Bait fish
Many seek changes in bait regulations
What’s a bait fisherman to do? Concerns about viral hemorrhagic septicemia and other fish-borne diseases prompted Department of Environmental Conservation officials to impose strict rules, banning transportation of fish to and from water bodies in New York State.
VHS is a virus that, when fully contracted, destroys fish tissue in ways that lead to an ugly death. The symptoms— and resulting mass deaths of fish—generally appear in the spring, as water temperatures warm into the high 40s and lower 50-degree range.
Regulations put in place to curb and hopefully stop VHS transmission have caused economic setbacks for wholesale and retail bait dealers and caused changes in anglers’ acceptance of these restrictive bait regulations.
“They’re just not going out there the way they did before,” said Rick Miller of the perch-fishing boat traffic out of Cattaraugus Creek. Miller, a second generation operator of Jerome Miller Bait and Tackle in Irving, saw the severe drop in angler effort/activity when bait had to be certified and anglers— as well as bait dealers—could no longer transport bait on roadways along the same watershed from which that bait was captured.
“Under these new rules we can only sell live bait that has been certified. Sometimes you’re out for days at times and that’s killing us,” Miller said Wednesday afternoon. “Right now, at the start of the holiday weekend, I only have salted minnows and might not get live bait until Friday.”
These concerns prompted Paul Stoos and other Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs officers and directors to make the case for a more fair and equitable means of handling bait sales and aquatic disease concerns.
Stoos contacted Helen Domske, New York Sea Grant senior extension specialist for Great Lakes concerns. Domske gathered seven Department of Environmental Conservation leaders, Four ECFSC, and reps from Chautauqua and Niagara counties, Pat Van- Camp with area bait dealers, and Tom Marks from the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council.
The meeting, held June 9, brought DEC Albany officials to Western New York for discussions for the first time since the bait regulations were imposed.
Dave Barus presented a PowerPoint program on the importance of the sport fishery, particularly the yellow perch fishing, which is heavily dependent on fresh, live bait.
Pat VanCamp pointed out from experience in her wholesale and retail bait business that certified bait does not remain as hardy and strong as minnows dipped from nearby waters.
ECFSC officer Rich Davenport suggested the DEC consider a pilot program in which bait fish used in the same water body could be transported within that watershed, not just on the water of that lake, river, pond or stream.
DEC Region 9 Capt. David Bennett noted that officers could not follow every motor vehicle to check on baits, should the transportation regulations change.
Steve Hurst, DEC fisheries bureau chief, expressed a concern about public education and outreach to sportsmen should this program allow for transport away from the immediate shoreline.
Doug Stang, DEC fish and wildlife assistant director, asked, “If there was a regulations change, would the average angler follow the new rules?”
Stoos attempted to have DEC officials consider a change affecting this summer fishing season, because of regulations established in other Lake Erie states and Ontario. Pennsylvania and Ohio allow transportation within the watershed of the lake; Ontario has set up three barrier rings, which allow for shoreline transportation along Lake Erie. “We should at least have regulations equal to what other states are doing,” Stoos noted.
He also pointed out the lack of VHS die-offs this past year, test results showing no presence of VHS in Erie’s Ohio waters, and recent retests in Lake St. Claire, which showed no VHS.
Hurst and Stang questioned imposing a buffer (pilot) zone for a specific area and asked if it would work for Lake Erie and be fair in other parts of the state.
Stoos was assured Sea Grant and DEC officials would plan for a follow-up meeting sometime in the fall. For now, dip bait where you fish, buy certified bait, and keep up that search for the best bait for perch.
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