Fort Kent Muskie Derby Catch and Release Statement
In an attempt to clarify all the confusion and misinformation circulating these days, theFort Kent Muskie Derby Committee wishes to set the record straight.
First, a brief history of the introduction of muskie into the Saint John River watershed is in order.
Approximately 40 years ago the Canadian government had an experimental Muskie stocking in the northwest branch of the St. John River. Muskie fry were inadvertently released into the remote headwaters of the Saint John River. The United States and State of Maine officials were distraught and very concerned about what impact the accidental introduction of this species would have on our existing Brook trout and Landlocked Salmon populations.
Within 10 years of this introduction, our populations of trout and salmon were severely impacted. Anglers who once could expect record catches were not…tourism and the fishing economy declined, families and “kids” lost interest in the sport. The State of Maine assumed this decline of our fisheries was directly associated with two prominent factors: first, “Acid Rain” which falls from the sky during every rainstorm. (Acid rain originates in the coal burning facilities and factories of midwestern industrial states and contains extremely high levels of mercury and other toxins.) Second, the introduction of muskie to our waters. Our daily fish limits and sportfish tourism suffered as we went from a 12 fish limit to a 1 fish limit in a matter of a few years. Most anglers were forced to stop fishing due to acid rain pollution and lack of quality and quantity of native fish populations.
Approximately 15 years ago a committee was formed to introduce Atlantic salmon into the St. John Valley River watershed. This is a watershed of more than 400 miles of continuous river, lakes, brooks and streams in northern Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. After thorough evaluation, heated debates, and studies by the Maine Fish & Wildlife Biologists, the project was halted because introduction of Atlantic salmon would be destructive to our native fish stocks, i.e. Landlocked salmon and Brook trout.
However, in recent years anglers have begun catching muskie in these same waters. At first only a few were caught then, as anglers began purchasing appropriate equipment, and modifying their fishing techniques, more fish were being harvested and a new sport was born!
The muskie has now brought fishing back to Fort Kent. The tourism and economic impact has increased. Families are now buying boats, and related equipment for this sport. Anglers from throughout the world have begun fishing muskies in our waters. We now welcome the muskie and realize we must protect them for our future generations. Derby rules have now been designed to promote release of all muskie under a minimum length. We encourage only the specific size to be brought to the scales on derby days. We have attempted to minimize the impact on the natural spawning and egg laying cycles of the fish by conducting the derby after all female muskie have reproduced.
It is currently logistically impossible and discouraged by state fisheries management to release every legally caught muskie. A balance of each species, trout, salmon and muskie populations must be achieved.
The belief that we are catching muskie just to place in a frying pan is also wrong. All fish species in the state of Maine waters are contaminated with such high levels of mercury that the state directs anglers to only eat one fish of any species per month. The belief that we are so “backwoods” that we must catch muskie to feed our families is ridiculous!
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries is aware of the increase of muskie populations in our area and continues to allow unlimited catches, if in fact, it would somehow eliminate or reduce this invasive fish species from our waters.
As the Fort Kent Muskie Derby was evolving, we deliberated long hours on the issue of catch and release. Over such a large watershed it would be very difficult if not impossible to determine who caught the largest muskie without bringing it in to be registered. In our first derby approximately 100 anglers registered only 14 fish.
In our second year, the registration increased to just over 200 anglers and 24 muskie were weighed in. Remember, we are fishing approximately 400 miles of river and one million square miles of water. Only 1% of the St. John River is accessible fishing for muskie. It is highly unlikely that 24 fish out of these waters is devastating the well-established population.
The Fort Kent Muskie Derby Committee believes that the muskie is here in our waters to stay. The population is growing, the fish are growing and our derby is exposing this extravagant fish to the world’s population of anglers. Our rules encourage catch and release. Our economy encourages catch and release. The tourism industry encourages catch and release. However, keep in mind that these fish are not pets. We didn’t raise them from fry to be released in our waters! If an angler wishes to bring home a muskie and fry it up in a pan “cuz it’s good eatin” then so be it! As a “free American” and according to State of Maine law…he has that right!
We can manage our States Fisheries and Wildlife population very well, thank you! The State of Maine leads the nation in Wilderness Preservation, Tree Harvesting & Growth, and Fish Management. Fort Kent leads most communities in the area of economic development and preservation of natural resources. We now are the “meca” for recreation in the Northeast. We offer World Cup and Olympic training biathlon venues. We offer the longest Sled Dog race in the Eastern United States…the Can-Am Crown.
We offer the most complete and well maintained snowmobile trail system possibly in North America. Now we have been provided with the grace of muskie.
Don’t worry! We won’t deplete this beautiful and valuable resource and ultimately destroy our derby! We believe the muskie is here forever and we welcome them!
Sincerely:
Fort Kent Muskie Derby Committee
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