DNR police believe the net has been in the water since February, when a number of other illegal gill nets were found earlier in the year.
The Chesapeake Bay's bounty was turned into a macabre tableau Monday morning as an illegal net at least 600 yards long and filled with decaying striped bass and other fish was partially pulled from the waters off Tilghman Island...Well, they warned us. At one point, a representative of the watermen, Gibby Dean proposed a three day amnesty to allow poachers to retrieve their illegally set nets, and check the striped bass (to be taken out of the December quota).
Baltimore businessman Chris Jacobs, who was fishing in a baywide tournament Sunday, said 15 rods on three boats snagged the net.Fifteen rods on three boats? That's practically a net there too! Except that the stripers get a choice as to whether they wan to strike the lure.
"I knew exactly what we had. I cut my lines free and punched the GPS to mark the position. I called the Poacher Hotline and stayed in the area. Less than two hours later, NRP arrived with grappling hooks," Jacobs said. "I know it wasn't the first time and unfortunately I don't think it's going to be the last time."
"When is enough, enough?" said Tony Friedrich, executive director of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland. "Illegal nets continue to be a drain not only on natural resources but also on Maryland's taxpayers. The mounting costs of enforcement are only overshadowed by the costs to our environment. How much longer must Maryland citizens support this illegal activity?"Just stop the gill net season; it's clear there are too many outlaws among the watermen who use them, and they'll never abide by the rules. There's no way to manage the fishery when some large but unknown amount of fish are being stolen.
DNR is offering a $30,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the poachers.
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