Thread — Noreaster

georgeADMIN2023#1

As we decide, or let's say the state decides how to spend the money that the new fishing tax, sorry fishing license, will raise, the one thing that they keep dangling in front of us is that they will build more artificial reefs. I'm not a fan of these reefs as I see them as a fish trap. As a place where the crustaceans and bait fish naturally attract a bunch of fish so we can catch them. Is this going to make our fisheries better or worse? If there was no reef, wouldn't we be fishing anyhow? Isn't finding your own spots what this sport is all about?

Don't get me wrong; they sure do attract fish. But is that what we're trying to achieve? Shouldn't we be trying to rebuild our stocks? Maybe save them from the 1-million ghost pots in the Long Island Sound.

NOAA’s scientists estimated removing ghost pots over six years could lead to more than $30 million in additional catch for watermen.

Havens said Maryland and Virginia had robust programs to clean up ghost pots from about 2008 to 2012 using federal grants. But that money dried up and the programs have become “episodic” at best, he added.

I think the money would be better spent on the fishery's future. We need a project like this that will eradicate these non stop killing machines. The other day when our crew of Capt Mike, Snapperhead and Longcast returned to the dock, Longcast saw an old line attached to a float and pulled it up. It was a small crab trap that appeared to be that for years. When Longcast was ready to drop it back in, being as it wasn't his, he noticed a few crabs and, sadly 6 baby togs about the size of his hand that he released. Imagine how many fish are being killed in these pots every day.

Anyhow I'm curious if there are any opinions on this?

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CommodoreOriginal Crew5,158 postsSince 2018

Snapprhead27FREE2023#2

I agree with this. Especially when we spoke about the quantity that is possibly on the bottom of the sound and elsewhere.

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Captain4,988 postsSince 2020

OVERBOREDFREE2023#3

IMHO, these are 2 separate issues.

Building up areas with "clean" debris only enhances our fisheries. Reef expansion should only be increased not decreased. Besides, whatever ghost pots might be in the dumping area would be covered up or crushed by debris thus killing 2 birds with one stone so to speak.

Ghost pots, poaching, etc,etc are issues that have haunted us for decades and are not easily solved. Poachers sink unmarked pots in different locations holding fish and basically retrieve them when needed. Implementing a tagging system would be a huge step in the right direction .

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Captain4,156 postsSince 2021

PangarooFREE2023#4

They gotta end dragging and fish traps.Have fish pens , they swim in , can't get out, the fishermen come to harvest them and safely remove all the fish they don't want. If they use fish traps it should be heavily regulated and the trap corrodes away after 2 weeks and isn't a death trap anymore.

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First Mate701 postsSince 2021

KonaFREE2023#5

What you described are fish traps , used since the Indians first created them. Fish pots are another story entirely.

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First MateOriginal Crew269 postsSince 2019

Here's one for you . . . Are artificial reefs good for fisherman and not for fish?

NOAA’s scientists estimated removing ghost pots over six years could lead to more than $30 million in additional catch for watermen.​

NOAA’s scientists estimated removing ghost pots over six years could lead to more than $30 million in additional catch for watermen.