Big Rockfish being gill netted near CBBT - legally

[Fish nut]

You don't like the length of the net at 3500yds, and want it shortened; then you are going to have to concede giving the season for gill netting more days, so they can catch their quota. Oops, there's that quota business again.

I respect your point of view Captain and I agree that the commercial side has a quota and that is there slice of pie. I disagree that there needs to be a concessions for shorting the length of gillnet from one sector of users to complete such policy changes. The allowable gillnet length was increased at the same time restrictions were being placed on C&R recreational fishery “in the name of conservation”. There is a lot we currently do not understand about population dynamic. As more and more pressure is put on the fishery is netting of large sums of fish appropriate in short spans of time? As recreational user / tax payer in Maryland recreational anglers have a right to express there opinions / concerns over the privileged use of a public resource in a for profit business. We have seen the havoc nets can have on management when used illegally. Nets may be acceptable gear type under the correct management profile. Lately, we have seen the problems associated with managing this gear type. In VA as long as they are plying by the rules then all is good. We then need to get involved work with on our fishery managers to adjust as needed to keep the fishery sustainable and robust.

[rla69]

You really have to be disgusted with this same old dialouge we engage in year after year.The facts are clear,the fishery management people in Maryland ,North Carolina and Virginia are not interested in doing anything to save the stripers ,especially if doing so will change the bottom line for the commercial sector.There will be another collapse of this fishery and most of us on both sides of this issue know it.

I blame the people who make the rules.When the collapse of this fishery occurs we will still be here blaming each other.We need to start putting people in charge who have some common sense and will take a real look at what is best for all user groups and the fishery.

[fish1]

The people that are making the rules don't fish and have no idea of the impact there decisions make.......................

[yackattack]

The commerical fishing requlation for gill netting needs to be rethought out! I do not feel we should completely ban net fishing in the bay, but with that said they must be stricter regulation on when, where, and how. It is plan old common sense if you eat all you candy today then do not expect any tommorrow. Gill nets are unforgiving the catch anything that swim in to it that can not freely get threw size of mess. Gill netting period needs to be stricly requlated. Due to this warm weather this winter the fish are holding at mouth of bay which has created epic fishing conditions for all when wheather is good. The powers at be should have closed gill net season early in all areas due the weather and the fish not mirating south ward in NC before reutrning to bay for annual spawn. We all need to think #'s how many Rec fisherman caught at least 1 40" fish and kept it = s load of fish, it is not just commerical but rec fisherman must allso think of conservation. Rockfish supports such a large part of our ecomony with a large decline we would experince even hader times specficly in the mid atlantic. I am a REC. fisherman who supports resposible catch , and catch and release.