Black Market Stripers?

[piemma]

Originally Posted by shadow

I know a guy who has a boat and he sells 80% of what he catches to restaurants around new haven regardless of species but there is a definite preference for stripers.I have never witness it but he talks about it all season long. If i know when he was going out Id drop a dime on him bc i cant stand poachers. I think the market is bigger then most would expect. There are alot of guys like him around without a dubt. I also know a guy in rhode island when i lived there that would do the same he did have a R.I. comm. lic. but he would sell to people at the" back door" with out his lic. They are out there and they can catch. Never mind the charter captains who keep there 2 and the mate takes his 2 every trip they are not giving those fish to friends or family. Not sure how to stop it other then making it a serious offense but there need to be enforcement.

There is one and only one easy way to stop it and that's take the market away. HOW??? You make the striped bass a game fish. No market for it. No reason to poach.

[BatesBCheatin]

This is the only way, and still there will be some poaching.

A few years ago one would have been verbally eviscerated for making such a remark. I think many of those 'in the know' realize what is happening, and it's good to see the notion becoming somewhat accepted - at least by a higher percentage of seasoned fishermen than before.

Originally Posted by piemma

There is one and only one easy way to stop it and that's take the market away. HOW??? You make the striped bass a game fish. No market for it. No reason to poach.

Originally Posted by shadow

I agree Paul there was a time when I wasnt that gun hoe about making striped bass a gamefish. But each year I start believing more and more that it's the only thing that will work. Even then people will still sell them but it would at least be a very low number compered to what's being done now.
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