In today's (12-22-06) there is an interesting article about the menhaden boats working the local area and complaints by some recreational fishermen. As a note, the article states the commercial menhaden season closes tonight at midnight.

We saw them steaming towards Reedville thursday midday, hope they didn't come back !

I read the article today. I thought the situation was well stated. I think it can get the ball rolling in the political arena. I also think the comment was fairly accurate from Omega in that they do not intentionally put anyone in harms ways; however, it is very difficult to monitor from so far away. It is also obvious that recreational fishing and the menhaden boats cannot share the same water without conflict and contraversy. I understand that everyone has to make a living, but somthing has gotta give. The health of the bay and the future of our sport may be in the balance.

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?...6470&ran=168378

LEE TOLLIVER might have fudged Jeff's red drum, but he is making up for it by bringing light to this issue.

You guys get on there and post your comments

What do these boats use all the menhaden for anyway?

liver oil pills, omega-3, lip gloss, K-Y

I sent a letter to Governor Kain. Doubt it will do any good, but who knows. His main thing was "listen to the people", so we'll see.

I emailed Lee to get in touch with Brad O'Berry. I applaud Lee for writing the article and getting this in print!! I thank those for writing letters to City Council, Randy Forbes and to the Gov...the more we yell, the more may get done. I emailed Menhaden matters on Tuesday and have yet to get a response. With the video I have, there would be no captains left if omega stands behind there word of firing captains for endangering others.

Boater Blockade next season maybe???

Sounds like it could be interesting.

Only if you want trouble from the authorities. It is illegal to interfere with commercial fishing operations.

As it should be illegal for commercial fishing to interfere with boat traffic/fishing in a marked channel.

You are preaching to the choir. I couldn't agree more. I get real tired of trolling along in the bay with big schools of stripers around and then along comes a net boat and drops a net right in front of me so close that I have to shut down and retrieve lines fast so I don't get tangled. Also, fishing a large school with 20 or more other boats and here comes the netter and drops a net right in the middle of everything and ruins the fishing for all the recreational people fishing there.

I've also been flounder fishing with my family and had the bunker boats from Reedville just about surround me before I could get out of the way. The last time this happened was in the mouth of the Poquoson River and I've had it hapen up by the Rappahanock River, too.

So, yeah, I whole heartedly agree with you. However, blackading a commercial fishing vessel or vessels is still against the law whether we like it or not.

Lets not resort with GreenPeace tactics, or the Garden Gnome liberation Front. (GLF) (GGLF)

I have not heard too much about Greenpeace or (ALF) since 9/11. I think they are concerned about their form of terrorism getting grouped into the muslim terrorism. They probably do not want delta force hunting them down, and ending up in Gitmo.