Tog Poachers in Westchester

[george]

On May 31, ECOs Chloe Swansen and Craig Tompkins patrolled Long Island Sound out of Rye in Westchester County. The majority of the vessels checked that day were in compliance with marine fishing and navigation laws, and one lucky angler had caught a 42-inch striped bass. However, on one of the vessels, the officers found three blackfish, known as tautog, and the season for these fish had closed on April 30. All three anglers on the boat admitted to catching a blackfish and, in turn, were each issued a summons for possession of out-of-season blackfish, returnable to the New Rochelle Court.

 

[JoeBfishing]

Good job fellas... Rye finest.

 

[Tidaltails Lure & Tackle]

Well, that's ONE. Keep up the work.

 

[secjurny]

How about the illegal fish traps around every rock pile.....

 

[MOJOE]

How about the illegal fish traps around every rock pile.....

secjurny many here jamaica bay and beyond ,,, stinks!!!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[TOGRTUF]

How about the illegal fish traps around every rock pile.....

When the marker buoys are lost and storms knock those pots away from original locations they will continue an endless cycle of killing tog. lobster/crabs go in to feed on tog carcasses and then tog go in to feed on lobsters/crabs. until pots disintegrate? I do not think the pots are easily biodegradable. Anyone know the half life on these pots? a year, 5 years,10 years, 20 years? Disgusting????

 

[TOGRTUF]

secjurny many here jamaica bay and beyond ,,, stinks!!!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Just no dang good!!

 

[MOJOE]

Just no dang good!!

i was nice i said stinks,, but it really SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ><))):<
><))):<

 

[george]

When the marker buoys are lost and storms knock those pots away from original locations they will continue an endless cycle of killing tog. lobster/crabs go in to feed on tog carcasses and then tog go in to feed on lobsters/crabs. until pots disintegrate? I do not think the pots are easily biodegradable. Anyone know the half life on these pots? a year, 5 years,10 years, 20 years? Disgusting????

I couldn't agree more, and what makes it worse is that they are totally unregulated. Starting next year the com fishery will be provided tags which will help. The next step is to register every potter and all of their pots.

 

[TOGRTUF]

I couldn't agree more, and what makes it worse is that they are totally unregulated. Starting next year the com fishery will be provided tags which will help. The next step is to register every potter and all of their pots.

That will be a good start. Better late than never.

 

[BennyV]

I wish there was some sort of way to keep ghost traps to a minimum. Back in the day we’d catch one now and then on the anchor. We’d open the doors and do our best to make sure they would stay open. We’d do this by tying them or wiring them open. On a few occasions we actually took them in and tossed them. This was years ago and again these were ghost traps.

I’d love to see some research on how long it takes for these traps to breakdown.

 

[george]

I wish there was some sort of way to keep ghost traps to a minimum. Back in the day we’d catch one now and then on the anchor. We’d open the doors and do our best to make sure they would stay open. We’d do this by tying them or wiring them open. On a few occasions we actually took them in and tossed them. This was years ago and again these were ghost traps.

I’d love to see some research on how long it takes for these traps to breakdown.

This is a great idea and a prime example of an issue that the nysdec would probably entertain if we were able to get enough speedy from the angling community.

 

[Roccus7]

This is a great idea and a prime example of an issue that the nysdec would probably entertain if we were able to get enough speedy from the angling community.

SPEEDY??? Autocorrect run amok?

 

[george]

SPEEDY??? Autocorrect run amok?

Damn auto correct! I'm not how it turned support into speedy though ?

Fact is with the technology we have today there is no reason to ever loose a pot. I've seen them also and you wonder how many of them there are down there.

 

[BennyV]

Damn auto correct! I'm not how it turned support into speedy though ?

Fact is with the technology we have today there is no reason to ever loose a pot. I've seen them also and you wonder how many of them there are down there.

Going forward yes. Hopefully.

Problem is when the lobster fishing was at its peak there were tons of licenses issued and pots being fished. Think 90s-early 2000s. Since the die-off things have quieted down big time, but I’m sure during those peak years lots of pots were lost. It’s those pots that remain that I’m concerned about.

 

[BlueMarlin478]

Even now in the sound we pull at least one or two chains a season that get stuck on the anchor line, all unmarked, ghost hardware. Some of it looks new and illegal, some of it is eons old. EIther way it all gets cut up and doors opened and turned back to the sea.

 

[BennyV]

Another consideration.

Vinyl coated wire traps versus old style wooden traps.

I would venture to guess that the latter would take less time to breakdown.

Again. I’d love to see some data.

 

[WhatKnot]

Another consideration.

Vinyl coated wire traps versus old style wooden traps.

I would venture to guess that the latter would take less time to breakdown.

Again. I’d love to see some data.

I agree, but good luck with that. ?

 

[BennyV]

I agree, but good luck with that. ?

Tell me about it lol