Many people have been seen and are fishing over the 3 mile line. I know some of you guys are so called trying to make the hard living of fishing everyday, I wish I could say that because I also love to fish. I guess what I am saying is that law inforcement is now starting to use the eye in the sky to see the makes, color and names of your boats and also can watch you in real time reeling in and keeping of these fish that are completly closed to catching even for fun beyond the 3 mile line. Take it for someone in the business this is true and I have used it myself. I am giving everyone this warning that you will be and are be watched and this is becoming a big deal to the people who write the tickets and belive me they enjoy this new toy. Remember they can take more than just the fine money from you so think to yourself is 2 fish worth it? Take care and be safe and legal.

Thank you everyone is supposed to obey the law, I wish all the law breakers got burnt more than they do!

The poachers are even easy to spot on the board. When folks are fishing hard from Duck to Ship Shoal Inlet and every spot in between and mostly skunks or few fish, then a few come on with thier limits in 45 minuts back at docks at noon reports....well you know who you are.

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!! I fished from the State line to the green can and so did a few other boats in the Fleet.There were a few caught inside the fence to the south but you had to work for them. There was a hive about 5 miles off the beach but we didnt go there. The boats that fished the black can area seemed to do the best with legal fish. Frog Pile,Ocean pearl,Jenny Lee ,Top Notch all caught some nice Legal fish while I was nearby.It was really starting to turn on at about 330 PM. Damn it was COLD!!!

I will be glad when they really start fining them big money. This needs to be stopped. It is hard on people that follow the rules to see others cheat. I know that coast guard does not want to get a bad rep but they need to ticket instead of just nudge people back over the line. Guilty is guilty in my book

We fished waaaaay north this weekend for the Frostbite. Yesterday, we were coming down from the eastern shore & about 6-8 miles off you could see a few boats fishing. A couple of them hauling a$$ back inshore. 1 came in ahead of us flew to the 3 mile line around 4a & slammed on brakes for a few minutes then picked up & made a run into Lynnhaven. We were north & behind him a little & watched his whole run from off shore & the run to Lynnhaven. We were just out of sight of his name (if he had 1 ) but when we sped up in the slick water of the channel, he sped up & never slowed down until he got under the bridge!! I think he was real NERVOUS! Could have gotten the binos, but didn't. I can easily recognize his boat. Funny watching him scramble.

In my opinion everyone should cooperate like Salty Lady and Fish Dad, and myself and all the other members of this site, we all have been abiding by the rules our entire fishing lives, why allow the few that break the law get away with it easily like they do. (YOU GUYS KNOW WHO YOU ARE), when you see violators conducting illegal activity write their names down (Boat and description).

Here are some very useful websites/phone numbers for all of us and you do not have to give your name if you do want to if you desire, and forward it to them:

United States Coast Guard USCG.Coast Guard Headquarters Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593 www.uscg.mil and follow link to the 5th Coast Guard District

Marine Patrol or Virginia Police Department: Operations Division 2509 Princess Anne Rd. Municipal Center, Bldg. 11 Virginia Beach, VA 23456 Direct: (757) 385-4141

Virginia Department of Inland Fisheries, www.WildCrime@dgif.virginia.gov

You know I really hate catching 17.25 inch Flounders only to have to throw it back into Rudee Inlet, but as long as we have jerks out here that poach our resources I will follow the rules, but damn it everyone if we do not take a stand and put our two cents in this will go on and on till the end of time. Let one boat get caught, a news story reported and covered on the Front Page, Headlines at 6:00 PM, and follow up after the trial with the results of losing a boat, rods, reels, all tackle, and maybe even a truck I think the poaching might slow down tremendously or even come to a screeching halt.

That's all I have to say about that.

Great reply we need to band together. It is our fishery and we need to protect it.

I am not risking the loss of my guides license but I dont really care what other boats do.If they want to risk it its not my concearn.

Sorry, MegaBite, but I don't agree with your stand on this, especially since you operate a charter business. Every fish taken illegally adversly effects your business, regardless of where it is caught. Legal sized fish taken illegally diminishes your available catch. Out of slot fish taken reduces your future catch by eliminating breeders.

It's great to see reel fisherman and ladies do the right thing for the sport. I have seen these same people with kids and young adults on their boats fishing and taking what they know is wrong. All I can say is this is not the way to raise future keepers of the sport let alone teach your children to think it's ok. Remember, kids soak up everything they hear, see and are taught. Like I stated before you will get caught and it's going to hurt!!!!

I salute you "Ac Man" and "fish on". It's just like a neighborhood watch, if your not part of the solution then your as guilty as they are. If you stand by and just watch they take over the neighborhood. If everyone just minded their own business and let everyone break the law there will be no laws. A poacher is a law breaker and a thief. They steal from everyone!!!Let's take back our fisheries and report all that break the rules. Fair is Fair!!!

I never said that it was OK to take Slot fish,Too many fish or undersized fish.I just said I am not going to take the position of a Marine Police officer.They are doing a fine Job i have seen more busts in the past month than I care to remember.If other boats are going across the 3 mile line more power to em they will get caught sooner or later.I am not asking anyone to agree or disagree with me.

look at the big picture. If we make striped bass a sport fish, that would eliminate commercial fishing and it would eliminate the 3 mile limit. Then we could concentrate on regulating the menhaden boats and other commercial fishers decemating our natural recources.

Commercial fishing has nothing to do with boats outside the 3 mile limet and makeing them gamefish will not do away with eez. I`m sending you a pm to explain a few things

Im with mega-bite,

I know what my boat is doing when I am fishing, and I am not worried what others may choose to do, as long as it does not endanger me or my boat.

I don't call in to the stateys when guys in little bmw's zoom by me on the interstate either, but that is a personal pref. I have called in when someone was swerving all over and obviously drunk or high.

I don't need anyone to agree or disagree with me either, its just how I opperate. Call it good ol boys, call it dumb "and not looking out for our kids", or call it minding my own boat, Its just what I would prefer to do.


Many people think the 3 mile law is bogus, and should not apply to rec fisherman. ( I personally think its there just to stop the foreign commercial harvesters from coming after them, as our domestic com guys put about the same impact as our rec guys) Obviously these boats are willing to risk that law for the fish. That is their choice not mine. No matter what laws are implemeted I can guarentee there will always be people to break them, and disagree with them.


Good luck and tight lines.

America is a great nation because "We Americans Do" we don't stand around and watch!!! Where do you draw the line? Do you report shoplifters to the store manager? Do you call Police when someone is breaking into your neighbors house? Do you write down a hit and run drivers license plate? Do you report the guy across the street selling drugs to children? Do you report a Dog fighting Ring? Do you report suspected child abuse? If you say no then your not part of the solution!!! We all may not agree with every law but until it's changed it should be supported. I have watched people fill coolers with rockfish at the bay bridge with 2-3 people onboard (I stopped counting at 30-60 fish). It makes me sick. I report them. Maybe it does no good but I felt better!! I can't say much about the 3-mile line cause I don't go out there. but if I did I would take names and numbers. I'm a do person, not a watcher! I'm sure most of America are "Do People" if not we would all still be "British subjects". I don't let Bullies push me around and I protect weaker people or creatures who can't protect themselves. "Thank God I'm an American"!!! And I also am not asking anyone to agree or disagree with me.

Its no mistery that Running a 47 foot boat takes alot of focus especially when in a group of boats .You have to anticipate what each boat is going to do before you make a turn,you almost have to out manuver other boats to put your boat in the fish.Add 6 passengers asking questions that want to reel in fish to the mix.I moniter 2 VHF radios,network with other boats on the phone,watch the sonar constantly,search for birds with the radar and field glasses. I answer the phone and schedule charters while Im running the boat.There are about 14 gauges that need to be watched one thing can go wrong in the engine room and it could cost 50,000 bucks .Watch out for conch pots and Nets,look out for Hangs that can snag all your rigs . Everytime we get a fish on I have to watch the lines and turn the boat as lines are being let out.These are just a few of the things that are going on while running a charter. It is a buisness similar to a restaurant or something but mobile and on the water .There really is not enough free time for me to be worrying if other boats are fishing beyond the fence .Most trips I dont even take time to eat lunch .

Keith that was the best depiction that i have ever seen of what we deal with on a daily basis

Lets be careful and not run this one in the ground. We're all friends here and everyone's entitled to their opinion.

Tight-lines (within 3 miles )