Big Rockfish being gill netted near CBBT - legally

[27 sailfish]

It's not illegal but seems a crime to allow gill netters to target the huge breeders coming into the lower bay right now.

Unlike Md where Rock over 36 inches can not be kept by netters - in Va. the bigger Rock can be killed.

Overheard a guy who was at CBBT near the islands say he saw one net bring in at least 300 big Rock - his

guess was 30 pounders , some even larger. He commented there is no way the fish can handle the pressure

of so many gill netters.

[Hookman571]

The Rockfish in the case at GIANT Food in Pasadena was a Big Fish. $14.99 per Lb. Yep. $14.99 per LB.
Question: Does O'Malley have anything to do with setting the price of Fish?

[wen]

Sad,
These days will be remembered in a few years.The netters will swear that it's a natural cycle or the rec's are putting too much pressure on the fish.
With prices like that, the fish don't have a chance.
I have boycotted swordfish for years in the resturants and always let them know that I won't order any swordfish they have on the menu-their usual reply is that they aren't local-- My reply is that swordfish used to be !
Maybe we need a save the whale movement.I would prowdly display a "save the stripers"(one "P") bumper sticker,but I don't have a Subaru or Prius, guess I could make a sacrafice,Maybe I could convince the wife to give up her jeep.....
Anyway-- we are all in trouble-- maybe the comms. should stop looking just one day in front ot themselves and put some real meaning in their pride in being a waterman and actually preserve the resource for not just themselves and future watermen, but all of us.
How can so few have such power over so many.
Wen

[Jitamon]

Not fair, This thread is not fair. The Big rock are being killed by netters and recs alike.How many THOUSANDS of 30+ pond cows are killed by recs in Maryland and Virginia, and NC.. How many?? Its ok to post kill photos of endless rec caught cows?? NO its not, but to blame the decline all on the netters is unfair. Im a rec fisherman, I dont like netters, but to put the blame soley on them is wrong.

[Marcus]

Not fair, This thread is not fair. The Big rock are being killed by netters and recs alike.How many THOUSANDS of 30+ pond cows are killed by recs in Maryland and Virginia, and NC.. How many?? Its ok to post kill photos of endless rec caught cows?? NO its not, but to blame the decline all on the netters is unfair. Im a rec fisherman, I dont like netters, but to put the blame soley on them is wrong.

Where was the blame placed solely on the netters? The OP stated this was legal and simply bringing attention to it...

[andypat]

Not fair, This thread is not fair. The Big rock are being killed by netters and recs alike.How many THOUSANDS of 30+ pond cows are killed by recs in Maryland and Virginia, and NC.. How many?? Its ok to post kill photos of endless rec caught cows?? NO its not, but to blame the decline all on the netters is unfair. Im a rec fisherman, I dont like netters, but to put the blame soley on them is wrong.

I agree! Don't blame the watermen. Blame the people that turn the watermen loose/make these laws. OR, everyone stop eating seafood. Am I in trouble now. LOL!

[crabby and son]

It's the rock fishes fault. She swam into the net that was clearly marked. It's all good until there is no more fish................Gary

[Harlan seller]

Personally I don't like to eat any striper over 40" - doesn't taste that great and meat full of contaminants.
Give me a 30-35" any day.

[Wild Bill]

A re-thinking of the regulations is what is needed. If I were a comm fisherman, I would take all I could legally take, as big as I could get and keep by law. That is their job. To expect comms to self regulate is foolhardy. It will not happen. It starts with the ASMFC and the quotas they set forth. That group unfortunately is still comm biased.

I am waiting for the publication of the data but heard the striper population is down by 83% since 2005. This news came from a US Fish and Wildlife officer. At this point I cannot show any proof, but look for it in the coming months.

What we experience in one spot during one year is not a good indicator to the number of stripers left. The warm winter allowed the remaining stripers to congregate near shore along the coast. This was a good winter for ocean fishing in VA, one of the best in years, but that does not speak to the overall striper population. What is left schools tightly in winter, and if you can get on them, the fishing is great. Looking at the entire spread of stripers the rest of the year, it appears they are in serious trouble.

[Walleye Pete]

exactly my thoughts bill.......great when you get on them......just aren't nearly as many "great" spots at the same time because less fish in the system......we'll see where it all goes!