Quote:
Originally Posted by reds
Maybe you can ask the Coast Guard to release photos and info on the citations issued this winter for the recs caught fishing over the 3 mile line. 300,000 to 800,000 big fish are caught and kept in that fishery every winter.
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Coast Guard and other officials basically turn their back on the fishery because it books hotels, fills restaurants, packs charterboats, keeps marinas busy, causes tons of fuel to be purchased, etc. in areas that where near ghost towns not to long ago. The economic impact of striped bass is far greater as a sport fish and now they talk about increasing the coastal commercial quota, potentially at the expense of the recreational fishery. That is foolishness and poor management... (not that I am saying the illegal eez fishing is ok, just pointing out facts)
Besides, I would think that Chesapeake Bay watermen would be against the increased coastal commercial quota. All it stands to do is drive down the value of the fish by potentially putting more on the market and giving them more competition.
