Stripers Forever - N.C. Marine Patrol Nabs Menhaden Boat With Stripers

We hear many stories about abusive fishing practices by commercial boats in North Carolina waters, particularly during the ocean trawl season, when the culling or highgrading of bass causes the waste of thousands of prime spawning size fish. This story, however, tells of a menhaden boat illegally netting and keeping striped bass using purse seines. Just about everything the crew of the boat did was illegal and, were it not for recreational anglers observing this activity and reporting it to the Marine Patrol, (whose fast action should be commended), it would be just another violation of commercial harvest rules that is unpunished and not counted towards any quota.