Stripers Over the Line

[Billfish715]

In some really "sporty" conditions on Sunday, we found some big stripers. We wanted to stay away from the crowds on the beach so we kept plodding offshore to the 3 mile line where we found bait but not the fish we were looking for. So, we kept going and soon found the birds and the fish. By this time we were well offshore of the line. It didn't matter because we were okay with catch and release. The fish at times were stacked up on top in big patches as they slurped tiny rainfish. It was tough to get on them before they would go down, but when we could, the stripers would take shads or poppers as soon as they hit the water. Several of the schools were so densely packed that they turned the water brown. We chased scattered schools of bass for over an hour in some very rough conditions casting to them with spinning tackle. These were all large fish with our biggest taping out at 42". The steep troughs and building seas had us leave the fish biting and head inshore where we found whales and porpoises harassing schools of bunkers. If anyone is looking for the missing inshore stripers, look offshore and think about fishing for sport and not for supper. My guess is that these fish might just keep heading south just outside the three mile line on their way to Virginia.

[shrimpman steve]

You may want to be careful. I believe that you can't even target for C&R over the line.

I could be wrong thou

[Chrisper4694]

You may want to be careful. I believe that you can't even target for C&R over the line.

I could be wrong thou

This is my understanding as well. Just say you were targeting blues and those pesky stripers kept getting on you!

[SaltLife1980]

Dont get what the big deal is about fishing for them over 3 miles out. If you are doing catch and release whats the harm??

[Billfish715]

Oops! I just checked on the NOAA site and finally found the federal regulation wording. There is a closed season and possession of striped bass is prohibited. The wording indicates that the regulations for 2016 are:

Unchanged for 2015
Striped Bass *******************
Illegal to fish for or possess in federal waters
*******************

You're right. Those pesky striped bass kept us from catching the bluefish we were after!

[Billfish715]

Dont get what the big deal is about fishing for them over 3 miles out. If you are doing catch and release whats the harm??

There is no harm but the coast guard (feds.) aren't really in the business of assessing "intent" when it comes to fishing for a prohibited species. They really aren't in the business of checking recreational fishing boats while they are fishing, unless directed by their superiors to do so. They have much more important things to do. Retaining one of those stripers is where the line should be drawn between what is legal and what is illegal.

On another note, those same fish will be targeted by the commercial netters off North Carolina and Virginia when they come inshore. Just saying!

[chrislars]

Dont get what the big deal is about fishing for them over 3 miles out. If you are doing catch and release whats the harm??

The harm could come in potential gut hooks, or stress to the fish. We all know they are pretty hardy and usually swim away, but there is always a chance of killing a fish by accident :-/

[Oceanroamer]

Just curious...What is the fine for a bass over the line since it's federal. I have asked and called the Coast Guard and they just send you to extension after extension and say, "Don't do it." It's kind of embarressing that they don't know what their fines are. I wanted to know in large part to settle a bet. It's not something I do.

And how do they fine you if you have none in your cooler. How do they know intent.

I would like to know more details that's all.

[capt richie]

He was looking for bluefish and bass ate his shads.....go trump

[capt richie]

just curious...what is the fine for a bass over the line since it's federal. I have asked and called the coast guard and they just send you to extension after extension and say, "don't do it." it's kind of embarressing that they don't know what their fines are. I wanted to know in large part to settle a bet. It's not something i do.

And how do they fine you if you have none in your cooler. How do they know intent.

I would like to know more details that's all.

100$ a fish dont ask me how i know lol

[Billfish715]

The harm could come in potential gut hooks, or stress to the fish. We all know they are pretty hardy and usually swim away, but there is always a chance of killing a fish by accident :-/

Don't take this the wrong way, but there will always be a percentage of fish killed by caring fishermen who release them. Those fish become part of the food chain and life goes on. How many stripers are gut hooked when they inhale a bunker that is impaled on a weighted treble hook? Catch and release while outside the 3 mile line is no different than the catch and release that is going on in Raritan Bay, the Hudson River, the Bight, or anywhere inside the line. Imagine having to stop fishing after catching one 28" striper. That would end the possibility of killing an accidentally gut-hooked fish. Try to sell that to a chater client! Except fishing for stripers in the ocean, the back bays and rivers are closed to striper fishing during the winter. Does it mean I can't fish?

The Feds are well-intentioned about protection of striped bass but simply can't enforce the regulations as they are currently written. Their best asset in their protection is the ethics of each fisherman who also want to protect the stripers. Those of us who practice catch and release care about the species and also see the folly of setting an invisible line which is difficult to patrol and almost impossible to enforce.

[pgoins]

As I remember it stated that you were NOT allowed to "target" them outside the EEZ. So if you're C&R. You are breaking the law.

[NoLimit]

I saw a coast guard cutter standing by while an inflatable was boarding a sportfisher. I think someone said they were checking for stripers (when the run started a couple weeks ago). This was at the mouth of the Shrewsbury.

[Billfish715]

So when there is an all-out striper bite on the NY side of the bay or Ambrose on December 16th, do the NJ boats have to stop at the state line because the NY season is closed? The state conservation officers are much more able to enforce the boundary regulations than the Feds are. Think about the logistics of enforcing the 3 mile line regulations. Do you get boarded out there? Do you get escorted to port so your coolers can be checked? Again, the Coast Guard has better things to do. When I weigh my moral conscience in these matters, I don't feel the least bit upset about my choices. Other than a government agency saying it's wrong to fish for stripers over the invisible line, what am I doing wrong by catching and releasing them?

Fishing over the line is a personal choice as is keeping a striper from outside the 3 mile line. Catching a fluke during the closed season while fishing for seabass is the same thing. If you keep the fish, you are in the wrong. If you were targeting seabass and caught the fluke, would that be any different than catching and releasing a striper in a restricted area while targeting bluefish? It's an unenforceble rule that begs to be reworded and reexamined if it is to be obeyed. The more the government gets involved, the more convoluted the situation becomes.

[RBC67]

There is no harm but the coast guard (feds.) aren't really in the business of assessing "intent" when it comes to fishing for a prohibited species. They really aren't in the business of checking recreational fishing boats while they are fishing, unless directed by their superiors to do so. They have much more important things to do. Retaining one of those stripers is where the line should be drawn between what is legal and what is illegal.

On another note, those same fish will be targeted by the commercial netters off North Carolina and Virginia when they come inshore. Just saying!

The CG was in the shop today handing out flyers stating you can't fish them in Federal waters, catch and release included

[Billfish715]

The CG was in the shop today handing out flyers stating you can't fish them in Federal waters, catch and release included

There is always an"Or Else". So what is the "Or Else"? If they want to check us when we are inside the line, that's okay. If they check us while we are fishing for bluefish outside the line, that's harassment. This is a slippery slope. Of course, their explanation will be that they are conducting a safety check. A small boat without GPS is screwed. How do they recognize the line? Again, I'll agree that possessing a striped bass beyond 3 miles is indefensible; yet, releasing stripers as bluefish by-catch is certainly within my rights.

[hammer4reel]

There is always an"Or Else". So what is the "Or Else"? If they want to check us when we are inside the line, that's okay. If they check us while we are fishing for bluefish outside the line, that's harassment. This is a slippery slope. Of course, their explanation will be that they are conducting a safety check. A small boat without GPS is screwed. How do they recognize the line? Again, I'll agree that possessing a striped bass beyond 3 miles is indefensible; yet, releasing stripers as bluefish by-catch is certainly within my rights.


seen it happen many times. If you are beyond the 3 mile line and continue to catch stripers ( while claiming to be fishing for anything else) and you arent catching any of the OTHER fish, they will board your boat for a safty check. and it WONT be a 5 minute one.

If you move around as though you were trying to avoid the bass , they usually wont bother you as much.

While I dont agree with it, the EZ is a spot they want no intrusion into the fishes movements.

and at times there have been so many boats out there that the Coast Guard doesnt tolerate it as many still are taking fish from there.

also if your catching fish out there, they shouldnt even be removed from the water to unhook them. yet guys need those hero shots and keep the fish out of the water in a protected zone.

Fine line, yet its still Black and white , not gray.


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