Volunteer Angler Survey Program (VAS).

Bob & Mag · 02-19-2007, 03:39 PM

Is anyone else participating in the Volunteer Angler Survey Program for 2007?

If interested contact info follows:
Rod MacLeod
Fisheries Biologist
Connecticut DEP
Marine Fisheries Division
P.O. 719
Old Lyme, CT 06371
860.434.6043
rodmacleod@po.state.ct.us

Special K · 02-19-2007, 03:59 PM

any details of what the survey would entail? what is the objective?

zyg · 02-19-2007, 04:34 PM

Received my logbooks from last year a few days ago and intend to participate in 2007. I've done this now for about 5 years.

Bob & Mag · 02-19-2007, 07:58 PM

At this point, I know it's an information gathering tool used by DEP.
For details, I suggest calling Rod (fisheries biologist) and he'll answer
specific questions. We did it one year a longgggggg time ago and figured
if it could help gather some real data on fish/fishing it would be worth the
effort.
They send you log books to fill out and they have pre-paid postage on them and check box to mark if you need more logs. They only have, I believe 12 pages so if you fish more than that you'll need extras.
Maybe Zyg can also add some info as he's a veteran at this.

bigoutdoors · 02-20-2007, 06:20 AM

i am on my 7th year

zyg · 02-20-2007, 07:53 AM

The VAS reporting process is really simple and I use it as part of my personal logs to track where and when I find fish that I?m targeting.

The info that you record for each trip includes:

Date
start time
total time fished
whether you fished from shore or a boat
number of fishermen in your party
how many fishermen caught fish, the area you fished (there?s a map that breaks down LIS, Fishers Island Sound, BIS, RI and NY into different sectors with number assigned to each)
and the species of fish targeted.

Then there?s a place to record each fish caught, it?s species, measured length, and whether it was kept or released.

When the logbook is full you send it back - it?s postage paid. I usually start the year out with two books and request a 3rd later in the season.

Sometime in the winter your logbooks are returned to you along with the results of the years survey. The report contains some pretty good information. You get a glimpse into the state fish stocks in the area, charts showing the smallest to largest fish in the report and what the average size is. Unfortunately, it seems that the number of participants in the study have dropped in the past few years. If I remember correctly, only 73 people were in the program last year.

Hope this helps.

Bob & Mag · 02-20-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Unfortunately, it seems that the number of participants in the study have dropped in the past few years. If I remember correctly, only 73 people were in the program last year.

That's the reason we started back up and posted it here, to hopefully get others to participate.
Thanks for the info!

Special K · 02-20-2007, 02:53 PM

just e-mailed rod to sign me up as a participant. i keep regular trip logs anyway so it will be no inconvienence. a good way to get an idea of the condition of our local fishery.
cheers! cap'n mick

02-19-2007, 03:39 PM	#1
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,649	Volunteer Angler Survey Program (VAS). Is anyone else participating in the Volunteer Angler Survey Program for 2007? If interested contact info follows: Rod MacLeod Fisheries Biologist Connecticut DEP Marine Fisheries Division P.O. 719 Old Lyme, CT 06371 860.434.6043 rodmacleod@po.state.ct.us __________________ Smoke free 15 Weeks!

02-19-2007, 07:58 PM	#4
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,649	At this point, I know it's an information gathering tool used by DEP. For details, I suggest calling Rod (fisheries biologist) and he'll answer specific questions. We did it one year a longgggggg time ago and figured if it could help gather some real data on fish/fishing it would be worth the effort. They send you log books to fill out and they have pre-paid postage on them and check box to mark if you need more logs. They only have, I believe 12 pages so if you fish more than that you'll need extras. Maybe Zyg can also add some info as he's a veteran at this. __________________ Smoke free 15 Weeks!

02-20-2007, 07:53 AM	#6
zyg NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Niantic, CT Posts: 38	The VAS reporting process is really simple and I use it as part of my personal logs to track where and when I find fish that I?m targeting. The info that you record for each trip includes: Date start time total time fished whether you fished from shore or a boat number of fishermen in your party how many fishermen caught fish, the area you fished (there?s a map that breaks down LIS, Fishers Island Sound, BIS, RI and NY into different sectors with number assigned to each) and the species of fish targeted. Then there?s a place to record each fish caught, it?s species, measured length, and whether it was kept or released. When the logbook is full you send it back - it?s postage paid. I usually start the year out with two books and request a 3rd later in the season. Sometime in the winter your logbooks are returned to you along with the results of the years survey. The report contains some pretty good information. You get a glimpse into the state fish stocks in the area, charts showing the smallest to largest fish in the report and what the average size is. Unfortunately, it seems that the number of participants in the study have dropped in the past few years. If I remember correctly, only 73 people were in the program last year. Hope this helps.

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02-19-2007, 03:59 PM	#2
Special K NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: tolland & mystic Posts: 361	any details of what the survey would entail? what is the objective?

02-19-2007, 04:34 PM	#3
zyg NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Niantic, CT Posts: 38	Received my logbooks from last year a few days ago and intend to participate in 2007. I've done this now for about 5 years.

02-20-2007, 06:20 AM	#5
bigoutdoors NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: hampton conn. Posts: 55	i am on my 7th year

02-20-2007, 02:53 PM	#8
Special K NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: tolland & mystic Posts: 361	just e-mailed rod to sign me up as a participant. i keep regular trip logs anyway so it will be no inconvienence. a good way to get an idea of the condition of our local fishery. cheers! cap'n mick