A new study revealed that there is a potential silver lining from storm surges that is able to benefit tarpon (shown here) and snook. (Shutterstock photo)
November 19, 2024
By Lynn Burkhead, OSG Senior Digital Editor
With Black Friday and the 2024 Christmas gift buying season nearing, fly fishing companies and fly shops are gearing up for the holiday rush. If you need some help in determining what to buy for the fly angler on your list this year, check out the Fly Fisherman Gift GuideScott Fly Rods' 50th Anniversary .
In the meantime, here’s the next round of Fly Fisherman News Digest briefs to help keep you informed and occupied prior to the big Turkey Day celebration:
Hurricane Storm Surge Can Benefit Juvey Tarpon and Snook Soon enough, chillier coastal water will mean that residents along the U.S. Gulf Coast and the southeastern Atlantic coastline can soon breathe a sigh of relief after a deadly year of hurricanes like Helene—which resulted in 233 deaths in the U.S.—and Milton only a few weeks ago, storms that made up a highly active tropical season that so far checks in as the second costliest hurricane season on record in the U.S.
Certainly there aren't many silver linings when it comes to the deadly and destructive effects of a hurricane, including the storm surge that rolls ashore as the eye of a hurricane makes landfall. But while the human toll can be catastrophic, the surge also does tremendous environmental damage according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), destroying forests near the ocean, disrupting nearby freshwater systems, harming estuaries and marine reefs, killing or reducing seagrass beds, wreaking havoc on coastal marshes and mangroves—see Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas several years ago –and damaging, moving, or destroying artificial reefs previously put into place.
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The Florida FWC also notes that there are often fish kills associated with hurricanes and their storm surges too.
But according to Bill Kearney with the South Florida Sun Sentinel , studies by the FWC and the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) have shown over the years that baby tarpon and snook may actually find some benefit from storm surge waters.
While Kearney's September 2023 story on the South Florida Sun Sentinel website is behind a paywall, the story has been reported on and republished by several other sites including the science site, Phys.org .
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In that Phys.org story, it is noted by Kearney that, "Ongoing studies by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust show that young-of-the-year tarpon and snook take advantage of storm surge and king tides, essentially riding the water into remote semi-landlocked ponds. When the water recedes, the small tarpon and snook rule their new micro kingdoms, the proverbial big fish in small ponds."
This high water brought about by a storm surge can actually work to protect young of the year tarpon and juvenile snook from larger predatory fish like sharks, jack crevalle, and even adult snook. And since both species are adapted to surviving in water with low oxygen content, they are able to thrive when the flood waters recede too.
Ultimately, research by biologists like FWC's Matt Bunting reveals that these juvenile snook and tarpon—which are essentially the only large predatory fish in many of these isolated ponds—can stay there from one to three years. And when the next storm rolls into that same region and brings about another surge, they are able to leave then if not sometime before.
"Once they reach these habitats, they're the sole large predatory fish that can survive in there," said Bunting in Kearney’s story.
With this type of thing happening all throughout Florida's western, eastern, and Keys' coastlines in recent years, there is a real potential silver lining from storm surge that is able to benefit two of the Sunshine State's most iconic saltwater gamefish species.
"Their fry are swept up and down coastal areas, and into estuaries where (they) seek both shelter and food," writes Kearney. "Their ability to shelter in semi-landlocked ponds is an evolutionary tweak that gives them an advantage in a brutal fish-eat-fish world."
There is a catch however, and that's the ongoing urban development that each year gobbles up more and more coastline and threatens to create a tipping point for Florida's saltwater riches.
Research from the BTT and its biologists like JoEllen Wilson aims to figure out how best to redesign canal systems to aid in survival capabilities of snook and tarpon. Meanwhile, Bunting and his FWC colleagues are doing additional research into this phenomenon, having outfitted young tarpon and snook with acoustic transmitters to see how they utilize such ponds and downstream creek systems.
The point at which all of this might get bogged down a little bit is because of the ongoing growth as waves of people move into Florida and development in the Sunshine State continues at breakneck speed, all of which exacerbates ongoing habitat loss in Florida as developers use bull-dozers and other heavy gear to push dirt that swallows up estuaries, wetlands, and other vital coastal habitat in the name of growth and progress.
"Development is going to occur, especially in this region," Wilson is quoted in Kearney's story concerning the topic. "The question is, can we develop in a way that also allows highly functioning nursery habitats (for tarpon and snook)?"
And if that answer someday proves to be no, then the only thing a storm surge will be known for in the years to come is destruction, rather than actually helping some of Florida's best-known gamefish continue to thrive deep into the 21st Century.
Idaho Steelhead Returns Highest in Seven Years Steelhead trout returns in Idaho are marking the highest annual counts in seven years. Nearly 97,000 adult steelhead have been recorded so far, a sharp increase compared to recent averages. This resurgence is attributed to improved ocean conditions and continued conservation efforts by state agencies.
Encouraging steelhead returns have brought optimism to anglers and conservationists alike, though it should be noted that the previous seven years have been historically low. (Shutterstock photo) The encouraging numbers have brought optimism to anglers and conservationists alike, though it should be noted that the previous seven years have been historically low. Regardless, it's good news in a time when steelhead anglers haven't seen or heard much reason for hope in a long time.
"Over 80% of the steelhead that have crossed Lower Granite Dam this year have been fish that spent two years in the ocean," Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) Anadromous Fisheries Coordinator Chris Sullivan said in a press release. "This should result in anglers catching bigger fish this fall and next spring.”
Steelhead returns have been good elsewhere too, as we reported recently . Skeena River steelhead in British Columbia are also seeing promising returns, though caution is still being emphasized.
And with salmon being reported in parts of the Klamath River drainage for the first time in over 100 years, anglers could start to feel like the tide is slowly turning in favor of anadromous fish. But as the Executive Director for SkeenaWild Greg Knox noted, "One year does not make a trend."
Wild Summer Steelhead Protected on the North Umpqua A recent court decision in Oregon has reinforced protections for the wild summer steelhead of the North Umpqua River. A Marion County Circuit Court judge denied a request to continue releasing hatchery steelhead, upholding the state’s decision to terminate the Rock Creek Hatchery program, which we reported on back in 2022 .
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) had previously decided to discontinue the North Umpqua’s hatchery summer steelhead program, but petitioners including Douglas County, Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby, Inc., and fishing guide Scott Worsley file for a preliminary injunction to overturn the decision in 2022.
Read the full decision here.
“We are pleased with the outcome,” David Moskowitz, Executive Director for The Conservation Angler said in a press release. “Hatchery summer steelhead have been released into the North Umpqua River for decades, even though the data demonstrated the negative consequences of those releases on wild summer steelhead. We are greatly relieved that the river’s wild summer steelhead will finally get a break. The Coalition will continue to fight in this case to ensure that the Commission’s historic decision to protect these extraordinary fish is ultimately upheld.”
For full details, visit The Conservation Angler.
Gink and Gasoline's Louis Cahill Needs Our Help Odds are, Louis Cahill is someone that most Fly Fisherman readers are quite familiar with thanks to his popular website, Gink and Gasoline .
But what many may not know is that Cahill and his wife Kathy were among the thousands recently suffering great damage and loss during the horrific inland flooding brought on by Hurricane Helene as it smashed into Florida and rained itself out on the southeastern U.S. and the southern Appalachians.
As our friends at Angling Trade have alerted many in the fly-fishing community , Cahill and his wife had sunk much of their savings and assets into paying cash for a historic church building in the North Carolina high country that was in the process of being renovated and turned into their retirement home. Those plans were washed away—quite literally—by the horrific flooding that Helene wreaked upon states like North Carolina.
Louis Cahill recently purchased a historic church building in the North Carolina high country that was in the process of being renovated when Hurricane Helene wreaked its havoc. (Photo courtesy of gofundme.com) The story here is one of survival and loss as Louis—a renowned fly-fishing photographer—and Kathy headed to the church to ride the storm out. But rainfall measured in feet and Helene passing overhead resulted in a virtual tsunami that crashed into their future home, delivered a crushing blow to their plans, and caused some tense life and death moments for Cahill, his wife, and their two dogs as they sought to climb higher—according to reports, water filled the church building’s basement, its first floor, and even pushed to a one foot depth on the second floor—as they sought to survive the onslaught of water.
In the end, when the flood waters receded, the church was one of the few buildings left standing in that mountain valley of North Carolina. But while the building still stands, the damage is extensive and will not be eligible for FEMA assistance since it wasn't Louis’ and Kathy's primary residence. Also a long ways from the nearby river itself, it isn't in the designated flood plain and the damage isn't reportedly covered by insurance either.
That's where the fly-fishing community has rallied and come in with plans to aid Cahill and his wife, thanks to Cahill’s friend Don Fraiser setting up a Go Fund Me account to raise money to help the family —as kind and giving as you might ever meet by nearly all accounts—who find themselves in a nearly impossible situation.
Autumn Research in Northern Rockies' Bull Trout Country Idaho's famed bull trout, which migrate through mountain lakes, rivers, and streams to find the coldest water in the fall where they can lay their eggs in the cleanest streambed habitat to be found. It’s all shown quite well in a great video provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that helps chronicle the story of this iconic Rocky Mountain species.
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The same thing is happening next door in Montana too, where the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are working with various partners in an electrofishing project on a small tributary of the Clark Fork River. Montana FWP is hoping to glean even more essential data on the iconic native bull trout species, which relies on four things for survival, things that biologists dub the four Cs: clean water, cold water, complex habitat, and a connected fishery.
This data collection occurs as biologists move about in the stream bed with a backpack electroshocking unit that will deliver a non-lethal jolt of electrical current to small zones in the water, momentarily stunning the bull trout and causing them to rise to the surface where they can be netted. Once that happens, FWP fisheries biologists can then collect vital data points like weights, lengths, etc.
This allows biologists to sample the juvenile portion of a stream's bull trout population as well as tag them so that additional data can be gleaned in the future. Similar to the microchip used by pet owners in their dogs and cats, this microchip tag can be picked up later by biologists who are close enough for the tag to be picked up by handheld radar gear.
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"What we're doing here today is kind of twofold, we're looking at long-term populations of bull trout here in the lower Clark Fork and this is the juvenile component of that," said Montana FWP fisheries biologist Travis Rehm as he worked with colleagues like FWP's Lauren Karnopp and others.
"So, I can say these are migratory fish, so they're spending one to three years in this tributary, then they're out migrating out to fulfill a migratory life history. Secondly, we're looking at the efficacy of those conservation activities, both downstream and upstream movement with respect to passage barriers."
The hope is that through the bull trout monitoring that FWP has done for the past 20 years and all of the work and dedication that is being displayed by biologists in Montana and Idaho, that populations can be monitored, strategies can be employed, and steps can be taken to ensure that bull trout remain a part of the northern Rocky Mountain landscape for many more autumns to come.
And speaking of Montana's bull trout, Montana's Fish and Wildlife Commission recently approved new regulations to enhance protections for bull trout in Hungry Horse Reservoir and the South Fork of the Flathead River in northwest Montana. The measures focus on reducing fishing pressures in key habitats and limiting angling during sensitive spawning periods.
"Our department believes and the science tells us that reducing fishing pressure and handling of bull trout will help stabilize the declining population numbers in these waters," Jay Pravecek, Acting Fisheries Division Administrator, said.
Visit the Montana FWP website for more information.
Reintroduction of Forage Fish Conservation Act Could be Big News for Inshore Gamefish Forage species like alewives (shown here) are vital to marine ecosystems as a whole, providing a nutrient-rich superfood resource for not only inshore gamefish species. (Shutterstock photo) When it comes to baitfish in oceanic environments, forage species are vital to marine ecosystems as a whole, providing a nutrient-rich superfood resource for not only inshore gamefish species like stripers and bluefish, but also pelagic species like bluefin tuna, marine mammals like humpback whales, and even avian critters like ospreys and seagulls.
With forage fish serving as such a vital part of the ocean realm—especially for the beloved striped bass that fly anglers wade into the surf and cast for each fall —that helps explain cheers that have gone up in recent weeks from anglers and conservationists with the bipartisan reintroduction last month of the Forage Fish Conservation Act into the U.S. House of Representatives.
As you might remember, the act had been introduced into both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate back in 2021 according to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership , but the proposed legislation fell into political limbo and never really gained any steam to push towards the finish line.
Hopefully, as the winds of political change blow in Washington over the next several weeks and months, the reintroduction of H.R. 9821 - Forage Fish Conservation Act of 2024
According to TRCP's news release on the topic, this legislation "...seeks to fill existing gaps in forage fish management by building on the achievements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which has been vital in combating overfishing and preserving fish stocks for anglers over the past five decades."
In addition, TRCP says that "The bill aims to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act to account for the ecological role of forage fish, moving beyond traditional single-species management to include considerations of ecosystem impacts. This legislation would improve our federal fishery management framework by requiring managers to weigh the impacts of forage fisheries expansion on the ecosystem and evaluate the importance of such forage fish to the ecosystem and the diet needs of predator species."
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
“Safeguarding fish stocks from further decline is critical to protecting marine ecosystems and strengthening coastal economies,” said Rep. Dingell, in the TRCP news release. “This legislation’s science-based conservation framework for forage fish will both help promote sustainable fisheries and preserve marine wildlife for the enjoyment of future generations.”
In addition to the importance of conserving forage fish stocks for game fish, there is also an economic incentive for this legislation to be passed.
According to a report from the Fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) , the economic impacts for U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries in 2022 supported some 2.3 million jobs, including 1.6 million through commercial fishing and 700,000 thanks to recreational fishing. What's more, fishing on both the commercial and recreational side of the ledger also generated $321 billion in sales impacts in 2022, some $183 billion in commercial fishing and $138 billion in recreational fishing. Finally, both forms of fishing that year added $148.9 billion in value-added impacts according to NOAA Fisheries, some $74 billion through commercial fishing and some $74.9 billion in recreational fishing.
This is vitally important for the future of commercial and recreational fisheries in marine environments, and hopefully the newly elected Congress and the White House will push this legislation to legal fruition in the months to come.
