Spring 2014 Presidents Report
From the Helm . . .
It’s early March as this is written, and another Artic Vortex has a stranglehold on the Great Lakes region. Daytime temperatures struggle to reach into the teens while the mercury plummets to zero and below at night. Substantial ice covers over 90-percent of some of the Great Lakes, and the economic impact to businesses dependent on winter sporting activities has been the best in decades.
Once the spring melt begins in the next couple of months, boaters should see an increase in water levels, as winter loss through evaporation should have been minimal. Starting a boating season without worry of enough water in the harbors to float our boats would be welcome relief.
The boat and fishing shows will be winding down this month, and if you haven’t attended any as yet, try to get out and do so. It’s a great time to get the whole family out to look at new boats, electronics, and an endless variety of fishing equipment. It’s also a good time to take advantage of special show pricing and huge discounts on last year’s equipment as retailers begin clearing out old inventory.
Michigan Sea Grant will be holding a number of spring workshops in the next couple of months where both federal and state fisheries biologists will be presenting the results of last year’s field surveys. These workshops provide a wealth of information on the condition of our fisheries and what we might expect in the coming season. To me, these are professional development opportunities every captain should attend, and I encourage you to do so.
I have authorized Capt. Maxine, to put together a “new look” for our website, which is long overdue. It’s vital we keep pace with ever changing technology in presenting the face of MCBA to the angling public. She will be working with a professional firm in designing the new look, and if all goes well and it meets Board approval, it could be operational for the upcoming boating season.
Finally, I recently received word the Michigan Sea Grant Extension has named a new program coordinator to succeed Chuck Pistis, who is retiring. Heather Trizenberg will assume her new duties as Sea Grant Program Coordinator in mid March. The Michigan Charter Boat Association extends her a warm welcome and looks forward to continuing our strong relationship with Michigan Sea Grant. (Full article on front page)
Have a safe and enjoyable fishing season.
Capt. Terry R. Walsh, President
