Fishing: West Nile Virus should never be taken lightlyBy Martin Armstrong
Special Correspondent
Posted: 07/30/2009 09:54:09 PM EDT
Updated: 07/30/2009 11:01:46 PM EDT
The old saying "Out of sight, out of mind" was never truer, at least for me, when it came to the West Nile Virus.
I hadn't given the problem a thought until last weekend when I received a report from the DEP that the disease is back.
The State Mosquito Management Program announced on July 24th that mosquitoes trapped in Stratford on July 15, 2009 have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).
These are the first WNV-positive mosquitoes identified by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year.
"The isolation of WNV at this time of the season is expected in Connecticut," said Theodore G. Andreadis, Ph.D., Chief Medical Entomologist, CAES. "Based on past experience, WNV activity in mosquitoes will continue to increase in the summer and early fall. Fortunately, Connecticut has an extensive statewide mosquito monitoring program."
In 2008, eight Connecticut residents were identified with WNV infection. They included residents of Bridgeport (3), Fairfield, Sherman, Stamford (2) and a Greenwich resident infected while travelling out of the state. There were no fatalities.
"This is the 11th year that West Nile virus has been found in Connecticut. The recent announcement of WNV-positive mosquitoes in Stratford should be taken seriously," said J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner. "Residents should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites during the mosquito season
and eliminate standing water on their properties."
Monitoring and risk assessment for WNV emphasizes mosquito trapping and testing results. The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state.
Mosquito traps are set Monday -- Thursday nights with trapping conducted at each site every 10 days on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date.
Each pool is tested for the presence of viruses of public health importance. Positive findings are reported to local health departments, in press releases and on the CAES web site.
For information on West Nile virus and what you can do to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito .
q
It's time once again for the annual Fish Tales Bait and Tackle fluke contest.
The registered entrant who catches the heaviest fluke during the two-day contest will win 70 percent of the prize pool. The pool value is determined by the number of contestants who sign up. The entry fee is $35.
The second place winner will collect 20 percent and the third place winner will get the final 10 percent. All entrants will also be invited to a cookout at the store after the final weigh-in.
To join in the fun you must sign up at the store by 7 p.m. Friday, August 7. The contest will run on August 8 and 9. The final call to weigh in an entry will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday the 9th.
The cookout will start shortly after the weigh in. Those who entered the contest are invited for no charge. Non-entrants can join the cookout for just $10.
For more information, call the store at 203-325-4775.
q
How's fishing? It depends upon who you speak with.
A lot of folks stayed off the water last week perhaps due to the hot muggy and rainy weather. But many of the anglers who did fish caught fish.
There were two nice catches of the week. Tony Natle caught a 44-pound striped bass while chunking at 28C and Kevin Delivski caught a 42-pound striper while chunking in the mid-Sound.
Randy Sala had an interesting catch last week. Randy, who is best known for fishing from his kayak, switched over to a Zodiac with a trolling motor. The Zodiac is actually owned by Vic Terenzio.
They fished Holly Pond a couple of times last week catching striped bass both trips. On one trip, Randy caught a malformed striped bass. The folks at Pete's Place Bait and Tackle call the fish a 'no-nose big-eye striped bass'. A photo of the fish can be viewed at Pete's Place in Stamford.
Jonathan Miller, 10, fished with his dad, Pete, and Capt. Mike Black last week. The young angler caught 22 stripers while trolling worms in Stamford waters. His largest fish measured 27-inches.
Pete and Capt. Mike fished again later in the week and caught lots of porgies measuring up to 16-inches while drifting worms near the Stamford Cows.
Mike Black had a good trip fishing solo later in the week. He caught several stripers while drifting sandworms in Stamford Harbor. His largest fish tipped the scales at 22-pounds.
Freddy Leno did well off Darien. He caught a limit of porgies and an 18-pound striped bass. He also caught a caught a couple of black sea bass. All of the fish were taken on sandworms
Kevin Solemene, 12, caught a couple of keepers while fishing off Norwalk. Kevin used sandworms to catch a 29 and a 32-inch linesider.
Steve Eliot trolled up eight keeper bass while fishing between Stratford and Milford. He was trolling a tube and worm combo. His largest fish weighed 20-pounds.
Paul McFarland fished for porgies with Pete Miller at the Stamford Cows. They tallied a limit of porgies measuring up to 16-inches and some small fluke. They were using clams and sandworms.
Magic Pincer did well off Sheffield Island in Norwalk, He caught seven porgies measuring from 12 to 15-inches, four fluke including a 24-incher, a 32-inch striped bass and a 16-inch sea bass.
Burt Porter caught a 9-pound, 6-ounce fluke while fishing at Can 26, The whopper was taken using a squid and spearing comb.
Dave Walsh boated an 8-pound, 14-ounce fluke at the Middle Passage. He was using a Fisherman World Combo and squid and spearing.
Fishing off Port Jefferson in Long Island, Pete Henderson caught his limit of fluke including one that tipped the scales at 6.5-pounds. The fish was taken on a bucktail sweetened with squid and spearing.
The folks at Fish Tales Bait and Tackle reported that John Santagata and Frank DiPetro caught 15 fluke while fishing off Captain's Island. The fish were all too small to keep and were released unharmed.
The biggest chopper of the week was taken by 7 year old Carran. The youngster did not want to give his last name but was real happy showing off a 31-inch, 12-pound bluefish he caught while fishing with Capt. Gus aboard the Island Girl.
Chris Stevens, 9, caught a couple of nice bluefish while fishing the waters in Cos Cob Harbor. Chris was using a Crippled Back Herring.
Fred Bonilla did well fishing for blues off Greenwich. He caught several choppers weighing up eight-pounds. The fish were taken on fresh bunker.
Three-year-old Macue Petrizzi and his brother, John, age 9, caught some nice harbor blues while fishing in Stamford Harbor. They used fresh bunker for bait.
Shane Cincotta vacationed at beautiful Church Point, Nova Scotia with his mom, Mary Lynn Cincotta two weeks ago. While there the 11-year-old Bethany resident caught 3 pickerel and 5 smallmouth bass.
Fishing wasn't easy though. Shane, or actually the tough fighting Canadian fish, broke through seven lines. Mary Lynn caught a smallmouth bass and broke three lines. Fishing with them was Wilson Goodwin, 11 and his sister, Skye, 8. Also from Bethany, Wilson caught 3 bass and 3 pickerel and Skye caught a feisty 18-inch pickerel.
Tuna fishing is picking up in the Hudson Canyon area, Last week Scott Gross, Jim Baldora, Mario Cerbone and P.J. the Chummer fished the Canyon and caught 13 yellow fin tuna up to 55-pounds and a dorado. The fish were taken on a spreader bar rig.
Mike Tucci caught a landed a couple of yellow fin tuna and a pair of white marlin while at the Canyon. He was using a spreader bar sweetened with ballyhoo.
Martin Armstrong is a member of the Fisheries Advisory Council, a lifetime member in Trout Unlimited and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association
Special Correspondent
Posted: 07/30/2009 09:54:09 PM EDT
Updated: 07/30/2009 11:01:46 PM EDT
The old saying "Out of sight, out of mind" was never truer, at least for me, when it came to the West Nile Virus.
I hadn't given the problem a thought until last weekend when I received a report from the DEP that the disease is back.
The State Mosquito Management Program announced on July 24th that mosquitoes trapped in Stratford on July 15, 2009 have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).
These are the first WNV-positive mosquitoes identified by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) this year.
"The isolation of WNV at this time of the season is expected in Connecticut," said Theodore G. Andreadis, Ph.D., Chief Medical Entomologist, CAES. "Based on past experience, WNV activity in mosquitoes will continue to increase in the summer and early fall. Fortunately, Connecticut has an extensive statewide mosquito monitoring program."
In 2008, eight Connecticut residents were identified with WNV infection. They included residents of Bridgeport (3), Fairfield, Sherman, Stamford (2) and a Greenwich resident infected while travelling out of the state. There were no fatalities.
"This is the 11th year that West Nile virus has been found in Connecticut. The recent announcement of WNV-positive mosquitoes in Stratford should be taken seriously," said J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner. "Residents should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites during the mosquito season
and eliminate standing water on their properties."
Monitoring and risk assessment for WNV emphasizes mosquito trapping and testing results. The CAES maintains a network of 91 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state.
Mosquito traps are set Monday -- Thursday nights with trapping conducted at each site every 10 days on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date.
Each pool is tested for the presence of viruses of public health importance. Positive findings are reported to local health departments, in press releases and on the CAES web site.
For information on West Nile virus and what you can do to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito .
q
It's time once again for the annual Fish Tales Bait and Tackle fluke contest.
The registered entrant who catches the heaviest fluke during the two-day contest will win 70 percent of the prize pool. The pool value is determined by the number of contestants who sign up. The entry fee is $35.
The second place winner will collect 20 percent and the third place winner will get the final 10 percent. All entrants will also be invited to a cookout at the store after the final weigh-in.
To join in the fun you must sign up at the store by 7 p.m. Friday, August 7. The contest will run on August 8 and 9. The final call to weigh in an entry will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday the 9th.
The cookout will start shortly after the weigh in. Those who entered the contest are invited for no charge. Non-entrants can join the cookout for just $10.
For more information, call the store at 203-325-4775.
q
How's fishing? It depends upon who you speak with.
A lot of folks stayed off the water last week perhaps due to the hot muggy and rainy weather. But many of the anglers who did fish caught fish.
There were two nice catches of the week. Tony Natle caught a 44-pound striped bass while chunking at 28C and Kevin Delivski caught a 42-pound striper while chunking in the mid-Sound.
Randy Sala had an interesting catch last week. Randy, who is best known for fishing from his kayak, switched over to a Zodiac with a trolling motor. The Zodiac is actually owned by Vic Terenzio.
They fished Holly Pond a couple of times last week catching striped bass both trips. On one trip, Randy caught a malformed striped bass. The folks at Pete's Place Bait and Tackle call the fish a 'no-nose big-eye striped bass'. A photo of the fish can be viewed at Pete's Place in Stamford.
Jonathan Miller, 10, fished with his dad, Pete, and Capt. Mike Black last week. The young angler caught 22 stripers while trolling worms in Stamford waters. His largest fish measured 27-inches.
Pete and Capt. Mike fished again later in the week and caught lots of porgies measuring up to 16-inches while drifting worms near the Stamford Cows.
Mike Black had a good trip fishing solo later in the week. He caught several stripers while drifting sandworms in Stamford Harbor. His largest fish tipped the scales at 22-pounds.
Freddy Leno did well off Darien. He caught a limit of porgies and an 18-pound striped bass. He also caught a caught a couple of black sea bass. All of the fish were taken on sandworms
Kevin Solemene, 12, caught a couple of keepers while fishing off Norwalk. Kevin used sandworms to catch a 29 and a 32-inch linesider.
Steve Eliot trolled up eight keeper bass while fishing between Stratford and Milford. He was trolling a tube and worm combo. His largest fish weighed 20-pounds.
Paul McFarland fished for porgies with Pete Miller at the Stamford Cows. They tallied a limit of porgies measuring up to 16-inches and some small fluke. They were using clams and sandworms.
Magic Pincer did well off Sheffield Island in Norwalk, He caught seven porgies measuring from 12 to 15-inches, four fluke including a 24-incher, a 32-inch striped bass and a 16-inch sea bass.
Burt Porter caught a 9-pound, 6-ounce fluke while fishing at Can 26, The whopper was taken using a squid and spearing comb.
Dave Walsh boated an 8-pound, 14-ounce fluke at the Middle Passage. He was using a Fisherman World Combo and squid and spearing.
Fishing off Port Jefferson in Long Island, Pete Henderson caught his limit of fluke including one that tipped the scales at 6.5-pounds. The fish was taken on a bucktail sweetened with squid and spearing.
The folks at Fish Tales Bait and Tackle reported that John Santagata and Frank DiPetro caught 15 fluke while fishing off Captain's Island. The fish were all too small to keep and were released unharmed.
The biggest chopper of the week was taken by 7 year old Carran. The youngster did not want to give his last name but was real happy showing off a 31-inch, 12-pound bluefish he caught while fishing with Capt. Gus aboard the Island Girl.
Chris Stevens, 9, caught a couple of nice bluefish while fishing the waters in Cos Cob Harbor. Chris was using a Crippled Back Herring.
Fred Bonilla did well fishing for blues off Greenwich. He caught several choppers weighing up eight-pounds. The fish were taken on fresh bunker.
Three-year-old Macue Petrizzi and his brother, John, age 9, caught some nice harbor blues while fishing in Stamford Harbor. They used fresh bunker for bait.
Shane Cincotta vacationed at beautiful Church Point, Nova Scotia with his mom, Mary Lynn Cincotta two weeks ago. While there the 11-year-old Bethany resident caught 3 pickerel and 5 smallmouth bass.
Fishing wasn't easy though. Shane, or actually the tough fighting Canadian fish, broke through seven lines. Mary Lynn caught a smallmouth bass and broke three lines. Fishing with them was Wilson Goodwin, 11 and his sister, Skye, 8. Also from Bethany, Wilson caught 3 bass and 3 pickerel and Skye caught a feisty 18-inch pickerel.
Tuna fishing is picking up in the Hudson Canyon area, Last week Scott Gross, Jim Baldora, Mario Cerbone and P.J. the Chummer fished the Canyon and caught 13 yellow fin tuna up to 55-pounds and a dorado. The fish were taken on a spreader bar rig.
Mike Tucci caught a landed a couple of yellow fin tuna and a pair of white marlin while at the Canyon. He was using a spreader bar sweetened with ballyhoo.
Martin Armstrong is a member of the Fisheries Advisory Council, a lifetime member in Trout Unlimited and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association