April Newsletter 2024

Upcoming meeting dates:



Thursday 4/11    Starboard Galley Newburyport

Thursday 5/16     Starboard Galley Newburyport

6:30PM

Our next meeting is April 11 ,6:30 pm at Starboard Galley in Newburyport.(One week earlier than normal due to April vacation)

April meeting topic: Vacation fishing.

If you have gone on vacation and done some fishing, bring your pictures in to share with the group. You can bring your laptop, or load your fishing pictures on to a USB stick and bring that. The TV in the meeting room may, or may not work off of your i phone pictures. This should be a fun night sharing our fishing vacation shots. If you thought of taking a trip and doing some fishing you can see and hear what its like from our members.

Hopefully ( if we start getting some good weather) we can get our boats ready for the upcoming season.

Merrimack river Coast Guard station changes: the Newburyport CG will no longer take the 47’ surf rescue boat out in breaking sea conditions at the mouth of the Merrimack. They no longer hold surf rescue status due to staffing shortages. The Gloucester station will be responding to emergency situations.

We are up to 52 members in the Association. We were down to around 35 members before Covid and have had a steady increase in the last few years.

Hope to see you on April 11 and bring those pictures with you to the meeting.

Respectfully,

Peter and Scott

March  Newsletter 2024

Upcoming meeting dates:

Thursday 3/21    Marianna's Marina, 72 Coffin Ave, Haverhill, MA

Thursday 4/11    Starboard Galley Newburyport

Thursday 5/16     Starboard Galley Newburyport

6:30PM

   March meeting will be Thursday 3/21 at 6:30 pm. We will be meeting at Marianna’s Marina 72 Coffin Ave. Haverhill Ma. Open house night for Island Son Marine. Michael will be hosting the meeting at his repair shop. He is a Tohatsu outboard dealer and marine repair shop. He also has a mobile service.  The marina also has great rates for winter storage for those of you with bigger boats. We will have sandwiches and beer/waters at the meeting.

   Our last meeting was very informative. Our speaker was from the Merrimack River Watershed Council. John talked about the issues with sewage discharges in the river and some proposed changes in the works to help reduce the amount of discharges. The council is installing a monitoring system at Cashman Park. You can get up to date water quality info online at https://merrimack.org/water-quality- monitoring-program You can reach John directly at jmacone@merrimack.org. John would like any reports/pictures you take throughout the season on the conditions of the river.

   2024 striper proposal 28-31” one fish per person per day. Looking for 7% reduction for commercial bass. No Sunday night fishing and no consecutive days.

   Our membership numbers are back up around 50 members. We were down to about 35 pre-covid. It’s nice to have the numbers back up and have respectable numbers at our meetings.

If there are any topics you would like to see covered at our meeting, please let us know. Any members interested in presenting at a meeting let us know as well.

Hope to see you in March

Respectfully

Peter and Scott

Febuary Newsletter 2024

Upcoming meeting dates:

Thursday 2/15

Thursday 3/21

Thursday 4/11

Thursday 5/16

6:30PM start, Starboard Galley Newburyport

We have made it through half the winter. Hopefully spring is just around the corner, and we can begin to get our boats ready for the upcoming season.

Our next meeting will be held on 2/15,  6:30 pm at the Starboard Galley in Newburyport.

Our guest speaker will be John Macone. Policy & Education Specialist with the Merrimack River Watershed Council. He will be speaking to us about the condition of the water in the Merrimack. This should be a very interesting and informative meeting.

I would like to thank fellow member Jake Shactman for helping to put this meeting together.

I will have copies of the membership applications available at the meeting. Better yet, use the link below to fill the application out on line. It's easy and we can read the writing!!

https://www.northeastcharterboatcaptainsassociation.com/member-application

If you have paid your dues and not filled out a form please do so.  Without a completed application you will not get a NACO membership for 2024.

March meeting idea: Fishing vacation destinations . Many of us have taken vacations where we have been lucky enough to go fishing. Bring your phone to the march meeting, sync it up to the smart tv and let’s enjoy some photos and stories of our trips. A great night to get to see our adventures away from our charters.

Hope to see you at the February meeting.

Respectfully Capt. Peter & Capt. Scott

January Newsletter 2024

Upcoming meeting dates:

Thursday 1/18

Thursday 2/15

Thursday 3/21

Thursday 4/11

Thursday 5/16

6:30PM start, Starboard Galley Newburyport

January 18 meeting : open table discussions on tackle/ fishing gear deals. We have held a prior meeting like this and shared alot of contacts, websites etc. on where to get the best prices on gear for our businesses.

Dues are $75 this year. PLEASE remember to fill out application form and mail it to Scott Maguire.

Check can be made out to NCCA and mailed to Scott Maguire 66 High Rd. Newbury Ma. 01951 We need applications filled out in order for you to get on the port supply account and to get you signed up with NACO.

The form is available on the association website.

We hope to have a group from the Merrimack River water quality organization in for one of our upcoming meetings.

If you have any suggestions or ideas for meeting topics please let us know. We are always looking for input.

Please check your association listing to make sure its up to date. Contact Sandy with any changes or corrections. Reminder, there is also a section on our site for you to list any gear/ boats etc. you have for sale.

2024 has begun. Happy New Year

Hope to see you at the upcoming meetings.

Respectfully

Captains Peter and Scott

December Newsletter 2023 

 Next meeting: December 14, 6:30 pm at Starboard Galley.
We will be having our annual Christmas dinner meeting. You will have a
choice of 3 menu items.(Burger, Fish Sandwich or Cob salad)The
association will be covering the cost of dinner for members only. If you
bring a guest you will have to pay $15.00 for their dinner. Cash bar.
Members are responsible for their bar tabs.

 PLEASE contact Scott Maguire with a menu choice if you plan to attend.

  I would like to thank Doug for his remarkable presentation at last
month’s meeting. We had a full room . Doug has over 30 years experience
in tuna fishing. He covered every aspect of the fishery. One of the best
meetings we have had in years.

  Dues this year are $75 for Captains and associate members alike.
Please make checks payable to NCCA. You can pay at one of our monthly
meetings, or mail check along with completed membership form to Scott
Maguire, 66 High Rd. Newbury Ma. 01951

 NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS!

 I need to update our files!! Please fill out the application attached.
Captains/ Full members, I cannot put you on the list for NACO without an
updated file. I've sorted out most of the new home addresses but I need
current boat info as well. I know that some of you have had one or two
new boats since the files were last updated in 2017!

 I have included an application with this email or you can download one
from our website.  Click to down load  Members Application 

 Full Members, Dues need to be paid before April 15 if you wish to keep
your West Marine Pro Card.

  We hope to see you in December

  Respectfully,
Peter Murray
Scott Maguire

Addition:

 As a follow up on Doug Hittinger's Great talk on Tuna Fishing last month, Doug came through again. I have included a link to tunafishtackle.com. If you did not attend the meeting, but tuna fish, Doug uses this 150# line as his top shot. At less than 4 cents a yard, if you even think it is nicked or damaged you can afford to cut it off and start fresh! Doug buys the 25# spool.

Makai ‘Equalizer’ High Performance Nylon Monofilament – 25 lb Spool

https://www.tunafishtackle.com/product/makai-equalizer-high-performance-nylon-monofilament-25-lb-spool/

Web Designer: Sandra Kelting

November Newsletter 2023

November meeting will be held downstairs at Starboard Galley in Newburyport. 6:30 pm
Our member, Doug Hittinger will be talking to us about his experiences tuna fishing, and how to plan/ prep for fishing in tournaments. Doug has years of experience and appeared on a number of seasons of Wicked Tuna.

  Our Dues will be going up to $75 a year. It will be the same for our associate members as well. Everyone will be getting a port supply card( including associate members). We will also be rejoining NACO. ( the reason for going up $15 on our Dues. NACO is a national organization, it benefits us to be tied in with them. They have always had the Charter industry’s back.

  We will be having our annual December Christmas meeting/ dinner again this year. Details will be forthcoming when we finalize the plans.

  We are planning in having an organization in to an upcoming meeting to talk to us about the state of the Merrimack river . Any of you that boats or fishes in the river knows the “issues “ surrounding the river over the last few years. We will let you know the date when we confirm with them.

  We have some great topics coming up in our upcoming meetings, hopefully you will be able to attend. If you have ideas, topics you would like to see covered please let us know.
   Hope to see you on the 16th

Respectfully,
Peter and Scott

October Newsletter 2023

Fall meeting dates:

Thursday 10/19 6:30 pm Starboard Galley Thursday 11/16 6:30 pm

   Welcome back, we hope you had a great season. Our first meeting will be next Thursday, 6:30 pm. 10/19 downstairs at the Starboard Galley in Newburyport. Im sure we all have a few fish stories to share, or the “best” and “ worst” customer stories to talk about.

Our first meeting back is generally a get together to swap stories of this season, and to figure out our meeting schedule for the year.

 Our Port Supply card was beneficial in savings over the season. If there are any issues, topics you would like to see addressed please let us know. Bring any and all ideas next week so we can plan the meetings.

Hope to see many of you there next week

 Thanks

Peter and Scott

May Newsletter

We had Matt Ayers talk to us about striped bass mortality and the new mackerel regulations.

There is a new study being done on survival rate of Striped bass. You can log in at mass.gov/striper for more info and to submit data.

IMPORTANT REGULATION CHANGE !!

The striped bass slot has been changed to 28-less than 31” one fish per person per day. This rule will take affect by July 2nd ( or sooner)

[ I spoke with Matt Ayer and he felt that the new regulations would be in effect around Memorial Day. Scott Maguire]

Mackerel regulations: 20 mackerel per person a day.

If you want to be able to catch more you will need a commercial license

$65 for individual permit or you can get one for your boat for $130

[ Again in speaking with Matt. He said if you were fishing alone to get bait for a trip you can get a Rod & Reel Permit ($35.00) plus the Mackerel Endorsement ($30.00). If you have a crew on board you need a Boat Permit ($130.00 0-59') plus a Mackerel Endorsement ($30.00). Also you cannot have a Permit/ Endorsement, catch 50 mackerel and then go fishing for Striped Bass. You cannot mix a Commercial trip with a recreational trip. Scott Maguire]

 DMF Establishes New Atlantic Mackerel Permit Requirement and Fishing Limit

Pete added the  image above. It is the application to become a Citizen Scientist. You do not need to be "married to the program" any fish you submit are greatly appreciated. Also you will get a free set of pliers with your first submission as well as be submitted it a drawing for a rod & reel combo and other weekly prizes. I have a lot of respect to Matt and will be participating in his study.

The last thing I wanted to pass on is about the Commercial Striper quota. There will be no change for this year. Maybe in the future. The reason given is this.......... Last year there were twice as many stripers taken than predicted. There have been a succession of poor YOY recruitment years for striped bass. The 2015 year class was good but is now in the slot size. The main reason for the emergency action is to protect the 2015 year class striped bass! (commercial size stripers are older than 2015 year class) The reality is that it was either a small slot of 28" to less than 31"s or a moratorium. I'll take the small slot!

Our final meeting will be Thursday May 18 at 6:30. We will be meeting at the North End Boat Club on Merrimack St. In Newburyport. It will be a last chance to catch up with other captains before our busy season.

Scott has done a great job securing our port supply cards. I have noticed a significant savings at West Marine with our platinum level.

Hope to see you at the May meeting.

Have a safe season

Respectfully,

Peter and Scott

April Newsletter

April is almost upon us and it’s time to get ready for the upcoming season.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday April 13th at 6:30, Starboard Galley.

Matt Ayers will be joining us to go over the latest developments in fishing regulations ( including mackerel). Matt is a great guy and a valuable resource for our association.

Scott has been working on getting our members cards, decals, and alcohol tests ready for mailing. He has also secured platinum level port supply cards for us. I would also like to thank Steve for helping Scott get new decals for the Association.

We had another good turnout at our last meeting when we talked about what we used for lures.

We look forward to seeing you in April.

Respectfully Peter and Scott

                                        IMPORTANT!

 There are very few names on this email list who have not renewed their NCCA Membership. Thank You! 

 If you have not renewed and you plan to, please get your check to me ASAP. The West Marine Pro discount program is closed to new names/ members as of April 15! If you are on vacation in Florida and away from your checkbook, I've got you covered. But I need to know!

 Please send dues checks made out to: NCCA

Mail to:

Scott Maguire

66 High Road

Newbury MA 01951

February Newsletter

Dates of our upcoming meetings;

Thursday 3/16

Thursday 4/13

Both meetings will be held at the Starboard Galley in Newburyport

6:30 pm



We had a good showing of members at our last meeting. Members shared what they like using for rods and reels with their customers. And where they buy equipment.

Chris V. Shared info about TFO rods. Go to there website, if you order rods, give them your charter info for great discounts.

Matt Able secured member discounts at Hudson's in Salisbury Ma. See Steve in tackle section of store, let him know your a member and he will work with you on discounts

I was also able to get tickets to the Boston boat show for members that attended the last meeting.

We are waiting for a final count on our membership before we can get our Port Supply account up and running.

Please get your membership dues in ASAP. We will be putting together a final list in March ( don’t miss the boat).

Please make out check to NCCA for $60.00 and send your dues to captain Scott Maguire, 66 High Rd., Newbury Ma. 01951

Please check your info on our association website. Let Sandy know if you need any changes.

Thanks

Capt. Pete & Scott

PS. I have ordered alcohol test strips (due in 2 weeks to get correct expiration dates) and working on purchasing new NCCA decals. Thank you member Steven Giangregorio for helping with this project! After I have all of the items I will send them out with new membership cards. Also West Marine Pro applications for those who might need them.

Regards

ScottNew

MEMBERSHIP DUES

If you plan on remaining a member of the Northeast Charter Boat Captains Association please send your 2023 dues to Scott Maguire. We are working on maintaining our Port Supply Card, and need a final total to move forward.

Send Payment to:

Scott Maguire

66 High Road

Newbury, MA 01951

Reminder, our next meeting is 2/16 at the North End Boat Club. The address is 282 Merrimac Street. Newburyport

Thanks

Peter Murray

February Meeting 2023

Our next meeting will be 2/16 at 6:30 pm. We will be holding the meeting at the North End Boat Club in Newburyport. The club is located on 282 Merrimack Street.

We will be talking about what we use for rods and reels and why. Advantages/ disadvantages. We have 5 or 6 new members and this topic should be valuable for them and to members thinking of buying new gear.

Matt Ayers from Mass Marine fisheries will be joining us in April to give us all the latest changes in fishing regulations. Matt is very knowledgeable and we look forward to having him join us. We discussed the pending changes to the mackerel fishery for the upcoming season at the last meeting. Matt will be able to answer all our questions in April.

Again… our 2/16 meeting will be held Thursday at the North End Boat Club

Hope to see you there.

Respectfully

Peter Murray

January Meeting 2023

Our January meeting will be on A Thursday night 1/19 at 6:30 pm Starboard Galley.

We will be talking about proposed upcoming changes to the mackerel fishing and how it will effect us.

Thanks to all who showed up for our December meeting/dinner. It was a fun night for all. Thanks to Russ Lakey we had a number of items to raffle off.

We moved the meeting to Thursday night because the Galley had a prior commitment on Wednesday night. We can also discuss if Thursday night works better for our members.

Hope to see you there,

Happy New Year

Peter Murray

NCCA Newsletter

Hope you all had a great summer on the water.

We are set to start our meetings again.

Our first meeting will be Wednesday night October  19, 6:30 pm downstairs at the Starboard Galley. It will be an informal meeting to catch up and tell fish/ customer stories from the summer. Date for the November meeting is 11/16

We will begin to collect dues again this year. We will iron out the details at the first meeting and let everyone know.

If there is a topic of discussion you would like to see covered let us know so we can set a schedule for this year.

We hope to see you in October and hear your war stories

Respectfully

Peter Murray