Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS September 2009
Waterfront News
NOAA REPORT SALTWATER ANGLING A SIGN OF VITALITY
Saltwater recreational fishing Frank Blount, owner of the Frances with recreational fishermen. Currently, States, a detailed annual report on the
continued to provide important economic Fleet of party boats in Point Judith, R.I. and NOAA is working with the coastal states and nation’s commercial and recreational
benefits to America’s coastal communities a member of the New England Fishery those in the saltwater angling community to fishing, landings, export, per capita fish
in 2008, bringing fishermen to the shore to Management Council, also saw a decline in redesign the agency’s surveys to provide a consumption and consumer expenditures
reel in fish, book spots on charter and party fishing business in 2008 that he estimates more complete picture of saltwater anglers’ for fish products. The report will be available
boats, buy bait and tackle, stay in local inns around 20 percent. “Surprisingly enough, catch and effort and improve the online and can be read at http://
and eat at local restaurants, according to a we’ve had a very good early spring this year. conservation of our shared ocean resources. www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/
report issued this week by NOAA’s I’m especially seeing a lot of our regular The data released today on recreational
Fisheries Service. customers from the Northeast states. I think fishing is part of Fisheries of the United
Saltwater recreational anglers took an it’s due to good availability of many fish we
estimated 85 million fishing trips in 2008, pursue.”
down slightly from the 93 million trips “Saltwater anglers have their eyes on
Saco Bay Tackle Announces Annual
estimated in 2007. Saltwater anglers caught the water and a vested interest in sustaining
an estimated 464 million fish in 2008, down fishing opportunities for their children and
Shark Fishing Tournament
slightly from the 475 million caught in 2007. grandchildren,” Lubchenco added. “They
That the decreases were moderate reflects are natural champions for ocean PORTLAND –Saco Bay Tackle Company Way and all sharks processed in the event
stability in saltwater angling. stewardship.” Saltwater anglers (www.sacobaytackle.com) is announcing are donated to local food pantries.
“Saltwater recreational fishing is one of demonstrated their conservation ethic by its sponsorship of the annual DownEast “Of course, for most of the participants,
the most popular outdoor sports in America, catching and releasing back into the water Maine Shark Tournament to be held Friday the real prize is the competition itself and the
and those who take part in it bring economic some 58 percent of the 2008 catch, slightly up and Saturday August 28th and 29th and chance to take a bite out of the significant
vitality to coastal towns and cities,” said from the 57 percent in 2007, today’s report raises money for the Maine United Way. prize money,” says Mourmouras.
NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco, said. Pete Mourmouras, owner of the 22-year Although the purse changes as it is
who remembers her first experiences NOAA’s report also tallied the top old tackle store and outfitter, hosts not only dependent on the number of entry fees taken
saltwater fishing for salmon with her father catches by region. the Captain’s Dinner the night before the in, last year’s 1st place team took home close
aboard a charter boat off the Oregon coast. Spotted seatrout was the most popular event for all team captains, but also opens his to $5,500 and two Penn International 50 VSW
Saltwater angling generates an estimated catch among marine recreational anglers in store early to supply participating boats and reels on Penn International stand-up rods,
$82 billion in sales and supports more than 2008. The species is caught in the Gulf of spearheads the clean-up at Camp Ellis after high end shark tackle that retails for over
500,000 jobs annually, according to the most Mexico and the south Atlantic regions, the event. $1,000 apiece.
recent figures available to NOAA. which have the highest combined “This is a fantastic event for the fishing In addition to the standard prizes, the
“Last year we had gas prices around $4 concentration of saltwater anglers in the community to come together and raise State of Maine offers a $10,000 prize for a
a gallon and people did not go fishing as they nation. The top catches in other regions were money for a good cause,” says shark that breaks the current size record for
had in 2007,” said Captain Scott Lindsey, a grouper (Caribbean), striped bass (North Mourmouras, who has been a sponsor of blue, probeagle or thresher sharks. Three
recreational fisherman and outdoor writer Atlantic), summer flounder (Mid-Atlantic), and competed in the event for years. “Not teams in last year’s tournament came within
based in Panama City, Fla. “All in all, I believe chub mackerel (Pacific), black rockfish only do we raise money for the United Way, 5 pounds of breaking the record for blue
the quality of the fish this year is better and (Pacific Northwest), skipjack tuna (Western the event provides a little boost for local sharks, including Mourmouras’s own team.
the size of the fish we’re catching is larger Pacific). businesses as well as benefitting the “We’re all fishermen here and get
than we have seen in many a year. Is it The reported catch and effort statistics scientific community. excited for an event like this,” he said. “This
cyclical or management? We’ll have to wait are compiled by NOAA’s Fisheries Service The University of New England’s tournament is truly a great event for the
and see.” from face-to-face and telephone interviews Biological Sciences Department and the community!”
National Marine Fisheries Service APEX For more information on this
Predator Programs both will have teams on tournament please contact: Peter
PORTLAND TUGBOAT MUSTER
hand collecting data on the fish weighed in Mourmouras at Saco Bay Tackle, (207)
at this year’s event. In addition, all proceeds 284.4453 or sacobaytackle@maine.rr.com
of the event benefit the York County United
Lighthouse Foundation Announces
“Lighthouses of Casco Bay Cruise”
Fundraiser
PORTLAND – The American Lighthouse historic lighthouse preservation, and in
Foundation announces its “Lighthouses of partnership with its 12 chapters, coordinates
Casco Bay Cruise,” a four-hour cruise to help public access programs at 7 New England
raise money for historic lighthouse historic lighthouse sites.
preservation and education programs. The American Lighthouse Foundation,
The cruise will be held Saturday, celebrating its 15th anniversary here is
August 29, 2009 aboard Casco Bay Lines in 2009,sponsors cruises and other special
Portland, from 10:00am to 2:00 pm. While events to raise funds for historic
cruising the bay to view 7 lighthouses and preservation programs, as well as to help
enjoy the beautiful vistas, the event will raise awareness of these historic structures,
include a box lunch with your reservation. and the importance of saving them, as
Nothing is more impressive than tug boat races. These took place at Portland on 16 August.
There will also be a silent auction, raffles and educational and recreational resources for
(Photo: Steve Lang)
lighthouse-related merchandise for sale on future generations.
board to help benefit lighthouse “Cruises like the ‘Lighthouses of Casco
preservation. Bay’ are fun ways for family and friends to
The “Lighthouses of Casco Bay” enjoy a day on the water together and help
cruise, narrated by New England lighthouse a great cause like lighthouse preservation at
historian and author, Jeremy D’Entremont, the same time,” says Bob Trapani, Jr.,
will pass close to the following lighthouses: American Lighthouse Foundation executive
Portland Breakwater (Bug Light), Spring director. “Many of Maine’s beacons are best
Point, Portland Head, Ram Island Ledge, viewed and appreciated by water this cruise
Cape Elizabeth and Halfway Rock, as well as is one of the best ways to do just that with
the historic stone monument on Little Mark lights like Ram Island Ledge and Halfway
Island, which serves as an active aid to Rock.”
navigation. The cost of this cruise is $45 per person.
Each year thousands of people of all To purchase tickets or to make a donation,
ages seek out and enjoy the opportunity to please visit
visit lighthouses along our nation’s coastal www.lighthousefoundation.org, contact
communities. The American Lighthouse the American Lighthouse Foundation’s
Foundation’s (ALF) mission is to save and office at 207-594-4174 or mail check payable
preserve our nation’s historic lighthouses to the “American Lighthouse Foundation”
through restoration, promotion and to ALF Casco Bay Cruise, PO Box 565,
adaptive re-use. Over the past ten years, Rockland, ME 04841.
ALF had invested more than $2 million in
Jet powered picnic tugboat? This is the ANDREW M. MCCALISTER in race trim.
(Photo: Steve Lang)
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