Fishing in the EEZ, a Moral dilemma or Economic decision? [Archive]

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 04:33 PM

Finchaser, thanks for the resources and the phone #s. As to the comments from the other guys, thanks.

This is something I've carefully researched for a while now. The problem is there is a core group of people who consistently fish the EEZ for striped bass in violation of state and federal law.

When you're out on a boat, it's sometimes difficult to stay in the EEZ. Say you're 2.75 miles out and catching fish. That's certainly legal. It's quite possible that you could drift to the 3 mile line and momentarily not be aware of it until you looked at your GPS. :don't know why:

Honest mistakes have been made, and will continue to be made, as long as the coastline is irregular. It's difficult to stay within that boundary even when you're a guy who does his best to comply.

Yet, if you have the appearance of being over the line oven one meter, the Coast Guard has the right to board you and ask questions. I understand many are frustrated by this. Any reasonable person would be.

However, the Coast Guard and the Marine Police are just doing their job. It's the same thing when we go through security at airports. It's inconvenient, but we put up with it. For the good of society, and the safety of all of us.

I'd like you all to remember that thought as we go through these posts here. The Coast Guard and Marine Police are charged with protecting us and bringing lawbreakers to justice. We all need to be aware that if fishermen weren't flagrantly violating the law, there would be no need for this enforcement.

But that's human nature. When something is prohibited, even if it's for the benefit of all members of the user group, there will always be a select part of that group that feels they're above the law. :moon:

If enforcement is lax, this will encourage other members of that group to break the law as well. They will feel they're "entitled" to break that law, and continue to invent "excuses" as justification as to why it's not that bad.

That's the awareness I hope people will get out of this thread, and maybe they will begin to support the central theme I'm trying to put across here:

1. Just because a group of people is breaking the law on a consistent basis, that doesn't mean what they're doing is acceptable.

2. If you're concerned about this, maybe this thread will be enough to get you concerned enough to become active in speaking up about it, and seeing that persistent violators are caught.

3. If you're concerned, but don't want to become actively involved, please consider helping to raise awareness that striped bass are a shared resource.

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:08 PM

Please be aware that in many instances, what I will be relaying in these posts is as reported by others.

Although I took pains to research this carefully, I cannot guarantee complete accuracy of any statements as they were gathered from third party statements.

I can state that a select group of individuals are fishing for striped bass in the EEZ in violation of the law. These violations now seem to be occurring in VA and NC. However, they also occur along the East Coast off the states of MD, DE, NJ, and NY.

This is not an attempt to single out VA or NC anglers as the sole violators, or characterize any particular individual or Captain as engaging in illegal behavior regarding fishing for striped bass.

This is merely an attempt to document what happens every day in the EEZ when there are large quantities of striped bass outside of the designated fishing area.

Although I will try my best to keep my personal opinions out of this, they are my opinions as is my right under the First Amendment.

I'm trying for the best accuracy in these statements here. If there are any corrections that can and should be made in any of these posts, please contact me and I will be glad to edit and make those corrections.

I will have suggestions at the end for those who want to get involved. You don't need my advice or words to get involved in this yourself to try to change things. Feel free to get involved on your own, or not.

Thanks for reading. :thumbsup:

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:11 PM

A little about them.

I want to thank Finchaser for the VA resource #s he already posted in post #4.

Please be aware there are several avenues to report poaching in VA. The VDGIF responsibilities as I understood it are mostly for inland violations. For saltwater, striped bass, and other saltwater fish violations you would want to call/E-mail the VMRC.

Someh #s:

VMRC marine police

VMRC staff overview
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/mrcoverview.shtm

VMRC staff directory
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/staffdirectory.shtm (http://www.mrc.state.va.us/staffdirectory.shtm)

VMP are authorized to enforce Federal laws
http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/MP/leoverview.shtm
Officers of the Virginia Marine Police have full law enforcement arrest powers through out the Commonwealth. Virginia Marine Police Officers are required to complete a state mandated basic police academy. New officers are also required to complete the Marine Law Enforcement Training Program held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia.

Through a cooperative law enforcement agreement between the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the National Marine Fishery Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, officers are deputized to enforce federal fish and wildlife laws. The strong bond between the agencies has proven to be a model in cooperative law enforcement. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has also recently entered into a cooperative agreement with the United States Coast Guard that allows the Virginia Marine Police to enforce federally designated safety and security zones.

VA coastwide fish regulations:
http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/swrecfishingrules.shtm

VA fisheries management FMAC
http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/fmac/fmoverview.shtm

The VA MRC patrols all inshore waters up to the 3 mile limit, which is the beginning of the EEZ. As stated above, they're also authorized to enforce laws in Federal waters, and actively patrol these waters in partnership with the Coast Guard.

What is the EEZ?
The EEZ is a zone from 3-200 miles where catching, fishing, or targeting striped bass is prohibited. These are also known as FEDERAL WATERS.

************************************************
Duties of the Coast Guard:

In addition to homeland security, drug and contraband interception, and protecting our ocean borders, the Coast Guard has the responsibility of detecting violators fishing in the EEZ and enforcing the laws as written. They work closely with the Marine Police where necessary.

Some CG resource links:

Coaxt Guard Virginia
Main directory
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg531/LMR.asp (http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg531/LMR.asp)

US Coast Guard National Telephone directory:
http://www.uscg.mil/top/news/phonebook.pdf (http://www.uscg.mil/top/news/phonebook.pdf)

Coast Guard Marine responsibilities relative to Fishing:
Protecting the U.S. EEZ and key areas of the high seas is an important mission for the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard enforces fisheries laws at sea, as tasked by the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2005/docs/MSA_amended_msa%20_20070112_FINAL.pdf). Our fisheries priorities are, in order of importance:

1. Protecting the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone from foreign encroachment: The MSFCMA of 1976 extended U.S. fisheries management authority out to the full 200 miles authorized by international law. The U.S. EEZ is the largest in the world, containing 3.4 million square miles of ocean and 90,000 miles of coastline. Foreign fishers operating illegally in this area are, effectively, stealing resources from the U.S., and our fisheries managers have no way of measuring or accounting for this loss.

2. Enforcing domestic fisheries law: U.S. Domestic Fisheries support a $24 billion dollar industry. Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), to ensure the sustainability of these fisheries are developed by regional Fisheries Management Councils, (http://www.fisherycouncils.org/) each of which have a non-voting Coast Guard member. The Coast Guard is responsible for enforcing these FMPs at sea, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/)enforcement ashore. In addition to FMP enforcement, we enforce laws to protect marine mammals and endangered species.

The Coast Guard is the foremost agency with the maritime infrastructure, capability and authority to project a federal law enforcement presence into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and upon the high seas.

There are those who want to direct anger or frustration at the Marine Police or Coast guard for all the people that seem to get away with fishing the EEZ for 40+ lb bass. There are many honest anglers that are fishing within the limit and not finding them right now. Please be aware LE is out there every day aggressively targeting violators.

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:13 PM

Here I'll try to chronicle the events that led to many anglers choosing to fish the EEZ, with supporting documentation.

Striped bass traditionally winter off the coast of VA and NC. Normally they're found inshore from 1-3 miles. It's a great fishery. It's been said that most of the E Coast biomass generally concentrates off the shores of those 2 states.

The fishing is legendary. Some days it's possible for each person to have double digit catches of bass above 30#. Tourists and others from as far away as Maine flock to the fishing centers in VA beach Oregon Inlet for a chance at trophy bass. This keeps the marinas and Captains in that area very busy and injects needed revenue into the local economies. This is a very divisive issue, as people feel strongly one way or another.

To many people in VA and NC, it's not about the striped bass, whether fishing for them is illegal in the EEZ or not. They see bass as revenue and many discussions over this turn into arguments.

However, there is a growing number of honest anglers who have always played by the rules. They see the segment of people fishing the EEZ growing, and thumbing their noses at law enforcement. These honest anglers manage to catch striped bass legally, unless the temps drop drastically. These honest anglers are fed up at what has become a common disregard of the law in these states.

The individuals who break the law and still decide to run far offshore to target these bass have a "Don't ask don't tell" mentality. The success they are having at catching trophy bass and evading LE has spurred still more boaters out to fish in the EEZ.

Again, to place blame solely on VA and NC boaters wouldn't be fair.

There are people coming from NJ, NY, PA, CT, RI, MA, ME, DE, specifically taking Winter trips to VA and NC to catch trophy striped bass. Many of these people are not aware of the EEZ laws. They assume their captains take care of all that. However, even when told that the bass are too far to fish for them illegally, many charter customers demand to catch these fish anyway. There is a "gold rush" mentality that exists down in these areas.

People want to point fingers at others, when the truth is we're all responsible. Every single person who fishes for striped bass in those areas, whether charter Captain, paying customer, or solo recreational boater should be aware that it's illegal to target, fish for, or catch, striped bass in the EEZ. Without trying to judge, these posts are an attempt to raise awareness of that so people are better informed. :learn:

JAN 2010

Summary of VA fishing from 1-1-10 moving forward:

This year has been a very cold winter for the Mid-coastal states. While the bass were around the CBBT in Virginia for several months at the end of 2009, the extreme cold waters, trending into the low 40s, have driven bass far offshore. In some cases the bass are being located 30 miles offshore.

For the first part of Jan, these bass were inshore. They gradually moved S from the CBBT.

Jan 2- "fish in Corolla moved way offshore. There were very few reports of keepers coming from within 3 miles."

MARS & VA reports

MARS was the Mid Atlantic Rockfish Tournament. It's becoming one of the most popular in the area for that time of year. There are some big prizes for top finishers, up to 60k in some cases.
This is the tournament with the leaderboard of big catches you have seen talked about here and at other internet fishing sites. I want to make one thing clear right away. The winners of this tournament all caught their bass in legal water inside the EEZ, otherwise known as "the fence".

The reason this is worth commenting on is that as I understand it, the boats in this tournament were operating with a "handicap" by being allowed to fish legal waters only. They were all equipped with GPS, and several of the winning Captains were required to take lie detector tests to prove they only fished in legal zones and caught their fish legally. It's also worth noting this was the first year GPS was required because of cheating concerns.

Therefore, the Captains in this MARS tourney should be commended for doing the right thing. I know people have looked at the leaderboards posted and some may have made judgements about the people catching those 45 to 55# bass. However, they all did this within the letter of the law, when others around them, and often at the same marina, were violating the law every day. Hats off to these winners, they truly exemplify the definition of a sportsman. :clapping::clapping:

Jan 7 - "some fish were found inside the line. The MARS tourney group of 171 boats landed some nice bass"

Jan 8 - "MARS tourney boats had only 8 fish weighed in for 171 boats, while the Rudee fleet smashed them"

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279404-DAY-2-MARS-Skunk-ola

Jan 9 - last day of the tournament...out of 171 boats, only one fish was weighed in, around 25#
MARS results: Hampton Roads team one of the winners.

1-9-10 Only one fish weighed last day of MARS
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279390-Mars-Friday-leaderboard

1-10
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279460-No-Fishing-Reports-for-2-Days-with-500-Boats-in-The-Water

1-10 MARS results
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279490-MARS-results-and-report-from-Team-Wheat-Systems

Post tournament reports:
As I understood it, the fishing gradually deteriorated inshore as the water temps got colder. Coupled with a few bad storms, this started to drive the main bodies of bass offshore to warmer waters in the mid to high 40 degree range. Guys inshore of the 3 mile limit were having trouble finding bass. Meanwhile, Charter boat customers were coming down in droves based on the hype about the great reports. This in turn put pressure on Charter boat captains to fish the illegal areas. A chief complaint of some Charters was they wouldn't have customers if they couldn't produce bass.

There were also some Charters who tried to be honest and tell the customers they could go out for catch and release bass fishing (which technically is still illegal in the EEZ). The anecdotes out there tell of many customers rejecting this.

The explanation above was not meant to justify illegal fishing on the part of Charter captains. It was an attempt to show that there are many different groups who are guilty when it comes to illegal fishiing in the EEZ.

Meanwhile, the people who try to play be the rules become increasingly irritated and resentful of this disregard of the law by others.

1-12 VMP checking boats the "Friday" thread
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279793-Friday
The Coast Guard and Marine police have been pretty aggressive in giving out summonses. The problem is they have to catch people with bass in their possession, or targeting bass. Many fishermen lie and say they're fishing for bluefish, or they dump their dead gutted bass in the water as soon as they see the Coast Guard on radar.
[Interesting posts #3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18]

1-15 Where's all the reports - a thread showing that despite hundreds of big bass being caught daily, all of a sudden people stopped reporting their catches on the internet
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279773-Where-s-all-the-reports

1-15 big fish at VBFC!! - there were fishermen in the MARS tournament that fished within 3 miles. As mentioned, when the fishing was poor inshore, some of the best fishermen in the MARS toournament came in empty handed at the end of the day. Yet, there were boats coming in to the same dock loaded with fish. Many of these catches came from the EEZ.
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279741-Big-Fish-AT-VBFC (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279741-Big-Fish-AT-VBFC)-!!!

VBFC site
http://www.virginiafishing.com/default.htm

1-18 anyone fishing tomorrow (fish are 35 miles to the East)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279908-Anybody-fishing-tommorow/page2

************************
North Carolina Reports

OI fishing center - As mentioned in the VBFC, there are quite a few anglers departing from here to fish. Some are playing by the rules, but others are fishing in the EEZ, and committing violations. When the Coast Guard is close, they communicate via VHF and quickly run back to legal water.
http://www.oregon-inlet.com/journal/all_articles.cfm?ccat_id=1

NCR over the line [Interesting posts 5, 13]
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/278557-Striper-Fishing-Sunday (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/278557-Striper-Fishing-Sunday)

NCR OI 1-15 anyone going?
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279670-OI-Friday-1-15-Anyone-going

NCR road trip Tues morning
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/277888-Va-Road-Trip-Tuesday-Morning

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:15 PM

Here I'll try to document what happens when only a few individuals show their concern:

Poaching past 3 miles common or not?
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280322-Catching-Poaching-Rockfish-in-ocean-past-3-miles-common-or-not

Misbehaving Recs (and some comms) 10pgs
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280242-Misbehaving-Recs-(and-some-Coms)-Take-2 (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280242-Misbehaving-Recs-(and-some-Coms)-Take-2)
Interesting posts: # 1, 5 (mind your own business), 7 (EEZ law discussed), 12, 14, 23, 27, 32 (new career), 36, 37 (Stripers not overfished), 40, 49, 50, 51 (stop whining), 56 (safety in numbers), 61 (don't patronize illegal captains), 65, 67 (tournament GPS not sealed?)

1-27-10 VA/ NC becoming famous, Good or Bad?
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280362-Virginia-North-Carolina-becoming-Famous-Good-or-Bad (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280362-Virginia-North-Carolina-becoming-Famous-Good-or-Bad)

EEZ question
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279753-Down-South

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:16 PM

Some more

1-14-10 Followed the Pros today (Honest fishermen speak out against this illegal EEZ fishing)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279816-Followed-the-pros-today (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279816-Followed-the-pros-today)!
[Interesting posts: #13 all about the $, 18, 21 most fish caught in EEZ, 27, 28 schools 17-30 miles off beach, 31 insist that fishermen be held accountable, 33 charter boats are not all at fault, rec boats doing it too, 39 the same people wink about where they caught the fish, 45, 63, 64 stealing from an already battered resource, 65, 68, 72, 76, 80 do not agree with breaking law to support family, 82 charter captain struggling]

1-14 Illegal fishing EEZ gold! (documents that the Coast Guard and Marine Police are targeting violators)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279713-todays-report

1-18 Offshore striper fishing
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279904-Offshore-striper-fishing
[Interesting posts: #1, 4, 23 VMRC responsibilities, 36 many boats have radar, dump fish when LE is coming, 39 illegal fishing]

How far? (Candid discussion of EEZ fishing pro/con, details of Illegal EEZ fishing)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279528-How-far
[Interesting posts: /# 1, 4, 7, 8 tackle shop owner speaks, 10 obey the law, 12 all the big fish weighed in at the VBFC were caught in the EEZ? 17 obey the law, 19 all about the Almighty $$, 22, 28, 34, 38, 40]

Capt dumps fish
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/251217-Friday-Cape-Henry-to-False-Cape-(1)-Fish/page2

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:17 PM

It is Illegal to FISH FOR, C&R, or TARGET striped bass in the EEZ. . If you're catching nothing but striped bass and continue to fish then you're FISHING FOR striped bass. . .People are going to do what they want. . . but they shouldn't claim that what they're doing is legal.

Federal Coastwide EEZ law:
50 CFR 697.7
(b) Atlantic striped bass fishery. In addition to the prohibitions set
forth in 600.725 of this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to do
any of the following:

(1) Fish for Atlantic striped bass in the EEZ.

(2) Harvest any Atlantic striped bass from the EEZ.

(3) Possess any Atlantic striped bass in or from the EEZ, except in the
following area: The EEZ within Block Island Sound, north of a line
connecting Montauk Light, Montauk Point, NY, and Block Island Southeast
Light, Block Island, RI; and west of a line connecting Point Judith
Light, Point Judith, RI, and Block Island Southeast Light, Block
Island, RI. Within this area, possession of Atlantic striped bass is
permitted, provided no fishing takes place from the vessel while in the
EEZ and the vessel is in continuous transit.

(4) Retain any Atlantic striped bass taken in or from the EEZ.

*****************************
How can you help if you live in the Area:
Some resources for violations:

1. Contact your legislators and representatives - the ones in the Coastal area would be most effective in getting a dialogue going.

2. Contact local news outlets - newspapers are always looking for stories where controversy is involved. Contact them with details and some links to internet fishing sites, with documentation enough for them to do a story. See post #20 here for a sample letter you can send.

3. Contact your local fishermens' CCA organization - ask them if they will lobby for change.

4. Contact the VMRC or CG if you have direct knowledge of regular violators -

What they're looking for:
Realistically, you can't expect them to catch a guy who fished the EEZ yesterday, and won't likely do it again. That intel is as useless as yesterday's news. :rolleyes:

They need quality, detailed intel. Realize that a one-time offender isn't likely to get any scrutiny at all. The manpower isn't justified to target someone like that, and I'm not sure if a one-time offender should be targeted.

For them to write summonses, people have to be caught while actively fishing for bass in the EEZ, or in possession of bass while in the EEZ. Their job isn't that easy. Captains see them coming on the radar, and dump dead bass on a matter of seconds. Guys lie and say they're fishing for bluefish, and often get away with that. :rolleyes:

So what they want is quality intel. They want names, dates, boat numbers, descriptions of people, times they're fishing, locations they usually fish. A guy bragging about his EEZ excursions or catches over and over on an internet site could also qualify as a starting point. They need the intel that makes it worthwhile to prosecute someone. And realistically, they're looking for the most extreme violators, the guys who do this regularly.

Helpful phone #s & E-mail addresses VMRC:
Marine Violations 24 hr hotline... 800-541-4646
VMRC main #...757-247-2200

E-mail
john.bull@MRC.virginia.gov

I believe Rick Lauderman is the current head of the VMP.

Coast Guard:

Most likely you would be talking to the District 5 Atlantic Area Command Center
Mailing Address:
4000 Coast Guard Boulevard
Portsmouth, Virginia 23703-2199

Phone...757-398-6390

Coast Guard Virginia
Main directory
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg531/LMR.asp (http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg531/LMR.asp)

US Coast Guard National Telephone directory:
http://www.uscg.mil/top/news/phonebook.pdf (http://www.uscg.mil/top/news/phonebook.pdf)

Steven J. Andersen (Steven.J.Andersen@uscg.mil), Captain, USCG
Commanding Officer (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/docs/CO.pdf)
(757) 483-8590
James B. Millican (James.B.Millican@uscg.mil), Commander, USCG
Executive Officer
(757) 483-8590
Ms. Robyne Pifer (Robyne.Z.Pifer@uscg.mil)
Command Secretary
(757) 483-8590
Joseph A. Paris (Joseph.A.Paris@uscg.mil), YNCM, USCG
Command Master Chief (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/docs/CMC.pdf)
(757) 638-5988

E-Mail:
I'm still waiting for a confirm on some CG E-mail addresses. Contact me via PM if you need them.

CG Regional contact info:
http://www.uscg.mil/global/mail/info_pg.asp

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:20 PM

This problem has existed for 20 years, since fishing was once again permitted after the Moratorium in the 1980s.

The VMRC and CG officers I spoke with expressed frustration that the laws as written aren't strong enough to stop people as the fines are minimal. This is a big part of the enforcement problem. If a guy is charging $1200/day for a striped bass charter, a fine of $50 or $100 is looked at by some as the cost of doing business.

Fine schedules:
Violations in state waters: (Class 3 misdemeanor)
Usual fines start at a range of $50-500/ per each striped bass illegally caught. As Finchaser so wisely points out, the problem with this is these are addressed in State municipal court. A guy gets the summons, shows up, and is almost always able to get the minimum fine of $50 by plea bargaining. Municipal judges usually know nothing about Marine violations, and the reality is that most violators get offf with a slap on the wrist, a $50 fine at best. :moon:

Violations in federal waters:
Summonses issued by the Coast Guard are answerable in Federal court. Here I believe the fines range from $100-1000/ per each striped bass illegally caught. The benefit of having violators answer in federal court is they often go before judges versed in Marine law. There are few plea bargains here. Federal court definitely metes out harsher penalties.

****************************
Here are some of the strategic possibilities to raise awareness and try for a reasonable solution.

1. Fines must be increased to the point where they're an effective deterrent. As people have mentioned, they have to be painful enough that guys will thing twice about taking that financial hit. Guys talk about throwing people in jail for taking illegal striped bass.
I want to go on record as saying I don't necessarily agree with jail. (If that's the only way to punish a serial violator, so be it.) But the wiser strategy is to make those fines extremely high. Violators need to feel that financial pain.

2. Suspension of Captain's license for first time violators must be brought to the table. Unless there is a clear danger of losing something valuable to them, many charter captains will continue to decide that the Reward justifies the Risk.

3. Legislators, the NOAA, and ASMFC need to be petitioned - the only way for this to realistically happen is for legislators in a specific area to be overwhelmed by support for something like this. A few fisherman letters won't do it. There will always be opposition from people who will cry this is unreasonable. And they will cry about it, in order for it not to get passed. That's why PAC fishermen groups have a better chance of getting this done, with thousands of fishermen behind them in terms of letters, e-mails, and strong support. Legislators will often move on something if they feel not doing it will cost them votes.

4. Awareness needs to be raised - Stats, anecdotal stories, and the carefully worded respectful statements are essential to gain critical mass. Raising awareness has been at the beginning of every political movement that changed something significant in society. That's no different here. :thumbsup:
a. Contact local news outlets - newspapers are always looking for stories where controversy is involved. Contact them with details and some links to internet fishing sites, with documentation enough for them to do a story. See post #20 here for a sample letter you can send.

b. Contact your local fishermens' CCA organization - ask them if they will lobby for change.

5. Support needs to be gathered - many people say they want to support something. When it comes down to it, only a portion of them participate. Politicians know that and use it to the point where they only respond to the most vocal interest groups.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon3.gif

6. Compromises will have to be made - the key element many who get involved don't realize is that when things happen politically, the original parties don't always get what they want. Life in the political arena is about being happy with small victories, and sometimes accepting compromise as a way to get things done.

7. Actions speak louder than words - I already prepared a template of actions and their political effectiveness for future use. People might want to look at it here:
(Effectiveness of different strategies)
http://stripersandEanglers.com/Forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=29288

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:22 PM

Several have said since the violations are so flagrant, it might be better to open the EEZ to all striped bass fishermen.

For those not aware of the reasons behind the EEZ regulation, its original intent was to give Striped bass a break from the fishing pressure they face inshore up and down the East Coast. It's common knowledge that large groups of bass winter offshore in the 10-30 mile range, and they also use these routes for their Northern and Southern migration.

Striped bass are easiest to catch when in the EEZ because great masses of them are highly concentrated. Historically, before the Moratorium in the 80's , Commercial fishermen were aware of that fact. They were able to net large quantities of bass quickly. This is one of the factors that contributed to the decimation of the biomass, resulting in the Moratorium.

That raises the following issues:

3 mile line legislation (about 80 summonses were issued around 1-14-10, and LE is aggressively targeting violators daily)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280027-3-mile-line-legislation (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280027-3-mile-line-legislation)
[Interesting posts: #12, 14, 16, 17, 20, 52, 53, 67]

C&R Questions
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279608-Time-for-the-annual-C-R-questions (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279608-Time-for-the-annual-C-R-questions)

Running offshore 12 miles?
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279591-Virginia-Beach-striper-fishing-worthwhile (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279591-Virginia-Beach-striper-fishing-worthwhile)

There's a growing group of fishermen who feel their yearly quality and quantity catches of striped bass are declining. These are not guys who fish from shore, but have the ability to locate bass with boats and electronics. They're concerned, and starting dialogues asking this be be looked at. Reading the thread below, you'll see many of these guys have decades of on-the-water angling experience. They're honestly in agreement that there seems to be a decline in the number of striped bass available.

One conclusion to draw from this is that the NOAA biomass numbers, the sustainability mantra, are off target, and that the Striped Bass biomass is somehow declining. These fishermen are concerned enough to want to address it before it's too late:

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279743-An-Open-Letter-to-DNR-Secretary-John-R-Griffin-Regarding-the-Striped-Bass-Fishery

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:23 PM

How you can help if you live in another state:

I
Write a letter or send an E-mail to state and federal fisheries management:

Federal:
NMFS/NOAA NMFS Enforcement Agent Joe Wilson
joe.wilson@noaa.gov (joe.wilson@noaa.gov)
MAFMC
http://www.mafmc.org/ (http://www.mafmc.org/)

Va Marine Resources contact: John.Bull@mrc.virginia.gov (John.Bull@mrc.virginia.gov)
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/staffdirectory.shtm (http://www.mrc.state.va.us/staffdirectory.shtm)

NC Division of Marine Fisheries:
Director’s Office: Via E-mail: Catherine.Blum@ncdenr.gov (Catherine.Blum@ncdenr.gov)
Marine Patrol OBX-Va-line email: Donovan.Twyne@ncdenr.gov (Donovan.Twyne@ncdenr.gov)

**************************************
To:
__________

I would like to inform you of illegal striped bass fishing in the EEZ off the coast of VA and NC, which is federal waters. These fishermen are regularly harvesting pre-spawning female striped bass from the biomass.

I feel the striped bass fishery, although declared healthy, is slowly declining. Many fishermen along the East Coast are concerned with a possible decline of the biomass if this is not addressed. These are fishermen who lived through the Striped bass moratorium of the 1980s and don't want to see it happen again.

I would request that the fines for catching or possessing striped bass in the EEZ be increased to a point where they are a serious deterrent. As it is now, the illegal violators are thumbing their noses at the authorities who are just trying to enforce the law. However, the laws as written are not strong enough.

This is a hot topic of discussion now on many internet fishing sites. Some links to those sites are attached:

2-1-10 Discussion of EEZ fishing and ACTION PLANS
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=5801

Poaching past 3 miles common or not?
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280322-Catching-Poaching-Rockfish-in-ocean-past-3-miles-common-or-not

1-14-10 Followed the Pros today (Honest fishermen speak out against this illegal EEZ fishing)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279816-Followed-the-pros-today (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279816-Followed-the-pros-today)!

1-18 Offshore striper fishing
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...triper-fishing (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...triper-fishing)

How far? (Candid discussion of EEZ fishing pro/con, details of Illegal EEZ fishing)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...279528-How-far

Misbehaving Recs (and some comms) 10pgs
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280242-Misbehaving-Recs-(and-some-Coms)-Take-2 (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280242-Misbehaving-Recs-(and-some-Coms)-Take-2)

Open letter to DNR Secretary
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279743-An-Open-Letter-to-DNR-Secretary-John-R-Griffin-Regarding-the-Striped-Bass-Fishery

http://www.virginiafishing.com/default.htm

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/stripertalk/61706-stripers-fed-waters.html (http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/stripertalk/61706-stripers-fed-waters.html)

Thank you for looking into this matter.
Respectfully,
_______________________

*******************************************
Please be advised that the MOST effective letter will be the one above addressed to the NOAA. If you only have time to send one, send that. States getting these letters and E-mails are already disclaiming jurisdiction and referring concerned fishermen to the NOAA. But feel free to send the one below anyway if you have the motivation.

II
VA Coastal District:

9726

District 2 seems to be the key district here. It ranges from the front VA coast (Northern neck) down to the coastal area in VA beach, and I believe all the way to the NC border.

Here's a sample letter to send to officials in that area. Letters and e-mails should be respectful, and contain one or all of the following points, in your own words:

1. I do not live in VA but fish down there as a resident from another state who loves the recreational fishing opportunities there.
2. I am concerned about the fishermen illegally fishing in the Virginia EEZ for striped bass.
3. I feel it's something that must be addressed soon.
4. These people who fish in the EEZ for striped bass are violating federal law because the penalties are not strong enough of a deterrent.
5. Although the striped bass fiishery has been declared recovered, there is growing evidence, based on NOAA and ASFMC meeting data, that there may be a slight decline in this fishery. (feel free to insert any NOAA links here)
6. As a fisherman and tourist who spends ___ of my vacation dollars in VA, I cannot tell you how much how my family and I enjoy this fishery as it is now. We love coming to your state to vacation and fish.
7. If striped bass should decline any further because of this illegal fishing, I would have to consider taking my family and my vacation in another state.
8. Even though I am not a constituent of yours, my dollars are spent in your state. I feel my opinion should be considered.
9. I respectfully ask that you look into this and let me know if there is anything you can do to help.
10. I feel that increasing the fines for illegally caught bass to a minimum of $1000/ violation would help as an effective deterrent to this behavior.
11. This issue is now a hot topic of concern to many fishermen along the Eastern Coastal states. You can see for yourself by clicking on any of the fishing sites below:

2-1-10 Discussion of EEZ fishing and ACTION PLANS
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=5801

Poaching past 3 miles common or not?
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280322-Catching-Poaching-Rockfish-in-ocean-past-3-miles-common-or-not

1-14-10 Followed the Pros today (Honest fishermen speak out against this illegal EEZ fishing)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279816-Followed-the-pros-today (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279816-Followed-the-pros-today)!

1-18 Offshore striper fishing
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...triper-fishing (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...triper-fishing)

How far? (Candid discussion of EEZ fishing pro/con, details of Illegal EEZ fishing)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...279528-How-far

Misbehaving Recs (and some comms) 10pgs
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280242-Misbehaving-Recs-(and-some-Coms)-Take-2 (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280242-Misbehaving-Recs-(and-some-Coms)-Take-2)

Open letter to DNR secretary
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279743-An-Open-Letter-to-DNR-Secretary-John-R-Griffin-Regarding-the-Striped-Bass-Fishery

http://www.virginiafishing.com/default.htm

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/stripertalk/61706-stripers-fed-waters.html (http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/stripertalk/61706-stripers-fed-waters.html)

12. Thank you for looking into this matter.
Respectfully,
_______________________

III
NC Coastal District:

9727

Just take the points summarized above, C&P them to your own letter, or summarize them into your own words, and send to these NC e-mail addresses.

NC Division of Marine Fisheries:
Director’s Office: Via E-mail: Catherine.Blum@ncdenr.gov (Catherine.Blum@ncdenr.gov)
Marine Patrol OBX-Va-line email: Donovan.Twyne@ncdenr.gov (Donovan.Twyne@ncdenr.gov)

DarkSkies

02-01-2010, 05:25 PM

Striped bass are a shared resource. Griping about the EEZ violators in VA and NC would be hypocritical if we only addressed it there. We also need to look at what people are doing in the states we live in. Spring and Fall run EEZ poaching also happens frequently from DE to MA.

There's nothing wrong with catching and eating bass.

However they do need a buffer zone from all the fishing pressure. That zone is the EEZ.

When someone fishes and harvests bass from that area, they're stealing from all the anglers out there. They're saying that they have a right to take home more than the honest anglers. They're saying that they're more priveleged, and have more right to that resource, than you and I.

Some resources here:
If you see violations happening, you don't have to report them. No one's forcing you. But when there are less fish, you won't have the right to gripe about it either. :don't know why:

The first area of contact would be the DFG in your state or area. If anyone in NJ needs private contact intel, I have cell #s for most of the NJDFG officers. I also have a few contacts in SI and LI. Feel free to contact me privately, you can remain as anonymous as you want. Discretion assured.

What they're looking for:
Realistically, you can't expect them to catch a guy who fished the EEZ yesterday, and won't likely do it again. That intel is as useless as yesterday's news. :rolleyes:

What DFG and Coast Guard Officers have told me they're looking for it this....

They need quality, detailed intel. Realize that a one-time offender isn't likely to get any scrutiny at all. The manpower isn't justified to target someone like that, and I'm not sure if a one-time offender should be targeted.

For them to write summonses, people have to be caught while actively fishing for bass in the EEZ, or in possession of bass while in the EEZ.

Their job isn't that easy. Captains see them coming on the radar, and dump dead bass on a matter of seconds. Guys lie and say they're fishing for bluefish, and often get away with that. :rolleyes:

So what they want is quality intel. They want names, dates, boat numbers, descriptions of people, times they're fishing, locations they usually fish. A guy bragging about his EEZ excursions or catches over and over on an internet site could also qualify as a starting point. They need the intel that makes it worthwhile to prosecute someone. And realistically, they're looking for the most extreme violators, the guys who do this regularly.

They also have many layers to their own intel and investigations, though many people doubt this.

I'm not going to get into details here, but please be advised they're using many different tactics to catch violators. Unfortunately, it's a cat and mouse game, and they don't want to be perceived as Nazis. They're just enforcing the law, that's their duty.

Your state DFG should be your first avenue to contact. If you don't feel that's working, then contact the Coast Guard. I have started developing back channels to these groups for people who want to stay out of the limelight but are still concerned. If you have quality intel of regular offenders, feel free to e-mail me for some of these contacts.

Or, feel free to contact them yourself. A word of advice. It's SOP when calling a Gov't agency that they ask you who you are. You can use the following statement when you're asked for ID and aren't comfortable providing it.

Just give them your first name, and say:

"I am a private citizen reporting evidence of illegal activity. It is my right as a private citizen to report to report anonymously. I'm only trying to help you guys, and feel more comfortable doing it anonymously. Therefore I will just give you this information I have come across. Thank you for your understanding"

**********************************
US Coast Guard National Telephone directory:
http://www.uscg.mil/top/news/phonebook.pdf (http://www.uscg.mil/top/news/phonebook.pdf)

Coast Guard Marine responsibilities relative to Fishing:
Protecting the U.S. EEZ and key areas of the high seas is an important mission for the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard enforces fisheries laws at sea, as tasked by the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2005/docs/MSA_amended_msa%20_20070112_FINAL.pdf). Our fisheries priorities are, in order of importance:

1. Protecting the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone from foreign encroachment: The MSFCMA of 1976 extended U.S. fisheries management authority out to the full 200 miles authorized by international law. The U.S. EEZ is the largest in the world, containing 3.4 million square miles of ocean and 90,000 miles of coastline. Foreign fishers operating illegally in this area are, effectively, stealing resources from the U.S., and our fisheries managers have no way of measuring or accounting for this loss.

2. Enforcing domestic fisheries law: U.S. Domestic Fisheries support a $24 billion dollar industry. Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), to ensure the sustainability of these fisheries are developed by regional Fisheries Management Councils, (http://www.fisherycouncils.org/) each of which have a non-voting Coast Guard member. The Coast Guard is responsible for enforcing these FMPs at sea, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/)enforcement ashore. In addition to FMP enforcement, we enforce laws to protect marine mammals and endangered species.

The Coast Guard is the foremost agency with the maritime infrastructure, capability and authority to project a federal law enforcement presence into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and upon the high seas.

Frankiesurf

02-01-2010, 07:46 PM

It is neither a moral dilemma nor an economic decision.

I could really use a large influx of cash. Let's see, I could sell crack!. I know it is bad for the folks I sell it to and society (moral)but I can make a ton of money doing it (economic). What is stopping me?

It's illegal!

surfstix1963

02-01-2010, 09:07 PM

Thats it these people have no morals anymore for whatever reason just a crooked smuck, moneys tight whatever the BS story( Its illegal):2flip: The bottom line is they get away w/it,excuses are too many & the penalties are too light get caught the hell w/ the fine take the boat & equipt.& jail time on the first 1st. offense:beatin: maybe that will sink in to some of the thick skulls out there this may sound rash to some of you but when they tell the whole coastline you cannot fish for bass theres a moratorium again I don't want to hear it I went through the first one.Everyone will pay so don't think its not in my back yard so who cares ,you will care trust me I hear everyone crying about regs you won't need to worry you won't be able to catch them.If its a money problem go get another job do it legal lifes a _itch deal w/ it.Just my .02 cents:burn:

lostatsea

02-04-2010, 12:46 PM

I didn't know it was this bad. That sucks! I think you mentioned also that it wasn't just the charters. Here it looks like the recreational boaters were the guilty ones. Thanks for posting those links.

Misbehaving Recs (and some Coms) -- Take 2

I posted this on the main board and it was recommended I post it here as it involves mostly VA and NC anglers. So here goes.

I thought about this for a while before posting. The longer I thought about it, the more I felt that it needed to be said.

Two Saturday's ago, I was off the VA and NC coast fishing for striper. We set the radar cursor on a 3nm distance, perpendicular to our southward movement. We ran just inside the 3nm limit all the way from VA Beach down to Corolla NC.

It was a beautiful day...almost a sheet of glass. Water temps were 36 deg when I passed the CBBT and they got warmer as I moved south. When I hit 40 deg water, I started seeing some bait and marks.

All the way down, we saw a lot of boats out about 3.5nm to 5nm from shore (I +put the radar cursor on them to check the distance). I was out 3nm and they were out another 1.5nm to 2nm.

Ran into the fleet just a bit south of Corolla. About 10 boats were inside the 3nm line, while it looked like about 150 were scattered from the line all the way out to about 5nm. I checked the radar cursor again to make sure I didn't make a mistake. Then I used the chart/radar overlay to see if I got the same distance on the chart. Both readings showed me at 2.985nm from shore (0.015 seems to be width of a pixel on my screen).

It simply blew me away to see such a large number of clearly illegal fishing going on. Yea, yea, I know...they were "targeting blue fish." If you believe that I have a bridge in AZ to sell. There were a few charters in the mix outside the line, but the majority were recs.

We talk conservation, but I guess far too many of us believe that conservation is for the "other guy," not us.

Guys...we have absolutely nothing to say about the commercial fishery, if we are going to be so flagrant about violating the fishing laws ourselves. We complain about the declining numbers of big stripers. We complain about Omega scooping up all the forage fish. We complain about the netters. But we had better start looking after our own misbehavior before we blame the "other guy" for the problem. I believe we [recs] are a big part of the problem. Based on what I saw two weeks ago, no one will convince me different.

I can kick myself for not having a pen and paper on board to write down boat names and hull registration numbers and calling them into the Coast Guard. Yesterday I bought a small whiteboard and dry-eraser pens to keep on board. From here on out, I won't leave home without it and the phone numbers of the MD, VA, and NC authorities. You can bet your sweet bippy that I plan to report them.

My $0.02

CharlieTuna

02-04-2010, 01:12 PM

That's what you get with not enough enforcement and laws that aren't strong enough. They should ramp those fines up, as others here have said. If you catch a tuna without a permit it's a big dollar fine. They should do the same with bass in the eez.

albiealert

02-04-2010, 05:00 PM

I can't believe some of those links. Here is one where they are telling tthe guy to fish right in the EEZ. How dumb can you get?

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279908-Anybody-fishing-tommorow/page2
"Yes, south to Sandbridge and then a 90 degree turn to the east. Go another 35 miles and you will see a rather large pile of meat.Confirmed Friday. "

surfstix1963

02-05-2010, 06:24 AM

If you would like to read a blog if you haven't already checkout Surfcasters journal Blog for today.If you truly feel what is happening will not affect us Nor'easters just look at one days catch ,then you will understand why you catch schoolies.:burn::burn::burn::burn:

**************************************
Surfstix, I merged these threads. I added the link to Zeno's site and the post you were referring to.

People need to understand that this kind of fishing goes on every day down there. People play cat and mouse with the authorities, quickly running back to within the limit when they spot the Coast Guard on the radar or hear chatter from their friends on the VHF. This has given rise to a group of people who are pushing to extend the EEZ limit. Meanwhile, there is a growing number of honest fishermen who play by the rules and are sick and tired of guys cheating every day. The best we can do right now is raise awareness. If this makes you sick reading it, please consider getting involved to do something about it.

******************************************
Check it out:

http://surfcastersjournal.com/blog/?p=1421
It is illegal to target striped bass in federal water, includes catch and release…..

Nowhere on the Striper coast is there such total disregard of the EEZ as in Virginia / North Carolina. I don’t think people have any idea the damage being done by the poaching down south. The Charter Boats down there break the law every single day and brag about it. It is a shame. The entire biomass is concentrated down there in different schools, guys are running well beyond three miles, most 2 trips a day. If you guys just see the fish that are caught illegally and come in every day. The thurs before last I heard there were well over 100 boats fishing this area, some from Va and some from NC.

Report from VA beach last sat:
57 lb Striper caught by Dean, VA
54 lb Striper caught by Jennifer, VA
52 lb Striper caught by Ray, NC
52 lb Striper caught by Adam, VA
50 lb Striper caught by Randy F., NC
50 lb Striper caught by Jeffrey, VA
47 lb Striper caught by John E. VA
46 lb Striper caught by Ken Si, VA
45 lb Striper caught by Adam, VA
42 lb Striper caught by Richard D, VA
41 lb Striper caught by Hames, VA
40 lb 1 oz Striper caught by Franlin
40 lb Striper caught by Corey, VA

These were poached in one day… This is just from a handful of boats at the VA fishing center. A small percentage that even report their catch…

Ill say it again, more big fish down there are killed in the winter than the Northeast in a decade, easy…

People that never fished down there have to understand how you can run the nearly 100 miles from Rudy to Oregon Inlet and the sea is completely dead within the three miles, not a speck of life…. Offshore it is totally different story with all the bodies of fish, they are easy to find by either the incredible bird activity for miles or by the bait readings. The Poaching is so bad there, I can’t believe that nobody is really making a stink about it. The Captains and Mates Brag about it, they don’t think the federal line applies to them. Guess they can make a run at it, 30, 50, 60 80 + boats, they can’t get em all’… They run out an 1 hour or so, make 1,2,3,4,5 passes, get their limit, and turn around and head home. Done in less than an hour fishing at times, then turn around and get round 2. This is strictly meat fishing dragging 32-40+ oz jigs with tuna gear.. I wouldn’t have a problem with these fish if they were caught legally.. They are not…

There are a few boards where guys started to make a stink this year. Don’t get me wrong, there were a few years when those fish stayed within 3 miles, not this year, nor last. The EEZ is one of the only thing that is really protecting the Striped Bass Stock. Just plain wrong what they are doing down there…

People have to understand that the Charter Boats down there will sail every day even if they Know the fish are well past 3 miles. It’s not like the rest of the Northeast where you can still catch fish Inshore of 3 miles at any given time, maybe not the big bodies of fish. Water temp and Bait dictate where those fish go, they have stayed offshore for the majority of the winter… Is it any different than 1 or 2 guys going out and poaching 20 fish in our area? The fish are not caught legally..

Why do you think they are trying to get the EEZ open to 12 miles down there ?

surfstix1963

02-05-2010, 07:12 AM

Impound the boat w/ huge fines if they can't pay, jail time.If enough of these poachers are hit hard w/tough disciplines they will start disappearing like the bass they are taking then they may understand what they are doing.Huge fines it would be good revenue for the states involved.And if they are going to brag about it online perhaps they should be monitored by enforcement.Make a poachers list when caught if you are caught again go to jail do not pass go.If something doesn't give you can bet local officials are getting involved to an extent, just like the Omega campaign donations bye bye bunker and bye bye bass what are they going to do next.The old Manhattan Stare I see you but I'll look the other way as long as some $$$ are coming my way.:burn::burn::burn: I think its time for a revolution against the gov't. they are way out of control they need to be put in their place they represent us not own us. China owns half of the U.S. and soon they will own all of it imagine that.

surfwalker

02-05-2010, 07:41 AM

surfstix1963, I agree with you on all the points you have stated and proposed. I get depressed more and more as I read about the games played in politics, the rampart disrespect of the laws of the sea, and the way it is thrown into the faces of the honest.

I thought that through educating people that they would understand. But I guess there are a lot of people that just don't care, the "gimme, get me, I want knida people".

surfstix1963

02-05-2010, 12:01 PM

The 3 mile area should be well patrolled and if a boat is headed in from beyond the 3 miles it should be stopped and boarded regardless it should be protocol.Every piece of enforcement should be out there every day marked,unmarked marine police and coastguard should be involved if they are not already.Who's going to stop doing what they are for what they are making a day compared to what the fine is.Perhaps $1000 per fish for the capt. and $500 for everyone fishing on the boat is a better proposition.No excuse for possessing a bass past 3 miles you catch within 3 miles take it in you should not be able to use the excuse I caught within the 3 miles and went out for some other type of fishing.This can be controlled it will take work.

dogfish

02-05-2010, 12:57 PM

.Who's going to stop doing what they are for what they are making a day compared to what the fine is.Perhaps $1000 per fish for the capt. and $500 for everyone fishing on the boat is a better proposition.No excuse for possessing a bass past 3 miles you catch within 3 miles take it in you should not be able to use the excuse I caught within the 3 miles and went out for some other type of fishing.This can be controlled it will take work.

I think you're right. There is no fear of the law down there if guys can put up posts like this and openly talk about fishing the EEZ. The guy below was obviously targeting bass.

Join DateAug 2009Posts160

Fun day on the water with "D" crew but 80 gals running around without a fish in the boat. Run down from Rudee and the swells just north of the carolina line were a surfers dream. Ran out 10 miles once we got to the line , trolled and didn't see any bait just to see if we could see birds/bait and nothing was happening. Ran back in to the surf hoping we could pick up a few but there were 10 footers hitting the beach there yesterday.
One beautiful view with a west wind push the tops of those waves and you get to watch it from the east side of it. Makes the 80 gals easier to accept. :)
Very few fish caught yesterday anywhere up there. Schoolies still around the CBBT and a few big ones caught but with Min 4 rods out of every boat X 600 boats thats 2400 hooks in the water. Someone is going to be in the right place at the right time. Did hear of one 50 inch caught yesterday but that was on sesame-street CH 68

Called OI Fishing center and the boat that went out yesterday got their limit north of OI. 50 footer and she said the captain told her today it was rough getting out of the inlet.
Thats why the parking lot is empty today.

buckethead

02-05-2010, 01:37 PM

ledhead36

02-05-2010, 02:06 PM

It makes me sick reading that they are doing this.:burn:

bababooey

02-05-2010, 03:16 PM

"Aw, what's a couple of bass anyway, it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things!" :don't know why:

"What's the difference if I catch it in the EEZ or not? A dead bass is a dead bass wherever you catch it." :huh:

What if you were on a charter, and the Captain told you, hey these bass are all legal, nothing to worry about?.... and somehow you knew he was lying to you?

Would there be a sense of unfairness, of inequity?

Would you feel these people were cheating, stealing from a shared resource?

Or would you just turn your back on it, ignore the problem, and hope it would go away? :don't know why:

The money will always be more important than the law Dark, whether it's fishing in the EEZ, Omega protein overfishing the bunker, the greed in the tuna industry, or local politicians catering to special interest groups. Individual fishermen only get listened to when they have a PAC behind them. If you think this stinks, maybe you guys want to be part of the protest in Washington or join the RFA. Unless you live in that state and the legislative district where it's happening, the pols will not listen to out of state fishermen. Unless, of course, the response of letter writing and e-mails was so enormous that the press or someone else got wind of it.
It does suck big time.

storminsteve

02-05-2010, 05:20 PM

Duties of the Coast Guard:

In addition to homeland security, drug and contraband interception, and protecting our ocean borders, the Coast Guard has the responsibility of detecting violators fishing in the EEZ and enforcing the laws as written. They work closely with the Marine Police where necessary.

stealing resources from the U.S., and our fisheries managers have no way of measuring or accounting for this loss.

2. Enforcing domestic fisheries law: U.S. Domestic Fisheries support a $24 billion dollar industry. Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), to ensure the sustainability of these fisheries are developed by regional Fisheries Management Councils, (http://www.fisherycouncils.org/) each of which have a non-voting Coast Guard member. The Coast Guard is responsible for enforcing these FMPs at sea, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/)enforcement ashore. In addition to FMP enforcement, we enforce laws to protect marine mammals and endangered species.

The Coast Guard is the foremost agency with the maritime infrastructure, capability and authority to project a federal law enforcement presence into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and upon the high seas.

That says it all right there. These slimeballs are stealing the resources that belong to all of us. They should be fined, the enforcement should be more, and if there is a 2nd violation the captains should lose their licenses. Why should we accept this as status quo? That's BS.:2flip:

fishinmission78

02-05-2010, 06:29 PM

Guys also fish the EEZ off Cape May in the spring and fall. I'm not justifying what they do down south, but if you want to enforce that we will have to figure out some way of enforcing it in NJ too.

surfstix1963

02-05-2010, 07:35 PM

Without a doubt where ever it is taking place it needs to be addressed.

wish4fish

02-06-2010, 12:48 PM

bogus they fish outside the law, f that every body should follow the same rules, fine those greedy pigs! :beatin::2flip:

Doublerunner

02-06-2010, 03:22 PM

I've heard that down in NC and VA the guys going out in the EEZ all contribute to a pot of $$$ so that if any one gets busted then they have the money to cover the fine

This is where the Coast Guard takes the offenders onto the Coast guard boat and then puts a few bullets through the hull of the offenders boat. Although I guess that would just pollute the ocean so take the boat and auction it off to provide more $$$ for law enforcement

storminsteve

02-06-2010, 03:52 PM

This is where the Coast Guard takes the offenders onto the Coast guard boat and then puts a few bullets through the hull of the offenders boat. Although I guess that would just pollute the ocean so take the boat and auction it off to provide more $$$ for law enforcement

:clapping: I like the way you think DR! You should give them a break for the first or second time with fines only. 3rd time they make your boat into an artificial reef. It's a shame we liive in America and have to give people so much slack.

porgy75

02-06-2010, 04:06 PM

It's a shame we liive in America and have to give people so much slack.

It's not a shame we live in America, It's a shame people take advantange of it!

crosseyedbass

02-06-2010, 04:47 PM

It's not a shame we live in America, It's a shame people take advantange of it!

Those are the same kind of people who cut in traffic when everyone else has to wait. The rules of the world don't apply to them. Greedy bastards.
They will be the first ones to ***** when the only striped bass left are 24". :burn:

paco33

02-06-2010, 05:03 PM

That's why you have to make the fines bigger. Ranting and shouting won't help. Either get more enforcement out there or make those fines hurt. It really pisses me off reading about these guys.

DarkSkies

02-06-2010, 08:16 PM

Well guys and girls, just wanted to let you know that I've finished addding to the posts you can use as a Resource if this upsets you.

I filled in posts #13 - #21 to try to make it easier for you to research and understand.

As always, if anyone notices any corrections that need to be made, feel free to let me know. This goes for Stripers and Anglers members, or outside viewers. I feel it's important for all info to be factually correct it we want to raise awareness of this.

It's a problem that won't be solved overnight. Guys have been griping about it ever since the EEZ was designated, and people have been fishing there illegally since then.

I feel I tried to present both sides fairly, though it's obvious I feel there's a real problem on the horizon if the EEZ is ever opened.

Therefore I could never support such an opening. I will go on record as saying that if that ever occurs, we will see the end of striper fishing as we know it within a few short years.

However, I welcome and encourage respectful comments from anyone who can come here and show us why opening the EEZ to striped bass fishing won't cause a problem. :thumbsup:

So please help however you can if reading this gave you any cause for concern.

Use the resources I listed, write letters and e-mails, and do your civic duty by reporting violators.
At the very least, please Copy & Paste the templates I provided in post #20 and send some e-mails out. It only takes a few seconds, and we need people who are angry about it to show suppport.

If you're not able to get involved personally, please consider giving $$ to a Politically connected fishermen group that can fight for us.

Remember that the recent movement to open the EEZ was declared an "impossibility" of ever happening a few years ago. People said a Federal law could never be overturned.

Now, those groups who want to open the EEZ to striped bass are becoming more vocal. At the same time, more awareness is being raised than ever before. If there ever was a time to get involved and insure the future of the striped bass biomass, that time is now. :learn:

I don't have any great expectations for this thread as far as my efforts. It's not about my words, or my views. That's why I try to focus so much on the experienced opinions of others.

I put these posts up here because I love striped bass, in fact I need to have them in my life. :fishing: I also like eating them, no one should be ashamed to say that. :thumbsup:

Managing our resources for the future has become more important to me as I get older. If I can get just one more person to pay attention to Fisheries management and fishermen issues after reading this thread, all the hours I put into it will have been worthwhile.

So go forth, read the data.
Get involved, and tell your friends who fish what's happening, here and now.

The future of fishing is up to all of us. :thumbsup:
Thanks for reading. :HappyWave:

dogfish

02-07-2010, 02:18 AM

Hang them all the lying scum!!

It's actually worse than you posted. They are crooked and rumor has it they have a ticket pool where they each put $100 in every week. They all fish together and work as lookouts via radio. When the coast guard comes they scatter like cockaroaches. The boat or boats that get busted win the pool to pay the fines. Great job on the reporting dark, first rate. :clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping: I will be sending e-mails tomorrow. Thanks for making it easy for us folks to help out. Good mojo for you.:thumbsup:
This came from another board -

The message below was sent to me from a friend that fished in Virginia 2 weeks ago. This is just sickening. Coincidentally, I was supposed to go on this trip but had to bail due to work obligations. I'm not posting this to bash the entire Virginia fishing fleet, as I'm sure there are some honest captains and mates. I'm just giving everyone a heads-up to make sure when you book a trip down there, to make certain you speak with the captain before you leave the dock:

We were celebrating our catches while eating lunch, heading back to the dock with our limit before 12:00. Suddenly we found ourselves in a situation in which the mate and captain were telling us that we were way out past the 3 mile limit. They were thinking about dumping the catch because their spotters notified them that the marine police were on the way out. Moments later a marine police unit was on top of our boat. It was about to prepare to board us when one of the boats next to us began tossing their fish overboard. The cops left our boat and went directly to that boat and boarded it. Our captain steamed away and when we where about two miles away, we watched in disbelief as the mate gutted out our fish and tossed them over board.

At least 5 other boats from the Virginia Beach fishing center did the same thing. The ones that brought in fish were out there fishing where we were but they got in before the marine police arrived. We were sickened by the entire experience. The Virginia Beach Fishing Center is a fraud. A bunch of cheats. The captain told us it is just what they do, no big deal to them. Up to the point of the senseless waste of fish, we were having a great time

surfstix1963

02-07-2010, 06:10 AM

That would be fine no pun intended but these guys do this everyday

strikezone31

02-07-2010, 10:38 AM

Some people just don't care anything about regulations. In a few years when there is nothing left and their business has gone belly up they will be crying the blues blaming everyone else but themselves.

Great work on this thread Dark.:thumbsup:

plugcrazy

02-07-2010, 01:05 PM

Economics has a lot to do with it IMO. We need to work on keeping the population of the species up. Commercial charter captains will come in and rake in all the fish leaving us with an empty sea years down the line.

I also believe that higher fines will make them all think twice.

Simp

02-07-2010, 04:31 PM

Rich,

Kudos to you for doing the leg-work on this! I'm grateful to you for sacrificing your personal time so it might be easier for us to do our part in helping to put an end, or at least make it known that fishing within the EEZ for striped bass is illegal and will not be tolerated.
Thanks again, Sonny

Guys,

Take the time to send an email using the links that Rich provided! It can't hurt! You'd be surprised what a few guys with a mission can accomplish. Let's do this!

BassBuddah

02-07-2010, 04:38 PM

Some of these guys think poaching is a joke. Making fun of people who call them out on it is their favorite leisure activity. This one idiot made a video called conversation with a poacher. It's all fun and games to them.

Dark I thank you for your efforts to promote awareness. I will copy and paste the letter on post 20 and will be sending out those emails tomorrow. Here is the video and the link.

"The 3 mile line is a stupid rule and I don't think anyone should follow those stupid rules."
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6013215/

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6009051/

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280265-Conversation-with-a-Poacher

rockhopper

02-08-2010, 01:44 PM

There is nothing funny about poaching. It shows how little respect you have for conservation and puts them in the lower class of being a man.

jonthepain

02-08-2010, 02:04 PM

Thanks for all the work, Dark.

cowherder

02-08-2010, 02:35 PM

This morning I copied that letter from the top of post 20 and sent it to the e-mails listed there. I hope someone will look into this. Thanks for the info!

ledhead36

02-08-2010, 06:20 PM

We were celebrating our catches while eating lunch, heading back to the dock with our limit before 12:00. Suddenly we found ourselves in a situation in which the mate and captain were telling us that we were way out past the 3 mile limit. They were thinking about dumping the catch because their spotters notified them that the marine police were on the way out. Moments later a marine police unit was on top of our boat. It was about to prepare to board us when one of the boats next to us began tossing their fish overboard. The cops left our boat and went directly to that boat and boarded it. Our captain steamed away and when we where about two miles away, we watched in disbelief as the mate gutted out our fish and tossed them over board.

At least 5 other boats from the Virginia Beach fishing center did the same thing. The ones that brought in fish were out there fishing where we were but they got in before the marine police arrived. We were sickened by the entire experience. The Virginia Beach Fishing Center is a fraud. A bunch of cheats. The captain told us it is just what they do, no big deal to them. Up to the point of the senseless waste of fish, we were having a great time

I'm tired of reading about things like this happening. DS excellent job, I am in the process of sending those e-mails, thanks.

jigfreak

02-08-2010, 09:08 PM

e mail sent

Jackbass

02-09-2010, 07:43 AM

Thanks DS,

Can I take the liberty of copying this to a few other sites. Great work. I appreciate what you are doing here.

DarkSkies

02-09-2010, 08:15 AM

Hey Jackbass,
Sure you can C&P some of this stuff as long as you post a direct link to our site on that thread.

I want this to get out to as many fishermen as possible. I sent ya a PM. Call me or get back to me after you read it.

surferman

02-09-2010, 09:47 AM

Dark, I sent mine out yesterday. There are some very powerful points made here. Unfortunately, in the political arena it is always about the money. I believe there are so many political figures connected to the commercials that many people turn the other check.

I hope your word continues to be spread by all of us and something will be done about this abortion.

Jackbass

02-09-2010, 02:38 PM

It is up on the political action threads at 24/7 the top part any way. Jim said he had no problem with it. He can't guarantee the people at Noreast will not.

buckethead

02-09-2010, 11:31 PM

The more this reaches other fishermen the better off we are.

baitstealer

02-10-2010, 01:24 PM

Some of these guys think poaching is a joke. Making fun of people who call them out on it is their favorite leisure activity. This one idiot made a video called conversation with a poacher. It's all fun and games to them.

"The 3 mile line is a stupid rule and I don't think anyone should follow those stupid rules."
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6013215/

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6009051/

I have to say I laughed when I watched those videos.:d
I still sent an e-mail this morning, thanks for making it easy to do. I hope these mails get the attention of someone.

stormchaser

02-10-2010, 03:00 PM

Emails sent.

plugginpete

02-10-2010, 06:25 PM

If everyone sends them in at least we have accomplished something.

dogfish

02-11-2010, 12:40 PM

Hey DS I will send that letter if you fight for my right to fish the EEz for bass in a kayak.
Just kidding, I will send it out, eff the scurvy dogs.:2flip: :lynchmob:
It's about time someone spoke up about it. Good job.

porgy75

02-12-2010, 01:13 PM

I have been reading some of those on and off. Thanks for all the references and links. I found one where they are saying that both the charter boats and receational boat are doing that. It seems like everyone wants to get in on it.

"Everyone wants to talk $hit about the charter boats.... My last four trips fish have hit the dock ONCE. I admit I have been over the line and done some C&R (people paying a grand a pop want at least to feel something on the line and sea bass are closed too so Im open for suggestions on what else to do here) and I will be the first to tell you that there were some charter boats out there, but the fleet I was in Fri and Sat off corolla had 3 or 4 charter boats and 30-40 rec boats. Two of those unnamed charter boats came in with fish. One other charter boat released fish. EVERY SINGLE FISH is saw caught by a rec boat was not released, and I saw several of these recreational boats back in Rudee weighing in fish for citations. Point the finger at the charter boats all you want but half you clowns follow us out every morning, use our radars to help you find your fish, then cry about it here on tidalfish- and you know who you are. For the record it is very likely I will be cancelling the remainder of my rockfish trips for this season because it aint worth the risk to be out there. I have to go catch fish to get paid. Why are you guys doing it?- thats right because it doesnt make the newspaper because rec boats can go out there and fish all day and never get caught. The man aint after them. He is after the big boats but I guess since rec boats dont get busted there's no recs out there right?"

nitestrikes

02-12-2010, 05:37 PM

This is something I found. I can't stand waste of any kind. I never waste a fish except possibly when I throw a short one back that happens to be bleeding. Just tossing dead fish back in the sea like that shows they have no regard for the law. e-mail sent!

"Many boats have radar to locate the fish/birds. They are often over the line so they go, charters including. That same radar works to pick up other boats a lot better than birds. They see a boat coming in their direction, they dump the fish if they cannot cross the three mile line before hand. Sad but true."

7deadlyplugs

02-12-2010, 08:24 PM

I don't understand why people have to be so greedy.

jigfreak

02-13-2010, 11:30 AM

People don't see it as greed. They justify it. It's like when the kid cheats on a test in shool and gets busted. His excuse is everybody else is doing it, why pick on me? Well if he would have studied a little more nights instead of playing video games, maybe he would of done better. It's the same thing here. We have to respect th law. If we don't like it, then we have to change it.

storminsteve

02-13-2010, 11:45 AM

I wonder what the RFA's position is on this? Maybe someone should send them an email and ask.

stripercrazy

02-16-2010, 04:46 PM

bababooey

02-17-2010, 01:29 AM

Hooray for the Coast Guard!:clapping::clapping::clapping:

http://www.jdnews.com/news/illegal-72738-bass-efforts.html

Fishermen caught with nearly 3,000 pounds of illegal bass

February 12, 2010 5:45 PM

DAILY NEWS STAFF (http://www.jdnews.com/reporter-profile/dailynews-staff-239)

Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel combined efforts Tuesday to stop illegal striped bass fishing off Oregon Inlet and found one vessel with illegally caught fish that had more than 2,900 pounds of fish aboard.

The economic pressures being felt nationwide and the meteorological conditions driving the striped bass population farther off shore into warmer waters have set the stage for a situation that may entice fishermen to break the law, according to a news release from the Fifth Coast Guard District.
In an effort to ensure the longevity of the striped bass population and maintain a level playing field for all fishermen, federal authorities are taking action.

On Tuesday, in response to multiple reports of commercial and recreational striped bass fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone, the Coast Guard and NOAA conducted a joint effort to curtail this illegal activity.

Fishing for striped bass is permitted within state waters, but catching or possessing striped bass outside three nautical miles from shore is a violation of federal regulations. In an effort to catch fishermen participating in this illegal activity, the Coast Guard mounted a patrol within known fishing grounds off Oregon Inlet, using Station Oregon Inlet’s small boats with the assistance of additional boarding team personnel from Station Hatteras Inlet, the release said.

One of the boarding teams sighted the fishing vessel Lady Samaira as it was heading back into port. It was within the Exclusive Economic Zone when the team boarded the vessel to ensure compliance with both fishery and vessel safety regulations.
Their investigation revealed more than 150 striped bass aboard the vessel. The boarding team documented their findings and relayed all pertinent information to NOAA, the regulatory agency for such violations, for further guidance. As a result of the boarding team’s findings, NOAA asked the Coast Guard to direct the Lady Samaira to port where NOAA agents met the vessel.

When the vessel moored in North Carolina there were less fish aboard, approximately 100 striped bass. The fish, weighing in at almost 3,000 pounds, were abandoned by the vessel’s captain to the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.

Typically, if less than 10 illegal fish are discovered, in addition to having to abandon their catch the master is levied a $100 fine per fish and the matter is closed. In this case, the NOAA OLE investigation continues, and the final action to be taken against the master or vessel has yet to be determined.

This case, while significant, is just one example of illegal striped bass fishing activity recently interdicted by federal, state, and local authorities, the Coast Guard said.

rockhopper

02-17-2010, 01:29 AM

I received a response from Major Davis of the NC Division of Marine Fisheries. -

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding striped bass harvest occurring off the coast of North Carolina.

State jurisdiction extends out to three miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and federal jurisdiction runs from three to 200 miles offshore. This includes the federal area of jurisdiction, the Exclusive Economic Zone or the EEZ. The striped bass harvest you discuss is occurring in the EEZ, and falls under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Please know we take fishery resource violations seriously and work closely with management partners at the local, state and federal levels. We have forwarded your inquiry to NMFS law enforcement. If you would like to contact NMFS directly regarding this matter, please contact NMFS Enforcement Agent Joe Wilson at joe.wilson@noaa.gov.

Sincerely,
Major Davis

bababooey

02-17-2010, 01:49 AM

Well, Rockhopper, that seems like passing the buck.They are moving on some things at least -

ISFMP POLICY BOARD (February 3 & 4, 2010)
Meeting Summary
The Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board met to discuss a number of issues.

The Striped Bass Management Board recommended that the Policy Board send letters to the NMFS and US Coast Guard seeking increased penalties for illegal striped bass fishing. The Policy Board agreed with the recommendation and has sent letters seeking
increased civil penalties and suspension or revocation of charter boat captains licenses.

Move that a letter be sent to the NMFS and the U.S. Coast Guard regarding penalty fines and/or suspension and/or forfeiture of captains license/permits for fishing for striped bass in the EEZ.
Motion made by Mr. Travelstead and seconded by Mr. O’Connell.
Motion carries
(16 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention).

DarkSkies

02-17-2010, 08:20 AM

On Tuesday, in response to multiple reports of commercial and recreational striped bass fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone, the Coast Guard and NOAA conducted a joint effort to curtail this illegal activity.

This case, while significant, is just one example of illegal striped bass fishing activity recently interdicted by federal, state, and local authorities, the Coast Guard said.

I received a response from Major Davis of the NC Division of Marine Fisheries. -

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding striped bass harvest occurring off the coast of North Carolina.

If you would like to contact NMFS directly regarding this matter, please contact NMFS Enforcement Agent Joe Wilson at joe.wilson@noaa.gov.

Sincerely,
Major Davis

They are moving on some things at least -

ISFMP POLICY BOARD (February 3 & 4, 2010)
Meeting Summary
The Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board met to discuss a number of issues.

The Striped Bass Management Board recommended that the Policy Board send letters to the NMFS and US Coast Guard seeking increased penalties for illegal striped bass fishing. The Policy Board agreed with the recommendation and has sent letters seeking
increased civil penalties and suspension or revocation of charter boat captains licenses.

Motion carries
(16 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention).

A lot can happen in the space of a few weeks if anglers are motivated to get involved. When I first spoke with LE down there, they enlightened me that they were employing different strategies. They said more teeth were needed in the law, but they were not able to do that. They suggested writing letters, which is what I put out for you guys to do.

Rockhopper, I know what you got back from NC may seem like a form letter, and as I said NOAA now should be the main agency letters get sent to.

However, I'm thankful for all you guys and girls who sent letters. Sending was better than not sending. Thanks for not leaving it up to the other guy. You can imagine for them to start taking action here they probably received hundreds of letters and e-mails. These letters and e-mails probably came from southern as well as northern coastal states. They knew that the body of honest fishermen was not going to stand silent any more.

The ISMFP board recommendation letters are only the first step. Nothing has been enacted as law yet, the ISMFP letters were only a policy recommendation. We need to keep those e-mails/ letters going.

If anyone has not sent one yet, please consider sending an e-mail. A few e-mails, combined with others across state lines, can be a powerful motivator. Thanks to all the guys who made the effort. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

If there is anyone who got a different letter than the one Rockhopper posted, please share that with us as well.

DarkSkies

02-17-2010, 08:34 AM

I C&P part of my post from post 20 of this thread. If you haven't already sent some variation of this letter to the NOAA, please consider sending it. LE and the agencies are working hard to enforce this, despite what the naysayers are saying. They need to still get letters from fishermen until the enforcement code violations are officially changed and beefed up.

Be aware that there is probably pressure from Commercial fishermen and Charter boat captains NOT to raise the penalties, so if you think your single e-mail won't make a difference, please re-think those thoughts. Also be aware that blame shouldn't be only on the shoulders of Comms or Charter capts. There are a lot of individual Recs running over the line.

The e-mails are working. There is some progress being made here. I laid it out below to make it as easy as possible. Just C&P, and send it to Joe Wilson at the NOAA. Let him know your opinion as well, if you have the time. Thanks guys and girls. :thumbsup:

**************************
How you can Help: E-Mail and Letter writing templates
How you can help if you live in another state:

I
Write a letter or send an E-mail to state and federal fisheries management:

Federal:
NMFS/NOAA NMFS Enforcement Agent Joe Wilson
joe.wilson@noaa.gov (joe.wilson@noaa.gov)
MAFMC
http://www.mafmc.org/ (http://www.mafmc.org/)

**************************************
To:
__________

I would like to inform you of illegal striped bass fishing in the EEZ off the coast of VA and NC, which is federal waters. These fishermen are regularly harvesting pre-spawning female striped bass from the biomass.

I feel the striped bass fishery, although declared healthy, is slowly declining. Many fishermen along the East Coast are concerned with a possible decline of the biomass if this is not addressed. These are fishermen who lived through the Striped bass moratorium of the 1980s and don't want to see it happen again.

I would request that the fines for catching or possessing striped bass in the EEZ be increased to a point where they are a serious deterrent. As it is now, the illegal violators are thumbing their noses at the authorities who are just trying to enforce the law. However, the laws as written are not strong enough.

This is a hot topic of discussion now on many internet fishing sites. Some links to those sites are attached:

2-1-10 Discussion of EEZ fishing and ACTION PLANS
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ead.php?t=5801 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=5801)

Poaching past 3 miles common or not?
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...-common-or-not (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280322-Catching-Poaching-Rockfish-in-ocean-past-3-miles-common-or-not)

1-14-10 Followed the Pros today (Honest fishermen speak out against this illegal EEZ fishing)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279816-Followed-the-pros-today (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279816-Followed-the-pros-today)!

1-18 Offshore striper fishing
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...triper-fishing (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...triper-fishing)

How far? (Candid discussion of EEZ fishing pro/con, details of Illegal EEZ fishing)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...279528-How-far

Misbehaving Recs (and some comms) 10pgs
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280242-Misbehaving-Recs-(and-some-Coms)-Take-2 (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/280242-Misbehaving-Recs-(and-some-Coms)-Take-2)

Open letter to DNR Secretary
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...d-Bass-Fishery (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/279743-An-Open-Letter-to-DNR-Secretary-John-R-Griffin-Regarding-the-Striped-Bass-Fishery)

http://www.oregon-inlet.com/journal/...rticle_id=2349 (http://www.oregon-inlet.com/journal/article.cfm?article_id=2349)

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/stripertalk/61706-stripers-fed-waters.html (http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/stripertalk/61706-stripers-fed-waters.html)

http://www.virginiafishing.com/default.htm (http://www.virginiafishing.com/default.htm)

Thank you for looking into this matter.
Respectfully,
_______________________

*******************************************
Please be advised that the MOST effective letter will be the one above addressed to the NOAA. If you only have time to send one, send that. .

rockhopper

02-17-2010, 12:22 PM

We have to keep trying you can't move a mountain in one day.

gjb1969

02-18-2010, 03:32 PM

i saw that pic and it just pi$$ me off now how can we say to others stop taking to much when guys like this put things like this up it make us look like fools talking out of both sides of our faces that many bass is not need for one person i dont take that many bass all year that pic is not cool:beatin: send all those guys up north so they can get a good:beatin:

BassBuddah

02-18-2010, 03:39 PM

that pic is not cool:beatin: send all those guys up north so they can get a good:beatin:

gjb1969, the guys down south say that we kill them all summer, so that allows them to kill them all winter. I follow and understand that logic. The only problem is that this winter, almost all of them are fishing illegally to catch those bass. They are shrugging that off like it's nothing. According to the links Dark put up, they laugh, joke, and harass anyone who even dares to voice their opinion down there that isn't all about killing every bass. They're no different than Nazis. I also read that the boat of a guy who complained about it got "acciddentally" sunk at a marina down there. So in addition to being Nazis, they are a bunch of hypocritical thugs. Al least there seems to be a group of folks down there who are sick of the baby games these grown men are playing, and finally writing letters and speaking up about it. Hopefully the voice of THAT group continues to he heard.

finchaser

02-18-2010, 05:05 PM

gjb1969, the guys down south say that we kill them all summer, so that allows them to kill them all winter. I follow and understand that logic. The only problem is that this winter, almost all of them are fishing illegally to catch those bass. They are shrugging that off like it's nothing. According to the links Dark put up, they laugh, joke, and harass anyone who even dares to voice their opinion down there that isn't all about killing every bass. They're no different than Nazis. I also read that the boat of a guy who complained about it got "acciddentally" sunk at a marina down there. So in addition to being Nazis, they are a bunch of hypocritical thugs. Al least there seems to be a group of folks down there who are sick of the baby games these grown men are playing, and finally writing letters and speaking up about it. Hopefully the voice of THAT group continues to he heard.

A picture from Virginia /NC where they could care less about laws and the EEZ zone these fish are sitting ducks in the cold water. Many are thrown overboard dead when there land spotters call to warn them that the Marine police or coast guard are on the way out . Amazing how their charters let the captains and mates get away with it.
http://www.thebassbarn.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24784&d=1266440085 (http://www.thebassbarn.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24784&d=1266440085)

7deadlyplugs

02-18-2010, 05:48 PM

A picture from Virginia /NC where they could care less about laws and the EEZ zone these fish are sitting ducks in the cold water. Many are thrown overboard dead when there land spotters call to warn them that the Marine police or coast guard are on the way out . Amazing how their charters let the captains and mates get away with it.
http://www.thebassbarn.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24784&d=1266440085 (http://www.thebassbarn.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24784&d=1266440085)

What an azzmunch that guy is!:2flip:

surfstix1963

02-18-2010, 06:03 PM

Yeah maybe someone should throw him over and take off.

seamonkey

02-18-2010, 06:54 PM

I contacted Jim Hutchinson of RFA to find out what their position is on the EEZ. This is a letter he wrote back.

"RFA has been following this issue very closely for two years – I’ve copied Jim Donofrio on your email, and I’m sure he can provide you with some input. I’ve sat personally with Jimmy as he’s been on the phone with USCG enforcement officers going back to February of 2009, pressuring the federal government into strengthening their presence in the EEZ during this poaching massacre.

Be aware that the RFA is aware of the issue and on top of the issue – perhaps Jimmy can shed some more light on the ongoing investigation, but I assure you that the RFA has been closely following the issue. "

Jim Hutchinson

williehookem

02-19-2010, 02:02 PM

:clapping: wtg on the letter and the response seamonkey.

CharlieTuna

02-20-2010, 11:40 AM

I'm glad to see the RFA is aware. That's a good sign. Now I would like to see what they do about it, and if they ask people to stand up and be counted in their mailings. They reach out to a lot of people. I hope they can have an influence. Actions speak louder than words.

jigfreak

02-22-2010, 09:58 AM

Delaware online had a good article.

Worries again surface over striped bass

Del. could see consequences of illegal fishing to the south

By MOLLY MURRAY • The News Journal • February 21, 2010

Earlier this month, a Coast Guard helicopter (http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100221/NEWS02/2210379/Worries-again-surface-over-striped-bass#) flew out over the Atlantic Ocean just off Virginia Beach. Its mission: protecting striped bass.

The aircraft flew beyond the three-mile limit from shore where striped bass fishing is allowed and spotted a flotilla of fishing boats. When the skippers noticed the helicopter overhead, the reaction was swift and immediate.

"It looked like the boat races back to the three-mile limit," said Col. Rick Lauderman, chief of the Virginia Marine Police.
Striped bass are a conservation and fish management success story, coming back from the brink of near collapse in the 1980s.

But these days, the species may be a victim of its own success and also a victim of anglers -- both commercial and recreational -- who sometimes flout the rules in a quest for trophy fish. Lots of them.
What is happening to the south this winter could have significant consequences off Delaware's coast this spring and summer, when the fish head north to spawn.

There is enough concern that Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Executive Director John V. O'Shea -- at the request of member states -- this month asked the National Marine Fisheries (http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100221/NEWS02/2210379/Worries-again-surface-over-striped-bass#) to increase the civil penalties for illegal fishing for striped bass beyond the three-mile limit.

"This high concentration of aggregating fish in the ocean over wintering grounds off the Virginia Capes south to Cape Hatteras makes them especially vulnerable to harvest," O'Shea wrote. "Depending on their magnitude, unreported landing have the potential to jeopardize the status of the stock."
In 1982, the striped bass population was estimated at less than 9 million. Today it's believed to be around 70 million. In 2008, the harvest was 3 million, which was a 5 percent decrease from the year before. While the number of fish caught was down, the poundage was up, meaning the larger, more mature fish were taken.

Striped bass fishing is restricted to within three miles of the coast. Rules vary by state, but in Delaware's waters, the minimum size one may keep is 28 inches long.

O'Shea asked the Coast Guard (http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100221/NEWS02/2210379/Worries-again-surface-over-striped-bass#) to step up enforcement in the prohibited area known as the Exclusive Economic Zone. This is considered federal jurisdiction from the three-mile limit to 200 miles offshore. Federal fisheries agents have cooperative agreements with all states except North Carolina to enforce the ban in the EEZ. But even with state help, there are still anglers -- both commercial and recreational -- who cross the line.

"The commission continues to hear from party and charter boat captains, as well as private boat anglers, that numerous vessels are fishing for and retained striped bass in the EEZ, including exceeding the bag limit," he said.
The implications

The big stripers that winter off Virginia and North Carolina will begin to swim north as the water warms up.

About 75 percent will swim into Chesapeake Bay and lay eggs in the upper bay and in freshwater reaches of tributaries such as the Choptank, Nanticoke and Pocomoke rivers. An additional 14 percent will swim north to the Hudson River to spawn, and an estimated 11 percent will arrive in Delaware Bay, move north up the Delaware River and begin to spawn when they reach Cherry Island flats off Wilmington.

Scientists believe that many of these big, offshore fish that winter to the south are mature females -- the very fish that will ensure the future stability of the population.

"There is a significant conservation benefit to keeping the EEZ closed," said John DePersenaire, fisheries policy and science researcher with the Recreational Fishing Alliance, a national advocacy group based in New Jersey. "It's not like you see small fish out there."

The EEZ has been closed to striper fishing since 1999, but beginning in 2003, pressure built to reopen it and it may be building again. On the Virginia Beach-based Virginia Fishing Center's Web site, a poll asks anglers whether they would support extending the territorial limit of Virginia's waters 12 miles offshore -- far enough out most years to legally take advantage of these big stripers

The NOAA looked into reopening the area but in 2006 chose not to proceed with its review.

DePersenaire said a draft environmental-impact statement pointed to major concerns that opening the EEZ would significantly increase fish mortality -- possibly beyond target levels for sustainability of the species. Among the concerns is that with a big concentration of fish in one area, they become extremely vulnerable to commercial net fishing gear, he said.
Because the area beyond the three-mile limit is a protected zone for striped bass, anglers can't catch and release (http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100221/NEWS02/2210379/Worries-again-surface-over-striped-bass#) the fish, nor can they possess a striper, even if they caught it in legal waters.
Where the fish go

Delaware fisheries biologists have been tagging spawning fish for years, and anglers who catch or catch and release one of these tagged fishes -- more than 6,000 have been tagged over the years -- get a prize if they report the details of their catch.
"The number of releases have gone up," said state fisheries biologist Matt Fisher. "That's a change in the attitude of the angler."
Most of the Delaware-tagged fish that are caught are caught in Maryland or Massachusetts.
Like most fish stocks, so much depends on the strength of each individual year class.
In 2004, the spawn produced a strong year class, and those fish are now reaching the legal, minimum-size limit, Fisher said. "They are 26-, 28-, 30-inch fish now."
The 2009 class was strong, too. So in 2013, there should be another large group of fish coming into keeper-size range.

There are other concerns. In the Chesapeake, some scientists and environmental organizations worry that stripers aren't as big and healthy as fish that move offshore and along the coast. The fear is that populations of a key prey fish at the bottom of the food chain -- the Atlantic menhaden -- aren't large enough to support the larger striper population in Chesapeake Bay.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission recently continued a commercial catch cap on the fishery through 2013 to help those stocks grow.

Decline and recovery

In the early 1970s, stripers -- also called rockfish -- were one of the most important commercial and recreational fishes in Chesapeake Bay. In 1973, commercial fishermen landed 14.7 million pounds coast-wide. The following year, there was a sharp decline, and 10 years later, the harvest was down to 1.7 million pounds.

Regulators concluded overfishing was a key reason for the population bust. They also acknowledged other problems: fluctuating water temperatures in the spawning grounds, low dissolved oxygen in deep water habitats of Chesapeake Bay, acidity and chemical contamination, and habitat and water quality degradation from runoff and wastewater discharges.

Congress (http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100221/NEWS02/2210379/Worries-again-surface-over-striped-bass#) passed the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act in 1984, and in 1985, Delaware and Maryland imposed a fishing moratorium that didn't end until 1989.

When the fishery reopened, managers were cautious and allowed limited catches, but the population continued to rise. By 1995, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission concluded that the fishery was restored.

Fast-forward to January. Inshore fishing had been brisk along the Outer Banks and Virginia, and then the water temperature dropped, bait fish moved farther offshore and the stripers moved with them.
Capt. Ken Zwirko, who runs striper charters from New England south to North Carolina -- following the fish with the season -- said once the fish moved offshore, there was no sense in fishing along the Virginia or Carolina coasts.
But not all captains felt that way.
Zwirko said he believes "it's the only place where the fish are given a break" and it should be off-limits. "I think it's a big problem ... because it's the whole concentration of the biomass" in one area.
For anglers, "it's so easy to find the fish," he said.
They look for birds working the schools of fish, and the stripers are usually there feeding.
Zwirko said that for enforcement agents, it's difficult to get a grip on violators in the EEZ because it's "just such a vast area."

On one striper fishing message board this week, there was this anonymous account from a morning of fishing off Virginia Beach: "We were celebrating our catches. ... Suddenly we were in a situation in which the mate and captain were telling us that we were way out past the 3-miles limit. ... Their spotters notified them that the marine police were on the way out. ... We watched in disbelief as the mate gutted out our fish and threw them overboard. ... We were sickened by the entire experience."

That scenario is all too common, Lauderman said.
Anglers use everything from spotters to cell and satellite phones to keep tabs on the whereabouts of enforcement officers, Lauderman said. They use a code.
"They call us a gray boat," he said. The Coast Guard is an orange boat.
"It's almost like a game of chess," he said.

When they see marine police approaching, they'll turn and head directly toward the marine police vessel -- dumping fish off the stern of the boat along the way, he said.
Some boats are rigged with a 55-gallon garbage can on the stern. As they catch fish, they shove them headfirst into the garbage can.
"As we approach, they are actually ready to dump the fish," he said.

Last week, a Coast Guard patrol boat spotted a commercial trawler in the EEZ and boarded it to look for safety and fishing violations.
Once on board, they discovered a haul of 150 striped bass.
The vessel, the 79.2-foot Lady Samaira out of North Carolina, was directed back to port, where National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration fisheries agents were waiting.
Agents suspect some of the fish were thrown overboard in passage because they recovered 100 fish with a weight of nearly 3,000 pounds.

NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement (http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100221/NEWS02/2210379/Worries-again-surface-over-striped-bass#) is investigating.
Here in Delaware, illegal striper fishing hasn't been a problem this winter.
The water is just too cold right now, said Delaware Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Chief James Graybeal. In 2007 and 2008, there were a few arrests off Delaware's waters in the EEZ, he said.
An angler with a few fish likely will be fined $100 per fish. But in the case with 10 or more fish, fines can rise to thousands of dollars per fish, Lauderman said.
"It is a federal violation," he said.
For anglers, even those on a charter boat, "it's your responsibility to know" where you are fishing, he said.

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100221/NEWS02/2210379/Worries-again-surface-over-striped-bass

jigfreak

02-22-2010, 10:26 AM

Here is something where they say scientists are concerned, same article.

http://cmsimg.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BL&Date=20100221&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=2210379&Ref=V2&MaxW=318&Border=0 (http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?template=zoom&Site=BL&Date=20100221&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=2210379&Ref=V2)
Angela Annino of Connecticut holds up a striped bass.

Scientists think the capture of mature female stripers wintering off Virginia and North Carolina could affect population stability.(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

STRIPED BASS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST

Atlantic coast stripers range from the St. Johns River in Florida to the St. Lawrence River in Canada, but the biggest concentrations is from Hatteras in North Carolina to Maine. Scientists believe the large females spend the winter off North Carolina and Virginia following the bait fish -- one of the many foods stripers eat -- from inshore waters such as Roanoke Sound out to the open ocean. As the inshore waters cool, the bait fish move to warmer waters offshore and the stripers follow them.

There are three major stocks: those that winter off Virginia and North Carolina, premigratory fish and those that are 10 years old and younger that stay in the Chesapeake, and a coastal migratory stock that ranges from 2 to 30 years of age.

As winter turns to spring, the mature fish begin moving north up the coast to tidal freshwater. They spawn when the water temperatures range from 50 to 73 degrees. Once spawning is done -- usually in June -- the fish move farther up the coast to New England.
Meanwhile, the fertilized eggs drift downstream with the current and hatch in two to three days.

hookedonbass

02-22-2010, 11:27 AM

They need to keep moving forward on this issue. The more patrols and summons they had out the better off everyone is.

seamonkey

02-22-2010, 07:49 PM

I also received a response from James Donofrio,
Executor Director of the RFA. Short and simple but it shows they are willing to discuss it.

"..., call me anytime"

James Donofrio
Executive Director
RFA (Recreational Fishing Alliance)

wish4fish

02-23-2010, 09:42 PM

why do u guys even bother with the letters? u know if they get the fines they still fish. i wish they wud sink all the boats that get caught poaching more than once i dont care if they are charter party netters or somethin else sink em all for the 2nd time u bust them!:burn:

surferman

02-27-2010, 12:17 AM

Hooray for the Coast Guard!:clapping::clapping::clapping:

Fishermen caught with nearly 3,000 pounds of illegal bass

February 12, 2010 5:45 PM

DAILY NEWS STAFF (http://www.jdnews.com/reporter-profile/dailynews-staff-239)

Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel combined efforts Tuesday to stop illegal striped bass fishing off Oregon Inlet and found one vessel with illegally caught fish that had more than 2,900 pounds of fish aboard.

This case, while significant, is just one example of illegal striped bass fishing activity recently interdicted by federal, state, and local authorities, the Coast Guard said.

I found a report on another site that says this bust may have been for show, who knows.

NC Trawlers Continue the Striper Onslaught

The NC commercial striper season closed Feb 12 for the big trawlers and gill netters. You would think that would be the end of it for this year, but seven trawlers were right back at it Friday Feb 19. They went out at 11 PM. The odd thing was the big NOAA stock assessment ship was on the same school of stripers. The trawlers were nearby and the NOAA ship apparently did nothing to stop them from taking stripers.

I have this directly from local guys in Nags Head who know exactly what is going on. You can believe it or not believe it. The comms doing this are not too concerned. It has been going on for years and at this point there is no one to stop them.

That bust of a single trawler a couple of weeks ago was mostly show. It may not even be prosecuted.

Perhaps an outdoor journalist will investigate, and report a full story, or not.

porgy75

11-14-2010, 10:26 PM

In the winter maybe we will be yelling at the guys down in VA and NC for taking too many bass. But in NJ, if they are around, all of us guys take our limits too. So don't you think it is hypocritical of us to yell at them, when we take a lot of bass?:huh:
I found this on the net, they got these bass today I think.
12494

baitstealer

12-18-2010, 10:17 PM

That may be true porgy, but at least a majority of the guys fishing in NJ are fishing inside the 3mile limit. I found a post on another site where they were talking about catching striped bass 4 miles off the North Carolina coast. Now correct me if I am wrong, but 4 miles is further than 3 miles. So if you are fishing for striped bass you shouldn't be fishing there. They also said that it is getting too cold even at the chesapeake bay bridge tunnel in Virginia and pushing the fish further off, with water at 43 and 43 degrees there. That is pretty darn cold.
It was under a thread called "stripers" in the North Carolina section of the forums. The guy who started the thread was asking about fishing out of a place called Oregon Inlet. Here is the post from today.

"You seen the reports from OI and TWs. Talkin big Ocean fish 4 miles out off OI. Today looks like your mission statement on this thread is almost true. Cold blast might actually yield lots of fish. I aint seen the forecast for the week but if it hits serious NE again it could be ON. My Holiday trip could be cut short just to get home and freeze my arse OFF. Check the pics! This could get good in a hurry."

surferman

03-12-2011, 06:10 PM

This was posted yesterday. Call me crazy, but they wouldn't have been boarding those boats unless there was info some of them are still fishing in the EEZ. :beatin:

Poaching - fishing in the EEZ

U.S. Sting Aimed At Va. Bass Charters

March 11, 2011 1:45 PM

http://cbsbaltimore.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bass.jpg?w=320 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Investigators seized records and electronics equipment from charter boats this week as part of a crackdown on striped bass fishing in off-limits federal waters.

The Baltimore Sun reported Friday that the federal investigation is focusing on fishing charters that venture into an area called the Exclusive Economic Zone. Big stripers migrate to those waters 3 to 200 miles off the coast during the winter months.
Officials arrived in about a half-dozen vehicles Thursday at Rudee Inlet, an area of the beach resort where many charters are based, and searched several charter boats, a fishing captain said.

Mike Romeo, a North Carolina-based charter operator who shifts his operations to Virginia Beach during the winter, said one official with a search warrant checked his radios. He then left without seizing anything or issuing any tickets, Romeo said.
Romeo said charters on his boat, the Gannet, fish in an area within 3 miles of the Virginia coast. “It all matters where the bait is,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The Sun described the operation as a three-year investigation into charter boats illegally fishing for striped bass in the off-limits waters. The newspaper said the investigation has resulted in the seizure of electronics and records from a number of charter boats based in Virginia Beach or the Northern Neck, which is in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Sun said special agents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration served search warrants on the charters.
NOAA did not return messages left by The AP.

“I hope this is a wake-up call for everybody,” said Brian Keehn, president of the Maryland Charter Boat Association. “We need to start paying attention to the striped bass before we have another moratorium and no one fishes. Illegal fishing hurts everybody.”

Poachers use spotters and satellite phones to monitor the activities of enforcement boats, including the Coast Guard, The Sun reported. Poachers who are approached dump fish overboard in weighted containers to destroy the evidence.

Capt. Trick Standing of Virginia Beach said the raid was being viewed around Rudee Inlet as a warning.
“I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” Standing told The Virginian-Pilot. “They’ve done all this work, but there were no tickets issued — nothing to show for it.”

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/03/11/us-sting-aimed-at-va-bass-charters/

DarkSkies

10-04-2012, 12:30 PM

As for the fishing,,,,,,
Finchaser...as usual, is right on the $$.

Fish migration is driven by bait as described.
However it's also driven by water temp and weather patterns.

On years that it's too warm the bass will tend to stay further out....because the food beyond a few miles is usually abundant.
Example: one winter when the inshore temps were too cold off Va and NC, the bass were feasting on schools of bunker up to 25 miles offshore.

I wonder if folks do much thinking about where the first NJ Sept and early Oct bass come from?
Finchaser and the old farts do,....all the time...:thumbsup: :learn:.they know just about every body of bass that hits the Jersey Coast, and when and why it's here....

I copied this from a post I quoted today in case some folks wanted to read where the bass are when they don't appear to be in the surf zone.
Bass frequently migrate offshore if the bait and temp conditions are conducive to that.

The bass behavior described in the thread above is just one of many examples.

cowherder

10-04-2012, 03:01 PM

It is amazing how many things have to be lined up for us to catch them in the surf.

nitestrikes

12-29-2012, 07:43 PM

Still going on

Fishing the EEZ

As we all know, it is illegal to fish for or possess striped bass (https://www.fishhound.com/fishspecies/bass-striped)in the Untied States Exclusive Economic Zone. The moratorium was put in place during a time when striped bass stocks were on the verge of collapse and commercial fishermen were getting around the states’ ban on striped bass fishing by catching or claiming to catch rockfish in the EEZ, then selling them in the Midwest.
Since the recovery of striped bass, there have been attempts to remove the moratorium, but they have failed. The primary reason for the continuing ban on striper fishing in the EEZ is a fear that overfishing will occur, requiring more restrictive regulations.
Unfortunately, fishermen continue to target rockfish beyond the three-mile limit and with limited resources, it has been very difficult for enforcement agencies to enforce the ban.
I have watched an entire fleet of private and charter boats fishing well beyond the limit off the coast of Virginia Beach. If and when the Coast Guard or Virginia Marine Resources Commission enforcement agents approached the fleet, everyone headed for the beach. One or two boats would be apprehended, with everyone else getting away.
I have no idea the methods used to capture seven charter captains who allegedly booked trips to the EEZ for the purpose of catching striped bass, but a federal grand jury has indicted them, and they will stand trial next month in Norfolk.
The charges include a violation of the Lacy Act that prohibits the sale of illegally caught fish and game. This is considerably more serious than just catching stripers in the EEZ. If found guilty, the seven could receive stiff fines, loss of their boats and jail time.
Other charges include lying to federal agents and tossing dead fish overboard to avoid detection. The mate was instructed to puncture the air bladders of all fish caught so they would sink after going over the side.
There have been far too many fishing and hunting cases when the jury or judge did not take the charges seriously. It seems to me that the government has spent quite a good bit of time and resources on this case, and I hope the outcome will deter other private and charter boats from fishing for striped bass in the EEZ.

http://www.fishhound.com/article/record-setting-striped-bass

finchaser

12-30-2012, 04:56 PM

I hope they nail there ***_s to a wall but I doubt anything will happen there lawyer will have it pleaded down as there are no maritime judges or fines etched in stone and a regular judge will say he has no idea pay the cost of court and a small fine he is busy.

seamonkey

01-31-2013, 01:30 PM

They are at it again!

By Eric Burnley | Jan 19, 2013

Source: Submitted

Fishing was pretty good over the weekend, with tog and sea bass caught from boats sailing from Lewes and Indian River. The strong current supplied by the new moon made it difficult to keep bait in the strike zone, but in spite of the conditions, limits of sea bass and tog to over 12 pounds were caught.

Closer to shore, Indian River Inlet continues to give up the occasional rockfish, with flies fished behind a sinker the most successful offering. The few anglers with live spot remaining in their live wells did manage a few keeper rockfish while drifting the inlet.

On the surf, the dog sharks and skates have taken over. I did have a report of one or two rockfish caught on frozen bunker from the beach at Fenwick Island.

I understand a few boats were seen fishing Fenwick Shoal for rockfish. The shoal is well beyond the state’s three-mile limit, and fishing for striped bass is prohibited in federal waters. Should you be caught, the case will be heard in federal court, and the recent guilty plea by a charter captain to charges under the Lacy Act may result in jail time, a big fine and loss of his boat. Is catching a few fish really worth the risk?

http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/p/striped-bass-young-of-the-year-numbers-decline/949333

captnemo

07-05-2013, 01:53 AM

Still going on

Fishing the EEZ

.
Unfortunately, fishermen continue to target rockfish beyond the three-mile limit and with limited resources, it has been very difficult for enforcement agencies to enforce the ban.
I have watched an entire fleet of private and charter boats fishing well beyond the limit off the coast of Virginia Beach. If and when the Coast Guard or Virginia Marine Resources Commission enforcement agents approached the fleet, everyone headed for the beach. One or two boats would be apprehended, with everyone else getting away.
I have no idea the methods used to capture seven charter captains who allegedly booked trips to the EEZ for the purpose of catching striped bass, but a federal grand jury has indicted them, and they will stand trial next month in Norfolk.
The charges include a violation of the Lacy Act that prohibits the sale of illegally caught fish and game. This is considerably more serious than just catching stripers in the EEZ. If found guilty, the seven could receive stiff fines, loss of their boats and jail time.
Other charges include lying to federal agents and tossing dead fish overboard to avoid detection. The mate was instructed to puncture the air bladders of all fish caught so they would sink after going over the side.
There have been far too many fishing and hunting cases when the jury or judge did not take the charges seriously. It seems to me that the government has spent quite a good bit of time and resources on this case, and I hope the outcome will deter other private and charter boats from fishing for striped bass in the EEZ.

http://www.fishhound.com/article/record-setting-striped-bass

Maybe not so much after this. In Capt Al Ristori's blog today -

Those taking a chance by boating striped bass in federal waters beyond the state's three-mile limit should get a wake-up call from the news that Virginia charter boat skipper William W. Lowery IV was not only fined $5,000 plus $1,300 in restitution fees to NOAA for dumping 13 stripers overboard while fleeing apprehension seven miles offshore on Jan. 15, 2010, but was also sentenced to 30 days in jail plus a year of probation from involvement in charter fishing after release when sentenced last month after he pled guilty in February to violating the Lacey Act.