. I heard one captain report on the radio from that area that he had 21 lines in the water, 12 people on the boat, and one fish! His customers were passing time sleeping, playing cards, and telling fish stories. He, like other captains, is hoping the fish will show before the end of the season in mid-December. Hopefully the colder weather of this Thanksgiving will encourage the fish to show up soon. By the day's end on the 19th, we did manage a 21" and two barely 18" fish, but had to be content with a beautiful November day on the Chesapeake. Other than the missing stripers, there are some nice white perch being taken on the usual edges in the Patuxent River, with an outgoing tide being preferred.

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.