There's something about Mary... More Sharks!

[<MIKE>]

St. Mary's County near point lookout two more bull sharks were caught.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/2320299...#axzz2ccKlJyeL

[Memory Maker]

That's a great article ....thanks .....but they have been caught by both hook and line and nets at the bay bridge over the years ........ they have always been in the bay ......

[ronaultmtd]

These were mature male bull sharks- for those old "sharkers" among us...male bulls have the highest level of testosterone of any animal in the animal kingdom and are considered the most aggressive shark- they were rated the number 1 most dangerous shark in the world during the Discovery Week shark week programing-

[Pinch]

We need to protect Chesapeake Bay sharks, not kill them.

[Shady]

We need to protect Chesapeake Bay sharks, not kill them.

I think anything that gets caught in a net is going to die. Commercial netting needs to be stopped...

[Pinch]

I think anything that gets caught in a net is going to die. Commercial netting needs to be stopped...

100% Agree.

[rob-kayak]

I think anything that gets caught in a net is going to die. Commercial netting needs to be stopped...

+1

I remember this story... not sure if it's the same one but I seem to remember a number close to 10,000 lbs of fish poached...
my memory probably wrong or a different story...
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Circa early 2010

Rock Hall, MD (March 8, 2010) — Eight Rock Hall men that were arrested last week for rockfish poaching.
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Beck and Riggs are accustomed to facing a judge for natural resource violations. Both were caught at 2:30 a.m. Christmas morning – well outside legal harvesting hours – with seven bushels of oysters on their boats. Less than a week later NRP charged B.. with seven bushels of oysters illegally harvested by dredge in an area reserved for patent tonging and oyster diving.
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On February 23, NRP arrested and charged Beck with possessing striped bass greater than 36 inches and mutilating striped bass to the extent that size could not be determined. NRP officers caught Beck when they checked J & J Seafood in Rock Hall and found striped bass with cut tails.
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Under changes to law made by the General Assembly in 2009, each of these individuals, if convicted, could face up to $1000 for a first offense and up to $2000 for each subsequent offense. Additionally, on February 22, 2010, the Department’s new commercial fishing points and suspension system took effect.
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NRP seized approximately 16,500 yards of illegally anchored gill (approximately 55 nets) and 3,200 lbs. of rockfish during the last week and half of February. The nets were seized as officers patrolled the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in search of illegal poaching activity.
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While I no problem with DNR asking for my fishing license... or boarding my boat (well you know.. kayak)...
It appears that penalties for these types of violations are very much just a slap on the wrist for the "criminals."

"Under changes to law made by the General Assembly in 2009, individuals, if convicted, could face up to $1000 for a first offense and up to $2000 for each subsequent offense. "

[scorpioreno]

Wow that's tragic.

[Meadeo]

I was under the impression that bull sharks got into the federally protected category...

Sucks people are still killing them..

Meadeo

[surfdog]

i dont think that they were targeted, they just got stuck in the pound nets as bycatch which sucks because they eat cownose rays which are killing crabs and wrecking the underwarer grasses.

more sharks = less cnrs

[Redfish12]

Poundnets are indiscriminate killers and I have no idea how they continue to exist!

[dsiekman]

While I no problem with DNR asking for my fishing license... or boarding my boat (well you know.. kayak)...
It appears that penalties for these types of violations are very much just a slap on the wrist for the "criminals."

"Under changes to law made by the General Assembly in 2009, individuals, if convicted, could face up to $1000 for a first offense and up to $2000 for each subsequent offense. "

Totally agree. Unfortunately, these guys have one heck of a lobby. Now, if I remember right, a recreational fisherman caught poaching can have his vessel and possibly his tow vehicle confiscated. Isn't that right? If so, the same should hold true for the commercial guys if not more so. It's far easier to believe a weekend warrior wasn't aware his boat had drifted past some make believe line in the water than it is to believe a commercial fisherman wasn't clear on where he could or could not fish.

[kevinfry]

Totally agree. Unfortunately, these guys have one heck of a lobby. Now, if I remember right, a recreational fisherman caught poaching can have his vessel and possibly his tow vehicle confiscated. Isn't that right? If so, the same should hold true for the commercial guys if not more so. It's far easier to believe a weekend warrior wasn't aware his boat had drifted past some make believe line in the water than it is to believe a commercial fisherman wasn't clear on where he could or could not fish.

I do not think they seize in Maryland. If this was a Oregon pacific salmon poacher? State police would be auctioning off everything.....or using it. And permanent loss of license. Here same guys get busted over and over