More Poaching in Maryland - This time Pound Nets

[Big Liar]

I have never defended anyone caught poaching or said that we did not need stiffer penalties.

[SeasideRHT]

I think is is fair to say that you want to take away rockfish quota from the commercial side to give to the recreational side.

While there may be some who feel that way, for what it's worth, I (and others on here) have expressed a willingness to forego any quota if the commercial sector is willing to reduce theirs and eliminate indiscriminate catch methods like gill and pound nets, in a combined effort to increase population numbers. I for one would agree not to keep a single rock for however long it took in an effort to do so. In the event I wanted to eat rockfish, I'd be happy to order it at a restaurant or go to the fish market and support watermen, as I do now. I'll bet that there there are others who feel this way, so don't be too quick to assume that everyone's agenda is to wipe out commercial fisherman. Personally, I'd like to see both watermen and the rockfish population succeed.

[Morsax]

We cast net for menhaden in Florida, have no problem filling up the boat to go out and live chum for jacks and other species all day. The other bait is caught in cast nets and hook and line. Florida is a lot bigger fishery then MD and they have been managing with not a lot of problem with out nets. We're not inventing the wheel here, other states have done this with success.

Brandon-
You bring up the state that has been massively successful in instituting a net ban - Florida. My folks moved down there the year it went into effect. That first year, inshore fish were difficult to come by. Now, a dozen or so years later, the fisheries are vibrant and there is recreational activity going on everywhere. Of course there were a lot of brazen poachers early on, but even that has slowed down. The arguments leading up to the ban were identical to what are being laid out here - no supply of seafood, traditional industry, etc. In the end, there are few in that state who are clamoring to get the nets back - most people see the massive benefit of a healthy recreational fishery and the tourist dollars that it brings in.

Yeah--ban the nets

Hans

[Big Liar]

While there may be some who feel that way, for what it's worth, I (and others on here) have expressed a willingness to forego any quota if the commercial sector is willing to reduce theirs and eliminate indiscriminate catch methods like gill and pound nets, in a combined effort to increase population numbers. I for one would agree not to keep a single rock for however long it took in an effort to do so. In the event I wanted to eat rockfish, I'd be happy to order it at a restaurant or go to the fish market and support watermen, as I do now. I'll bet that there there are others who feel this way, so don't be too quick to assume that everyone's agenda is to wipe out commercial fisherman. Personally, I'd like to see both watermen and the rockfish population succeed.

Thanks for feeling that way. However, go back and reread this thread. What is mentioned over and over and over again? It was brought up that there was a poacher. Brandon talks to a few people and finds that it involved fish being taken out from pound net to be marked with hook-n-line tags. Next pages upon pages of how Maryland needs to ban gill nets and pound nets. Not hardly any comments about the person who did the poaching. Was it truly a pound net violation or a H&L violation. I don’t recall gill nets being involved at all. Brandon and team have an agenda. It would not matter if there was not one commercial violation in the past 10 years, I believe that he would still have that same agenda.

I’m sure the same arguments are made from the people who want to ban guns. They don’t really care about the people who commit crimes with guns, other than it gives them an opportunity to push their gun ban agenda. Don’t anyone give me any crap about it does not relate to gun laws, because I’ve had to hear about 44 million times about punt guns.

[skipperwork]

Ok you guys win. Nets are good for the bay. I was on the fence but now I'm convinced. How do I go about getting myself a net. Ebay, Craigslist, or is this one of those Backpage kind of things.

[crabby and son]

Arguing on the internet is like trying to blow out a light bulb!..................Gary