I respect that. Makes sense to me. Like you said if she was taking it home to eat... makes sense of course considering even then it was within size limit. However, as a fisherman myself I get annoyed when people tell me to release my catch. Especially when I catch a big fish. I get it for some it's just a sport and some practice catch and release. I get it, but I fish for the sport and I love to eat fish. Heck I pay for my annual license every year, I pay for my daily fishing permit, and all fishes I keep that I catch are always according to DFG size limit and bag limit regulations. All caught by the mouth with bait and/or lure. I grab a copy of the DFG handbook everyyear and update myself on all changes if any, I follow the handbook, and laws accordingly. I really get annoyed when people tell me to relese my catches, I can't help but feel that it's a racial thing as the ones that always tells me to do so and in a few occasions threatened me to do so but failed, they're all are white. Not intended at anyone just simply telling what happens to me yearly at the local lakes. What you experienced well makes sense to me, and you did do the right thing by not putting the fish into their bucket. I've mentioned or rather informed to some folks before about size limit and bag limits before in an informative and kind gesture. Especially when I see some folks just keeping everything they catch. I mention it just to make sure they are aware of the laws and regulations. Some people really just aren't aware especially with the changes each year. But unfortunately some are poachers like you say.
Responsible fishermen vs poachers...
- Thread starter Bottomfeeder
- Start date
OP absolutely handled the situation the right way it seems to me. Well done. I doubt it will have much bearing on her future behavior, but that's the fault of the police and not yours.
Kudos.
Kudos.
We night fished again tonight, at a different location, but we passed the boathouse where the poaching had taken place the last few nights, during the time frame in which it happened previously, and they werent there. Maybe the message got through. We were fishing in a different spot and we saw, off into the woods, two guys with flashlights and an animal carrier... which seemed suspicious... so we went to investigate. Turns out they were animal rehabbers releasing one of the local Muscovy Ducks that had been injured. We talked to them for a little, and we mentioned the fish poachers, and they suggested getting the license plate. (we saw their car, it's a white Land Rover) I guess then we'd send Parks an email? It'd be an interesting turn of events if someone with a vested interest in native wildlife... like, say, Parks police... found out that they had an unlicensed wild caught Snapping Turtle...
Next time just call your state fish and game department. Most states have hotline numbers set up to report poachers. Here is info for NY state: http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/393.html
I run at Hempstead Lake for those familiar with Long Island and the same thing goes on especially when they stock trout. There is a big sign which says maximum trout per day 3. I will see people with buckets and bags with way more then 3 trout. They will also have bass which is restricted in Nassau County. There are a few park police cars but I rarely see the park police. Once I saw a DEC officers car pull up one day. So I thought I will see some people get busted. He parked the car, smoked a cigarette, spoke on his phone and 30 mins later left. Especially in New York City and Long Island wildlife takes the back seat.
The family was again absent today. My friend noted that they stayed behind after we left to argue with the officers on the night of confrontation, so maybe there was more to the story than we know. Win!
True poachers are one of these things that can truly ruin an anglers day. I hear ya brother but you should be glad that the American rules and laws are actually helping you out in these type of situations.
In my area poaching is a common act,and we got no hotlines to call and almost no officers to patrol fishing grounds.
there are a lot of poachers in my area,these people are ussually Polish and it's common that they kill almost everything they catch.
I'f they know good fishing spots it's common to see poachers that wel pass the baglimit of 2zanders by keeping 7-8 or even more.
Ussually fish to small to keep but what do they know,they don't have permits or know anything about the rules they just fish like there used to fish in Poland with nets,5-10 rods and other primitive ways of fishing.
Don't get me wrong,Its more then ok for me if you take a fish home for dinner but it has to be of legal size and you don't take more fish home then you can legaly can.
All we can do down here is call the regular cops but it's not common for them to show up,even when multiple people call.
Most frustrating is to see poachers at small pond and lakes in our cityparks where they come and can literally destroy a fishwater in less then a year by killing everything. And when a newspaper writes about the massive drop of fish in those park the most frustrating part is to read that such a guy ussally gets away with just a €100 fine yeah that would stop em.
In my area poaching is a common act,and we got no hotlines to call and almost no officers to patrol fishing grounds.
there are a lot of poachers in my area,these people are ussually Polish and it's common that they kill almost everything they catch.
I'f they know good fishing spots it's common to see poachers that wel pass the baglimit of 2zanders by keeping 7-8 or even more.
Ussually fish to small to keep but what do they know,they don't have permits or know anything about the rules they just fish like there used to fish in Poland with nets,5-10 rods and other primitive ways of fishing.
Don't get me wrong,Its more then ok for me if you take a fish home for dinner but it has to be of legal size and you don't take more fish home then you can legaly can.
All we can do down here is call the regular cops but it's not common for them to show up,even when multiple people call.
Most frustrating is to see poachers at small pond and lakes in our cityparks where they come and can literally destroy a fishwater in less then a year by killing everything. And when a newspaper writes about the massive drop of fish in those park the most frustrating part is to read that such a guy ussally gets away with just a €100 fine yeah that would stop em.
Just goes to show how willing people in the area are to ignore wildlife laws, this was in a local paper...
http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2012/08/grymes_hill_resident_says_he_s.html
Same body of water, same laws apply. Instead of a ticket, he got himself in the paper.
http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2012/08/grymes_hill_resident_says_he_s.html
Same body of water, same laws apply. Instead of a ticket, he got himself in the paper.
