Menhadden Fleet

[Double Haul]

After a wonderful weekend on the Rapp, was looking forward to fishing the rest of the week with no crowds. Looked out this morning and saw the menhadden boats scooping up everything and insuring the fishing was shot. Guess I'll have to go above the bridge to find anything to catch.
Interesting article in Tides (CCA magazine) on the menhadden, May/June edition. Shows that virtually all the menhadden catch is from the Md line down the the mouth of the Chesapeake. Guess it's the cost of fuel that keeps them inside the bay.

[warrenahrens]

They were in the river, I assume. Man, that irks my last nerve....why, why, why....are we the only state to allow them in the Bay / River. I wish they would get their fish from the ocean - fuel prices or not!!

[Double Haul]

Yeah Warren, in the Rapp.
And they were obviously doing well, they hauled the nets twice that I saw. Once near the bridge and once more off the silos.

Didn't see if they made more on the way to the mouth.

[FleetonLight]

The fish are caught in the bay because thats where they concentrate in the summers. They are caught below the MD line obviously because MD does not allow them in their waters. In the spring and fall the boats head offshore to points North and South from NJ to Cape Fear, following the fish as they move off into the ocean. Final answer, our state allows it most likely because thats the way it has always been. Also, the business has been contributing to our economy since long before you were born.
Not saying its right or wrong, but theres some answers for you.

Oh, and it's spelled Menhaden.

[Double Haul]

The way it's always been? I don't remember the historians talking about using planes and fishfinders.
Somehow, I think the volume taken from the bay is excessive. Seems to me I read a report that last year over 70% of the total menhaden caught came from the area between the MD line to the bay bridge tunnel. It also was a significant reduction from what they'd caught in previous years. Sounds like the number of menhaden being caught are getting smaller. Maybe that's why the fisheries folks are taking an active interest.
Anyway, the fleet was so interested in the Rapp they put 6 boats in the river and they stayed until 5:30 pm (check the time of my earliest post). That's when they steamed out of the river.
You figure there are any menhaden left in the Rapp? They hauled so many fish they paid overtime.

[Ware Fisher]

Double Haul is right - times have changed. The Bay desperately needs the filtering abilities of oysters and menhaden. Keep the menhaden fleet out of the Chesapeake and menhaden numbers will increase. the Bay will eventually become healthier and everyone, watermen and recreational fishermen, will benefit. At this point, it's pure common sense.

Is there really a legitimate reason to allow the taking of menhaden within the Bay?

[PDR]

One thing for sure THEY DO NOT GET PAID OVERTIME

[CyberDish]

Overtime.....
Keep em coming guys......
I should keep a list.....[grin][grin]

[warrenahrens]

........ok, take 'em all, purse seine 'em until their all gone, go for it; use five planes 20 steamers and make money, more and more; stretch a net across the entire bay and scoop up everything that swims by - we have the technology; I'm sure that will invigorate our economy some way too; dessimate the water because all the trendy people want to take fish oil tablets for their heart and live forever........geez.....

[Purdue1]

Cyber,

Add the last one to you all time top ten. That is a good one. Haven't been down your way for some time now. I believe the last time I was there we were eating at Elijahs...so that tells you how long its been.