Maryland imposes statewide ban on harvest of river herring

[Spot77]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...zyP_story.html

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the fishing ban Friday but said it has been in effect since Dec. 26.

Glad they're on top of things.....

Maryland authorities say anyone possessing river herring as bait will need to have a receipt showing where it was purchased.

[Spot77]

I know most of us use lures and other live bait for spot or yellow perch. But I think a lot of people use Herring for offshore species?

I've never bought or used it for anything.

Anyone else?

[reds]

Originally Posted by Spot77

I know most of us use lures and other live bait for spot or yellow perch. But I think a lot of people use Herring for offshore species?

I've never bought or used it for anything.

Anyone else?

It was used hard up on the flats for Stripers. Outside of bi catch there were only a few that were catching any in the bay. The largest harvester was a bait shop up in Northeast.

[Skip]

Herring are great bait in spring for big Catfish.

I know 2-3 guys use them near Annapolis for Rock in late April / early May.

They would get fresh ones from DC and fish them as cut bait on bottom in 25 to 35 feet.

Frozen was not worth putting on the hook according to them.

[Spot77]

So this really doesn't have a huge impact on us?

We can still use fresh and frozen bait; it just has to come from outside of the state? And it can still be bought and sold in state?


So it might just raise the price of it.....just like everything else when government gets involved.

[reds]

Originally Posted by Spot77

So this really doesn't have a huge impact on us?

We can still use fresh and frozen bait; it just has to come from outside of the state? And it can still be bought and sold in state?


So it might just raise the price of it.....just like everything else when government gets involved.

If I remember right, the ban is because of a federal mandated quota or large reduction.

When it was first brought up by DNR, they were pleased that they didn't have to submit a plan to the feds for a reduced quota. Why? Because they would have had to do a study and they didn't have the time or the personnel to do one.

When no objection on a ban was presented from the commercial sector, DNR was pleased as punch.

[5th Tuition]

Reds; I can use your input here. How does this work? If you have a pound net, when you empty it, do the commercial guys just throw back the river herring?
5th (Marty)

[Spot77]

Originally Posted by reds

If I remember right, the ban is because of a federal mandated quota or large reduction.

When it was first brought up by DNR, they were pleased that they didn't have to submit a plan to the feds for a reduced quota. Why? Because they would have had to do a study and they didn't have the time or the personnel to do one.

When no objection on a ban was presented from the commercial sector, DNR was pleased as punch.

Sounds like a win-win kind of deal.

[reds]

Originally Posted by 5th Tuition

Reds; I can use your input here. How does this work? If you have a pound net, when you empty it, do the commercial guys just throw back the river herring?
5th (Marty)

Yes, they have to. There is no lee way for accidental bi-catch. Zero tolerance in the regs.

[Spot77]

Originally Posted by reds

Yes, they have to. There is no lee way for accidental bi-catch. Zero tolerance in the regs.

Hopefully DNR uses a little discretion.....I mean what if 1 or 2 5" Herring get lumped in with the rest of the catch?

How severe are the fines and penalties?