We donated a S-25 to the Gill net at the Bay side of the 4th on Tuesday. We thought we were good, but obviously not. Alot of bouys in many different directions, some with flags, some without, some look like bumpers, some are bleach bottles. With the thick fog it you could not see one side from the other to tell which direction they were going.

My opinion is there should not be a gill net any where near that area.

Im confused, I thought the limit on commercial catches was the same as Rec?

Since the birds worked that area all day, im sure alot of bass got in there.

I don't think they should be allowed in the bay or even inside the 3 mile line. I don't remember seeing this many last year.

I believe the regulation is that they are not allowed with 500 yards of the CBBT. As for stripers, as far as I know they are not allowed to catch them using gill nets. I think they use them for croaker. I agree that they probably have alot of bycatch of stripers and other fish. Gillnets should be banned.

We were dodging their nets all last weekend. The boat we kept seeing working those nets was a North Carolina boat. What are they doing up here? I seriously doubt they are croaker fishing by the 3rd and 4th island. Everyone needs to keep their eyes open out there now.

they could be fishing for a number of different things. croaker, striper, sharks. Gils for striper are legal so long as the fisherman has tags for where the nets are located, IE: bay, or ocean. The tags changed this year from numbers of fish to lbs of fish. Not sure if there is a distance they have to be from CBBT but there is a distance from peirs they have to stay out of.

Gigolot is right they also should be 250 yards off the cbbt. There a couple of ways they can be marked square flag on one side and a triangle flag on the other side or a flag on one end and a orange ball on the other side if you need anymore info go to vmrc website and it will give all the regs.

everyone has a right to to fish ,nets, hook and line,longline,green stick etc.. we all need to respect each other.I dont agree with alot of types of comercial fishing but that does not give me the right to bash them either.

Your right about them having the right to do it, but they have so many bouys in one area you cannot tell which bouys the nets go to and from.

You see 2 bouys, think you know where the net is, you hang up and then see that there are more bouys out there.

You would think that gill netters would want to be more low key than to put nets up near the islands of the CBBT where everyone fishes.

You only have to look at other states to see what can happen to Gill netters. Im sure bashing them on this site is alot better than a all out banning of gill nets.

In my opinion, there should not be any gill nets!

They are netting summer flounder and landing them in carolina...summer flounder opened up down there around a week and a half or so ago. Pretty shady deal...as for the post about bashing them...do you truly think rec guys are responsible for the degradation of our fishery. BASH away.

I think they should give us fishermen so room to fish. I know there trying to make a living but we should be the ones catching the fish. Also it's unfair how the biggest stripers are always caught in the nets and we don't get a chance to catch them. Same with the other species.

You guys ever go out to eat ?? Do you think the commercial guys fish with squid and bottom rigs? The amount of fish caught here is a drop in the pan compared to alaska and canada. And thats just flounder. Chinese, argentenia, alaska, russia.. They all trawl, Gill net, pound net, etc etc. Gotta have that fish for captn swanky's fried platter.

Follow Florida and ban them in state waters. It has done wonders for thier fisheries.

You should not blame sombody fishes for a liveing for you inablity fish. If you ever go into a tackel shop and buy CHUM, MENHADDEN, MULLET, AND SHAD just to name a few you have NO right to say anything about a gillnet cause 9 times out of 10 thats how they were caught.

interesting topic.. gill net may be bad but the issue here is that lately the nets have been closer to the islands and bridges.. late oct. i was casting the second around 10pm and watched a boat drop a net from the corner of the north bay side across the drop off and just take off. buoys were black.. went to the 3rd and came back that way around 1am it was gone.?? anyway this year the nets seem to be a lot closer.

Yeah

I would not have cared so much if there were not a half dozen bouys in such a close area that I could not look at them and make a good judgement as to where I was safe to drag my lures that cost me good money.

Whew! I was really begining to think it was my inability to determine where the nets were. I have landed into them the past 3 trip, loosing the whole spread every time....OUCH!

Those nets are not that well marked, and when you think your clear of them... think again.

This is definitly an interesting topic though.

Later,
Bobby

Jimbob,

Maybe you could give us a quick lesson on the required markings and how to figure out where the net is ( based on flags and buoy location) so that we won't lose tackle and won't complain so much. I must have been lucky because I fished all around the nets at the fourth and third without getting hung up.

--Brett

That don't matter, Chumming would not be needed it the bait and fish wern't raped and taken from the water.
Alot of these guys have been on the water fishing longer than some gil netters, and I think they know how to fish.

(Lets compair it to hunting. We go into the woods with a shot gun that is pluged. And the gil netters follow in behind us, or go in before and they are carrying a machjne gun.
Actually its like we have a bow. But when they start shooting up the woods, we don't have much chance of seeing anything. Thats what ticks us off.
NOT THAT OUR SKILLS NEED HONING)

Jack

I read the VMRC regs, it's pretty basic. A bouy with a flag marked with a bouy and a flag or just a bouy on the other end of the net. Numbers on the bouy's to let you know whos they are.

In the fog mind you, but it might not have mattered. We would see 2 bouys, OK net between the 2, good, dont run between, got it. Next thing you know we see that there are more and more bouys, then we snag a net. But the birds are all up in that area. So we cast to them for then on.

No big deal, They are doing their legal fishing and I lost one 10 dollar lure to their net, no big deal. I lost 2 other 10 dollar lures that day because Im an idiot.

Ill get off my soap box.

Brett
There a couple of ways they can be marked square flag on one side and a triangle flag on the other side or a flag on one end and a orange ball on the other side.
Eric
Sorry for the rant on your thread just every time the topic comes up it goes straight to this I was not out there so I can`t say if they were set legal or not I know it always chaps peoples ass when they lose tackel or feel like they are being taken advantage of. I dont know if you read the other regs about distance apart from each other if the are in the same line or if they aint . Anybody wants that info can go to mrc.state.va.us in it has its own section pertaining to nets. If they arent set right call vmrc I can gurantee they will check out the situation

No problem Jimmy, just a friendly debate.

Im going to put my numbers on my lures so the netters can return them to me.

I'm sad to say I'm losing sympathy for the commercial guys anymore. Anytime recreational anglers want to speak out it's seen as whining and complaining about unsuccessful fishing, then we're told we are un-american for trying to take a stand against hard working people, even though their practices may be less than ethical and without any consideration of others. The law favors the commercial guy, which only stirs the pot. There are laws restricting comm. fishing, but even more protecting their gear and fishing grounds.
A commercial boat can make your life hell with no consequences, but the reverse is hardly true. I've watched a gillnet set go out 50 yards behind me on the shoals (last spring), I've seen a commercial boat jigging kings come right off the transom of a boat kite fishing for sails and make quick work of $50 in goggle eyes (so its not just here) and not even an apology. It's like we're fishing in their waters. Get caught pulling up a gill net to get your mojo's back and see what happens. Federal court is what happens.
Some mutual respect would be nice, and more conspicuously marking gear is the least that can be asked. Keeping commercial gear well clear of high pressure recreational fishing areas, cbbt, should be common sense.

To their favor, we probably see the gear of the least considerate netters most often and wrongly assume they're all so careless.

Fishing is a luxury. Commercial guys are FISHING for a LIVING..... It is not whining for the rec guys to speak up....I come home with a trophy almost every time I go fishing, so it is not a matter of knowledge or skill either. (please don't take that as an invitation into an ongoing thread fued, but a certain comment seemed like it was generated under the presumption that everyone on this board is an amateur other than it's author) I completely agree with a couple of the previous posts in that it is hard to find yourself lower on the totem pole than the commercial guy, that is not whining. That is concern with how and why the rules are established. Additionally, someone mentioned earlier how it is for food and chum etc. Thanks for letting us in on the big secret. Lets say it one more time: commercial guys are FISHING for a LIVING. Anyone who wants to throw the references around about how they have it so rough let's ask ourselves one more time what fishing and eating fish is....that's right- a LUXURY!

I am a amateur Gil Netter !! But i am a professional used striper lure dealer.

Grrrrrrrrr........

Little Dingy
Fishing for rec = luxury, fishing for commercial=job. Dont be scared to call someone out I never said anybody was a amateur there is a vary long list of people on this site that can fish better than me. As far as your totem pole I have always said crap roles down hill do a search of topics related to this and see who gets craped on the most. Its all good though I got thick skin and actualy enjoy topics like this. Also good for you on your trophies I got a gold star for you .
nothingtolose your not unamerica but your comment cant be more true(To their favor, we probably see the gear of the least considerate netters most often and wrongly assume they're all so careless.)

Jimbob, Don't want to call anyone out cuz that makes it personal. It's not personal. Opinions are like a-holes right. I have worked gill nets myself on the Potomac. It is hard work. How hard of a job it is is irrelevant though. There is just something fundamentally wrong with the guy making money off of the fish being a higher priority than everyone else. That said, I also understand it is a livlihood. It is just easier to toughen rules on the rec guys because... how much will they really suffer? Either way, right now I ain't worried about the regs keeping me from fishin, I am worried about the weather. GO SKINS