(Steve Chaconas has been covering pro bass fishing for 20 years. Currently he writes for BoatUS Trailering, Woods & Waters USA, The Sportsman's Magazine and other titles. He provides radio coverage of pro events and is also the BoatUS.com "fishing expert.")
Fishing tournaments bring anglers out of their homes and into the outdoors. This diversion offers a venue to release competitive juices and for some, tournaments are a steppingstone to bigger events that ultimately allow them to make a rod-and-reel living.
Tournaments create other opportunities. Pros test, design and promote lures, equipment and boats. Their expertise and exposure fuel economic engines of many manufacturers. These fishing nomads spend money on the road and at tournament locations – gas, rooms, meals, licenses and ramp fees. Local tourism and visitor organizations highlight fisheries to attract outside revenue to enhance economies.
But, there are some who don't want national circuits fishing in their back yard. What if every fishing community took a selfish stance? At a time when the American Sportfishing Association, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, and Future Fishermen Foundation are making every effort to reel in new anglers, others hang out unwelcome signs.
This past June brought a visit from the Stren Series to the Potomac River with nearly 300 anglers – pros and co-anglers. Some big names competed in this event: FLW standouts Dave Lefebre and Jacob Powroznik and Bassmaster Elite Series stalwart Mike Iaconelli. Nearly half the field was comprised of top local anglers fishing a major trail against top competition.
Weigh-ins appeared routine. Anglers held fish in an aerated trough that contained Rejuvenade – a quick step to the stage, and then to the release boat, where fish were greeted with cool, oxygenated water treated with more Rejuvenade. They were released up and down the main river.
But 3 days later, a number of dead “keeper” bass and catfish appeared on the shores of Mattawoman Creek. Overlooking two other local tournaments, some angry bass guides, local anglers and media immediately began their "ban out-of-towners from fishing our river" tirade.
FLW is one of the best tournament organizations in the country. It doesn't want dead fish. Anglers certainly don't want dead fish with the accompanying penalties. And the Maryland Department of Natural Resources doesn't want dead fish.
The DNR's chief of inland fisheries, Don Cosdin reacted as quickly as possible to evaluate the situation. It wasn't all that hot during the tournament; water temperatures were in the low 80's. But he noted a sudden spike in the weather might have been a factor in the delayed mortality of so many fish.
Cosdin is taking a pro-active approach, seeking to establish additional guidelines on “release” boats and possibly creel-limit restrictions. He stresses better fish-handling and expeditious weigh ins. FLW was contacted and the organization reported nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, FLW worked closely with Maryland officials for this event and had a second release boat.
Resources officials will be fine-tuning the fishery. Cosdin says, “We want to sell Maryland fishing and doing it responsibly. We can't accept mortalities this high. We need to determine the cause and move forward from there.”
Ultimately, it's still the responsibility of anglers to take care of their fish and for organizers to ensure a smooth transition to their release. Tournament bans might save fish, but will kill fishing.
