If you're a striped bass angler and fish the Delaware River for linesiders, be advised creel limits may be changing – downward.

An amendment has been proposed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), of which the PA Fish and Boat Commission is a member, to address anglers' concerns about declining catch rates.

According to Leroy Young, PFBC Director of the Bureau of Fisheries, "It's likely that any ASMFC action on the Striped Bass Addendum will have impacts on Pennsylvania's regulations for striped bass in the Delaware River and estuary, as well as the ocean and back-bay fisheries in New Jersey and Delaware."

The draft addendum proposes new fishing mortality reference points, as recommended by the 2013 benchmark stock assessment, and associated management measures to reduce these numbers to a level at or below the proposed target within one or three years, says the PFBC.

It responds to results of the 2013 Atlantic striped bass benchmark assessment indicating in 2012, that these numbers were above the proposed target and that female spawning stock biomass (SSB) has been steadily declining below the target since 2006.

This means, says the PFBC, that even though the stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, SSB is approaching its overfished threshold and stock projections to show SSB will likely fall below the threshold in coming years. In addition, it was pointed out, a similar decline has been observed in total harvest.

In response to these factors, the draft addendum proposes options to reduce fishing mortality to the target level.

It seems these factors are similar to that of declining shad numbers that have been prevalent in the Delaware in recent spring migrations.

ANTLERLESS

DEER LICENSE

PROPOSAL

In a memo to all Pennsylvania House Members, SR Gerald Mullery will be introducing legislation that would amend Title 34 (Game Code) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues to provide for the sale of antlerless deer hunting licenses through the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System.

Currently, hunters apply for antlerless deer licenses by sending an application to a county treasurer or similar official. Unfortunately, counties do not always have the financial resources or staff to process license applications in a timely manner. This is the situation in Lehigh County who decided a few seasons back to no longer be among the counties issuing antlerless deer hunting licenses.

SR Mullery writes, "In the light of the PGC's recent updates to the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System, we now have the ability to ensure that hunters have a more convenient and efficient way of applying for and receiving hunting licenses. With that said, the legislation that I will be introducing would transfer the antlerless deer license application process from counties to the PGC through the PA Automated Licensing System."

"This sounds like a good idea in that it saves a hunter postage, aggravation and anticipation of getting the license on time for the opening of the deer hunting season," said Willie Marx, of Willie's Bait & Tackle in Cementon who sells fishing licenses via the automated system but not hunting licenses.

CABELA'S HOSTS LADIES DAY OUT

Cabela's Hamburg is hosting a Ladies Day Out October 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for ladies who enjoy the outdoors and in particular, the shooting sports.

"This half day event, said Harold Luther, Cabela's Retail Manager, will feature hands-on seminars taught by local NRA instructors from the Lehigh Valley Girl and Gun Chapter, Lehigh Valley Firearms Training Center and staff from our store."

The courses are as follows:

* 10 a.m. – A Women's Guide to Shooting and Self Defense

* 11 a.m. – The Legal Aftermath of Self Defense

* 12 p.m.- Paracord Bracelet Making 101

* 1 p.m. – Archery 101

According to Luther, all classes are free of charge and registration is not required. Merely show up and you'll be enrolled in the classes.

For a complete schedule of Ladies Day Out check www.cabelas.com/Hamburg.