Should we start talking about making Striped Bass a Game Fish in Maryland?

I know recreational anglers poach, there is no question about that, and I am not minimizing their impact, at the same time a gill net can wipe out a heck of a lot striped bass and a commerical violation when using a net really can wipe out a whole school of fish. Just leads me to ask, should we start talking about making Striped Bass a game fish in Maryland.

As a side not I would say that if we were able to do this that none of the commercial quota go to the recreational “allocation”, it should go nowhere to allow more stripers to stay in the water which will help increase the population and especially allow for fish to get larger.

Below is from the news wire form yesterday (the counties are in Maryland that are on the Chesapeake Bay for those out of state reading this) :

Kent County – On Friday, February 20, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged two Rock Hall men with striped bass commercial fishing violations in the Chesapeake Bay near Rock Hall. The charges are the result of an investigation that started in mid January of this year.

John F. Riggs, 42, and Stephen L. Tyer, 27, both of Rock Hall were each charged with four counts of improperly marking gill nets when fishing for striped bass; four counts of unlawful use of anchored gill net; four counts of unattended gill nets and two counts of fishing for striped bass with gill net during restricted time. Riggs was also charged with three counts of possession of fish whose size or weight cannot be determined and one count of possession of striped bass in excess of 36 inches total length.

The two men were allegedly fishing several illegally set gill nets in the area of Swan Point and Hodges Bar in the Chesapeake Bay on Jan. 12. Officers boarded the men’s vessel and located three striped bass whose tails had been altered to make the fish appear to be smaller in length and one striped bass in excess of 36 inches total length. A court date of March 26 has been scheduled for the individuals in Kent County District Court.

A gill net is a net used for the commercial harvest of fish. The net is maintained in a vertical position in the water with sinkers or floats. The net captures fish by means of a mesh too small to permit passage of the body of the fish or withdrawal of the head once the posterior margin of the gill covers has passed through the mesh.

A drift gill net is a net not secured to or anchored to the bottom, including a net rigged with up to 20 pounds of weight at each end. These nets must be attended by the licensee in a boat within two miles of the net while it is in waters of the Chesapeake Bay, or within one mile when the net is in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, its coastal bays and their tributaries, or a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. A drift gill net may not be set before 3 a.m. and shall be retrieved and in the boat by 6 p.m.

An anchor gill net is a net that is stationary in the water and secured to the bottom by conventional anchors or heavy weights.

Kent County – On Monday, February 23, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Rock Hall man with striped bass commercial fishing violations at the mouth of the Chester River. The charges are the result of an investigation that started Feb. 10.

Daniel L. Dierker, 30, of Rock Hall was charged with failure to have commercial tidal fish license in possession; failure to have allocation permit in possession; failure to tag striped bass prior to landing; failure to have commercial tidal fish license transfer paperwork in possession; five counts of possession of striped bass in excess of 36 inches total length; possession of fish whose size or weight cannot be determined; fail to check in striped bass as required; willfully acting in a manner that disturbed the public peace; and fail to obey a reasonable and lawful order made by a law enforcement officer to prevent disturbance of the public peace.

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, NRP observed Dierker allegedly setting several illegal anchored gill nets at the mouth of the river. Surveillance was maintained on Dierker’s vessel as it returned to the Rock Hall Harbor; however he and his crew were able to exit the vessel and hide before officers approached.

NRP maintained surveillance on the vessel and on Wednesday, Feb.11, Dierker was observed going to his vessel and retrieving striped bass. Officers met Dieker at a local seafood dealer in Rock Hall where he was attempting to sell the striped bass. Through their investigation, officers located striped bass whose tails had been altered to make the fish appear to be smaller in length and five striped bass in excess of 36 inches total length. A court date of April 30 has been scheduled for Dierker in Kent County District Court.

NRP also charged Dierker with unlawful use of anchored gill net in the Chester River near Piney Point in Queen Anne’s County. This charge is connected to an incident that occurred on Dec. 18, 2008. A court date of April 29 has been scheduled for Dierker in Queen Anne’s County District Court.

NRP had charged Dierker along with William M. Ashley III, 30, and Anthony Vandewal, 42, all of Rock Hall on Jan. 11 of this year for fishing for striped bass with gill net during restricted time; unlawful use of anchored gill net; improperly marking gill nets and unattended gill nets in the Chester River near Piney Point in Kent County.

The three men were allegedly fishing gill nets during the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 18 when NRP boarded their vessel. Dierker was also charged with failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer and littering upon the waters of the State after he cut a line attached to an anchor at the end of one of the nets. NRP seized as evidence one box of stretched mesh gill net, five anchors, one drag bar and 385 pounds of striped bass. A court date of March 26 has been scheduled for the individuals in Kent County District Court.

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