3 tons of Striped Bass and pay $500 fine?

[FishermanTim]

So if we were to suddenly start poaching stripers, our fine would be, what, about a nickel?
Using this story as a base line for "appropriate fines" for poaching, 5 - 10 cents would be proportionately correct.

It's asinine, plain and simple. Where the hell is the "deterrency factor" if the fine is grossly disproportionate to the amount of fish involved.
Notice that this was the second time in less than a week. That tells me these a$$holes are laughing in the face of the law.

Maybe if the laws regarding illegal fishing were stricter and actually imposed, maybe these poachers would finally get the message.

They should confiscate the boat and everything onboard, and levy a heavier fine than what they have been.
Hit them where they live, and they probably won't be back.

[Sea Flat]

Hopefully this occurrence will help change the rules. I am sure the law was written for Joe Shmoe and $500 if you are going to keep just a few fish out on your 20 foot boat is a lot of money, but for the commercial guys with multiple tons of fish it obviously does not make sense. This guy messed up by making it absolutely obvious that the fine is something he is willing to pay in order to make more money.

[Flaptail]

Guys, the commercial season is open down there now and the only thing they were doing "illegally" was fishing on the closed days.

Remember not all Atlantic states are rod and reel only for commercial striper fishing.

Dollars to donuts that these bass were not that big either. Either Maryland or Virginia has an 18 inch limit commercially, I forget which.

Sucks but it is what it is.

[Slipknot]

what did they do with the fish caught on closed day?

that fine is less than their fuel cost for the day
it's not even a slap on the wrist

they have closed days for a reason and that guy ignores them and pays a pittance and kills more fish than a comm fishing by the rules. that is how simple I see it Flap.

[Clammer]

Maryland has the small size limit ;;

years ago it 12" inMaryland