State and federal investigators have broken up a black market involving watermen and fish dealers who sold millions of dollars' worth of striped bass, illegally taken from the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, to shops and restaurants across the country, according to court documents filed in federal court this week.

Watermen charged in illegal striped bass sales -- baltimoresun.com

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has established eight marine protected areas encompassing a total of 529 square nautical miles in south Atlantic federal waters to shield deep-water fish species and their habitats from fishing.

Fishing for snappers, groupers, tilefishes, grunts, porgies and sea basses is prohibited throughout the protected areas, which are located off the coast from North Carolina south to Florida, NOAA said in a news release.

Deep-water fish get protected areas - Sports - News & Observer

In paperwork filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company disclosed it was notified that it was subject to immediate delisting unless it appealed the exchange’s decision by Feb. 2.
“In light of current economic conditions in general and, in particular, conditions within the marine industry, the company does not believe it can regain compliance with the Exchange’s continued listing standards in the near term,” Fountain stated. “As a result, the company's board of directors has elected not to appeal the staff's determination.”

Delisting procedures started for Fountain

Element 21 Sports Company has developed award winning fishing products. Element 21's Carrot Stix(TM) represents the latest in cutting edge technology, using a newly developed proprietary method of integrating nano level cellulose bio-fibers into the rod. With sponsors like Boyd Duckett and many others on all the fishing tours, Element 21 fishing line is one of the fastest growing in the country, if not the world. The fishing products recently were recognized as the "BEST OF SHOW" in at the at the 2007 and 2008 ICAST show, the world's largest sports fishing show.

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/quotescharts/news/

Dr. Julie Ball reports anglers are heading to the oceanfront in pursuit of striped bass. Water temperatures have dropped over the past few weeks, but anglers are hoping the few scattered warmer days will encourage striper activity within range. Smaller, school-sized stripers are taking lures for anglers casting around the pilings and all four artificial islands of the CBBT for catch-and-release action.

FISHING REPORT | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Rockfish: Though the 2008 Young of the Year Index was down appreciably, it won't affect striper numbers and availability this year. In the past year though record fuel prices severely impacted the effort, the catching wasn't bad. Pre-trophy (catch-and-release) fishing was very good, much of the spring trophy season was likewise and the fall migration of sea-run fish was much better than usual - and the Department of Natural Resource's decision to extend the season from Dec. 15 to the end of the year added much to the catching.

Outdoors: State record could be in forecast for '09 anglers - Outdoors - (HometownAnnapolis.com)

Stuart Smith reports that black bass fishing has been the most consistent fishing over the past week. Some grouper are still being caught with lots of sharks mixed in. Bluefin tuna fishing has been very slow. Source: Intracoastal Angler.

Jan. 29 Fishing Report: Black bass picking up as February approaches | StarNewsOnline.com | Star-News | Wilmington, NC

A North Carolina congressman who tried to block strict new rules for driving on Outer Banks beaches last year is trying again.

Republican Rep. Walter Jones said Wednesday that small businesses on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands are being hit by the economic downturn, but also by federal rules that bar or restrict access to some beaches.

WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather - NC congressman wants beach driving rules loosened

Boaters targeting keeper rockfish have consistently been returning to the dock at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center with limits of fish in their coolers. Charters running out of Oregon Inlet also have been connecting with good numbers of striped bass over the 30-pound mark, with the top weigh-in reported by the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center pushing the scale to 55 pounds

Fishing Report | delawareonline | The News Journal

Suffolk couple accused of embezzling more than $2 million purchased a 42-foot fishing boat called the Matador, a $44,000 Lexus and two $32,000 Toyota FJ Cruisers, a federal indictment unsealed this week alleges.

Karen A. Hiles and James G. Hiles are charged with conspiracy, uttering, mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Indictment: Embezzlement funded Suffolk pair's shopping spree | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

A two-tiered guide license system was approved, one license open to all charter boats plying Virginia's saltwaters and the other limited in number but to be honored by Maryland as part of a reciprocal agreement that Maryland officials have tentatively accepted. The new licenses are on sale now.

VMRC votes to open up Maryland waters to Virginia charters | delmarvanow.com | The Daily Times

From boat, pier and surf, anglers fishing North Carolina coastal waters have been ramping up catches of some saltwater species, including traditional favorites such as king mackerel, red drum and spotted seatrout.

Anglers catch more fish in 2007 - Sports - News & Observer

http://www.stevesbaitandtackle.com/NewsReports.php

Roger Blackburn, left, and Janice Doyle each wrestled with a rockfish off the Virginia Beach coast aboard The Waterman with Capt. Mike Standing.  Giant schools of the voracious predators produce a lot of simultaneous action.

Flocks of gannets skimming over the water are a good clue as to where the rockfish can be found. Both are keying on the baitfish at the surface.

Atlantic rockfish: These fish rock | courier-journal | The Courier-Journal

Members of the Island commercial fishing industry were on hand to express concern over a bill currently at the state house which would put harsher regulations on commercial fishing of striped bass.

Buddy Vanderhoop, a longtime Island fisherman who said he makes 100 per cent of his income from the trade, said commercial fishing has nothing to do with a dip in striped bass stocks, something he blamed instead on off-shore trawlers.

Lawmakers Confirm Cuts in Local Aid - 1/23/09 - Vineyard Gazette Online

In Florida, striped bass populations that thrive in the northern part of the state are decommercialized, which means that they cannot be commercially harvested and cannot be sold. Now Massachusetts lawmakers are considering similar conservation measures to protect their valuable stocks of the popular gamefish.

Big Step for Striper Conservation

Virginia is considered by many to be one of the kingpins along the Atlantic Coast. For example, the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament last year again included an imposing list of entries by sport anglers. The tournament is a free annual contest in which anybody who matches or exceeds certain weights for a variety of species is recognized by the state. The catches prove Virginia is to be reckoned with among all coastal fishing states. In fact, it is a veritable magnet for discriminating anglers.

Washington Times - GENE MUELLER: Virginia a kingpin on Atlantic Coast

The birds were flying in a frenzy off the mouth of the Chesapeake and Capt. Stu Burgoon Jr. swiftly piloted his 44-foot Hook Mash to where he figured the action was, but this time he was fooled. It wasn't striped bass that were under the gulls and gannets, it was a surfacing humpback whale well over half the length of his boat.

Outdoors: Whale of good time in Atlantic - Outdoors - (HometownAnnapolis.com)

CHESAPEAKE BAY/OCEAN

Dr. Julie Ball reports striped bass within the 40-pound range continue to patrol local waters. The milder temperatures from earlier in the season slowed the winter cool-down, but the recent cold weather is causing water temperatures to drop quickly. Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reports large pods of bait and beehives of diving birds all along the ocean front. Fish are falling for live eels drifted off the Smith Island area, and many trollers are cleaning up with decent fish from the North Carolina border and up the Eastern Shore.

FISHING REPORT | Richmond Times-Dispatch

This is a good site for the new buoy off Cape Henry.  From Max King

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44099