Carp Palooza rules require that catches be released alive.

With an earlier start time, they saw teams with their kids making a day of it. Christman plans the same start time again next year because people enjoyed the earlier time start. Next year he also hopes to add a kid’s division so they can also participate. This year he awarded a child a gift card because the father sent Christman the video of the child catching a carp. “It was great seeing people participate as a family.” said Christman. He said that from now on, the derby will be moving to Onota Lake permanently.

Raffles were offered this year and they were able to raise over a $1,000 which was handed to Steve Bateman to be added to the donations for the Jimmy Fund.

Christman thanked the sponsors:  Berkshire Tree Service, Lakeside Bar & Grill, Onota Boat Livery Jsmegal Roofing & Gutters, Dave’s Sporting Goods and Dicks Sporting Goods.  He also gave a huge thank you to Steve Bateman, Brandon Murray, Andrew Christman and Conor Graham for helping out with Carp Palooza this year.

An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws

Recently, the MA House of Representatives and Senate voted on H.4885 (An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws).  The House vote was 124 yeas, 33 nays and 2 not voting.  State Representatives Barrett and Farley-Bouvier voted yea and Pignatelli did not vote.  The Senate vote was 35 yeas and 5 nays.  State Senator Mark voted yea.

Incidentally, after many years Smitty Pignatelli is not seeking re-election and there are currently 4 candidates running for his seat.  Before casting your vote this November, perhaps you should find out how each one would have voted on H.4885.

It is quite lengthy (116 pages) and, at the time of this writing, is still being reviewed by GOAL (Massachusetts Gun Owners Action League) and others. It would be impossible for me to delve into it as it is so lengthy it would take several columns to list and explain its contents.  Also, I am receiving conflicting information as to what exactly is in that bill and am afraid to comment on it at this time for fear my information may be inaccurate and would only add to the confusion.

I’m not hearing good things about some aspects of it.  For starters, according to Mass Conservation Alliance (MCA) Co Chair Wayne M. Adams, one now must have an LTC (license to carry) in order purchase, possess, transfer, etc. all semi-automatics firearms. ( A LTC costs $100.00 and must be renewed every 6 years.) FID card holders are banned from privately transferring or purchasing 1) large capacity firearms and feeding devices and 2) all semi-automatic firearms.

In the upcoming weeks, this column will provide more information on the many aspects of this bill.  I doubt this new law will change anything and only the law abiding gun owners will abide by these laws and that it will have little or no effect on people with evil intentions.

The Landship Partnership Program

The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced over $3 million in grants to conserve large acreages of essential land across Massachusetts. Through the Landscape Partnership Program, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded three grants to expand public recreational opportunities, improve water supply protection, support agriculture, and promote healthy ecosystems. The grants from the program will also support the Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative to protect high-quality forested land.

“Investments in land conservation are critical to strengthening climate resilience in our communities. Thoughtfully conserving our natural landscapes is also essential for reducing emissions and safeguarding the diversity of our ecosystems,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Successful partnerships between agencies and organizations such as these can have a profound impact on enabling residents to enjoy the outdoors.”

The Landscape Partnership Grant Program was established in 2011 to facilitate large-scale projects that foster healthy ecosystems, protect the viability of farm and forest economies, and expand public outdoor recreational opportunities via state, municipal, and non-profit partnerships. This year’s awards will conserve over 1,300 acres in Berkshire and Plymouth County. The implementation of these grants will support the administration’s efforts toward building climate resilience and safeguarding critical natural landscapes.

“I want to thank Secretary Tepper and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for making this important investment into crucial land conservation efforts in Southeastern Massachusetts,” said Senator Marc R. Pacheco (D-Third Bristol and Plymouth). In addition to ensuring healthy ecosystems, protecting water supply, and creating recreational opportunities, these grants protect areas that, through carbon sequestration, play a part in the Commonwealth’s efforts to meet their requirement of being Net-Zero by 2050.”

One of the Landscape Partnership Grant Program awardees is The Trustees of Reservations, Sheffield Land Trust, and MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) – Cooper Hill Farm Project.  A $1.25 million grant to protect 538 acres that are part of a broader, regional effort to conserve 1,130 acres of critical ecological habitat, forestland, and active agricultural landscapes in Sheffield, MA and Salisbury, CT. The Project will purchase an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) from Pine Island Farm, one of the largest dairy farms in Massachusetts, ensuring the farm remains in agricultural use in perpetuity. The project will also extend protection to 40 acres of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) designated Priority Habitat for Rare Species and expand public enjoyment of Bartholomew’s Cobble which is managed for passive recreation and habitat values by The Trustees of Reservations.

The other two grant awardees are:  Buzzards Bay Coalition, Town of Carver and Town of Wareham – Weweantic River Headlands Conservation Project: $1.25 million to protect 280 acres of forested uplands, cranberry bogs, and riparian wetlands along the mainstem of the Weweantic River in Carver and Wareham.

Buzzards Bay Coalition and MA Department of Fish & Game (DFG) Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) – Sippican Headwaters Landscape Project: $1.25 million to protect 499 acres of forested uplands and wetlands at the headwaters of the Sippican River in Rochester and Middleborough.

12-Pound, 6-Ounce Largemouth Bass Breaks 37-Year NY State Record

Recently, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced that a new state record for largemouth bass was set on July 11, 2024. James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania reeled in the record-breaking 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Cayuga County while fishing in preparation for an upcoming bass tournament. The record-breaking catch surpasses the previous 37-year-old State record largemouth bass, caught from Buckhorn Lake, Otsego County, in 1987 by one pound and two ounces.James Bitenbaugh.

“It’s no secret that New York has the best bass fishing opportunities in the country and Mr. Britenbaugh’s incredible fish certainly confirms that,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “DEC encourages all anglers fishing in New York to check out the Angler Achievement Awards Program before dropping a line in the water. It’s an exciting program that recognizes sizable catches and shines a light on the numerous lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams producing trophy-sized fish right here in New York.”

This year, New York State landed five lakes on Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes in the country. Among the New York waters included are the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), ranked as the best bass water in the nation, and Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, ranked as the seventh-best water. Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, and Oneida Lake made the list as well and are in Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 25 Northeastern Best Bass Lakes of 2024.  Other waters across the state also offer exceptional bass opportunities and New York continues to be a destination for world class fishing.

Incidentally, the state record for largemouth bass in Massachusetts is 15 lbs, 8 oz and it measured 28 inches.  It was caught out of Sampson Pond in Carver by Walter Bolonis in1975.