For the report: 2 redfish and 1 flounder all within about 10 minutes of each other using gulp shrimp on the incoming tide.
For the question: At what point should I involve the DNR for this scenario that has been going on for quite a while?
I fish from the shore quite a bit. It is easy, and I catch fish. One of the spots that I have been going to, I am seeing a lot of minorities that are not following the rules. I have been trying to educate them as opposed to calling Operation Game Thief, but my patience is wearing thin.
Case in point - I have been seeing a young Hispanic kid keeping everything. First time I saw him, he had a bunch of pinfish in a cooler. I noticed a baby car seat in his vehicle and figured that this guy is just trying to feed his family, so I didn’t say anything until I saw an undersized redfish going in his cooler. At that point I said something. I know this guy does not have a license, and probably doesn’t understand English enough to know the rules, but still, it is no excuse.
Case number 2: This morning a young black guy, who was very courteous and nice, pulls in his crab basket. He is using a half of an undersized redfish for bait! I very nicely explain to him that the Man will jam him up good for doing that. I then proceed to catch 2 redfish back to back and release them. The guy says “Sir, why don’t you keep your fish?” I very kindly explain to him that these are regulated game fish and you don’t keep the undersized ones. Again, I will bet you a hundred bucks that this guy does not have a license.
I think that the problem is purely based in ignorance of the rules. I don’t get the vibe that these guys think that they are above the law they are just ignorant of what the laws are. I am trying to educate them, but I know when I leave the spot, there is no telling what they keep. Probably everything.
I have been nice to these guys and am trying to educate them with out being a prick, but what point should I call the DNR or O.G.T? I think a couple license
I think you are doing good so far with your attempts to educate the group. It is always tough to correct others without ruffling peoples feathers. Maybe you can get a handful of the DNR fish rulers and kinda pass them out to the guys. Heck I have to look at my fish rulers all of the time to remember the regulations.
I pulled back up to the dock at shem creek yesterday with a gang of fishermen and crabbers on it. I pull right up in there(on the outside of the dock as to not block the ramp) and over top of their unattended crab lines and tie my boat off to the cleat on the dock(tying over top of their crab lines on the cleat). A guy comes up and says “come on man you’re covering my crab line”. Instead of getting in to it with them I just let them know I’d be right back. They should really consider building a really nice and expensive pier somewhere on shem creek for fishing, crabbing and hanging out. Oh…wait… they already have that. I make room for fishermen on land because I fish off of the docks sometimes, but don’t block access. I do like when people get upset when you let keepers go when fishing off of docks! hahaha
When I have my young son with me, I do not educate anyone, I get out of earshot, and call the DNR with a good solid identification of the individual and their car (if possible). Some of these guys have attitude problems and I’m not putting either myself or my son at risk. Let the man packing heat handle it.
If I am alone or with friends, I may say something to them, I may not. My theory is the same as the warden’s— if you have a rod in your hand, you ought to be following the rules, no excuses. NONE.
If someone doesn’t speak English, tough. The laws are written in English, it’s not that terribly hard to get someone bilingual to explain them to you. I could do that myself (if we’re talking about Spanish).
Unfortunately the DNR doesn’t have the funding/staffing they need to keep up the laws as they should be. I haven’t seen the DNR law enforcement a single time since I’ve been back and I usually fish 2-5 times a month in BUSY places. All I’ve seen is the biology interns and techs at the Tailrace taking creel surveys on the roe shad.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
Rules are rules.All should follow them…I spent almost three years in Mexico and fished some there.The folks there keep everything they catch and make use of it…Even fish a couple inches long!The concept of someone not being able to keep what they catch from the ocean never occurs to them. It amazed me watching them throw hand lines and catching what i consider baitfish to eat. They were pretty good with the handlines and caught more than me with a rod.However my bait was as large as what they were catching.
As far as your question about reporting them? If they were green blue or orange I might report them.Just dont think humans(any color) fishing from the bank will do much harm to the fisheries.If they were catching sea turtles or shooting dolphins well,definitely call the man!
Just my 2 cents.
quote:Originally posted by Narcosis
For the report: 2 redfish and 1 flounder all within about 10 minutes of each other using gulp shrimp on the incoming tide.
For the question: At what point should I involve the DNR for this scenario that has been going on for quite a while?
I fish from the shore quite a bit. It is easy, and I catch fish. One of the spots that I have been going to, I am seeing a lot of minorities that are not following the rules. I have been trying to educate them as opposed to calling Operation Game Thief, but my patience is wearing thin.
Case in point - I have been seeing a young Hispanic kid keeping everything. First time I saw him, he had a bunch of pinfish in a cooler. I noticed a baby car seat in his vehicle and figured that this guy is just trying to feed his family, so I didn’t say anything until I saw an undersized redfish going in his cooler. At that point I said something. I know this guy does not have a license, and probably doesn’t understand English enough to know the rules, but still, it is no excuse.
People that are not obeying rules only hurt the people that do. I would call Game Theft and hope that they are fined because that money will be put into conservation. That would be regardless of race! If you have explained the rules to them then they should have to pay. There are plenty of white folks that don’t obey limits and so forth as well. See it all the time in the upstate with striper fishing!
I would like to add my 2 cents to this topic because i can see this as being tricky. I commend you for trying to educate the patrons and it shows that you do care about both the fishery and your fellow man. You can mostly tell what kind of person you are dealing with by just listening and checking out there demeanor. Most who fish from land do it for table fare and do not bother to educate themselves because it is not often they go. Let’s think about this we all know DNR is not a joke and what they are capable of if caught. People who fish very little and for table fare do not take the time to educate themselves very much they are just trying to relax and possibly catch something to eat for the family .Continue to be that guy who cares and shares that is what it’s all about because, i assure you soon or later they will get caught.
Good post!! Also consider that this is the first year a license is required for folks fishing from the shore(I think) and under 16= no license.
quote:Originally posted by talltiger2
I would like to add my 2 cents to this topic because i can see this as being tricky. I commend you for trying to educate the patrons and it shows that you do care about both the fishery and your fellow man. You can mostly tell what kind of person you are dealing with by just listening and checking out there demeanor. Most who fish from land do it for table fare and do not bother to educate themselves because it is not often they go. Let’s think about this we all know DNR is not a joke and what they are capable of if caught. People who fish very little and for table fare do not take the time to educate themselves very much they are just trying to relax and possibly catch something to eat for the family .Continue to be that guy who cares and shares that is what it’s all about because, i assure you soon or later they will get caught.
so toppyblue wants to put the commercial fisherman who buy licenses and pay taxes out of business. yet let these OTHERS who do neither do as they please with a blind eye turned towards them. GENIUS.
Guys on the hill/boat ramp have to show some respect by getting out of the way of boaters. This is coming from someone who does fish from the hill and boat landings. I’ve been present for some of that nonsense from others fishing at the ramp and it is ridiculous. Show respect and get out the way. The boater won’t be there long.
so toppyblue wants to put the commercial fisherman who buy licenses and pay taxes out of business. yet let these OTHERS who do neither do as they please with a blind eye turned towards them. GENIUS.
I think he is on a posting marathon, doesn’t matter what he says he’s just posting. I haven’t saw a single post worth reading. I sent him a PM back in June when he posted in Fishing Match Up, boy am I glad he didn’t respond.
As for the actual question which I didn’t answer in my first post. If you don’t want to call while your are present call as you are leaving. I would inform DNR at minimum so they would hopefully patrol the area.
It makes me laugh when some people are so ignorant to claim something that is not theirs. Our country ! Please we were not the first ones here it was the Indians and if this was our country like you said why do we as citizens have little say on how this country should be ran. Sharing is caring and sometimes money should not be in the equation it is the love that counts.
Tough issue for sure. I have to say-it’s tough for me to imagine calling the law on someone who’s truly fishing for sustenance. I think that’s the rare case, but I have a soft spot for those who are so unfortunate as to need whatever they can catch to feed their family.
It is pointless trying to “educate” these people. They are going to do want they want, they have no regard for the “rules”. If you are watching them they may throw fish back, but when your not around, forget about it. I would call DNR and not think twice about it, problem is though that DNR doesn’t have the manpower to police these kind of scenarios. This goes on all day, every day, and DNR probably can police about 5% of it. So next time call DNR, and then go on with your business.
Highwayman,
That too is an assumption. Most times, it is not for sustenance. I am not bashing but I have seen far too many times that they like to use language as an excuse, ignorance as an excuse, and rely on our compassion to get by with NOT following the law.
If we allow it, all the controls and regulations that have been put in place to restock the species over the last 30 years might just as well be thrown out the window.
The same goes for offshore, just because someone spent $200-500 on gas does not entitle them to take what they want regardless of the rules. This is why our fisheries are so screwed up and the environmentalist want to shut everything down. They see fisherman as nothing more than rogues and thieves.
While it is correct to try and educate and not assume, it is their responsibility to know the law PRIOR to taking the rod in hand.
TALL, I have to disagree with you. This is our country and the fisheries is one our natural resources. When our fore fathers came to the shores of North America they came to a lawless land that was inhabited by barbarians. We have since established a country that for the most part has good laws. Yes we took the land from the “Native Americans” and treated them wrong at the time, we have since given them retributions and schools and grants etc. I often work among and with the “Native Americans” I even go into their homes, and the ones I work with hold no ill will to the country today as a matter of fact the working class now are very disgusted with the ones that are only looking for handouts and are asking tribal councils for refrigerators and washers etc. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY we have laws, if someone has chosen not to follow the laws they are a criminal. I often hear the argument about the illegals (THEY ARE CRIMINALS)are just doing what our fore father did they are wrong we now have laws and procedures. If someone has come to this country under false pretenses since the laws have been adopted as to the procedure to enter our COUNTRY they should be treated as criminals. The illegals are a large portion of why our economy is in the state that it is in and just allowing anything to go on because they weren’t born fortunate is wrong. We need to get back to the standards that our founding fathers established. When a foreigner enters our country legally they get no handouts but when an ILLEGAL is here they are given government subsidies. I am fed up with Oh lets not hurt peoples feelings and am tired of paying for people that just want to have babies or fake illness etc to get handouts. I work to support my family and my country I shouldn’t have to work to support criminals and I will not allow them to abuse MY COUNTRY.
Highwayman,
That too is an assumption. Most times, it is not for sustenance. I am not bashing but I have seen far too many times that they like to use language as an excuse, ignorance as an excuse, and rely on our compassion to get by with NOT following the law.
If we allow it, all the controls and regulations that have been put in place to restock the species over the last 30 years might just as well be thrown out the window.
The same goes for offshore, just because someone spent $200-500 on gas does not entitle them to take what they want regardless of the rules. This is why our fisheries are so screwed up and the environmentalist want to shut everything down. They see fisherman as nothing more than rogues and thieves.
While it is correct to try and educate and not assume, it is their responsibility to know the law PRIOR to taking the rod in hand.
Sea Hunt BX22 Br
WS Tarpon 140
I made no assumptions…I acknowledged that a true a “fishing for sustenance” scenario was a rare case. You are the one making assumptions, e.g., your comment about the enviros seeing us as “rogues and thieves.”
Interesting question and responses. There are a lot of people now undergoing tough times and if you frequent out of the way places you will find them.
You ain’t no dummy. Use common sense. There are some people out there fishing for subsistence, they need it and the few undersized fish they catch aren’t going to hurt you or anyone else. You got any idea how many undersized fish one porpoise or shark eats in a day? A lot more than they catch. On the other hand, someone in a 40K flats boat who obviously ain’t ever missed a meal is another matter. I came across a couple of old black fellows a while back fishing in an odd spot and I asked them what they were catching. They had a bucket full of blackfish, none of them larger than 8". I bet they had 50 of them. I let it ride. I could tell they needed the fish and I’ll never miss a few blackfish. Just use common sense.
These marshes have been keeping a lot of people alive for a long time. That’s what they were put here for and I’ve took my share and more. Some people fish for sport, some to survive. Use your common sense to know the difference. If they are subsistence fishing, wish them luck and give them your extras, if they are taking advantage of it, I’d turn them in.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose