Published: August 23, 2009 12:28 am      

HILTS: A year for the record books

COMMENTARY

What a year it’s been so far on the fisheries scene, and there’s a solid argument that it’s been one for the record books! And, it’s still only August …

Last week’s announcement of a new state record brown bull head triggered the idea for this particular column, making sure that all you people out there know that records are being broken. Hopefully it will help create a better awareness for what those records are. It seems as though many times a record fish is caught — and then released or kept for the dinner table — before it could be certified.

This most recent record was a 7-pound, 6-ounce brown bullhead caught by Glenn Collacuro of Mahopac. He was fishing Lake Mahopac in Putnum County on Aug. 1 when he reeled in the 22-inch long fish. His catch surpassed the old mark by more than a pound and the fish becomes the fourth state record fish species to be broken in 2009. A photograph of him and his catch can be found on the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation Web site at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing.html.

The year started out when Thomas Reed of Killbuck used a creek chub through the ice on Mystic Lake in Cattaraugus County to establish a new record walleye mark — by 2 ounces — in January. His catch weighed in at 16 pounds, 9 ounces. Of course, as a side note, I have to mention that this mark never would have been established had some local anglers been up on their fish specie records. At least two other record walleye catches have been made from Lake Erie and the Niagara River, but failed to make the record books when they were eaten by the person catching the fish — both considerably larger than the previous and current records.

Which takes us back to the other record catches so far this year. This past June 7, Tom Yacovella of Utica was fishing Raquette Lake in Hamilton County when he hooked into a monster brook trout. He was using a Rapala lure when the 5-pound, 41⁄2-ounce hit. The 21-inch fish beat the old mark by 5 ounces, a record set in 2006.

Last April, Jonathan McNamara was working a tube jig while fishing the Susquehanna River in Tioga County when he caught a 3-pound, 9-ounce fallfish — again another record.

The potential in New York waters is always there. Two weeks ago, a near-record lake trout was caught in Lake Erie — tipping the scales at 40 pounds, 4 ounces. The current record of 41 pounds, 8 ounces also comes from Lake Erie, but Lake Ontario is knocking on the door every time out, as well.

And speaking of Lake Ontario, it was just 2004 when another lost record fish was averted, thanks to some fast-thinking people. Robert Wilson of Ohio was fishing out of Olcott when they hooked into what they thought was a big king salmon. They were at the cleaning table when local charter captain Bob Cinelli came running up and shouted to stop. The angler nearly filleted a 31-pound, 3-ounce rainbow/steelhead — the current record fish for that category. So the lesson here is to know only know your record fish, but also know how to identify the fish you are catching out there. Check out the DEC Web site at www.dec.ny.gov for the complete fish record list.

Wild Atlantic salmon discovered in Salmon River

For the first time in more than a century, wild Atlantic salmon have been discovered in the Salmon River. A total of 41 fish under a year old were found, ranging in size from 2 to 21⁄2 inches in length. This is exciting news for Lake Ontario, a body of water that once supported the largest freshwater population of Atlantic salmon in the world. And the Salmon River, named after these dynamic sport fish, helped to supply the lake with these revered species. However, in the late 1800s, the fish slowly disappeared from the lake due to the damming of tributaries, overfishing, deforestation and pollution.

As conditions improved, though, another problem surfaced. Part of the lake’s forage base is the alewife. This small baitfish was an invasive specie that entered the Great Lakes more than 50 years ago. Alewives contain an enzyme called thiaminase, something that destroys thiamine — something critical for natural reproduction. Could it be that reductions in alewife populations in the lake are contributing to the recent successes?

DEC currently stocks 30,000 Atlantic salmon a year into the lake. The Province of Ontario has entered into a new focus on Atlantics within the past two or three years and anglers are already catching more fish this year than they ever have before. Not big numbers by any means, but catching two or three by a boat has been big news around angling circles. And anglers are probably catching more than anyone realizes, too. This year for the Pro-Am tournaments, several teams were disqualified for bringing an undersized Atlantic to the scales — they just didn’t know.

So what does all this mean? It actually comes at a good time with the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and more than $400 million potentially available to help the fisheries out a bit on the horizon. Restoring Atlantic salmon populations in Lake Ontario would be a huge economic boon to the lakeshore communities and an excellent complement for the Pacific salmon and trout fishing that we now have available. Let’s just hope they don’t sacrifice one for the other without a proven track record.

Duck hunting permits needed

Just a reminder that waterfowl hunting permits are needed for the opening weekend of the Western Zone season, tentatively set for Oct. 24 and 25, if you plan on hunting at Oak Orchard or Tonawanda State Wildlife Management Areas. The intent of the permits is to increase safety and also the quality of the hunt for the two busiest days of the year. These are the only days that a special permit is needed. For each of the two days, DEC will issue 100 permits on Tonawanda; 50 permits at Oak Orchard. Hunters must choose from four options: Oak Orchard first Saturday; Oak Orchard first Sunday; Tonawanda first Saturday; Tonawanda first Sunday.

To apply, hunters must send in a post card with their name, address and their first three choices, in order of preference, clearly indicated. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15. Applicants should have also completed their Waterfowl ID course and include their certification number on the postcard. Mail the postcard to: NYS Bureau of Wildlife, 1101 Casey Road, Box B, Basom, NY 14013. Each permittee will be allowed to bring one companion over the age of 18; and an additional companion 18 years of age or younger. Any cards submitted by hunters who have been selected to hunt on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge on the first Saturday will be excluded from the lottery for that day at both WMAs. Issued permits are not transferable.

Bill Hilts Jr. is a past president of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association. Contact him at bhiltsjr69@cs.com.