stripers in fed waters

[niko]

are you not supposed to target them or just no take?

[PRBuzz]

Both

[Roger]

Originally Posted by niko

are you not supposed to target them or just no take?

Not only can't you fish for them in the EEZ, but you can't even possess them (having caught them elsewhere) with a few exceptions around Montauk/BI/PJ.

[numbskull]

My assumption is that you can catch them and release them. We fished for years on Rose and Crown doing exactly that, and often saw charter boats doing the same......at least when we were near them.

[angler229]

You are not suppose to target them in the EEZ. Though, if you're not keeping them there really is little anyone can do, as you just have to say you're trying to catch bluefish and these darn bass keep getting in the way.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by angler229

You are not suppose to target them in the EEZ. Though, if you're not keeping them there really is little anyone can do, as you just have to say you're trying to catch bluefish and these darn bass keep getting in the way.

What do you think the Coasties would say if you were dropping eels on mono leaders overboard, and landed 20 bass in a row, and you tried to tell them that you were "targeting bluefish"?

They ain't stupid, ya know.

[niko]

Originally Posted by Mike P

What do you think the Coasties would say if you were dropping eels on mono leaders overboard, and landed 20 bass in a row, and you tried to tell them that you were "targeting bluefish"?

They ain't stupid, ya know.

i don't think the average coastie would have a clue as far as eels/mono

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by numbskull

My assumption is that you can catch them and release them. We fished for years on Rose and Crown doing exactly that, and often saw charter boats doing the same......at least when we were near them.

Your assumption is wrong. Just ask all the guys that got tickets down at the sub buoy off Block the last two years. And that included plenty of charter boats.

[niko]

not trying to diss the coasties. thank god for them. just saying the only thing they are ever interested in my boat is safety equipment and paperwork.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by niko

not trying to diss the coasties. thank god for them. just saying the only thing they are ever interested in my boat is safety equipment and paperwork.

They are definitely needed, but always seem to show up as soon as the bite gets good. Nothing more painful than being over the school with fish splashing on the surface and everyone catching fish but you.

[PRBuzz]

I guess we are lucky the 3 Mile Federal water line doesn't strictly follow the coastline. The whole of CCB is open based on the chart that I have delineating the boundary. I bolded the line on this chart.

[fish4striper]

Not suppose to target them. One day on the bank, we were bailing 30-40lbers trolling 4-5kts. If you catch them by mistake, release them immediately. I've heard guys on the bank get in trouble just for pulling them in the boat and taking a picture with them before releasing.

[big jay]

Originally Posted by fish4striper

Not suppose to target them. One day on the bank, we were bailing 30-40lbers trolling 4-5kts. If you catch them by mistake, release them immediately. I've heard guys on the bank get in trouble just for pulling them in the boat and taking a picture with them before releasing.

Kinda blows the hell out of that low and slow stuff in the magazines....

[animal]

Yeah,we got bass to 32 lbs trolling between 5-6 knots on a spreader bar with 13 inch squids.

[JFigliuolo]

Odd... you would THINK that someone in law enforcement would do something about this, if they were a fisherman also...

[CowHunter]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

Odd... you would THINK that someone in law enforcement would do something about this, if they were a fisherman also...

There is no control over this down there... What DO YOU SUGGEST BE DONE???? Maybe the fishing brings to much business to the Virginia Beach Economy Down there in the winter time..... There are debates on this topic on other boards. The best thing to do is equip boats with GPS Systems, at whos cost, and why exclude anyone up and down the coast rec, charter, comm? I know it has been mentioned up on the Cape about 2 years ago. Maybe Severe Zero Tolerance Fines.... People are not stupid, Think its pretty common knowledge that the fish have not been inside 3 miles down there in two weeks... Lots and Lots of Poached Fish, Guess we will see less up north this year! I have not seen a single soulution mentioned anywhere..... Nor is any group taking Action, Why is StripersForever not taking action.... I am most certain they are most aware of what is going on down there. Imagine if they rallied for a real cause, a blatant abuse, Harvesting Striped Bass from an area that is closed and supposed to protect the stock...

[intrepid24]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

Odd... you would THINK that someone in law enforcement would do something about this, if they were a fisherman also...

i know, i see no reason he shouldn't get all charles bronson on them guys......break out his service revolver and make things right.
this is actually all his fault, now that i think about it, he must not care enough to even shed any light on the subject at all.

[sokinwet]

In 40 yrs. of running a boat in the Haba area I have never been checked by the CG....my neighbor however who runs around shirtless, thinks his boat only runs @ full throttle and has cup holders rather than rod holders on his boat gets checked every year.

[PRBuzz]

I get checked by the CG at least 2X per year!!! That's for the 2 years I've had my boat. Only when EPO is bumming a ride with the CG or on their own patrol do they care about my catch.

[CowHunter]

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 dont 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...

Report from VA beach last sat:

[ edited by John R - one can easily believe that list is people actually poaching where we have no proof if it is or not - I'll add some comments later in this thread]


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

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

Guess we keep Blaming the Mass Com Guys ;-)

[CowHunter]

I did hear that the Coast Guard nabbed 20 plus boats in one day this past week... Boys were at it the very next day. Heard they were Max Fines too.... Agian Thats second hand info, wish they would post it somewhere online. Charter Captains brag about it down there. Fished a tourney 2 weeks ago and the fish moved over the line the second day, only 8 fish were caught. Should of saw the Charter Guys loads that came in that Poached....

[179]

Originally Posted by CowHunter

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 dont 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 Winstead of Chester, VA
54 lb Striper caught by Jennifer Cash of Virginia Beach, VA
52 lb Striper caught by Ray Pennell of Renton, NC
52 lb Striper caught by Adam Lehnert of Glen Allen, VA
50 lb Striper caught by Randy F. Berrier of Winston-Salem, NC
50 lb Striper caught by Jeffrey Mason of Manassas, VA
47 lb Striper caught by John E. Beland of Stafford, VA
46 lb Striper caught by Ken Sigler of Stafford, VA
45 lb Striper caught by Adam Lehnert of Glen Allen, VA
42 lb Striper caught by Richard D. Rheutan Jr. of Henrico, VA
41 lb Striper caught by Hames H. Bayles III of Sutherland, VA
40 lb 1 oz Striper caught by Franlin G. Goodwyn of Richmond, VA on the Sea Witch
40 lb Striper caught by Corey of Appomattox, VA


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

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

Guess we keep Blaming the Mass Com Guys ;-)

You are 100% correct. Word for the past two weeks has been the fish are 6-8 miles off the beach, clearly outside the 3-mile limit. Virtually every Charter boat fished this area, most of the charters here are 50-70' boat so they are very easy to spot. CG did a couple flyovers which scared off the recreational boats but the Charters remained and were bragging about it with wink wink nod nod to each other. Several fish in the high 50s and low 60s were brought to the docks. Fishing enforcement here is a joke especially if you have a commercial license or a Charter boat.

[CowHunter]

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 cant believe that nobody is really making a stink about it. The Cptains and Mates Brag about it, they dont think the federal line applies to them. Guess they can make a run at it, 30, 50, 60 80 + boats, they cant 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 wouldnt 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. Dont 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...

Below: 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

[CowHunter]

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. Its 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???

[intrepid24]

Originally Posted by 179

You are 100% correct. Word for the past two weeks has been the fish are 6-8 miles off the beach, clearly outside the 3-mile limit. Virtually every Charter boat fished this area, most of the charters here are 50-70' boat so they are very easy to spot. CG did a couple flyovers which scared off the recreational boats but the Charters remained and were bragging about it with wink wink nod nod to each other. Several fish in the high 50s and low 60s were brought to the docks. Fishing enforcement here is a joke especially if you have a commercial license or a Charter boat.

yikes !!!! thanks for shedding some light on the big picture.

[Nebe]

How do you know for sure that they were caught in the eez cowhunter?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[CowHunter]

Because there were no fish inshore 3 miles..... There are guys that do fish legit and have a problem with those that dont... Some of us do network...

But hey, dont take my word for it, only commercials are responsible for any wrong doing....

[jmac]

....also, rumor (like I said, rumor) has it that a group of charter captains have a pool (rumor has it that each guy puts in a $100), and when the CG goes after one of them in the EEZ, the others high tail it out of there while the CG does there thing to the nabbed boat....then the boat that got busted takes the pool money to pay the fine. I believe they replenish the pool on a weekly basis......like I said, that's what the local rumor grapevine reported by guys who have fished in tournaments down there....

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by jmac

....also, rumor (like I said, rumor) has it that a group of charter captains have a pool (rumor has it that each guy puts in a $100), and when the CG goes after one of them in the EEZ, the others high tail it out of there while the CG does there thing to the nabbed boat....then the boat that got busted takes the pool money to pay the fine. I believe they replenish the pool on a weekly basis......like I said, that's what the local rumor grapevine reported by guys who have fished in tournaments down there....

About the one guy who stays while the others screw. Some of those others were hunted down last year with the coasties chasing them quite a distance.

[Nebe]

That's %$%$%$%$ed up..
cowhunter, I totally believe you.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device