Report: striper gamefish bill in North Carolina, good or bad idea

[captnemo]

I was reading the weakfish post and didn't realize they proposed agamefish bill in north carolina. I think we should have gamefish status all along the east coast just like we do in new jersey. It would make it a lot easier to nab violators and do the enforcement thing. I say it is about time.

http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/B...PDF/H353v1.pdf
March 16, 2011
*H353-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO DESIGNATE RED DRUM, SPOTTED SEA TROUT, AND STRIPED BASS 2 AS COASTAL GAME FISH; TO PROHIBIT THE TAKING OF COASTAL GAME FISH 3 OTHER THAN BY HOOK-AND-LINE; TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF COASTAL 4 GAME FISH; AND TO COMPENSATE COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN FOR CERTAIN 5 LOSSES DUE TO THE DESIGNATION AND PROHIBITION.

[cowherder]

Make it a gamefish for the whole coast, I agree.

[DarkSkies]

I tend to agree with what's been said. There are too many competing interests along the Coast. Making it a gamefish would standardize some of the protocols.

[surfstix1963]

I agree but compensation for the commercials I think they have had their compensation for years.They can rod and reel

[hookset]

And rod and reel fishing is more selective and there are less dead, good point surfstix.

[DarkSkies]

They finagled it so it would be tabled till next year. The Comms and their lobbyists have a great influence on NC legislators. Meanwhile, there will be another year of killing bass in the highly concentrated "fishbowl" down there in the winter.


Really sucks.

Sent in by Finchaser, thanks.
We lost this one, but all must keep the battles in perspective.



"

HB353, the NC Game Fish Bill for four species including striped bass has been sent to a special study committee and will not be voted on this year. You can read all about it at this link

http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/details.php?id=1935. According to some reports the bill was sent to committee because of a budget deal pushed by commercial fishing interests. It is hard to know the truth on these things, but the bill apparently did have enough legislative support to pass and will be brought forward again in May 2012. It is unlikely that the state of the striped bass fishery will look any better by then. This is a delay for the legislation, not a defeat. "