"Recent reports that nearly three quarters of the striped bass in Chesapeake Bay are infected with a bacteria that can cause severe skin infections in humans has the state Division of Marine Fisheries also urging anglers to handle their catches with care."

The quote is from the skin disease thread below. Reason I put it in here is that I was talking to my pop this weekend and one of his coworkers was on a charter in the Chesapeake out of Virginia. Seems that this high class organization takes it upon themselves to kill any fish that has visible lesions. Somehow (I didn't wait for the details), they kill em in the water without handling them and then cut em loose. Some of these fish were in the 40" range. Of course they don't count them toward the catch for the boat. I know when I was still fishing down there in the mid 90's we would see lesions on alot of fish although no one new much about it at the time. So if up to three quarters of the fish are infected the number with visible lesions is gonna be pretty high. Sounds like they are killin and releasing alot of fish.

the scientists dont get it down there. they say the bass have a 'mysterious disease' that they cant figure out... then they say they have no idea why there are no blue crabs.. yet they allow the menhaden to be netted by the billions..

here is why everything is going down the %$%$%$%$tah in Nebe's opinion- the menhaden are over fished.. the bass eat the blue crabs because there are no menhaden to eat.. the crabs are harder to digest than the menhaden, plus there is little fat in them... presto- sick bass. The chicken farms that are dumping tons of nitrates into the bay isnt helping either..:hs:

save the menhaden, stop the polluting, and everything else will thrive. Its that simple.

I agree. It is the reason I try to avoid eating chicken. No way I want to support those companies or contribute to that mess. Not until things get shape up. Nutrients from PA farms are slowly getting undercontrol, but then developement in the watershed is going bananas. Add a bunch a millions of gallons of chicken #@$t and it is an ugly situation.

Plus, the menhaden would help to filter out some of the nitrates and other crap in the water.

Menhaden don't filter nitrates, but they do filter out plankton, which reduce light penetration needed by sea grasses.

Hog farms