NC - Stripers and Red Drum - Gamefish?

[Lurker]

President Bush may soon designate Striped Bass and Red Drum as Gamefish in NC. What does this mean? Apparently, the way I read it, Striped Bass and Red Drum would then be off limits to commercial fishermen in NC....

The Outer Banks Sentinel

"Some Days it's Just Not Worth Chewing Through the Restraints..."

[Mike Avery]

That is interesting. The way I read the article is the executive order would apply to all of the U.S., not just NC which would make sense since the Pres usually does not issue executive orders to individual states. The Sentinel is merely stating the impact on NC fisherman since it's a local paper.

I'm all for it. If he does this, I just may have to change my opinion of him.

[spinnerbait]

But would you take him fishing?

[LY2000]

I'd take him fishing if he made them gamefish.

[skiffthis]

The Bush's enjoy their Kennebunkport ME vacations fshing for stripers. It would appear the President has a personal interest in this as well.

[shreek]

Sweet!!!!

[LY2000]

Maybe Bush is following his capitalist heart and realizes these fish are far more valuable as gamefish.

[cuhollow]

So this would completely eliminate commercial fishing for these species? I can’t support that and don’t really understand why anyone would. I am all about protecting these species but both are in excellent shape with the current level of commercial fishing so why mess with it? If the commercial fisherman can’t target these species they are going to target something else.

[Rick Caton]

I honestly can't believe that you guys are that stupid............are you really that stupid?????
GAMEFISH STATUS would mean that NOBODY CAN KEEP ANY........NOBODY........that means all of you all.....do ya get it ....is it that hard
Your so happy that the commercuial guy would get the shaft that ya did not even feel your own anal orifice being penetrated

[Fishboy OV8]

very interesting interpretation Rick

Stripers Forever believes that the wild striped bass should be declared a gamefish throughout its range along the Atlantic Coast. The real value of striped bass is not as a seasonal market commodity, but as a public resource that offers social, economic, and recreational benefits to millions of Americans from Maine to South Carolina.