A new limit on striped bass caught in the ocean off Virginia’s coast goes into effect Thursday.

Anglers working from the coast to 3 miles out can keep only one striped bass measuring at least 28 inches. The previous limit was two.

The limit is aimed at reversing a decline in the striped bass population.

Virginia Beach Fishing Center manager John Crowling tells The Virginian-Pilot that the change is disappointing.

Crowling says customers are willing to trying fishing for striped bass, despite the decline. But he says they won’t come for one fish.

Skip Feller is a captain who serves on a state fish management advisory committee. He says Virginia will be able to bring back a two-fish coastal limit in 2016.

Who are these people that won't come out for one fish?

Politicians from Washington?
I wonder if the landlocked stripers affect the charter market? My guess is that if Lake Champlain had a viable population, VT guys would not be as apt to head for the coast to boat 1 fish.

First I have to say I am very surprised that Virginia went for a one fish limit. I would have bet anything that they would have gone for one of the two fish options.

Second I do not think a one fish limit will hurt the charters as much as people think. They have the option of going after other fish once the striper limit is reached plus many people who go out on charters just want to catch fish. They may have to work a little harder and use more gas but the business should still be there.

You know what? If someone wont take a charter because killing one fish just isnt enough, than GOOD. Stay your a_ _ on the golfcourse and let the bass population have a shot at not collapsing.
I hope other states follow suit an start playing chess instead of checkers
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Skip Feller is a captain who serves on a state fish management advisory committee. He says Virginia will be able to bring back a two-fish coastal limit in 2016.

that's a profound statement ...1 year to rebound -no problem

wishful thinking

LAKE Champlain striped bass....... now there's a great idea!

I wonder if they will get confused as to the regs when the go past the EEZ seems to have been a problem in the past down there.
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I wonder if they will get confused as to the regs when the go past the EEZ seems to have been a problem in the past down there.
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There's no confusion about the EEZ regs---just a blatant disregard for them. :doh:

The confusion isn't about the eez, it will be the line between the ocean and the bay... And impossible to Inforce at the ramp, only by on the water searches...
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well good, we'll have a test case to see how this impacts the rec industry down there. I just don't buy that 1 fish is gonna keep people away. I can tell you that the entire kayak fishing community, up and down the striper coast are mainly catch and release and this won't matter one bit to them...

There's no confusion about the EEZ regs---just a blatant disregard for them. :doh:

Isn't that the truth. I've always been against establishing MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) but now I'm leaning the otherway. Make areas of the EEZ MPAs and have the greenies involved with helping enforce and report violations.

There's no confusion about the EEZ regs---just a blatant disregard for them. :doh:

Yep kind of what I was getting at
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that's a profound statement ...1 year to rebound -no problem

wishful thinking

LAKE Champlain striped bass....... now there's a great idea!


They would eat all the blue claws ! Ooops, I mean crayfish.

well good, we'll have a test case to see how this impacts the rec industry down there. I just don't buy that 1 fish is gonna keep people away. I can tell you that the entire kayak fishing community, up and down the striper coast are mainly catch and release and this won't matter one bit to them...

I think we all know a lot of guys ( ladies too ) who go out in horrible conditions at the prospect of catching one fish, would three increase the charters and party boat revenues. Don't think so. 1 fish it should be.

I think we all know a lot of guys ( ladies too ) who go out in horrible conditions at the prospect of catching one fish, would three increase the charters and party boat revenues. Don't think so. 1 fish it should be.

This isn't about catching one fish...it is about keeping one fish.

Bottom line is this. Going out on a striper charter isn't the same as a Stellwagen meatfest cod/haddock charter...when you could do that......There aren't as many people that want to put 30 pounds of bass fillets on the freezer compared to ground fish. That being said many people want to go on a bass charter and catch a boat load of fish and have fun.....and maybe keep one or two or whatever they choose. No one stops fishing when they catch thier keep limit, they continue to fish, catch and release because it is fun..............

Keeping the Charter boat limit at the same regs as the average Joe is not going to affect bass charters too much......Cod and Haddock is another story.

I'm with you beamie, but the charter guys just disagree. On some level, I can see your typical yahoos from some landlocked area that want to just go home and be heros and dole out fish to all their family and friends that they "caught" (even though they just reeled it in after the captain basically hooked them)

Yep kind of what I was getting at
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Those guys down there have the modern version of the Cold War's DEW line.

it shouldn't really matter that much to those guys down there.....


their fishing is so bad for the last few years (the Fall run, especially) people probably won't even notice

it shouldn't really matter that much to those guys down there.....


their fishing is so bad for the last few years (the Fall run, especially) people probably won't even notice

They just don't know how to fish anymore. Same with NC. Unwilling to move from their rock, as they say. :eyes:

You know what? If someone wont take a charter because killing one fish just isnt enough, than GOOD. Stay your a_ _ on the golfcourse and let the bass population have a shot at not collapsing.
I hope other states follow suit an start playing chess instead of checkers
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Ivan,
I play golf as much as I fish and one fish is okay with me, most times I don't keep any.

What he said, I tee it up more that I cast a lure these days, priorities have changed and lack of fish certainly curbs my enthusiasm for the 3am alarm. First year I've never brought at least one striper home for the grille.

They just don't know how to fish anymore. Same with NC. Unwilling to move from their rock, as they say. :eyes:

It's no secret the fish are in the eez down there. The reason the commercial quota didn't get filled. the reason the (inshore) fishing sucked so bad.
Or is it that those fish simply don't exist and there is more evidence of a collapse "as the say" :eyes:

Weird. They were in the eez in 2006 at the peak of the population and when the inshore bite in va was incredible. Guess those fish smartened up and all went to the eez where they are safe. Funny how that works
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Many charters are people on vacation too, what the hell are they going to do with two fish worth of meat. It's overkill!! If a charter captain does not want to sustain the fishery it is amazingly short sighted for their business. I know a lot of charter captains that had to work VERY hard around the Cape this year just to get their clients on fish. It's not exactly like the bluefish were an easy find as a backup plan either this past summer.

This isn't about catching one fish...it is about keeping one fish.

Bottom line is this. Going out on a striper charter isn't the same as a Stellwagen meatfest cod/haddock charter...when you could do that......There aren't as many people that want to put 30 pounds of bass fillets on the freezer compared to ground fish. That being said many people want to go on a bass charter and catch a boat load of fish and have fun.....and maybe keep one or two or whatever they choose. No one stops fishing when they catch thier keep limit, they continue to fish, catch and release because it is fun..............

Keeping the Charter boat limit at the same regs as the average Joe is not going to affect bass charters too much......Cod and Haddock is another story.
To be clear, I mean keeping one. I think we agree.

What he said, I tee it up more that I cast a lure these days, priorities have changed and lack of fish certainly curbs my enthusiasm for the 3am alarm. First year I've never brought at least one striper home for the grille.

Now imagine your lack of enthusiasm if you were paying 1200 bucks for the boat for the day.
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I wonder how many charters are not "vacationers" but actually guys who have recently purchased a boat and want to "see how it's done" and maybe even where they should fish....

If I would have had the cash 5 yrs ago when I started from my old boat, that would have saved me a lot of wasted fuel and skunkings....

Isn't that the truth. I've always been against establishing MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) but now I'm leaning the otherway. Make areas of the EEZ MPAs and have the greenies involved with helping enforce and report violations.

Several issues with this. Will be hard to enforce and chase down perps from a Sailboat :laugha:

Seriously, that is a bad camel nose inside the tent.

Those guys down there have the modern version of the Cold War's DEW line.

:laugha:

I wonder how many charters are not "vacationers" but actually guys who have recently purchased a boat and want to "see how it's done" and maybe even where they should fish....


I don't think many at all, negligible.