A Virginia waterman was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to one year and one day in prison and a $4,000 fine and was ordered to make $40,000 in restitution for his part in the largest striped bass poaching case in the history of the Chesapeake Bay.With family and friends watching, Thomas Hallock, 48, ofContinue reading "Virginia waterman sentenced in poaching case"

Call them rockfish, rock, stripers or striped bass, but Morone saxatilis is back to spawn in the Chesapeake Bay and area anglers are out in force for the striped bass season that began Saturday, April 18. During the trophy season that runs through May 15, anglers may catch one striped bass per day measuring overContinue reading "Striped Bass Season Begins"

The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament has started publishing all citation catch applications on its Web site with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.It's a great place to see who has caught what. Virginia Pilot Online Virginia Citation Report Citation catches ... Only at The Pilot | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

It all came together as never before. Bay and air temperatures were warming nicely, fuel prices were low enough that fishermen could afford to fill their tanks, stripers were spread out the length of Maryland's share of the Chesapeake, there was little if any breeze, and it all added up to what was likely theContinue reading "Outdoors: Boats, catch are plentiful as rockfish season opens • Sports – Outdoors (www.HometownAnnapolis.com – The Capital)"

Beautiful day. Boats with fishing rods sprouting from their tops and sides cutting deep white V's into the water. People smiling and waving.It's opening day of the spring striped bass season, the end of winter and the beginning of another wonderful run of fishing.So why am I so bummed out? In trial's dark shadow, openingContinue reading "In trial’s dark shadow, opening day of fishing provides hope"

Bass continue to headline the early spring season, though tautog anglers are out in force trying to land their fair share of whitechins before the season closes on May 1. The first reports of black drum entering Delaware Bay have come in, and the bay has been the spot to find keeper-sized bass as theyContinue reading "South Jersey Report"

The people who know the bay best said there are plenty of fish in the sea - it's the fishermen who might be scarce this time around. Plenty of rockfish, fewer fisherman • Top Stories (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital)

Saturday is the big day as Maryland's spring trophy striped bass season opens in the main stem of the Chesapeake. Courtesy Photo Jim Kasper, skipper of Morning Angel, with a 35-inch striped bass taken on a white Bernie Michael Bullet Nose bucktail with 6-inch Sassy Shad added at the Bay Bridge. The fish was released.Continue reading "Outdoors: Peak rockfish trophy outlook spawns for Chesapeake"

Jennette's Pier at Whalebone Junction has escaped another close call, this time with the budget knife. With officials from the North Carolina Aquariums - the pier's owner - holding their breath, the governor signed legislation late Tuesday that provides existing storm-water funds for construction of a new pier and pier house. Push to rebuild N.C.Continue reading "Push to rebuild N.C. pier reaches success with state funds"

First the Tiki Bar opens and right on its heels comes the opening of Rockfish trophy season on the Chesapeake Bay. Soon it will be golf tournament season and summer will be heading into full swing, temperatures will rise and fresh home grown veggies will improve local diets.   Rockfish Season Opens on Saturday, AprilContinue reading "Rockfish Season Opens on Saturday April 18"

  NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers Brendan Gaughan and Scott Wimmer went from behind the wheel to behind the reel yesterday off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. In the area to promote the Lipton Tea 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday, May 1, the drivers had an adventurous excursion inContinue reading "NASCAR – NNS: Drivers Invade Chesapeake Bay"

There's a storm brewing on North Carolina's coast. Fuel costs, cheap imported seafood and the high cost of living and doing business have put a black cloud over the heads of many fishermen. Compounding matters, federal and state fishery managers have been struggling to identify the best way to protect fish that fishermen like toContinue reading "A better way to fish for North Carolina Striped Bass"

Jerry Decatur Sr., of Stafford, Va., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Friday to illegally harvesting and overharvesting rockfish, also called striped bass. Kenneth Dent, of Dumfries, Va., pleaded guilty Friday to one count of trafficking in illegal rockfish. 2 more men guilty in rockfish case • Public Record (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital)

The 52nd annual Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which opened Jan. 1 and runs throughout the year, has no modifications in its popular citation program "The Tournament Committee felt the current citation standards were at appropriate levels, so they recommended no adjustments to the program for the coming year," stated Tournament Director Lewis Gillingham. Virginia stateContinue reading "Virginia state fishing tourney is in full swing"

Got Word from Max @ Virginia Beach Contender that all paperwork is complete and waiting on affidavits to be official. Greg Bait Shack has the Fish unitl tomorrow and Long Bay Point will have it after 2:00pm on Sat. and  all day Sunday. Then it's off to VMRC Research Science Program on Monday.   StillContinue reading "NOW NEW PENDING WOLD RECORD BLUELINE TILEFISH"

FRYING PAN SHOALS, NC - A lighthouse platform complete with living quarters 25 miles off the coast of North Carolina has recently been sold by the federal government to a private company that plans to turn it into a fishing and diving center.   Raleigh Telegram

  The major change for flounder fishermen in the coastal bays area this spring and summer will be an increase in the minimum length for a keeper, from 17.5 to 18 inches. The creel limit of three fish per angler a day will remain the same, but the fall fishing season will be eliminated. 'Small'Continue reading "‘Small’ change makes big splash among anglers"

Anglers will get to catch smaller striped bass in the Delaware Bay and Delaware River this year, but there is a rub. The lower size limit, possibly as small as 20 inches, will be legal only in Delaware and Pennsylvania. New Jersey waters will be stuck with the 28-inch minimum fish size that has beenContinue reading "Confusion may be catch of day for striper anglers"

The Atlantic menhaden fishery has been a fixture along the Atlantic coast for more than a century, delivering economic stability to otherwise depressed areas and providing a multitude of products that has helped to improve our lives. Our say: This Week's Take: Menhaden talk should focus on science • Environment (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital)

About 600,000 pounds of rockfish with a retail value of $3 million to $7 million were handled by a ring that trafficked fish from the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, law enforcement officials said in early February. Chesapeake Bay Journal: Value of rockfish poached from Bay, Potomac set at $3 million to $7 million -Continue reading "Chesapeake Bay Journal: Value of rockfish poached from Bay, Potomac set at $3 million to $7 million – March 2009"

ROGER SPENCER likes to log on to TidalFish.com every day just to see "where they're bitin' and what they're bitin' on." Fredericksburg.com - Web site has anglers hooked

Fishing line is one of the most important tools in the sport. Trouble is, it needs to be changed regularly - leaving the problem of what to do with the old stuff. Va. agencies tie into fishing line recycling effort | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

  More for the record books from the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for February. From Thailand to Key West, anglers are landing fish they hope are for the record books. NetNewsledger.com - Hot February Fishing Records

THE VIRGINIA Saltwater Fishing Tournament announced that 5,752 trophy-size fish were caught for Citation awards during 2008, the eighth-highest total since the tournament began in 1958. Fredericksburg.com - Citation-worthy fish grow

  A fish wholesaler, its owner and an employee have all pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for the illegal purchase and sale of striped bass from the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River from 2003 through 2007, the Justice Department announced today. Cannon Seafood Inc., its owner and president RobertContinue reading "District of Columbia Seafood Company, Owner and Employee Plead Guilty to Federal Trafficking Charges"

Amid growing demand for temporary guest workers nationwide, only one of Maryland's 21 seafood processing plants was able to get visas to bring the foreigners into the country this year. If Congress does not move quickly to make more available, other processors say they won't open this spring. And the loss of a year's income,Continue reading "A shortage of hands"

The bust of an illegal rockfish ring in southern Maryland has watermen wondering how the bust will impact the local industry. According to court documents, the watermen and a seafood dealer are accused of buying and selling 600,000 pounds of rockfish or striped bass between 2003 and 2007. The fish, if sold legally, would haveContinue reading "Watermen Applaud Illegal Rockfish Ring Bust"

Financially strapped Virginia watermen are a step closer to getting the $10 million in federal funds appropriated for crab fisheries disaster relief. In action taken last fall another $10 million was approved for Maryland watermen. Northern Neck News

John Miller, a Newport News Democrat, has introduced a seemingly innocent bill, SB1087, which passed the Senate unanimously and this week begins its House journey. The goal of the bill is to expand the VMRC from eight members to 10, and to add two watermen to the panel. There is already plenty of opportunity forContinue reading "Don’t let watermen pack the fishing regulation panel"

Eastern District court records under seal until recently show that area watermen fished out of season using submerged nets for striped bass. They also altered and reused fish tags and sold illegal catches on the black market. Kenneth Dent, who owns property at 2014 Cherry Hill Road, and Jerry Decatur Jr. and Jerry Decatur, bothContinue reading "Rockfish sting hits three in Va."

Let’s get right to the point! The states of Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and New Jersey recognize the importance of protecting striped bass status as a game fish from both a recreational and revenue generating point of view. Legislation is currently pending in Massachusetts to accomplish the same goal. Connecticut has protected thisContinue reading "Commercial Fishing for Striped Bass? – Valley Courier"

More than half a dozen watermen have been snared in what is shaping up to be the largest fish-poaching case ever seen in the Chesapeake Bay region. Rockfish bust could have wide fallout - Environment - (HometownAnnapolis.com)

  The season on the Hudson River for stripped bass fishing runs from March 16 to November 30. No license is needed to fish on the river, but one is needed to fish on any of the tributaries leading into the Hudson. So, it to be careful if you do not have a license andContinue reading "Hudson River for stripped bass fishing runs from March 16 to November 30. No license is needed to fish"

Guides there set a lodge record last week, catching and releasing 95 marlin in a six-day period - breaking the previous mark of 76. Most were black marlin and several ranged in the 500- to 700-pound class.   Mates of the boat help Bryan Teabout, right, with a marlin he caught during a trip toContinue reading "Va. Beach man’s birthday bash was reel deal"

Virginia would spend $3 million in federal aid to buy back licenses from hundreds of watermen who agree to stop catching crabs from the Chesapeake Bay, according to a conservation plan proposed this week. Plan would pay watermen to give up crabbing | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Virginia Beach’s Kelly Williams angler landed a 25-pound longnose gar, measuring 53 1/2 inches in length and 18 1/2 inches in girth, from the Intracoastal Waterway near Coinjock on Jan. 30 while fishing with his neighbor Glenn Cooper. Record fish caught in Coinjock - Sports | DailyAdvance.com

A renewed effort to restrict striped bass to game fish status in Massachusetts is dividing recreational and commercial fishermen. Striped Bass Bill Divides Fishermen - 2/6/09 - Vineyard Gazette Online

New York City subway cars placed on the state's artificial fishing reef off this resort in April already are showing "unusual damage," a state spokeswoman says, and the program has been suspended. Subway cars in Atlantic City reef see 'unusual' damage

  Cory Routh, 35, is the new head of the Mid-Atlantic Heroes on the Water program, which helps rehabilitate wounded military troops. (Martin Smith-Rodden | The Virginian-Pilot file photo) Va. angler picked to head program for hurt troops | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

As if Maryland's watermen need more tsuris, now comes news that the feds have busted a big rockfish poaching ring that could curtail or even end their ability to make a living harvesting the state fish. Bay & Environment: More woes for watermen? - Bay & Environment is The Sun’s blog devoted to news aboutContinue reading "Bay & Environment: More woes for watermen?"

On the subject of commercial vs. recreational fishing, it is painfully obvious that Virginia state legislators don’t get it. Concerning commercial fishing, Virginia Senate doesn't get it - Inside Outside - Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News

Fisheries regulators who oversee Maryland's annual striped bass quota should delay any punishment until the conclusion of a state and federal undercover sting operation that broke up a major commercial black market, state natural resources officials said. Fishing infractions to be addressed after sting operation -- baltimoresun.com

If you ever want to make a bunch of sport anglers really mad, just let them see gill nets set in what they consider to be their reserved fishing holes. theherald-nc.com | Gill net anglers run afoul of inland fishing laws

State and federal investigators have broken up a black market involving watermen and fish dealers who sold millions of dollars' worth of striped bass, illegally taken from the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, to shops and restaurants across the country, according to court documents filed in federal court this week. Watermen charged in illegal stripedContinue reading "Watermen charged in illegal striped bass sales"

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has established eight marine protected areas encompassing a total of 529 square nautical miles in south Atlantic federal waters to shield deep-water fish species and their habitats from fishing. Fishing for snappers, groupers, tilefishes, grunts, porgies and sea basses is prohibited throughout the protected areas, which are located offContinue reading "Deep-water fish get protected areas from North Carolina to Florida:"

Element 21 Sports Company has developed award winning fishing products. Element 21's Carrot Stix(TM) represents the latest in cutting edge technology, using a newly developed proprietary method of integrating nano level cellulose bio-fibers into the rod. With sponsors like Boyd Duckett and many others on all the fishing tours, Element 21 fishing line is oneContinue reading "Element 21 Sports Company has developed award winning fishing products"

Rockfish: Though the 2008 Young of the Year Index was down appreciably, it won't affect striper numbers and availability this year. In the past year though record fuel prices severely impacted the effort, the catching wasn't bad. Pre-trophy (catch-and-release) fishing was very good, much of the spring trophy season was likewise and the fall migrationContinue reading "Outdoors: State record could be in forecast for ’09 anglers –"

A North Carolina congressman who tried to block strict new rules for driving on Outer Banks beaches last year is trying again. Republican Rep. Walter Jones said Wednesday that small businesses on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands are being hit by the economic downturn, but also by federal rules that bar or restrict access to someContinue reading "NC congressman wants beach driving rules loosened"

Suffolk couple accused of embezzling more than $2 million purchased a 42-foot fishing boat called the Matador, a $44,000 Lexus and two $32,000 Toyota FJ Cruisers, a federal indictment unsealed this week alleges. Karen A. Hiles and James G. Hiles are charged with conspiracy, uttering, mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.Continue reading "Indictment: Embezzlement funded Suffolk pair’s shopping spree"

A two-tiered guide license system was approved, one license open to all charter boats plying Virginia's saltwaters and the other limited in number but to be honored by Maryland as part of a reciprocal agreement that Maryland officials have tentatively accepted. The new licenses are on sale now. VMRC votes to open up Maryland watersContinue reading "VMRC votes to open up Maryland waters to Virginia charters"

From boat, pier and surf, anglers fishing North Carolina coastal waters have been ramping up catches of some saltwater species, including traditional favorites such as king mackerel, red drum and spotted seatrout. Anglers catch more fish in 2007 - Sports - News & Observer

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  Roger Blackburn, left, and Janice Doyle each wrestled with a rockfish off the Virginia Beach coast aboard The Waterman with Capt. Mike Standing.  Giant schools of the voracious predators produce a lot of simultaneous action. Flocks of gannets skimming over the water are a good clue as to where the rockfish can be found.Continue reading "Atlantic rockfish: These fish rock"

Members of the Island commercial fishing industry were on hand to express concern over a bill currently at the state house which would put harsher regulations on commercial fishing of striped bass. Buddy Vanderhoop, a longtime Island fisherman who said he makes 100 per cent of his income from the trade, said commercial fishing hasContinue reading "Lawmakers Confirm Cuts in Local Aid @ Vineyard"

In Florida, striped bass populations that thrive in the northern part of the state are decommercialized, which means that they cannot be commercially harvested and cannot be sold. Now Massachusetts lawmakers are considering similar conservation measures to protect their valuable stocks of the popular gamefish. Big Step for Striper Conservation

Virginia is considered by many to be one of the kingpins along the Atlantic Coast. For example, the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament last year again included an imposing list of entries by sport anglers. The tournament is a free annual contest in which anybody who matches or exceeds certain weights for a variety of speciesContinue reading "GENE MUELLER: Virginia a kingpin on Atlantic Coast"

The birds were flying in a frenzy off the mouth of the Chesapeake and Capt. Stu Burgoon Jr. swiftly piloted his 44-foot Hook Mash to where he figured the action was, but this time he was fooled. It wasn't striped bass that were under the gulls and gannets, it was a surfacing humpback whale wellContinue reading "Whale of good time in Atlantic"