The slaughter of big stripers not only continues but its kicking in high gear !!!
ByThis is from a guy who is probaly better surfcaster then I’ll ever be.
These days he runs a Bunker Down charter boat, Captain Ken Zwirko
Someone I respect a lot.
I copied this from a post on s-b.com
I urge you all to go to s-b.com and read what is going on as we speak in southern states to your beloved striped bass
And DON’T be suprised if you catch only schoolies this year
From Cowhunter aka Capt Ken
It is illegal to target striped bass in federal water, includes catch and release…..
Nowhere on the Striper coast is there such total disregard of the EEZ as in Virginia / North Carolina. I don’t think people have any idea the damage being done by the poaching down south. The Charter Boats down there break the law every single day and brag about it. It is a shame. The entire biomass is concentrated down there in different schools, guys are running well beyond three miles, most 2 trips a day. If you guys just see the fish that are caught illegally and come in every day. The thurs before last I heard there were well over 100 boats fishing this area, some from Va and some from NC.
Report from VA beach last sat:
57 lb Striper caught by Dean, VA
54 lb Striper caught by Jennifer, VA
52 lb Striper caught by Ray, NC
52 lb Striper caught by Adam, VA
50 lb Striper caught by Randy F., NC
50 lb Striper caught by Jeffrey, VA
47 lb Striper caught by John E. VA
46 lb Striper caught by Ken Si, VA
45 lb Striper caught by Adam, VA
42 lb Striper caught by Richard D, VA
41 lb Striper caught by Hames, VA
40 lb 1 oz Striper caught by Franlin
40 lb Striper caught by Corey, VA
These were poached in one day… This is just from a handful of boats at the VA fishing center. A small percentage that even report their catch…
Ill say it again, more big fish down there are killed in the winter than the Northeast in a decade, easy…
People that never fished down there have to understand how you can run the nearly 100 miles from Rudy to Oregon Inlet and the sea is completely dead within the three miles, not a speck of life…. Offshore it is totally different story with all the bodies of fish, they are easy to find by either the incredible bird activity for miles or by the bait readings. The Poaching is so bad there, I can’t believe that nobody is really making a stink about it. The Captains and Mates Brag about it, they don’t think the federal line applies to them. Guess they can make a run at it, 30, 50, 60 80 + boats, they can’t get em all’… They run out an 1 hour or so, make 1,2,3,4,5 passes, get their limit, and turn around and head home. Done in less than an hour fishing at times, then turn around and get round 2. This is strictly meat fishing dragging 32-40+ oz jigs with tuna gear.. I wouldn’t have a problem with these fish if they were caught legally.. They are not… There are a few boards where guys started to make a stink this year. Don’t get me wrong, there were a few years when those fish stayed within 3 miles, not this year, nor last. The EEZ is one of the only thing that is really protecting the Striped Bass Stock. Just plain wrong what they are doing down there…
People have to understand that the Charter Boats down there will sail every day even if they Know the fish are well past 3 miles. It’s not like the rest of the Northeast where you can still catch fish Inshore of 3 miles at any given time, maybe not the big bodies of fish. Water temp and Bait dictate where those fish go, they have stayed offshore for the majority of the winter… Is it any different than 1 or 2 guys going out and poaching 20 fish in our area? The fish are not caught legally..
Why do you think they are trying to get the EEZ open to 12 miles down there ?
here is the link
http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/stripertalk/61706-stripers-fed-waters.html
This is bull?’/” It not fair Our free choice, sport, lifestyle, hertiage will be lost in the near future. I want to thank you Zeno for bring this up again and maybe us surfcaster should talk more about this with freinds then how GSB blank is better then SS blank. People are more aware of being greener and that we only have one Wolrd. We need to spread the word as keepers of the beach. I promise to help but I dont know where to start. PLEASE HELP???
just another day I guess.
Remember that Cowhunter has his own agenda too. Many people call him a terrific fisherman whether from boat or shore and I am sure that is true. But he is also trying to deflect anything that might reduce the commercial quote because he makes a ton of money doing that. And it’s not his regular every day job. And he runs charter boats. And he fishes tournaments where fish are killed to try to win prize money. There is also no doubt that what he says about the poachers is true. And so what is stopping him from calling the authorities every time he sees this happen? I give him credit for fishing legally but just because you can catch tons of fish doesn’t make it right. Nor does it make it right for the rec fisherman to keep 2 fish every time he goes whether he eats it or not. We all have to start taking less before there are no more left. We are overfishing a recovering stock. If things don’t change within the next 2-3 years there’s going to be a serious problem. Everyone needs to pull their head out of the sand and get involved.
I don’t disagree with you at all
I didn’t say that I was in favor of tournament killings, I said that I had respect for the man as surfcaster, way before he got a boat
but this is not about him…its about bringing the attention to the problem
It sad.There are so many people that just dont give a damn about keeping the Bass population healthy.For me the joy of the sport is in the catching ,not in the keeping of the fish.Too many selfish ,stupid people out there.It makes me sick to read stories like this every winter coming out of Virginia and North carolina
So what is going to be done about this? Is there any kind of Fedral authorities who are aware of the fishing being done outside the 3 mile zone? That pisses me off, you know I hate to say it but this is BS! If those proprtions are correct, and more Bass are being killed in the winter down South than are killed in New England in a decade than that is not ok and I pray and give my support to the few that have orgaized boards down south to stop these willful violations of the EEZ and I hope that this makes the news or somthing and people should be helf accountable, a good way to do this would be by aerial recon, hear me out, you totally disreguard the federally mandated regulations regarding fishing for Striped Bass beyond the Three mile limit well too eay, a plane takes a picture of all these boats, thanks to modern tech. you can easily zoom in on a boat registration number which can be related to the DMV data base and now you have a name to match, Boat confiscated and autioned off and proceeds go to conservation efforts for Striped Bass. From the sounds of it this program would be completly self suppoting and accomplishing the goal of STOPPING the slaughter of Bass…… Just my idea….. Wouldnt bother me one bit for Big Brother to take some dicks boat for such violations !!!!
So LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Who should be contacted. Phone numbers…emails….WHO/WHERE.
Doesn’t do any good to rail about it online….
POST A PHONE NUMBER…SOME BOAT NAMES…. PORTS AND DOCKS….REGISTRATION NUMBERS….PHONE NUMBERS…EMAILS…WEBSITE INFORMATION….
Otherwise it won’t stop. These jackasses do this EVERY single winter. Let your legacy be that you took 5 minutes to enhance your fishery…
I’m with Salty, lets do it…… I want to be able to catch some fish when I get out of this place and Id like to teach my son how to fish down the road !!!!!!
Sadly, what was posted above is only the tip of the iceburg! I was in “the seafood industry” for over 30 years and I know for a fact that the “black market” far exceeds the legal quota. This has been going on non-stop since the moritorium that started in the end of the 1985 season. Until then, I was a commercial rod and reel bass fisherman and the moritorium essencially put me out of business. Yes, I was a poacher for a couple of years but I grew out of it. However some of the people I knew back then never stopped, ..and they have never been caught!
Enforcement is a major part of the problem and that is not because of a lack of manpower. As I’ve said many times the fact is the enforcement we have is either unwilling and/or
“unknowing” (NOT “unable”).
Worse than the poaching rod and reelers, worse that the charter boats that are raping the resourse off Virginia, we have draggers out of Virginia and North Carolina that specialize in towing for bass. Not just any bass but specifically large, dormant females that lie in deep water offshore and these boats typically hit the dock with 80-100,000 pounds or more. It was them that caused the real collapse in the late 70′s and eary 80′s and it was them who are at it again!
I have personally seen tractor trailer loads of illegal bass in Boston and New York that came up from the south in the winter. I’ve reported it, I’ve written about it, it continues. As long as the enforcement people do things out of ignorance (and in many cases for cash to look the other way), then the problems will not go away and bass will collapse again. The best solution will only be “no sale” of wild striped bass and a size creel (for example one fish over 36 inches and one fish under) as who the hell “needs” 2 bass over 20 pounds if they aren’t selling or wasting them?
Sorry for the rant…………..JC
If anyone has a friend or relative in the EPA that may be a place to start. We could also start by posting the email address of the Gov. Of Virginia and some state reps. Then send them a few thousand emails. We can draw attention to something that is highly illegal. If someone wants to take some pics or video of the slaughter that is going on, you can down load them on utube and post the link. Some of the manufactures of our lures and equipment can get involved. They would only be paying themselfs forward. I would pay another .35 cents every time I bought a piece of equipment if I new it went towards fighting the illegal poaching going on down south. I saw the post from cow hunter and was shocked when I read it. I have forgotten about it to be perfectly honest. We need to keep this at front of mind. Its one of those things that seems inconceivable so we try to forget about it. Like a bad crime you see on the news. But that’s human nature. I also heard the captains take a pool and if the feds try to stop the fleet on boat will take the hit, and the rest flee. The pool of money from the other boats pays the fine. Thats just not right.
Here’s a website with all the contact information you should need for all the states in the Mid-Atlantic fisheries management zone.
http://www.mafmc.org/
I’m with you salty.I guess we didn’t learn much from our last moratorium.Its like some times you feel like you have to brake a 2×4 over peoples heads to get them to learn.It really stinks.There legal system down there must stink as well if there not doing any thing about it.
I have written letters and sent emails to my State Reps. I never hear anything back. The only way they respond to something is if it will create bad publicity for them or if it has an affect on them to get re-elected. Pictures need to be taken and mailed to the governors in NC and VA. These pictures also need to be highly publicized along with a story in the newspapers. If you get someone in the newspapers to do this then the story will get out there
I will take the time at the Worcester show next week to speak with some of the ASA people. I’m sure they can help get us to the right place to start a campaign…If not throw their weight behind this stuff like they do the excise etc.
Cut n pasted off this site below!
http://www.virginiafishing.com/default.htm
*STRIPER REGULATIONS POLL*
Currently there is a possible proposition to allow an extension along the Virginia territorial water limit from 3 miles out (from the coast line) to 12 miles out (from the coast line) during Striper season. This would allow catches of Striped Bass to be legal within 12 miles of the coast line.
This has not been passed yet, however this information will be shown when the meeting is held to aide in their decision of extending or not extending the territorial limit.
The current Atlantic Ocean limit in Virginia is 2 Striper per person, each fish must be 28″ or over, and all fish must be caught within the 3 mile limit from the Virginia coast line. Please choose which option you agree with.
*NOTE*
This poll has nothing to do with increasing the size or the bag limit of Striper. This is only for extending the VA Territorial water limit from 3 miles to 12 miles.
PLEASE CHOOSE ONE:
Make the changes to the territorial limit. Change the regulations. 2 fish per person,
28″ +, and up to 12 miles off the beach.
Keep the regulations as they are.
No change is required. 2 fish per person,
28″ +, and within 3 miles off the beach.
Thanks to 179 on SB
NC Division of Marine Fisheries:
Director’s Office: Via E-mail: Catherine.Blum@ncdenr.gov
Marine Patrol OBX-Va-line email: Donovan.Twyne@ncdenr.gov
I will be sending emails to both of these people today. I invite everyone else to do the same. Also sending a copy of this to ASA and will follow up with them next week.
I’m not sure what’s changed down there, but I remember last year or the year before the authorities (coast guard, enviro. cops?) were set up out at the 3-mile line & were handing out summonses to those caught fishing in and/or returning with fish from the EEZ.
One place to start might be asking these guys what’s going on in Virginia (with an e-mail).
This website list contact information for the Virginia Marine Police Officers. Officers are responsible for the enforcement of commercial and recreational fishery laws and regulations.
There appears to be four main coastal enforcement areas. The field survey officers are probable the guys who attempt to enforce.
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/mrc-field-offices.shtm
Virginia recommends general regulatory and information questions be submitted by email to web.
info@mrc.virginia.gov
…of course you never know what you’re going to get when you stir the pot…
Email done. I strongly invite others to do the same to the above addresses.
It has come to my and many others attention that there is a large amount of poaching going on off the coast of NC and VA in Federal waters/Exclusive Economic Zone. There seems to be no enforcement of the fishing regulations while these people are removing hundreds if not thousands of pre-spawning female striped bass (rockfish) from the biomass. It has been noted by a number of individuals that these poachers are actually running a weekly pool if caught the pool goes to whomever is stopped and fined. This is disgusting and would like to voice my displeasure at these actions.
It is my and many others views that this fishery is in trouble for a number of reasons, including the daily take limits that are passed by some states in excess. This fishery collapsed some years ago and it’s going to happen again if something isn’t done about it.
Some things for you to look at:
http://www.virginiafishing.com/default.htm I would invite you to scroll through their daily catches..knowing that many people have said in recent weeks that there have been no fish located inshore..that the main biomass of fish is located offshore and has been proven by charts and radar plots.
http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/stripertalk/61706-stripers-fed-waters.html
http://surfcastersjournal.com/blog/?p=1421&cpage=1#comment-2777
Can someone step up to the plate here and do something? This is going to have a major effect on the future of this fishery.. and it’s a shame to sit idly by and let it happen. Your state as well as others has a very large stake in the future of these fish. Tourism, etc will all be affected. I plan to have a discussion with the American Sportfishing Association and the marine fisheries council people on this subject also, but urge you to stop this wanton recklessness.
Sincerely,
Scott R Bullock
Owner
Salty’s Wooden Lures
36 Deanna Dr
Uxbridge Ma 01569
Va Marine Resources contact: John.Bull@mrc.virginia.gov
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/staffdirectory.shtm
At this point the EEZ restriction is our only defense,so there’s an obvious need for some serious enforcement, not just a slap on the wrist. Even legal charters catch and kill an awful lot of trophies. If the fishery is destroyed, who will buy all that high end recreational equipment on the market – the expensive rod, reels and custom lures? The recreational sector contributes million to the economy.
All the new fancy fishing equipment, getting more expensive every year. We arent going to need it the way fishing is going. Start selling it now. If you wait until the fishing is gone, no one is going to buy it.
Guys Im with anyone 100%, who stop wrong fully take of any fish,
However be sure it`s elegal, as we know accoding sec#
11-0110 prohibits anyone from stopping [interfaring] with taken wild life legally! Including posting picture`s, statment flasely acuseing them [charters].
If you got the right info [proff] forward to DEC of that state!
I’m w salty & mad medic. This is wrong I’m gonna try to call fox & glen beck in the meantime tell us how to stop this who & where to make complaints
Looks like another moratorium is in our future.
Do people really think that any kind of fish and wildlife has bountless limits?
These people are ruining SB fishing for the whole east coast. Thanks a lot Federal Law enforcement for nothing, while our balls get busted for mandatory free registration.
Looks like state licenses won’t be needed in the future either.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention Zeno!!
i would caution you not to make statements for which you have no proof. Robert has a point. This was meant to make you aware of s-b.com discussion.
I would also suggest that you contact whatever conservation organization you belong to and voice your concerns. I must be one of the most naive people in this world…part of me still refuses to belive that this can happen or is happening
hows a commercial fisherman to make an actual living? Thats my question, I am not for the raping of the ocean but in someways these guys are just trying to make money to pay for their family and whatnot(wow thats gonna piss people off).
Harv you said it !!!! I see on the news (Fox) That they are planning on a complete ban on Blue Fin Tuna harvest. This is a proposal on behalf of the United Nations, however japan is protesting, go figure, anyways, the Atlanitc bluefin Biomass is under 20% of what it was 200 years ago. I think you are on the money by bringing this subject to public eye and I think that Glen Beck would def shine some light on this !!!!! Kevin
I just read a 4 page forum where people were ridiculing someone because they wanted to know the answer to whom was caught over the line with illegal fish. People in VA and NC look at the EEZ as if it were a joke apparently. I am disgusted.
I am not going to sit here and pound my chest and say I am Captain Conservation or tell you I have done everything I can to help. I wish I could do more and now is the time we all need to do one more thing.
Comms blame the Recs, Recs Blame the comms. Meanwhile the Biomass will suffer while everyone points the finger at some one else. What we need to do is point the finger at our selves and do what we can. “There isn’t enough enforcement” “Omega Protein has congressmen in their pocket” “I caught a ton of fish last year”"Fishery management is the NMFS and ASMFC’ job” (look how well they have done managing BFT, Ground Fish, and how did we wind up in a moratorium in the first place)
A pile of excuses I have made them I am done making them. We all need to change our attitudes we all need to speak up for this sport this fish it is what makes us go sleepless and it is why we are all here reading this.
Sorry To Rant that forum through me over the edge.
Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding striped bass harvest occurring off the coast of North Carolina.
State jurisdiction extends out to three miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and federal jurisdiction runs from three to 200 miles offshore. This includes the federal area of jurisdiction, the Exclusive Economic Zone or the EEZ. The striped bass harvest you discuss is occurring in the EEZ, and falls under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
Please know we take fishery resource violations seriously and work closely with management partners at the local, state and federal levels. We have forwarded your inquiry to NMFS law enforcement. If you would like to contact NMFS directly regarding this matter, please contact NMFS Enforcement Agent Joe Wilson at joe.wilson@noaa.gov
There’s the guy to complain to.
And now comes the part that we always hear from ALL of our Governmental Agencies; “Yes we are aware of the problem, but we are so under manned and under funded”. So they will do nothing. And then there will come a moratorium. And only us honest law abiding citizens will conform. It’s not the criminals that are killing us. It’s the people we pay our taxes to, end of rant.
Send the email and post the results….
THIS REALLY SUCKS TO HEAR. I FEEL LIKE THE INDIAN IN THE COMMERCIAL WHERE HE IS OVERLOOKING ALL OF THE LITTERED LAND & HE HAS A TEAR COMMING DOWN HIS EYE. MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A COMMERCIAL WITH A SURFCASTER OVERLOOKING A COMMERCIAL BOAT SLAUGHTERING OUR STRIPED BASS FISHERY. WHAT HAPPENED TO CATCH & RELEASE. VERY DEPRESSING.