Initiative to expand fishing clinics
An undated handout photo of a freshwater fishing clinic event held at Hempstead Lake. Credit: Handout
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is asking the state Department of Environmental Conservation to expand the number of free fishing clinics for residents, hoping to spur more interest in the sport.
"New York State's waterways provide some of the best fishing opportunities in the nation, and these additional free fishing clinics are designed to get more New Yorkers hooked on fishing which will help the local economies," Cuomo said in a news release.
According to the state, the sport fishing industry generates about $1.8 billion annually and supports 17,000 jobs statewide.
"It's the perfect chance for those wanting to try fishing to see if it's an activity they would like to make into a hobby," DEC commissioner Joe Martens said in the release.
Assemb. Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) backs the initiative, saying that recreational fishing is important to the economy of the East End since many of Long Island's charter fishing boats sail to the Atlantic Ocean from there.
"This is a way of promoting one of the key industries on the East End," Thiele said. "This is the first time in a long time we have put this kind of focus on recreational fishing."
Thiele pointed to Cuomo's temporary elimination of the salt water recreational fishing license fee as another way to help encourage the sport. Even though there is no cost, residents need to register and get a permit in order to fish in salt water.
Captain Steve Witthuhn of Top Hook fishing boat, which sails from Montauk, said he was pleased that more people will learn the basics of fishing, but added that the state needs to do more to loosen regulations on the size of fish anglers are allowed to keep.
The DEC's Marine Resources Advisory Council will meet tonight in Setauket to vote on reducing the length of fluke fishermen can keep from 20 1/2 inches to 19 1/2 inches, and raising the number from three fish to four per person.
Fluke and striped bass are two of the most popular fish caught from chartered fishing boats, Witthuhn said.
Currently, there are a maximum of four free clinics each year on Long Island. The number of extra clinics has not been determined.
Current rules also require a DEC staff member to be part of the instruction. Under the proposed rules, sport fishing organizations would be able to run the clinics under DEC guidelines.
At the clinics, participants learn proper fish identification, how to use fishing equipment, techniques, regulations, and marine ecology.Information on the free fishing clinics can be found at www.dec.ny.gov.
Free fishing clinics
The four free fishing clinics now available on Long Island are:
April 14: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Belmont Lake Spring Fishing Festival, Belmont Lake State Park, Babylon
July 11: 6 p.m. to sunset, Brookhaven Town Beach, Ronkonkoma
Aug. 4: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hempstead Lake State Park, Hempstead
Oct. 13: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hempstead Lake State Park, Hempstead
