Commercial fishing on the james.

[fatcatonthejames]

I have watched the fishing on the James River in the last 5 years go too shit! This is what has happened and at this point I will tell anyone and everyone what has happened because all of the big fish in the river have been taken out by the commercial fisherman just like they did on the RAPP. It took them about 2 years to take the fish that we are trying to protect out of the river. I still catch my fare share of fish but not like it used to be before there was a market for these big fish.

We tried to take action back in April when we had that meeting at the DGIF on the James but we were to late. Im sure that I will get redicule for this post because of who I am. But I feel that what is going on in the James River is wrong. They have big fish long lines in the Chick and all around the mouth of it, secondary channels from Sturgeon Pt to Jordan Pt. Oh and bye the way, I didnt touch them. Been there done that.

The commercial guys in the Chester area said that they are tired of being checked by the DGIF and I dont blame them. They have destroyed the monster fishing on the James. They used to put in at Jordan Pt but now they put in on the Chick. If they keep it up our kids will not be able to catch a monster and get on Animal Planet and catch a Monster Fish!

[Tom Powers]

What species? What is monster fishing (size and species)?

[kutb8]

The blue catfish 40 TO 80+ POUNDS

[Capt.Nick]

The same thing happenned to the Black Drum in Cape Charles back in the 70s.They were wiped out for 10 cents a pound.These were fish that were 40 yrs. old that sold for $4-8 ea.Those Cats are about the last creature that can take the pollution man dishes out to them but they can't dodge the commercial fishermen.After the moey is spent from those fish,they'll be gone.When will we ever learn?Unfortunately,almost all of the people who make the rules are commercial fishermen ,some are even disguised and claim to be fishing guides as well.Do a background check on who makes the rules and you'll see for yourself.

[Tom Powers]

The catch limits are one fish over 32"per person per day. It does not matter if you are a commercial or recreational fisherman. Hopefully, DGIF and VMRC officers do their jobs and keep EVERYONE within their limits and tickets EVERYONE who violates limit laws.

[CaptainK.Salmon]

Search on you tube;

" The slaughtering of james river blue catfish"

[Tom Powers]

OK so I looked. Is this something that goes on all the time or an isolated incident.

What type of gear was he using?

Do you have a feel for why the fish were dead?

[Nightfisher-]

My guess on that video is that the same thing happened as what was seen a few months ago when someone found a net full of dead fish floating. The net filled with too many fish, which were unable to breathe being packed into such a small space and died. The fisherman then, after finding a net full of dead, unsellable fish, dumped them. Just my guess. Not exactly sure what the regs are in a situation like that, but it seems really really wrong.

[Tom Powers]

It depends on how long the gear went unfished.

This law may apply.

4 VAC 20-550-20. Fishing requirement; notification procedures.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to set any gill net or non-fixed finfishing device and let said net or device remain unfished.


B. If, upon visual observation, any Marine Patrol Officer determines on reasonable evidence that any gill net or non-fixed finfishing device has not been fished, he shall notify the licensee as established in subsection C of this section, and if the licensee fails to fish or remove said gill net or non-fixed finfishing device within 24 hours after notification, the licensee shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter and the Marine Patrol Officer is authorized to confiscate said gill net or non-fixed finfishing device.


C. A verbal warning by a Marine Patrol Officer to the licensee by telephone or in person, or the placement of a warning tag on the gill net or non-fixed device adjacent to the license tag shall constitute notification to the licensee of a potential violation. Warning tags shall explain that the gear must be fished or removed from the water within 24 hours or the gear will be confiscated.

[trapperearl]

Unfortunately this does go on several times a year. the nets fill with what the commercial fishermen call "unusable" fish and they just dump the nets, resulting in what is shown on the video, a major reduction in the smaller catfish. Any of us that fish the James on a regular basis sees this, the sad point is they (the commercial fishermen) don't see where they are doing any harm. Yes they need to make a living and yes they need to provide for their family and yes they have a right to fish the river HOWEVER they DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO ABUSE THEIR RIGHTS!!!!!!!! And that is just what they are doing. I see long lines all over the river, the mouth of Herring Creek is home to no less than 3 on any day OR NIGHT, I have seen the proof that they are putting lines across the mouth of the creek in the form of a fouled prop with about 20 hooks some with fish some with out. the VMRC was notified but because it was 2am and they did not have anyone in the area they just took a report. The line was not marked and had no identifying tags on it. so see they don't always play by the rules and do abuse their rights and push the law to the limit. just because they pay a fee for their license does not give them exclusive rights to the river, (they like to think that) but if you look at the statistics you will see that they (commercial fishermen) do not provide much in the way of money for conservation or river clean up. their money for licenses goes to the VMRC which covers much more area than just the James River so the money they contribute in not even a drop in the bucket compared to the revenue supplied by recreational fishermen and boaters. our money is well over 85% of the funds that go to the cleaning and maintaining of the rivers, but their few dollars seems to have more clout than our thousands. Here is an example of the WANTS of a few (less than 20 if I'm not mistaken) outweighing the rights of hundreds if not thousands.

[fatcatonthejames]

If you tell me what color the line was that got hung up in your prop I might be able to tell you who's it was. That has happened to me before. I have a pretty good idea of who's it might be. Most of these commercial guys rig there lines up a certain way , its almost like a signature.

[trapperearl]

Well I know who it belongs too, I set up in herring creek and took a couple photos. The Army did teach me how to be a sneeky snake when needed, the guy did not even know he was being watched!. and no this was no adverage trot line. this was a commercial long line and I have seen it before. he likes the area around tar bay and the flats just down from the power lines also. I am glad to say it was not my prop but a really good friend who don't get to fish our river much and was out with me for a relaxing night fishing. needless to say it was not to enjoyable. the photos were turned over to VMRC and a report was made wth VDGIF BUT....I nor he have heard anything from it. Go figgure. like I said the wants of the few that discuise their opperations as "commercial" get the blind eye turned while we (the mass population of the river users) get the strict treatment. these guys are out there doing their deads and we are just loving the river. One day we will get the rive back.........maybe.........till then we need to fightthe fight and photograph and video these guys anytime we see them doing their dirty deads.

[River Lizard]

If you've never listened to this VMRC Commission Hearing recording.... listen to it, it'll give you the scope of who you're dealing with and their views of Blue Catfish and VDGIF: http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/Commission_Audio/2009/05/0509_08.mp3

[CaptMikeStarrett]

Wow that mp3 just amazes me. He wants the American shad to be restored. I wonder who caught them all in the 40's and 50's.

You hafta use what is available. Adapt and survive.

Why does this sound like a church sermon?

Freshwater vs saltwater commercial fishing. Freshwater has always been a recreational fishery since the days of separate juristrictions.

Interesting..

Capt Mike

[fatcatonthejames]

The commercial fishing on the James is out of hand! If you havent listened to the 20 minute plea to the VMRC to stop what we do then take the time . Please. The shad are gone because you and the 100 boats on the river when you were a kid wiped them out. I grew up on the Nottaway River and we use to catch hundreds of American shad where its still legal to keep them. There are No monster blue cats in this river and there are no American Shad in the river this year. So the decline in the numbers of shad rest on you and your ancesters. Not the big blues that live in the river.
These commercial guys dont look at the stats. But want to piss and moan that the 38 inch law is not helping them. If you havent listened to this then give a listen.

[River Lizard]

[QUOTE=fatcatonthejames;1634476] But want to piss and moan that the 38 inch law is not helping them. QUOTE]

It's actually 32 inch law. Anything above 32" only makes up 2% of the whole Blue Catfish population in the James River....2%....yet, they want more of it and are not happy with 98% + 1 cat over 32" per day.

I seriously believe that if there was only 1 fish of a species, Comms would yank it out of the water in a heart beat just to make a buck! They wouldn't give a Rat's A$$ if it wiped out the species completely!!!

[wasabi]

Commercial fishermen love to mention how fishing has been in their family for generations. Well, the same DNA from their forefathers wiped out other species. They just want to scratch by, barely making a living mucking about with a bunch of slimy stinking fish from a muddy river, make enough to buy their nightly 12 pack of beer and a pack of cigarettes. They don't care.

[striperjoe32]

u tell em wasabi !

[ekim22]

I'm as much for conservation of any species but....


I have watched the fishing on the James River in the last 5 years go too shit!

This seems like exaggeration or hyperbole to me. Catfishing has been better over the past 5-10 years than it's ever been. We have two state records in the past 5 years if memory serves correctly.

To me, the bluefish biomass is well out of proportion to where it should be on the James. That said, the bass fishing and crappie fishing has improved in the past 5 years. As has the water clarity.

I think the James is in fairly decent shape in the past 5 years compared to years past.