Updates From Rob

MSSA Giveaway
If you renew your membership or you are a new member you will be entered into a drawing for 2 fishing trips to be given away by the MSSA. Check your expirations & renew at the meetings, shows or online at www.mssa.net. Don't delay renew today.

MSSA Own Board on Tidalfish
www.tidalfish.com has a private message board just for MSSA members. The private forum is open for discussion on any subject. For those of you not familiar with this forum it's a popular site for both bay & offshore fishing. It houses many reports & is a great source of information. The basic membership is free & registration is quick & easy. Once you are registered just click on the Message Board on the left side of the screen & scroll down to the MSSA board at the bottom. For existing members you can send a private message to "fishingfrank" to get the password or just ask one of our board members at the next meeting.

Spring Tournament
No it's not too early to think about it, we'll have information at the February meeting. The DNR has verbally agreed to May 4-6 so make your plans now. We have booked a block of rooms & will have slips as well. You need to sign up for the slips at the meeting. Information on the discounted rooms will be available at the meeting. If you have any questions give Rob a call at 301-696-7851.

Protect Yourself from Fraud
By Bob Lowery
There are many fishing trips coming up. Have fun, not hell!
These are the high points from an article written by a corporate attorney to all his employees after having his wallet stolen.
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "Photo ID Required".
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, do not put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers.
3. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of you home address. Never have your Social Security number.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. Copy your passport.
5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll-free numbers & credit card numbers handy.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc were stolen, to prove diligence to your credit providers.
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name & also call the Social Security fraud line number.
Stop the thieves dead in their tracks!

Chincoteague Island, VA
Fishing Report by Charlie Koski

Well it finally got cold here on the island. However, ocean temps are still in the 50's. The Ocean striper season is still in full swing & ends March 31. You are allowed 2 fish over 28". I did hear of one captain here who had 7 keeper Flounder the beginning of January fishing the new shoal that used to be the south tip of Assateague. Speaking of Flounder here are the five proposals submitted by the VA Charter Boat ADHOC committee Chincoteague Captains are pressing for Option 3 & 5. The final decision meeting will be February 20th in Newport News.

Opt Min   Possess Closed
    Size  Limit   Season
1   19"   6 fish  None
2   18.5" 5 fish  Jan1-Mar31
                  Jul23-28
3   18.5" 3 fish  Jul25-26
4   18"   2 fish  Jan1-Mar31
                  Jul16-31
5   18.5" 3 fish  Jan1-Mar11

Time to hit the boat shows & flea markets. Also, time to get your gear ready for the upcoming season. Tight Lines!

For daily fishing reports check out www.captbobs-marina.com/
NewsReports.php
and
www.stevesbaitandtackle.com/
NewsReports.php

Report from Bill's Fishing Shack: by Bill Johnson
None Submitted.

The Scholarship Foundation needs a secretary & a board member. MSSA's scholarship committee's secretary recently resigned after being elected to MSSA Secretary. This is a very worthy function & committee of MSSA, granting scholarships to college students. If you are interested in serving on this fine committee, please contact Bill Huppert at 410-256-3733 or call the office for details at 410-255-5535.