catch and release offshore - go or no go?

[Eric Byrd]

I have heard conflicting reports if it is legal or illegal to catch and release rockfish in the ocean greater than three miles out. Who knows - or it just safer to take a lawyer with you fishing?

[Mike Avery]

Fish all you want in the EEZ, just don't target striper. If one jumps on your line accidently, release it. I've always wondered how they are going to PROVE you were targeting stripers and give you a ticket.

[No Diamonds]

Can't possess a rockfish out there, can't fish for them out there period. Possession happens when you net or lip the fish. If the man is watching you will get a ticket.

[Mike Avery]

Possession happens when you net or lip the fish.

What regulation did you get this from?

[Darren]

Why on earth someone would ask a bunch of jerk offs on the internet for a legal interpretation other than actually looking it up yourself I will never understand. What are you going to do when you get ticketed? Say "Well Fishdad on Tidalfish said it was ok"? No offense meant Mike.

Here's the actual regulation, along with a couple of my other favorites.

4 VAC-20-252-50. CONCERNING RECREATIONAL FISHING: GENERAL.


A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take or to catch striped bass with any gear other than hook and line, rod and reel, or hand line.

Simple enough

B. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to possess any striped bass while fishing in an area where or at a time when there is no open recreational striped bass season, except as described in 4 VAC-20-252-115. Striped bass caught contrary to this provision shall be returned to the water immediately.

This means you have to toss them back if the season is out, or if there is no season. Notice there's no provision for keeping them on board to take a measurement for a citation? This also shows you No Diamonds is incorrect. The exception mentioned is for Tournaments where the Commisioner has granted an exemption for size or season.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to land and retain any striped bass in excess of the possession limit applicable for the area and season being fished, within the 24-hour period of 12:00 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. Striped bass taken in excess of the possession limit shall be returned to the water immediately.

Taken strictly as written this one would mean once you limited out you can no longer cull fish, since it requires you to immediately release the fish if you are at your limit.

When fishing from a boat or vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit shall be for the boat or vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by the applicable personal possession limit. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit.

And thise one....well it just says El Capitano is gonna get a ticket if the boat is over or in violation.

[usual suspects]

Ok ,here is another jerk off reply... Striped Bass
It states you can not fish for striped bass in the EEZ



and next year, you may not be able to fish for Flounder as well

[twobyfour]

Could you define EEZ?

[Sanity]

The area where the fishing is easy and the economics of fishing become cheaper by the dozen. People "zone" when they find the fish there and totally disregard anything else that matters.

[Lone Ranger]

Why on earth someone would ask a bunch of jerk offs on the internet for a legal interpretation other than actually looking it up yourself I will never understand. What are you going to do when you get ticketed? Say "Well Fishdad on Tidalfish said it was ok"? No offense meant Mike.

Here's the actual regulation, along with a couple of my other favorites.

4 VAC-20-252-50. CONCERNING RECREATIONAL FISHING: GENERAL.


A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take or to catch striped bass with any gear other than hook and line, rod and reel, or hand line.

Simple enough

B. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to possess any striped bass while fishing in an area where or at a time when there is no open recreational striped bass season, except as described in 4 VAC-20-252-115. Striped bass caught contrary to this provision shall be returned to the water immediately.

This means you have to toss them back if the season is out, or if there is no season. Notice there's no provision for keeping them on board to take a measurement for a citation? This also shows you No Diamonds is incorrect. The exception mentioned is for Tournaments where the Commisioner has granted an exemption for size or season.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to land and retain any striped bass in excess of the possession limit applicable for the area and season being fished, within the 24-hour period of 12:00 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. Striped bass taken in excess of the possession limit shall be returned to the water immediately.

Taken strictly as written this one would mean once you limited out you can no longer cull fish, since it requires you to immediately release the fish if you are at your limit.

When fishing from a boat or vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit shall be for the boat or vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by the applicable personal possession limit. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit.

And thise one....well it just says El Capitano is gonna get a ticket if the boat is over or in violation.

SO,everyone on Tidal-Fish is a "Bunch of Jerk-Offs"?I never respond to accusations like this Darren,But you hurt my feelings!!!

[TexacoRide]

This 3 mile line shixt gets so #$%^&*(*^$$# old EVERY rockfish season.....