I was draggin lures beside the M&M yesterday and got just about to the curve when a net boat came thru the pilings laying out a gill net. They started on the west side ran it thru the pilings down the bridge about 8 piles and back thru the pilings setting the other end on the west side. They knew they were illegal from the way they beat feet outta there. It was high tide and afternoon so you can guess when they were going to come back. VMRC was notified. Thanks alot netters its hard enough without that goin on. Oh yeah about the fishing. I did hook up one time but the crafty devil shook off.

When I come across the JRB I see rows of sticks sticking up out of the water. My assumption is that those are nets as well. Is that correct? If so, what are they netting? The sure seem to be up year round.

With folks like that around we will have a hard season. Ya would think VMRC would utilize the Bridge Cams (Traffic Network) to scan the waters on a half hour basis to stop this poaching. Only a suggestion, I hope they catch the BASTARDS

Yeah there is no excuse to being netting illegally. Everyone is saying how the fishing here is worse than it has previously been and illegal netting is probably a reason why.

Marrdro, I am no expert but sticks tend to mark pound nets which are a different animal. The sticks are as permanent as anything can be in the water and old sites are often marked on charts. Usually, they are in 10-15' water and are easily visible. They are normally set perpendicular to the current with a straight run to lead the fish into a circular area or pen, I would call it. Usually the pelicans line the posts of the pen waiting for an easy meal! These (gill?) nets are only marked on ends, if I am right and are supposed to be strung straight and not close to a bridge. They normally aren't close to the surface so you can pass over one in a small boat though I don't recomend it. There are crooked people as well as people that just do stupid things sometimes in all walks of life and business. I try to do things legally and dropping the dime on these guys was the right thing to do. Even if they are forewarned, they will be out the cost of a net if they didn't tag it and will have a healthy fine if they did.

Thanks.

bob I have a hard time beleiveng that he went through the bridge down 8 pileings then back through the bridge cause that net would have been destroyed by the barnicles on the the pileings

Well it happened. I had to rub my eyes when I saw it but it was right there. I've never seen it before either.