JUST WONDERING WHAT THE THREE MILE LINE IS FOR.I`M SURE THERE IS A REASON JUST WONDERING WHAT IT IS.ALSO CAN YOU FISH FOR ANYTHING ELSE PAST THE THREE MILE LIMIT.THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE I`M SURE I WILL GET A RESPONSE.BY THE MYSELF I DO NOT FISH BEYOND THE LINE,I KEEP IT LEGAL.

The 3 Mile line is where the states govern to beyond that it is federal waters and then internatoinal. The laws are set by the state. Beyond the line you than answer to the higher power. In these money hungry times for the states and the government who do you think is going to be on the short end?

The "3 Mile Line". As stated, out to 3 NM is state water. Outside of this is federel, or the EEZ. This really is a striped bass thing. There has been a time in the past when flounder regs were different in Fed and state water but in recent years the feds have mirrowed the states regulations with flounder. Most other fish, the states will mirrow the fed regulations as in recent changes Virginia has made for sharks. It is perfectly legal to fish outside 3 NM except to target rockfish.

This goes back to the time of the striped bass collapse. The states were not doing anything so the feds shut down their waters. The ASMFC was formed and given power and the rest is history. When the striped bass was declared recovered, the EEZ should have been re-opened but there was an outcry from some recreational groups that the fish was not really recovered and then the scientists said maybe we are catching too many big fish. So it was decided to keep the federal waters closed.

Very short version of a very complex issue. A lot of politics involved.

THANK YOU. I THOUGHT IT WAS PROBALY SOMETHING LIKE THAT.THAT IS THE BEST INFO ON WHY I`VE HERD YET.MAKES SOME SENSE NOW.

I think that the 3mile line limit applies to the red drum as well. Not positive though.

Only for commercial harvest

Three mile line sets boundry between the waters in which you can catch fish and those in which you cannot catch fish. Up to you to decide which is more important.