by Capt. Billy Pipkin
Where’s the beef?
Historically, the month of July is one of the best times to catch fish. It usually offers diversity of species as well as an abundance of fish, making even the average angler look like a star.
The past month has been a challenging time for anglers in the Chesapeake Bay. Fishing has been good at times, although inconsistent. One of the main concerns is the lack of baitfish in the bay waters.
Many of us remember the Wendy’s slogan, “Where’s the Beef” from back in the early 80s. So just how does that relate to the fisheries? By definition, it applies to both food as well as conflict.
What’s on the menu?
Before we can catch the fish that are destined to be on ‘our menu’ for dinner, we must first determine what’s on their menu, or what brings them to the region. For most species, menhaden is the preferred meal. Last year we saw a noticeable decline in the number of adult menhaden in the bay. Most folks were hoping that was an anomaly and had higher hopes for this year. To date, this year has exhibited the same scarcity regionally, if not more so than last season.
Menhaden, known locally as bunkers, are arguably the most valued resource in the bay. They serve as an incredible filter fish, scrubbing the bay of excess plankton, and also serve as a food source for fish. They are a target for Omega Protein as well. They harvest over 100 million pounds or approximately 45,000 metric tons of menhaden annually in the bay. It is used to make fish meal, oil and solubles. Its parent company, Canadian-based Cooke Inc. uses the products to support its Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture business. The fish meal and oils also are used in animal feed and sold in North America, Europe and Asia. Roughly 75% of the total Atlantic menhaden quota is taken from Virginia waters.
From the ecology of the bay, the species traversing the bay and all those depending on them for a living to the corporations that employ hundreds of people, menhaden play a very important role in the local ecology and economy.
There are ongoing discussions as to how to sustain the menhaden population and preserve this great fishery for years to come where all the user groups collectively can continue to prosper. Is the current decline a sign of more to come, or are we merely in a cyclic pattern? I would like to see more independent research done on the tiny fish with such a huge impact.
Several fish that frequent our region have diverse appetites which allow them to choose other options at meal time. This only goes as far as how long the other food sources hold out.
Striped bass are one of the most adaptable species, turning to baby crabs, eels, perch, spot, shiners and other species to cover the lack of their favorite high protein meal. Some folks say that the lower numbers of striped bass are due to the lack of menhaden in the bay. It may be a factor, yet I tap the brakes on that theory as one should also consider other circumstances such as warming water temperatures and poor spawning results due to factors including salinity and water quality.
There have actually been large numbers of striped bass found over the past few years well above their traditional travel areas. One such region that has reported alarming numbers of striped bass is Nova Scotia. Yes, they have travelled that far north!
In fact, menhaden are so abundant in New England waters that they are being boxed and sent to Virginia and other southern states for crabbing and fishing bait.
Red drum and cobia also have diverse palates. They will eat shiners, eels, crab and small bottom feeders if menhaden are not available.
June provided good action inshore with speckled trout mixed with small puppy drum along with a few remaining striped bass. The difference inshore is that there seems to be an abundance of minnows, shiners and peanut bunker, or juvenille menhaden, to feed on.
Commercial netters reported good numbers of larger species in shallow water this spring. That is likely the result of those larger fish foraging in the shallows when the large bunker were not present along their usual deeper water migration.
The point is fish will adapt and overcome shortages of food for a time, but if that period is extended, they will no longer frequent the same waters. If we don’t address this situation, we may find that our fish find a new path to travel outside the bay. Even worse, we may lose the livelihoods of many watermen. In-depth research coupled with careful and thoughtful managemnt can preserve the future for all of us that rely on the local fisheries.
What’s in store for July…
Cobia should continue to peddle northward into the bay and provide action along the shallow contours. They were slow to arrive, yet are destined to provide action in the middle bay this summer.
Bluefish have continued to be larger than in years past. They are averaging a modest 1-2 pounds along the western bay and in the shallows, but have shown up wearing big boy pants around the wrecks and on the eastern side of the shipping channel. These fish are averaging 3-8 pounds.
Spanish mackerel will become the mainstay in July and early August as they will be found feeding heavily on schools of shiners.
Whiting, spot and croaker are all moving through the bay and lower rivers. Sizes should improve as the season progresses. Inshore fishing will hopefully continue with speckled trout leading the charge. That lends itself well to light tackle and fly fishing.
There is great hope for bountiful catches this month and well into the future.
Take a step back, look at the whole picture and enjoy each day that we are so graciously given.
Until next time….Fair winds.
