Feds Go After Charter Boat Poachers

It's long acknowledged fact that many charter boats and recreational fishermen have taken advantage large schools of stripped bass off in the Exclusive Economic Zone (the area beyond the 3 miles, out to 200 miles).  Fishing for striped bass in the EEZ is forbidden, even catch and release, but enforcement of the law has been problematical, both due to lack of resources, the inability to catch people in the act of fishing, and quite likely, lack of political will.  Huge schools of large stripers often roam to area immediately outside 3 miles, and have been a strong temptation for charter and recreational fishermen to sneak out, catch their limit and return before being boarded.  Now, it would appear the Federal government is moving to make that less tempting:

A three-year federal undercover investigation into Virginia-based charter boats illegally fishing for striped bass more than 3 miles off the coast led to the seizure Thursday of electronics and records from a number of vessels.

Special agents from the law enforcement office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration served search warrants on at least four boats that primarily operate out of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach.

Seizures included GPS units, cell phones, radios, ship logs, manifests and client lists, a source familiar with the investigation said.

The investigation is being handled by NOAA and the Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Unit, the team that last year successfully prosecuted the massive Potomac River striped bass poaching operation.

Good show, boys...