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I watched a guy put an out of season bass into his cooler today. I told him that it was out of season and he said "so?". I'm not talking a kid here. He was about thirty with good quality spinning gear so he fishes more often. His attitude ensured a call to the poaching hot line. There are a lot of kids who fish out of that park and in the past I've explained the reasons for releasing illegal fish to them without reporting them so I feel a little guilty about turning him in.
Yes I do. I worked for NH Fish and Game when I first graduated from college and I know how difficult a job they have. I follow the laws and I expect others to do the same.
Jim Smith
Thanks Rainbow chaser.
As a retired game warden I know that all of the "cheaters" can't be caught without help from Sportsmen.
The poacher is stealing from the law abiding hunter and fisherman.
xfishcop
In a heart beat, yes, I report them. That and for medical emergencies is why I carry a cell phone with me when I am fishing (the cell phone is turned off by the way and in a waterproof container, just in case. ;)
Larry ---sagefisher---
I run them off.period
absolutely. call as they watch...take photos of plate and poacher...is stealing from the law abiding angler.
Report ?.............ABSOLUTELY. Confront ?........ABSOLUTELY NOT !. Face to face confrontation is NOT your job and could avoid a fat lip or worse.
Mark
Good advice, Marco.
I'm not as intimidating to look at as Len Harris but when he took my informing him of the out of season status of catch the wrong way I did a quick mental assessment that left me feeling fairly safe. Barring his having a concealed weapon I felt that my studded wading boots on his bare legs and sandaled feet trumped his advantages in size and age. After all, I have always felt that the idea of fighting fair just means that us short clumsy types are bound to loose. I don't do it any more after I found that the application of a two by four to the head meant I didn't get beat up again by my six foot two cousin in eighth grade.
Have reported several, didn't and don't feel bad in the least. As a sportsman, it is your civic duty...
Have Co. Operation Game Thief on speed dial.
That is an excellent idea.Quote:
Originally Posted by chewydog
One thing to note: many states have an Operation Game Thief....but the telephone numbers usually differ from state to state.
California has Cal-Tip. It's on speed dial, and there is a text number too, if you don't want to be obvi, or have spotty coverage
Partly it depends on the situation. For example I recently observed a young man carrying a rigged up spinning rod on a fly fishing only section that was closed season at that time. There were other parts of the river that were open and a section that allowed spinning gear. He wasn't hiding anything and was out in the open in a extremely well traveled area. I figured he just didn't know the rules. I reminded him to check the rules and that he could be ticketed if a game officer showed up.
Other times someone is clearly violating the law on purpose or trying to hide something. They get turned in.
I have Oregon's TIP (Turn In Poachers) number on speed dial.
Jayatwork,
In keeping with my "ain't your/my job" opinion stated earlier , I think you made certain assumptions that may or may not have been factual. If, on the other hand, a game warden did confront this individual, the lesson learned would be FAR MORE effective and lasting than your reminder (even if the warden gave , and probably would have given, him a pass). Until very recently, intent and ignorance of the law, have never been a legitimate excuses to break the law, but mitigating circumstances could, however, lessen the sting as likely would have happened in this case.
Mark
Yes I made assumptions, but I think I am pretty capable of assessing the situation and I will continue to use my discretion in these situations. The kid could not have been in a more conspicuous spot on the river. He might as well have been wearing a big neon sign. Cell service is spotty in the area and I would have had to drive a few miles to make a call. If I had called the TIP line, he probably would have been long gone by the time they responded.
I was fishing the North Branch of the AuSable in Michigan at a MiFi several years ago when an older man waded past, on the far side of the stream, with a spinning rod. The weight of his lure made it clear that he wasn't using a fly, in fly-only. I pointed it out to the guide but did no more. For all I knew the guy was a friend of the guide's parents and needed some fish. In this case I yielded to the opinion of the local guide. The spin angler was wading upstream at the Dam 4 area just downstream of the steps, for those who know the spot.
For a number of years , this posting has been on the website of the Gulf Coast Council - Fly Fishers International, i.e. the new name of the Federation of Fly Fishers.
http://www.gulfcoastfff.org/index.ph...gal-activities