Out of State Commercial Skipjack Harvest - What Do You Think?

[bd-]

I was talking to one of the TWRA biologists the other night and he raised an interesting issue that was bothering him a bit.

Apparently, it's becoming more widespread for out-of-staters to come to Tennessee in order to harvest skipjack to sell in other states. These guys are coming from other states further north, like Indiana, and catching coolers full of skipjack for sale as catfish bait.

I'm told that the volume of skipjack they're harvesting is pretty huge - one guy is allegedly paying his way through college solely by selling skipjack as bait. Catfishermen in states where skipjack are rare will apparently pay $5-$6 a pound for them.

Here's the dilemma: If someone from Tennessee caught skipjack here and sold them here, they'd have to buy a commercial fishing license. They'd also be limited on what kind of gear they could use - can't use hook and line for commercial fishing, and that's the most effective way to catch skipjack. But when an out-of-stater comes in and catches a cooler full of skipjack, it's impossible for our game wardens to prove in court what that person is going to do with the skipjack after leaving the state. So the out-of-staters can get away with commercially harvesting skipjack for the price of an out-of-state sportfishing license, even though someone from Tennessee would need a commercial license, and they can do it with non-commercial gear in a way that someone from Tennessee couldn't do.

Luckily, there are millions upon millions of skipjack out there, so the harvest hasn't had any measurable impact, at least yet. It's possible that if word spreads on this being profitable, you could have enough harvest for it to affect the population. What bothers me more is that out-of-staters are exploiting a resource commercially without paying an out-of-state commercial license.

I was kind of struck by this because I wonder if I've accidentally helped out these commercial operations in the past. A few times, I've had people from out of state contact me, very interested in knowing where to go for skipjack. I assumed they wanted them for their own bait - it never occurred to me that they might be selling them. So I may have given directions and help to these commercial guys without even knowing it - I'm not sure.

What's the answer? Harvest and possession limits on skipjack to make it inefficient for people to drive down from Indiana to catch them for sale? Or is this even an issue worth worrying about?

It just interested me, so I thought I'd throw it out there and see what other folks fishing in Tennessee think.

bd

[txnative]

I, too, have seen non-residents taking large numbers of skippies. At a place i fish in winter, a gentleman from MO caught enough to half-fill his truck bed. Fortunately, it didn't seem to make a dent in the numbers of skippies that were there, unfortunately, i helped him do it. He told me he comes down and stays in a nearby hotel for one weekend a year, fishes all day for two days, and takes enough skippies to last him until next winter. I thought this was ok since he wasn't taking more than a diehard resident catfisher takes over the course of a year. He simply took them all at once instead of taking them thru-out the year. Now, i'm skeptical.

I have given people countless skippies while fishing below dams, assuming the skippies were being stockpiled for catfish bait or being eaten (yes, some people eat 'em). Guess i'm gonna have to ask a few questions first from now on: "are you a resident of tn ?" being the primary one.


Chris

[Travis C.]

That is crazy. Hmm, I may have found a new career. :D

In this case if it gets to a point of concern for them they will have to put a creel limit on them. I can't see any other way around it. Then if the out of stater has to stay a few days to make it worth while at least the local economy with get a small bump from it in some form.

From several other sites same guy:

Hey guys this is Dennis Cobb and I need some input. For those of you who don't know me, I have been Jered Mounger's fishing partner for the last 3 years. I am from Alabama originally and have family that lives 25 minutes from Joe Wheeler.

I have aquired the means of supplying skipjack-herring on a regular basis to this area if there is enough interest. Those of you who have used this bait know what an advantage it is to have!! I have already obtained my bait license and would like to make this awesome bait available to everyone who would be interested.

I am still trying to work out the details on bait size and shipping cost to get them here. Currently it looks like the most affordable size/quanity would be bait in the 7 to 8 inch range. At this size I could sell 12 pieces of bait for $20.00, this amount could last you the whole day and would still be considered big bait.

Like I said earlier, "I am looking for input" not currently taking orders. Please reply with suggestions/comments on size, quanities and pricing.

Thanks,
Dennis



If this is just one guy, you can imagine what many can do.

[rsimms]

Our skipjack numbers in S.E. Tennessee have crashed. I don't think it is due to over-harvest however. It happened during three years of extreme low flow and very little Springtime generation at Watts Bar, Chickamauga and Nickajack (and probably other Dams toward Knoxville).

Hardcore catfishermen from here have been making weekend trips to Kentucky to stock up on skipjack. Nobody is selling them... all caught and kept for personal use. They would LOVE to learn of someplace closer in Tennessee where they can stock up (Hint, hint, hint).

But it's clear that this issue cuts both ways. Tennessee isn't the only "victim."

We had awesome Spring flow this year. I'm betting we'll see a replenishment of skipjack numbers next year???

For the record... I'm a hardcore cat man but when skipjack get hard to find, I just head for the grocery store and stock up on chicken breast. Works just as well and they never run out. :D

[tkwalker]

Rick McFerrin was over yesterday and we were talking about how you haven't post in a while ... wondering if the medical issue had resurfaced ... Good to hear from you .... <'TK><:)

[bd-]

Our skipjack numbers in S.E. Tennessee have crashed. I don't think it is due to over-harvest however. It happened during three years of extreme low flow and very little Springtime generation at Watts Bar, Chickamauga and Nickajack (and probably other Dams toward Knoxville).

That's what concerned the TWRA biologist. Skipjack are extremely abundant, but apparently they're fragile too. A few years of bad conditions can cause the numbers to crash.

Normally, the numbers just rebound quickly when conditions improve. But if the skipjack have a few years of bad conditions and then they're subjected to heavy commercial harvest when they are trying to rebound their numbers, they could have a hard time. Nobody really knows for sure.

For the record... I'm a hardcore cat man but when skipjack get hard to find, I just head for the grocery store and stock up on chicken breast. Works just as well and they never run out. :D

Richard, you surely know the big catfish better than I do. But I'd love to fish a few rods side by side with you some day, with half baited with skipjack and half baited with chicken breast. It would be an interesting experiment. Skipjack is a pretty formidable catfish bait. :)

bd

[TNtransplant08]

I often wondered about this myself. Up north in the Mississippi River, Skipjack is nearly extinct. Two types of mussels are close to extinction along with the Skipjack: the Ebony Shell and Elephant Ear, for which the skipjack is the solo host. Mussel larvae cling to the skipjack's gill until they mature.

If one fisherman is capable of catching 100-300 skipjacks in one day,
who knows how many commercial fishermen are catching. I don't have a problem with people who catch enough to last them through the winter. But I wonder much of the catch goes unused and goes to waste? I agree that bag limits and possesion may be the only answer. However, it still won't stop people who live just over the state line from just going home, putting them in the freezer and than going back for more. What they're selling them for, they can probably easily pay themselves back for the gas.

[eksfish]

two of a great day on chicken Breast! Fished with Richard. No doubt! He's back!!!:D

[lilmule]

Well the skipjack arnt in any danger from over harvesting,about the only thing that eats them when large is catfish and to some degree stripers,and they a get well over a pd here on ky lake.As adults being caught on a hook they arnt part of the usable eco system,and they do prey on smaller species fry or minnows,try a bass assasin it works like crazy on the species or small streamer flies.Tn has a large amount of laws when pertaining to bait like 4 in and under etc,receipt for in ones pocket.Try reading the dnr rules about it rather lengthy and almost need a lawyer to go buy or have catfish bait of a non game species.
More power to it if it gives someone some $,considering its a virtually unused part of the eco system.
We also have some non native asian carp starting ,those who live elsewhere are welcome to them in my book,use for cat food or catfish whatever.
The real commercial fishermen,have a commercial lic,have set restrictions as to size,and or type etc,I tip my hat to them,they are the first to help another boater and boat year round,breaking shore ice at ramps while your sitting enjoying your coffee.
Their are about 200 such individuals,including mussel divers in the entire state,and yes dont think we need to add those from out of state desiring a non game fish.
The law is technical stating over 50 for use in tn,or over 4 in in tn to require a commercial fishing lic or commercial bait lic,the way to stop if that is the desired net outcome is to rephrase to 50 per day,regardless of where used or sold etc.
They can be taken home and used in the garden for fertilizer or whatever non protected,currently,commercial out of state is a loophole.

[Travis C.]

August 25th, 2012

From TWRA Region II page.

A few of the regulations being considered by TWRA for the coming year for fish are: a 50-creel limit on skipjack herring. This is an important baitfish to our waters--especially river waters--and it apparently this baitfish is being caught ...in large numbers by out-of-state wholesalers. They in turn are selling to retailers all over the country.

The agency believes a limit of 50 can help remove this exploitation of a very important fish to our waters while also still allowing Tennessee anglers to catch and keep many of them for their use. Lots of angler use them for cutbait. Others use them live. Everything eats them. Striper anglers use them to catch big stripers, catfish anglers know that even a small chunk of them will catch lots of catfish. Some fly anglers enjoy catching them in the winter months when some of the other species are tough to come by. They are good fighters and very aerial.

River herring is a common name for them.

[nofish]

SAVE THE SKIPJACK!!! They have been fairly scarce this year and I'm sure part of it is weather but they are definitely overfished. I would love to see a 50 a day limit and a harsher limit to none for out of towners.!!!!!!

[lforet2002]

I'm not gonna get in another pow wow over this..I will however tell you this story bout over harvesting..I've seen it happen with my own two eyes and people said the same things here that they said back then "oh the population is so big" and other such excuses.I remember when I was a kid, going fishing w/my grandpa and dad back home in Louisiana and we used to slay the redfish not literally of course but we used to catch a lot..Problem was back then redfish were considered a trash fish and no one kept them..They weren't that good to eat..But then something happened and this may sound crazy but its true, This chef( Paul Prudhomme) came up with this recipe called "blackened redfish"...You all pretty much know it and believe it or not once peopled learned that they could make redfish taste that good, the population of redfish was decimated it very short order..The american alligator was also hurt badly down there due to over fishing them..People just sometime don't understand no matter how big or small a creature is it can have a severe effect on the ecosystem around it with just a minute change..