Sturgeon/Salmon on Sunday

[4 REEL]

Went out Sunday at Scappoose, scooted out to the mouth and set up till noon. Not a bump for anyone.
Pulled up at noon and ran up the channel to fight a couple of gators. The bite wasn't red hot, but consistant.
Saw a guy with two nice keepers hanging on the side :shocked: . Well we found a 800# and behold.....a trooper showed up to have a chat with these guys. For the tune of $300 EACH .
Nice to se yu K.Hog Hunter!

[1 Smart Fish]

I'll bet the 2 guys had no idea about the new law. :depressed:

I'll bet those tickets get reduced to $75 each.... My buddy was casting above a dead line this last year, got a $300 ticket and was automatically reduced to $75 because it was his first offense.

[ 02-09-2004, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: 1 Smart Fish ]

[Kentucky Hog Hunter]

4-Reel,

It was great to see you guys out there...

Awesome tag team job on the poacher hotline...Even though those guys probably didn't know the reg's, that is no excuse...

The damage was done because they had already cut their throats and it was definately the right thing to do...

Hope to share some what near you guys again real soon...

[ 02-09-2004, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Kentucky Hog Hunter ]

[barnettm]

Those people probably were not aware of the recent rule change. Would a "real" poacher hang the fish over the side for all to see?? They broke the law out of ignorance, not greed.

[skybuster]

If those guys were operating out of ignorance they should be cut some slack. The rules seem to change every week.

I am not so sure I like restrictions that confine the fishing to specific days of the week anyway. It seems like these restrictions unfairly hamstring fisherman with jobs that don't let them fish those days. It just seems to me that these types of rules don't allow the same oppurtunities to all of the fisherman.

[Kentucky Hog Hunter]

Hmmm...

Fair or not, the law says we can't retain on Sunday - Wednesday...

Not saying I agree with these spot closures but everone should know the reg's regardless...It has definately been publicized enough via the Oregonean, the tackle suppliers & the flyers at the boat launches I have seen to.

I know it may seem harsh but if they were unaware of the law and they have a clean record then I can see the fine being ammended to something more reasonable and call it good...

Funny thing happened to me at the Wind River last year...I was fishing up there and I threw a unclipped Springer back in the water due to what I thought were the same reg's as the lower river...When I threw it back, everone was giving me the stink eye

I called my buddy Eric Linde up and asked him why everyone was looking at me like that and he started laughing...The Wind doesn't clip their fish and I felt like the biggest [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] on the river...However, that didn't cost me $300...

I was fortunate enough to get a couple more fish that day for my boss & his cousin from Salt Lake...

[ 02-09-2004, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Kentucky Hog Hunter ]

[skybuster]

It's definitely better to error on the safe side. If you don't know, throw them back! I just think it may be a little harsh to lable them as poachers if this was an honest mistake. I had one game violation once and it was an honest mistake. In fact the county cop was gonna let me go because I had the regs with me and he had a hard time finding the rule in the regs. Problem was the OSP got wind of the ordeal and I ended up with a $67 fine.

I had no problem with paying the fine because it was my fault! But I would have to take issue with being labeled a poacher over an honest mistake.

[skybuster]

By the way I believe that your "buddy" may have gotten himself and some others in his boat some tickets for catching sturgeon in the closed waters in front of Tanner creek. Would you label him a poacher?