Yellow Perch

Protect the perch against public sale Rona Kobell deserves high praise for her coverage of the controversial reopening of the Choptank and Nanticoke rivers to the commercial netting of yellow perch ("Fishing ban may end," Feb. 15). And, as she has pointed out, there are larger issues than just these two rivers' fisheries. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has demonstrated a bias toward protecting commercial fishing interests, and this violates its legislated mandate to protect, preserve and restore Maryland's marine resources for all citizens.

The Ehrlich administration is proposing to end a 17-year moratorium on the commercial fishing of yellow perch in two Eastern Shore rivers - a proposal that is drawing criticism from environmentalists and recreational anglers who say the species is still scarce in Maryland waterways. Department of Natural Resources officials want to open the Choptank and Nanticoke rivers to commercial yellow perch fishing beginning this spring. The Nanticoke has been closed to all yellow perch fishing since 1990; the Choptank has been open to recreational anglers since 1992.

We interrupt this column about the outdoors to bring you important news from the airless, sun-free world of Maryland politics. This time every year, with the legislative elves running around in Annapolis, there's always the opportunity for mischief to be made. Sometimes, the lawmakers give us a break or do something worthwhile. Sometimes, someone knocks some sense into them. This year is no different. In the latter category was the ill-conceived attempt by Del. Catherine E. Pugh to require passengers on pleasure boats, charter boats and water taxis to wear life jackets.

TV PICK-- Outdoors Maryland -- A look at Chesapeake fishing of menhaden and yellow perch. (MPT, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday)

Imagine a White Marlin Open without marlin, a Choptank River without yellow perch, a Chesapeake Bay without menhaden. "It's easy if you try," as John Lennon said. During the next several months, state and federal officials will make management decisions on all four species. Guaranteed, someone will be unhappy. More disturbingly, the fish might not be any better off. In a misguided effort to save white and blue marlin, the Feds appear poised to require catch-and-release for all recreational billfishing beginning next year and continuing until 2011.

You total your car by driving it off a cliff. The insurance company cuts you a check and you buy a replacement. Do you drive toward the abyss and tempt the fates? We might not, but the folks who manage Maryland's fish sure seem partial to playing at the edge of deep holes. How else do you explain the willingness of the Department of Natural Resources to pander to commercial fishermen and allow them to scoop from two Eastern Shore rivers yellow perch, a fish we used to know well but rarely see now. The agency held two meetings in late November to go over the yellow perch population numbers.

If you listened to the talk Monday night in Annapolis, you'd have come away wondering whether Maryland's yellow perch population is plentiful or pitiful. "Plentiful," proclaimed state fisheries biologists and watermen. "Pitiful," replied recreational anglers. Debating the future of wildlife resources goes back even further than the great Socratic exercises of "tastes great" vs. "less filling," and the merits of Certs as a candy mint or breath mint. Rockfish, oysters, crabs - no matter the critter, the outcome of these Department of Natural Resources informational meetings is always a confusing stew of anecdotal evidence, scientific numbers and conflicting passions.

IF APRIL is the cruelest month, March has to be the nasty stepchild. Rain, runoff and raw temperatures make the outdoors a downright hostile place, and no amount of Gore-Tex and fleece can hide the ugly truth. So it's quite amazing to watch two dozen volunteers give up their Saturday mornings, forsaking all things warm and fuzzy, to pick their way through the muck along the Severn River and its tributaries. Armed with buckets and coolers and fancy-looking meters, these hardy souls are trying to help the state determine if the river still has what it takes to raise and sustain yellow perch.

State fisheries biologists are asking anglers to help them with a three-year study of yellow perch habitat in the Severn River by reporting any tagged perch they catch and release. Rudy Lukacovic said that 200 tagged yellow perch were released in 2003 and 450 were released this year to help assess where the fish find sanctuary in the summer months, when dissolved oxygen in the water is at its lowest level. By better understanding the summer habits of the perch and those areas where they live, biologists hope to help the yellow perch restoration effort.

The locations Piney Run: Big bluegills and yellow perch are dominating the catch, says Jim Gronaw, assistant park manager. The bluegills are attracted by worms, while the yellow perch seem partial to minnows. Catfish are running from 18 inches to 22 inches; they're taking cut bait and chicken liver. The bass are post-spawn, with anglers catching a few fish off the beds on Senkos and plastic salamanders. Other anglers are reporting decent top-water action. Robert Buntin of Taneytown caught a 19-inch fish in excess of 4 pounds on a bobber/worm combo.