Three Mile Rule

[fishskipper]

Can anyone tell me the purpose of the three mile rule for Stripers..A lot of days they are out to far to keep and I seriously don't know the reason why we can't keep them..I see trawl boats dragging through right where they are and I think they can keep 100, anything over that has to be thrown overboard...They can't even give them to another boat...What a waste?... the other day they were floating everywhere...outside three miles....IMO this is a rule that needs to be overturned unless someone knows what the reason of the three mile rule is...I know it's the dividing line from state to federal water, but other than that, I don't get it...We should all come together to get this rule changed!

These guys below flew in from as far as Oklahoma City and New Mexico and couldn't keep one fish.

[sportfishingusa]

it is a joke is what it is...

we have all had those days.. when the fish hold deep and offshore and you can do a think about it..

dont understand it other than the big fish might migrate in deeper waters offshore and they want to prevent us from catching nice fish and for you guys to keep charter customers happy!!

what a crock of shizzle if you ask me!!

[Bird Dog]

Like you said, it's the end of state waters. Personally, I think it's BS too. All the fish are currently outside of 3 miles and only the ones willing to risk the fines will go after them.

There have been numerous boats caught here off of VA this year. A few weeks ago they brought out the helicopters and a bunch of undercover boats for a big sting. Tax payers money going down the drain, in my opinion.

[000's]

Yea its crap all right but thats the way it is.Its illegal to possess a rock fish in the EEZ. Bringing them over the side to take pics is in possession (breaks the plane of the gunnel).Dont expect it to change anytime soon either.As soon as the water temp gets around 43 they move off the beach.Dont worrie they will be back gonna warm up next week.

[captjohn22]

I believe the US boundry used to be three miles out. Beyond that was international waters. When they created the 200 mile boundry only federal control, not states was extended.
Some states would allow commercial fishing beyond three miles if they had control. How many bass would there be next year if you could net those fish today.We had the same problem up here in NJ in the fall. It is the price you have to pay for a future fishery.

[Bluewater Sportfishing]

To the best of my Knowledge there is no commerial striperfishery outside of 3 miles for commercial boats. thats the eez no one can fish for stripers in that zone. commercial or rec. it is considered federal waters not state. so if you see a commercial boat taking stripers and leaving a wake of dead fish behind the boat then call the coast guard!!! that kind of shit has to be stopped. even if you have the name of the boat and a pic then call the coast gurd so they can keep a watch on the boat if there not allready doing that. The whole point of the 3 mile is this, outside three miles its federal waters inside 3 miles its state waters and they can do pretty much what they want to do I.E have a commercial striper fishery in the state om md within their waters but they (commercial) cant go into federal waters to catch stripers just like we cant fish for stripers outside of three miles either.
But like I said if you see a boat outside of three miles leaving a wake of dead stripers then please call the coast guard on that boat. Also on a side note it is illegal for you to be out past three miles and catching stripers as well catch and release doesnt make it legal.

[fishskipper]

To the best of my Knowledge there is no commerial striperfishery outside of 3 miles for commercial boats. thats the eez no one can fish for stripers in that zone. commercial or rec. it is considered federal waters not state. so if you see a commercial boat taking stripers and leaving a wake of dead fish behind the boat then call the coast guard!!! that kind of shit has to be stopped. even if you have the name of the boat and a pic then call the coast gurd so they can keep a watch on the boat if there not allready doing that. The whole point of the 3 mile is this, outside three miles its federal waters inside 3 miles its state waters and they can do pretty much what they want to do I.E have a commercial striper fishery in the state om md within their waters but they (commercial) cant go into federal waters to catch stripers just like we cant fish for stripers outside of three miles either.
But like I said if you see a boat outside of three miles leaving a wake of dead stripers then please call the coast guard on that boat. Also on a side note it is illegal for you to be out past three miles and catching stripers as well catch and release doesnt make it legal.

Good point, but here's where it gets sketchy...The net is out and your dragging in Fed. water but when you pull up your within the three miles.....Nothing can be said, besides it's considered bycatch....True you can not target over three miles also a little sketchy on the wording...Posession is where the fine comes from. The guys in Va. are checked all the time outside three miles fishing for Stripers, but they are only fined if they possess a fish!....But in the sound, in state waters when the season is closed it is legal to target,catch and release.....Make no sense at all to me!

[mudshark]

as someone stated earlier, the rule is there in large part to protect the fishery. We damn near wrecked the thing once, hopefully we learned the lesson. These fish get pressure all year long from NC to Maine, they need some point of refuge

[Bluewater Sportfishing]

Fish,
If the boats are going past the 3 mile zone and you see this break out the video camra and start shooting I dont care if they come back inside of 3 miles and pull their nets what they are doing is way illegal and if you are seing this then do somthing about it. and the wording in the regs you cant target stripers ouside of the eez but bluefish are ok: thats why they dont fine you just for the reason you stated. still its not worth the hassle from the coasties. stupid as it is but also one of the many reasons we have stripers now....

[fishskipper]

I appreciate every ones opinion, but I still don't understand where a three mile rule is justified or helps the fishery. These fish spawn in the rivers and seventy to ninety percent of the east coat population originates in the Chesapeake Bay. The resounding success of rebuilding stocks has been followed by worries that the fish have to little to eat of their most important prey , menhaden..Taken form the National Coalition for marine Conservation.....So what I'm getting at... wouldn't it be better for the fisheries to close or restrict possessing fish with in the bay or inside three miles.... Or close one year open it the next....This would enhance the populations if that is what we are worried about by keeping a few outside three miles...The difference in NC to the northern states is that when and if we get them its winter time and most days we can't get out after them.... So it would be nice on days that we do,to be able to fish for them, possibly maybe keep one or two..... I'm not writing this to argue with anyone, just stating my opinion, as well as you, yours. I would also note that a few years back our fishery in the sound( Manns Harbor) was outstanding, now your lucky if you even get a bite over there... These were juvenile fish and where they have gone I don't know, but I see a problem there.As far as the demise during the seventies and eighties as stated by the fisheries " the causes are numerous and interwoven and include overfishing,degradation or loss of habitat." And if you remember back at that time Pollution was a major problem in the decline of many aquaculture species.Over fishing was not because they could be caught over three miles.It was because there were no limits. Now I know we have rules for everything any more, but the few fish that I and my fellow charter boats would keep in the middle of winter over three miles,would not have as much impact on the fisheries, as closing the fishery during spawning.As far as me policing the coast of wrong doers, not my job! As well as I don't hunt down criminals. If you commit a crime, sooner are later your going to get caught. The bigger problem is to make the fishery better and fair for us all.