The sea bass closure ... recreational anglers aren't playing around.

When federal fisheries managers closed sea bass fishing in federal waters from the Outer Banks to Maine on Oct. 5, recreational anglers up and down the coast were left fuming.

NOAA Fisheries cited that the recreational quota had already been caught, even though they actually did not yet have the numbers. They had to close the fishery for 180 days, it was stated, to prevent massive overfishing of a stock their own scientists have said is healthy and not overfished.

Well, as you might have hoped or expected, the issue is going to court.

On Friday the Recreational Fishing Alliance announced that it is preparing paperwork to seek an injunction, sue or get a regulatory fix.

Recreational anglers were willing to accept smaller bag limits for the rest of the year, but never were given the opportunity by what basically was an unprecedented blindside.

RFA managing director Jim Hutchinson Jr., said Friday afternoon that two lawyers - both avid anglers who have experience with fisheries issues - are on the job. He expects a filing sometime late next week.

"We're looking at every single avenue possible to get this changed," Hutchinson said. "We've poured through all of the Magnuson Stevens Act and all of the closure paperwork, and we're pretty sure that there is a loophole for us."

Sea bass is a bottom fish prized for its food value. The fishery off Virginia is extensive and is rapidly growing off the Outer Banks. The closure is a potential disaster for charter and head boat captains who depend on long-range, deep-drop trips during the late fall and winter.

That said, the RFA - being a non-profit group - is looking for help from the recreation angling community. Hutchinson said that donations have been coming into his organization. But with the potential for court action, more is needed.

He has vowed that money will go into a dedicated fund - the RFA Legal Defense Fund - and that any monies not used in this cause will be returned if donators wish.

For information on the RFA or this upcoming battle, go to www.joinrfa.org

We'll keep you updated on what likely will be one of the most important issues facing recreational anglers in quite some time.

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