What would you do??

mudsucker · 08-30-2001, 08:32 PM

I have been fishing the mouth of nehalem and out in the ocean. I have seen other boats fishing outside that have been landing,netting and KEEPING silvers. I am not talking about being just outside these boats are out in 75 to 140 ft. of water.... or 1/2 to 1 mile offshore. What would you do if you saw this happening in a closed area??
[img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[ 08-30-2001: Message edited by: mudsucker ]

Johnny Mac · 08-30-2001, 08:41 PM

Honestly, I'd probably grumble about it, get jealous of their catch, not say anything, and hope that kharma comes back to them at some point. I couldnt see myself going out of my way to gripe at them, and I've never been one to be either confrontational or a tattler. You could say passive aggressive maybe, but I guess I'd rather just fish. I believe in kharma. Eventually, they will have a real louzy day or five.

WheresMyBobber · 08-30-2001, 08:46 PM

I would call the State Police, without hesitation. In fact, I would use my VHF radio or cell phone to help the police catch them in the act. Whether or not we agree with the rules, they are in place and should be adhered to by everybody!

WaterDog · 08-30-2001, 09:10 PM

I'm with WMB. I'd turn'em in, in a heartbeat and hope they lose thier boat, tackle, fishing privileges, and pay lots of $$$$.

boater · 08-30-2001, 09:14 PM

i would turn them in, i wouldnt even hesitate.

brshooter · 08-30-2001, 09:32 PM

I wouldn't think twice about contacting the state police immediately. I don't know how anyone could be passive about others breaking the law. The rules are there for everyone to obey.

Johnny,
I don't know you, but how could you ever get jealous of someone poaching fish?

Johnny Mac · 08-30-2001, 09:49 PM

I just love catchin fish. I'd get jealous of anybody catchin if I'm not, regardless of how there doing it. Not jealous of him poaching at all, I think thats terrible. Now if he got busted and had to give all his fish to the nearest legal boat? I'd cream him. lol.

Fellas, dont get me wrong, I'm usually just too in to my own thing to get riled up about it is all. I'll take care of myself and play by the rules. If somebody else doesnt? They pay a price for it eventually, they always do.

Phish_on · 08-31-2001, 07:31 AM

Part of being responsible is being willing to report violations. Come on, if you watch someone selling heroin in the high school parking lot, is it OK just because it isn't you?

Hoosier Daddy · 08-31-2001, 07:34 AM

1-800-I-SAW-YOU-POACHING-(YOU-SON-OF-A-***** )

Dogfish · 08-31-2001, 07:57 AM

In Washington you can ask the officer responding to the call for a reward. The lowest dollar amount is $50. That can provide some folks who need a little extra incentive that little push they need to report the poacher. That way, the poacher gets to pay for your gas, bait nad launch fee that day! The process isn't immediate, but it is better than griping about it.

Andy

Johnny Mac · 08-31-2001, 08:45 AM

All good points of course.

This is my first season going hot and heavy. I'm sure you guys can remember your frame of mind when you first started fishing, you were all about learning and pulling in fish. Hell, I'm not sure I could even recognize when somebody is poaching or not at this point. Like I said, I'm more into making sure I am doing everything ok for now. I'm sure after some time following the rules, I'll be annoyed to the point you guys are with it, and know how to handle that situation, but for now, I just want to learn to fish.

Just being honest. I'm not gonna say I'll hang him by his toenails just to appear proper, when I'm not familiar with it all yet. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Threemuch · 08-31-2001, 08:59 AM

Why AREN'T those fish legal? I know the rules, but what is the freaking basis? You can keep them inside the jaws, but not right outside. And up at B10, we will make the limit 4 so everyone will go there and we can have a few nasty boating accidents!

THESE ARE HATCHERY FISH! Who are we saving them for?

I am pretty sure I wouldn't report the guy, because I think the rule is stupid. No way I am going to be part of enforcing laws I disagree with.

Threemuch · 08-31-2001, 12:23 PM

I didn't say I would break the law, I just said I wouldn't turn someone in for breaking a F&G law I did not agree with.

And I am pretty sure that I don't agree with a 4 fish limit in the mouth of the columbia, a two fish limit in nehalem bay, and no take in the open ocean. If there is a rational explaination for these limits, then please explain it to me, and I will turn someone in for breaking them.

Hoosier Daddy · 08-31-2001, 01:14 PM

what's the difference?

Threemuch · 08-31-2001, 01:59 PM

What's the difference between breaking the law and turning someone else in? Big difference. Not breaking the law is part anyone's in society. Turning someone else in for breaking the law is actively supporting that law.

Let me give you a hypothetical that might help you understand. Let's say I live in Morton Grove, Il. 10 or 15 years ago they passed a local ordinance outlawing handguns. As a lawful citizen, I turn mine in. My neighbor who I shoot with does not. Do I call the cops to turn him in? HELL NO. Because I disagree with the law, I will not actively support it. As a law abiding citizen, I obey it.

That's the difference.

OneLastCast · 08-31-2001, 03:02 PM

Well Threemuch, were you in the white sled last weekend? Or the Black sled the weekend before? Both boats were actively bonking silvers.
I have always ignored them in the past because turning someone else in has always gone against the grain (the old throwing stones axiom). Of course I would sit in my boat and grouch and complain and threaten but I never did anything about it. Last weekend was the last straw. The poaching was blatant, loud, obnoxious and pretty ruthless. I never saw the boat return a fish to the water meaning both nates and hatchery fish were taken. My boat brought +/- 30 silvers to the boat, never took them out of the water, never grabbed a net so I can't believe that every fish they caught was a chinook. I watched the Nehalem go from three fish limits to no fish limits to everything in between and I don't want to see it ruined.

Although Threemuch makes a good arguement I think I have finally reached the point where I am going to start making the phone call.
So if you're fishing the Nehalem keep that in mind.

OneLastCast

SteelieSteve · 08-31-2001, 11:32 PM

Threemuch
The ocean is closed to the taking of coho's everywhere but the mouth of the columbia and a bit south. Still open for chinooks for a bit longer. No fish is worth losing your boat, truck, gear, right to fish and heavy fine for. Is it? Break the law and pay the price dude. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Threemuch · 09-01-2001, 09:32 AM

Haven't been in a sled out of Nehalem. And I don't like what you infer.

I do know what you mean about 30 or so silvers out in front while trolling for kings. They are thick out there.

Go ahead and make that call. Feel free. I won't.

[img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Hookset · 09-01-2001, 10:28 AM

If memory serves me, not sure if it will, there are several legitimate reasons the ocean and bay seasons reflect different catch and retention limits at different locations. One difference is escapement protection between native and hatchery fish stocks. The incidental native caught and released fish suffer some mortality losses. In some locations native fish can support this loss, others they can not. Another reason is fish start collecting near their home rivers late in the summer and early fall, again, some locations are in better shape to allow a fishery and others are not. Like the Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain ocean season allows 2 fish daily catch limit and is currently closed for silvers to protect the native population.

Just because you may not understand why the seasons are different, does not mean there are not valid reasons. When you witness someone illegally fishing, they are taking from a resource that robs you and I of future seasons. The line has to be drawn somewhere. Not all silver salmon stocks are in great shape and in this case, the line is drawn between the jetty and the ocean. If you need more reasons then this to support a closed area, call the local ODFW office and ask for details. It's much better to understand then simply ignore.

Sportsman support game regulations, poachers do not and I hate poachers, they rob from everyone. Make the call and feel better for it, your helping everyone out.

Gregg

Threemuch · 09-01-2001, 02:01 PM

Thanks for the explaination and reasonable rationale Gregg.

By the way, in the original post, Mudsucker mentioned that these people were not right outside the jetty, but 1/2 to 1 mile outside. So let's pose another hypothetical.

Loads of boats fish the mouth of the jetty. You see someone land a silver just outside. Say 10-20 yards past the jaws. Do you turn them in?

I think if you turn one in you have to turn the other in. They are both breaking the letter of the law.

Unless you guys just want to drop this, which is fine with me too.

mudsucker · 09-01-2001, 02:40 PM

I would agree they or both breaking the law and i for one will not overlook this any longer... It not fair to the rest of the sportsmen that follow the regulations and laws!!!

Mudsucker

09-01-2001, 04:13 PM

The difference is, a few will shut everything down for all of us. As far as blatant activity such as above and snagging, if we don't police ourselves, who will? Call the cops? In my younger days, no need. Now days, with total idiots and weapons, in a heart beat for "no excuse, no brainer whatsoever" stupid sheet. If someone wants a fish that bad, I'll give you one. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

CAGEY · 09-02-2001, 07:46 AM

I would take the time to ask them if they knew that it is illegal to keep silvers in the ocean. If they convinced me they were just plain stupid i would say nothing more, If they continue to fish for and retain silvers they are going to be met by OSP game officers and i am personally going assist OSP with any help in prosecuting the jerks. I just happen to have 27 years of experience in dealing with these kind of people and beleave me if i have to i still know how to fill out a citation. I do however know that people make honest mistakes and if they are decent about it and admit there mistake they should not have to suffer for being stupid. They should know the rules or they should not be fishing. Just my nickel's worth.