Recreational Survey – October 2023

October 10-11, 2023 F/V Fin Chaser Ocean City, MD

Author

Mike O’Brien (UMCES)

Participants

10 October

11 October

Schedule

10 October

  • Scientific crew (EK, KS)
    • Pack CBL truck (2017 Silverado) at Solomons, MD. Drive to West Ocean City, MD
    • Purchase dry ice at Safeway in Chester, MD
      • 1925 Main St, Chester, MD 21619
    • Check into the Microtel in West Ocean City, MD

11 October

  • Full crew (EK. KS, TC, DS, DW mate)
    • 05:15 - 14:20: Recreational fishing survey aboard F/V Fin Chaser
      • 312 Talbot St, Ocean City, MD 21842
  • Scientific crew
    • Return to Solomons, MD.
    • 18:50: Arrive in Solomons. Unpack and return truck.

Packing list

🔲 3 fishing rods

🔲 Large cooler

🔲 Sampling bags and bag tags

🔲 Data sheets/clipboard

🔲 3 buckets

🔲 GPS

🔲 Stopwatch

🔲 MS222

🔲 Measuring board

🔲 Weight bucket with scales

Protocols

GPS

  • Set waypoint prefix to “YYMMRec”
    • From the main menu, select Setup, then Waypoints, then change prefix
  • To start recording track, from map screen, press ENTER twice
  • Mark waypoints when jigging or drop starts or ends
    • Press MARK then ENTER
  • To stop recording track
    • From map screen, press ENTER, select STOP, then SAVE

Data timing

  • Data Recorder (DR) confirms that Captain is ready to begin;
  • starts recording route;
  • tells fishers to start and simultaneously marks GPS waypoint;
  • starts timer;
  • marks start waypoint and time on data sheet;
  • says “STOP” when time is up and simultaneously marks GPS waypoint;
  • stops recording route;
  • stops timer;
  • marks end waypoint on data sheet.

Data recording

  • No-catch completed jigs/drops are assumed.
  • Record if jig/drop is not completed or if a fish is captured
  • Repeated lines for a jig/drop are only necessary if more than one angler lands a fish or does not complete the jig/drop.

Jig

  • Jig survey is conducted by the Mate for 15 minutes.
  • Jigging is resumed if a fish is landed until 15 minutes of active fishing are complete.
  • Time is paused while jig is out of the water.
  • All fish are weighed and measured.
  • First 10 black sea bass are sacrificed.

Drop

  • 15 x 3 minute drops each by 3 anglers, one of which must be the Mate
  • All fish are weighed and measured.
  • First 10 black sea bass are sacrificed.
  • Fishing DOES NOT resume if fish(es) are landed.

Cruise plan

Times calculated at 12 knots.

11 October

  • 04:45: EK, KS, TC meet at Talbot St Pier, load gear onto F/V Fin Chaser
  • 05:15: Fin Chaser depart Talbot St Pier, transit to Washingtonian
    • 38 25.8294, -74 46.062
  • 06:40: Arrive Washingtonian.
    • Mate arranges gear for jigging.
    • Sci crew organizes MS-222 bucket
    • Environmental data recorded
  • 06:45: Mate begins jigging.
  • 07:00 Mate ends jigging.
  • 07:05: Survey crew begins drop survey.
  • 08:20: Drop survey ends. Transit to K12.
    • 38 16.1415, -74 42.9659
  • 09:10: Arrive K12. Prep as before.
  • 09:15: Mate begins jigging.
  • 09:30: Mate ends jigging.
  • 09:35: Survey crew begins drop survey
  • 10:50: Drop survey ends. Transit to Twin Wrecks.
    • 38 13.8426, -74 45.4848
  • 11:10: Arrive Twin Wrecks. Prep as before.
  • 11:15: Mate begins jigging.
  • 11:30: Mate ends jigging.
  • 11:35: Survey crew begins drop survey
  • 12:50: Drop survey ends. Return to Talbot St Pier.
  • 14:20: Arrive Talbot St Pier. Unload gear.

Distances

Distance, nautical miles
ocmd Washingtonian Twin Wrecks K12
ocmd 0.00 16.97 17.28 18.58
Washingtonian 16.97 0.00 12.00 9.99
Twin Wrecks 17.28 12.00 0.00 3.03
K12 18.58 9.99 3.03 0.00
Distance, time at 12 kts
ocmd Washingtonian Twin Wrecks K12
ocmd - 01 h 25 m 01 h 30 m 01 h 35 m
Washingtonian 01 h 25 m - 01 h 00 m 00 h 50 m
Twin Wrecks 01 h 30 m 01 h 00 m - 00 h 20 m
K12 01 h 35 m 00 h 50 m 00 h 20 m -