News

Will Chincoteague Island NWR Close the Beach to ORV?

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, it must be a duck.

Given what has happened at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area, the awarding of a federal grant to Chincoteague Island NWR brings that old proverb to mind.  Read on, and see if you can find the duck.

A recent DelMarVa Now article reporting that the Chincoteague Island NWR will receive a $1.5 million federal grant to purchase land to be used as a parking lot is raising supicions that it ultimately could keep vehicles from accessing the beach there.  Additionally, the awarding of the grant has taken Chincoteague's Mayor and an Accomack County Supervisor by surprise. 

Mayor Jack Tarr: "We thought we were in the CCP process and getting to make comment ... This is kind of telling us that we don't." 

Regarding CINWR Director Lou Hinds, Supervisor Wanda Thorton was quoted that Hinds "should just tell the community the facts ... In my opinion he has misled the community."

Virginia's U.S. Representative Scott Rigell, in a letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service,  called the action "a classic example of ... government imposing its will without regard for the will or economic well being of the people."  In the same letter, Rep. Rigell asks questions that have a ringing echo of questions that were raised (and ignored) in Cape Hatteras.

If you think you have read this sort of thing before, you are right! The same type of remarks were made by lawmakers, community leaders and stakeholders  - that includes YOU, the ORV user - during the recent long, bitter, contentious "fact-finding" at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area.  The outcome of that process, which was rife with false science, ignoring the comments of the communities/stakeholders, disregard  for the historical use of the beaches and the economic impact to the area, has lead to severe restrictions on not only ORV access, but to all access in parts of the CHNSRA. 

Being cut out of a process, not being able to make comment, being misled? 

It walks like a duck...

Lawmakers raising concerns about the economic impact of a questionable plan being imposed without community input? 

It quacks like a duck... 

Could this grant to purchase land for a parking lot end in loss of ORV beach access at Chincoteague Island NWR?

It looks like a duck....

If it happened at Cape Hatteras, it can happen at Chincoteague.

Do you see the duck? 

The noose of restrictions on beach access, be it for ORVs or pedestrians, is coming nearer to Delaware.  It happened at Cape Cod.  Next it was Cape Hatteras.  Now it is Chincoteague Island.  Access to Assateague Island is being "studied", which is government-speakfor "restrict ORV beach access".  Where next? 

Do you have to look at a map to figure it out?

What will a 2012 GFL Cost?

There is an increase in the cost of purchasing a GFL for 2012.  There is an increase of $1.00 in the Agent's Fee.  

You can purchased your GFL on-line directly from DNREC.  Click here to go to DNREC's automated licensing system.

Rick Willman, 1957 - 2011

We at Delaware Mobile Surf-fisherman are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of one of our valued members, Rick Willman.  Yes, that is the Rick of Rick's Bait and Tackle, Long Neck DE.  Rick passed away around 1 P.M on Wednesday, December 22,  having suffered a massive heart attack.  Our sincere condolences to Deb, his wife, and to his children, Angie and Clint.

If you wish to honor Rick, the family has asked that contributions in Rick's name be made to the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club.  Donations can be sent to Rick's son, Clint Willman.  The mailing address is P.O. Box 482, Brownstown, PA 17508.

Rick 's value to the DMS cannot be measured in simple terms.  Those of us who knew Rick through his tackle shop quickly realized that he was not just the guy that sold tackle.  Rick was a friend to everyone who walked through his door, whether they knew it or not.

Rick was a strong supporter of DMS  He sponsored the Youth Division of the Annual DMS Invitational Surf-fishing Tournament since 2007.  Rick's support went beyond that; he made it his personal goal that every child that entered our Tournament received a rod and reel loaded with line, ready to catch fish.  Rick was the go-to guy whenever DMS needed fishing-related prizes, be it for the Invitational, the annual Dinner, supplies for the Special Olympics Fishing Tournament ... the list goes on.  He made donations to the Club out of his own pocket.  When we say that Rick was a true friend of DMS, it is said without reservation.

Godspeed, Rick Willman, DMS member, angler, friend.

Submit your Team NOW to represent DMS at the Little Hatteras Tournament!

The random drawing for the Team that will represent DMS at the Hatteras Village Tournement, held in early September, 2012, will be done at the annual DMS Dinner on March 10.  DMS will pay the entry fee into the Tournament and supply a stipend to the Team to assist in off-setting the expenses of attending the Tournament.  Teams must fulfill the following requirements:

- Each Team shall consist of 6 DMS members, one of which shall be the team Captain, and an Alternate.
- Each Team Captain shall submit the names and DMS numbers of each Team Member and the Alternate to the Club no later than the time of the drawing of the teams.
- Each team member and the alternate must be a DMS member in good standing, I.E.: dues are current at the time of the selection of the team.
- Each Team Captain shall have earned five (5) DMS achievement points during the previous calender year.

Team Captains may submit thier Team in person to t a Club Officer at any time.  Submissions may be mailed to the Club at: DMS, P. O. Box 455, Dagsboro, DE, 19939.  Mailed submissions must be post-marked by Monday,  March 5, 2012.  Submission may be emailed to info@dmsclub.org no later than Friday, March 9, 2012.  Submissions that do not include the full name and DMS Member number of each person are subject to rejection.

The DMS Newsletter is available electronically

Jeff Stickle, our Newsletter Editor, has reported the cost of producing and mailing the Club Newsletter have risen dramatically in the past year.  Each newsletter that is mailed now costs the Club near $1.00 each.  With recent rate hikes announced by the United States Postal Service, we anticipate the cost of each newsletter to exceed $1.00 by the end of 2012.  You can help the Club save money by having it sent to you inbox.  Read the newsletter at you leisure, at home or on vacation, and store it electronically on you computer's storage area without fear of it being inadvertantly thrown away.

Simply sent us an e-mail; info@dmsclub.org.  Include in the header "Newsletter" and just your name and DMS number in the body.  We will get the information to Jeff Stickle.

Our thanks to the 70-some members who have already responded to help the Club save money.  The cost for distributing the January newletter via the USPS was reduced by $70.00

ASMFC Approves Reductions in Menhaden Landings

Recently, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted to implement large scale reductions in the landings for menhaden, or bunker, as we anglers call it.  Nothing posted yet on the AFMFC website but there is a good article in the Washington Post on this topic.
In a nutshell, the current regulations allow for the harvest of 92% of all adult bunker in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean!  The new regulation permits only 70% of the bunker to be harvested.  The mehaden reduction giant Omega Protein Corporation of Reedville, VA, harvested 160,000 metric tons of bunker- about 450 million menhaden, or 80% of all menhaden.  The remaining 20% was taken for use as bait.

Flathead catfish reported in Delaware

At the June 16, 2010 meeting of the Advisory Council of Tidal Finfisheries, Matt Fisher of DNREC'S Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) announced that DFW received a report of the capture of 2 flathead catfish in the Brandywine River.  On two separate occasions in May, a DNREC crew searched the area for this species where the reported captures took place.  The crew used various methods, but efforts to capture any other speciman was unsuccessful.  For this reason, DFW cannot verify that this species inhabits the Brandywine RIver.  The public is urged to report sightings or landings of this or any other invasive species.  Reports can be made to DNREC at 302-739-9914.

DMS Member takes top prize at NCBBA's 2010 Red Drum Tournament

Congratulations to Steve Merrick, who took first place in the recent NCBBA-sponsored Red Drum Tournament in North Carolina.  Steve's winning fish was 47.75 inches long.  Scroll to the 3rd from last photo to find Steve's happy face here.