Fished a spot for schoolies this afternoonon on Aquidneck Island and watched a guy keep a tiny Tautog. This is the third time already I have witnessed poaching. The first was also a few small blackfish and the other was a lobster while squidding. Is it me or are more and more people just keeping small fish these days. I used to mind my own business but now I yell over to them but they act as if they don't speak English. I wish I still had my cell phone. Why do we bother even having regulations if a select few can just keep whatever they catch. I know there are bigger fish to fry but it gets bothersome when you just see people taking shorts. Last year I talked to the female DEM officer over in Narry and she said if they catch someone poaching and it's not that bad, they just give them a warning. No wonder the poaching still goes on. They have to bring down the hammer right off the bat.

I feel the same frustration you have. Don't feel bad about them not responding like they don't speak English, because they probably don't understand English, at least where I fish. I keep the DEC phone numbers in my cell phone and I won't hesitate to use them.

If we all stick together and do this, we can make a difference.

I almost dont even want to fish Beavertail any more because of the rampant poaching problem going on there. When I have spoken up about it on other sites I get bashed because I have identified the user group who does it. Somehow people side with the user group by calling them subsistence fisherman. Im all for feeding my family but the law is the law. I saw a fisherman this weekend take two legal Tautog he had sitting in his bucket for several hours and toss them back at the end of his trip because he didnt want to clean them, what a waste. Legal fish, Illegal fish people make some bad decisions.

There is definitely a difference between substinence fishermen and those that have no regard for anything. Those people are the same ones that throw garbage all over the place and park wherever they feel like even if they don't have a permit to do so. They won't pay a fine either I'm sure.

Unfortunately, this problem is increasing so we must keep pressure on them by reporting them right away.

I know many people that bring home legal fish and they are all completely law abiding as well as environmentally "sound". But it is the inconsiderate people that feel that no laws apply to them, whether they are fishing or not.

Where I fish (in NY) I fish an area where these people keep anything they catch (any size and amount) and then they throw garbage all over the place in large amounts. I cant say anything for two reasons: First, they would probably pull a knife on me, since that is the way they "discuss" things, and secondly, they usually don't understand English anyway.

This is why its up to us to keep local DEC phone numbers programmed in our cell phones so we can report these creeps.

Striper Hound..
I know the feeling... I fish the tail alot late summer early fall..
I keep my gear very close and (try to) stay as far away from people as I can... I dont do well biting my lip, but most of the time I have to... it's usually 10 to 1 not in my favor....

i got your back bryan :af:

I don't understand this. In a time when state budgets are really tight, RI is not using poaching as an opportunity to raise monetary penalties?

In my town, I've been pulled over six times already for not wearing my seat belt. No points on license, but the state needs the money so they're enforcing this very silly (bullchit) law.

Don't ask any of the unlucky folks who get a $150 parking ticket in NYC. Police don't care, they're under standing orders to raise revenue.

:rolleyes:

I'm one of those Manhattan folks. It is truly ridiculous. In NYC, you can barely make a left or right anywhere anymore during the workday.

Yours truly made the evil error and made a left somewhere. $90 fine, 2 points on the license and insurance goes up. Big price to pay for making a left, no safety issue there!

When I fish I see the "blue baggers" parking along side of the parkway which is highly illegal and they are fishing close by. Funny how I never see them get ticketed. No wonder they are always there!

I guess we are the suckers that pay and they dont pay.

About three or four years ago somebody who got whacked by some wiseguys was taken to Beavertail, dragged onto the rocks and their body was torched.
Nobody noticed.
If the authorities did not catch who did that do you really think they are going to scale down the cliffs in their pointy black shoes to tag poachers?

The best enforcement I have seen at Beavertail is the DEM guys driving around checking coolers and buckets as the people come back up to there cars. The only way they get caught is if they suffer a case of bad timing.