What to do if you spot illegal activity?

Matt H. · 02-26-2002, 01:18 PM

A while ago.. I went fishing for sturgeon off of kelly point on the bank.

One of the guys there hooked a shaker and brings him in. Somehow the fish crossed over my line and we tangle up a bit. So I go over to him as he gets the fish in, to help untangle.

I look at the fish and notice he is having a heck of a time getting the hook out of its mouth... due to him using a BARBED hook.

So what does a person do in this situation? I mean I really dont like tattling on a fellow fisherman.. but then again.. it kind of gets to me when folks so blatantly ignore the rules like that...

What would you do?

Matt

Tanner · 02-26-2002, 01:23 PM

A situation like that I would politely remind him that it is a barbless fishery. He just plain may not know. If he was keeping the shaker it would be a different story, I would try to get a license plate # and turn him in. I have no tolerance for poachers, in fact I have told a friend of mine who is notorious for keeping fish he should not, that he better not let me seeing him do it cause even though he is a friend, I will turn him in.

FishinMission · 02-26-2002, 01:23 PM

Well...you have to know if the guy was "Blatantly" ignoring the rules, or if he was just ignorant. For me...I'd just mention what the regs state and let it be. Any farther action from me would be determined by how he handled what was said.

Mark

jfia · 02-26-2002, 01:51 PM

Dito to that. Were you fishing in the Willamette or the Columbia? The Willamette does not have the barbless hook requirement, so if you were in the Willamette then it might be you that was mistaken and not the other person. Also if a person considers the Willamette as a stream then unless you were using a lure or artifical fly then you were both in the wrong. :shocked: (I'm sure it's not a stream but always check the regulations pg. 46)

Phish_on · 02-26-2002, 01:57 PM

A guy I have fished with on the Deschutes likes to just hand 'em the pliers to flatten that barb ...