Rumor has it one of the big guns was busted last night for poaching?

Rumor has it one of the big guns was busted last night for poaching?

oops!

scuppers ?

http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=493674

rut rooooo

:call: ...:cputin: ....:liquify: ....

:lasso: ......:hang:......... :faga: ........:behead: .............:whackin:

:mad: :mad: Really nice. Poaching, cheating, whatever - the guy is now a fraud in my book. I don't care how big the fish he caught were.

There should be a legal way to ban guys like that from even touching a rod & reel again.

I hate poachers!!

Anyone know if he will be dq'd from the tournament?

Its in the works...looks inevitable....buh bye :wiggle:

:mad: :mad: Really nice. Poaching, cheating, whatever - the guy is now a fraud in my book. I don't care how big the fish he caught were.

There should be a legal way to ban guys like that from even touching a rod & reel again.

I hate poachers!!

the 50's he caught are still quite an accomplishment..
however....
i agree. the guy is a fraud. he was trying to line his pockets with a few more bucks. im a commercial fisherman and this guys actions make me sick. he gives all honest, hardworking, lawabiding commercial fisherman a bad name.
they should have confiscated his boat/gear/truck.
poaching lobsters will get you a much heaftier fine/punishment, why is bass any less???
he should be banned for life from the OTW tournament.
he should have his commercial licence revoked immediately.
:liquify: :liquify: :liquify:

Keel haul him and hang him from the mizzen topgallant mast.

Let me get this straight.

A very large corporate sponsored competition with big prizes and little oversight...

SOMEONE IS CAUGHT CHEATING

And people are suprised?

-spence

The problem is he is not the only one doing this jumpstart thing before the comm season starts, plenty of them do it :( . He got caught. And good for the EPO's for doing their job, why just a citation though? :huh: can't they confiscate his equipment? I hope they caught more of them.

I hope this thread doesn't go the wrong way and start bashing some guy because of a rumor on another website.

Tell me how his cheating in any way increased his chances of winning a major prize. Unless you consider a trophy as a major prize.

There are no cash prizes, and the grand prizes are going to be awarded by a luck-of-the-draw raffle at the closing beer fest.

the 50's he caught are still quite an accomplishment..
however....
i agree. the guy is a fraud. he was trying to line his pockets with a few more bucks. im a commercial fisherman and this guys actions make me sick. he gives all honest, hardworking, lawabiding commercial fisherman a bad name.
they should have confiscated his boat/gear/truck.
poaching lobsters will get you a much heaftier fine/punishment, why is bass any less???
he should be banned for life from the OTW tournament.
he should have his commercial licence revoked immediately.
:liquify: :liquify: :liquify:

yep, I agree

Can't they atleast revoke his Comm bass license?

Tell me how his cheating in any way increased his chances of winning a major prize.

• Monthly Winners (5) -Heaviest Striper Each Month
Will be eligible to win the Grand Prize 4 x 4

-spence

Let me get this straight.

A very large corporate sponsored competition with big prizes and little oversight...

SOMEONE IS CAUGHT CHEATING

And people are suprised?

-spence

No surprise - that's part of the problem with this tourney to begin with. I'm sure there is other cheating going on.

• Monthly Winners (5) -Heaviest Striper Each Month
Will be eligible to win the Grand Prize 4 x 4

-spence


so are you speculating that he may have higraded or something with those 50's since he seems to have been caught poaching the night before comm season?
it's up the OTW to determine that kind of thing I would imagine.

but you are correct, winning as many of the monthly's as you can will increase your chances at the 4x4

The contest should disqualify dishonest people IMO but like I said, it's up the OTW I'd imagine.

so are you speculating that he may have higraded or something with those 50's since he seems to have been caught poaching the night before comm season?
it's up the OTW to determine that kind of thing I would imagine.
Everything is now suspect.

so are you speculating that he may have higraded or something with those 50's since he seems to have been caught poaching the night before comm season?
it's up the OTW to determine that kind of thing I would imagine.
Who knows...but (assuming it's true) if someone isn't on the level anything is open to question :hs:

-spence

His name is Major Mud now:eyes:

Tell me how his cheating in any way increased his chances of winning a major prize. Unless you consider a trophy as a major prize.

Unfortunately, for many people the recognition is more important than cash or prizes. Ego is a powerful motivator. It'd be nice if it were not that way, but it is what it is.

Like I've written before, tournaments bring out the worst in people. I've seen people do things that I would not have believed if I had not been there - for no money. I believe it's naive to think that a poacher would not have cheated in the competition by culling, fishing outside the 3 mi limit, etc.

Major Jack A$$ is more like it! Nice that a scumbag has been outed!:kewl:

See ya, I have no respect for cheaters. Without a doubt he should be DQ

No real suprise this has happened if it is in fact truth - which will come out in due course.

OTW should look into this and when the details are in, do the right thing. So far I think they have been doing the right thing when concerns are brought to them, the rules for example.

Curious to see how this plays out...

Should take his license for a few years, at the least, to teach him and anyone else a lesson. A citation, give me a break. I'm sure this is the first time he ever did it.:bl: There called rules for a reason. Not fair to the majority who follow them. I know plenty do it and will continue too until the know there is a penalty. And still some will continue. You got to keep the honest people honest. As far as the OTW thing if they allow this guy to continue in their tournament and he is guilty of this charge than they are wrong in my book. I am sure they will do the right thing to his standings in the tourney.:behead: P.

Ya what Paul said ........................geeszzzz

ps. and I still like #^&#^&#^&#^& Hathaway....more to that story but thats for another day :shocked:
VB

I really have caught numerous Striped Bass in the 30 to 50 lb range since entering the contest but have been too humble and shy to admit so or enter them :laughs:


Major #^&#^&#^&#^&

Just curious, what does a citation mean in this situation? Will he have to appear in court? Just pay a fine? Loose his license? How much bite does the law have for this kind of stuff?

Wow – is anyone really surprised at this? Many discussions were held about this tourney before it started – and to OTWs credit they revised it to help alleviate a potential and somewhat perceived large “dead fish tournament”.

Now seeing how popular it has become I have to say I’m disappointed in our recreational striped bass fishing community as a whole. Even my own club agreed to enter the tourney and some of our members are participating. When I read the leader board I hurt inside as I tally up the pounds of quality bass killed – for the mere sake of a pin in some cases.

In my opinion a pin-hooker shouldn’t be participating in this tourney – and it would also be naive to think that a majority of the bass entered into this event are not also going to market. I have nothing against commercial sale, as long as it’s done legally, but we all know that strange things are done for a buck…

I am encouraged however by some of the younger guys I’ve been able to influence, they’ve taken some real nice fish that were eligible for this tourney, and released them alive. And they feel good about it. Congrats to them. I’m proud of you.

Keep the “catch and release” concept alive, especially for the cows.

“Limit your kill, don’t kill your limit”

DZ

This is the scenario that Mr. Sandman brought up the other day in another post. Catch your two fish allowed under state law an continue fishing and culling using the legal commercial license to smoke us all. I think that no fish should be allowed to be weighed in for the OTW tourney while the commercial season is open.

... and it would also be naive to think that a majority of the bass entered into this event are not also going to market. I have nothing against commercial sale, as long as it’s done legally, but we all know that strange things are done for a buck…

DZ

DZ I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.

DZ I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.
Yup!

I think that no fish should be allowed to be weighed in for the OTW tourney while the commercial season is open.

That would work for a Mass-only tournament. But the OTW stretches from Maine to New Jersey. Would it be fair to close it for them?

I know this is a pipe dream, but what Mass really ought to consider is a commercial slot limit, like NY's. I think the NY commercial slot is 26" to 34", or maybe 36".

And maybe allocate tags among the existing license holders and limit new licensees. You get allocated tags based on what you reported on your annual catch report, and have to tag every fish when it's landed. DMF comes aboard, no tags, that automatically becomes a rec fish and if there are more than 2 per man, you're screwed. Use up your tags, you're done for the season. That's how NY operates. If people overstate their catches to get more tags, then the tax folks can compare what they reported on their catch reports against what was reported on their state tax return. And it will stop guys from low balling their catches.

This guy should do the right thing and ASK to be removed from the Tournament for the good of all participants, including himself.

Sometimes ya just gotta admit ya made a mistake and take your lumps like a man.

I told you something like this would happen.

DZ, you want to feel sick, watch them unload 30 big fish, day after day boat after boat.

You will find most comm guys bend the rules...many of the comm guys cull out the smaller fish for the jumbos now. (dead or alive) the guys that fish with scup **all** fish with undersize fish. How do I know this? When the officer approaches the fleet, they all dump and run wide open in all directions. He nabs one guy for a few 9" scup. I have seen this myself more then once. Why dump and run if you are not breaking the law. Some catch 30 fish, sell them, then go back out and get more and sell them under a lic that is idle for a percentage, few guys get caught and the fine is not significant . Then you have the black market (which does not exists in the eyes of the state), the by catch dumping of dead fish and the fishing in the eez that also does not go on.) There are a million ways to work around these rules. They should JUST TAKE THE PRICE OFF THE FISHES HEAD and all will be well.

Most Comm fishermen don't think the rules apply to them and they think they are better fishermen then everyone else and because "we can't" catch 30 fish in a day we are jealous and want to ban them from doing it. This is a childish perspective. They should not be allowed to enter a rec contest.

**IF** this really happened to this guy I want to know what actually was done to him. Did they impound his boat? they should have. Did they remove his comm lic forever, they should have. Did they fine him, they should have. OTW must take some firm action IF this actually happend and perhaps ban him from further entry forever or the contest is doomed. You must hold in high regard the ethics and sportsmanship qualities or foregetaboutit, this is a test for the contest IMO.

All that said, I am confident OTW will do the right thing, they have some good people over there that know what they are doing and know what they want this contest to become.

I am not so sure the state will do the right thing however.

Tell me how his cheating in any way increased his chances of winning a major prize. Unless you consider a trophy as a major prize.

There are no cash prizes, and the grand prizes are going to be awarded by a luck-of-the-draw raffle at the closing beer fest.


You tell me, how can you award "angler of the year" and probably some other awards to a convicted poacher ?

I think based on the response in this thread alone, if this proves to be true, OTW better ban him or they won't have a contest anymore...
I, for one, would never participate again and probably cancel my subscription if they let this slide. But I am sure they will do the right thing.

Speaking of poaching, there are several private vessels in my homeport of Green Harbor (Marshfield, MA) who for the past few weeks have been targeting and keeping large striped bass caught in the EEZ Zone (Stellwagen Bank) and bragging about it. Enforcement of fishery regulations appears to be non-existent.

Most Comm fishermen don't think the rules apply to them...

i understand your frustrations...but please don't paint everyone with the same broad brush.

Speaking of poaching, there are several private vessels in my homeport of Green Harbor (Marshfield, MA) who for the past few weeks have been targeting and keeping large striped bass caught in the EEZ Zone (Stellwagen Bank) and bragging about it. Enforcement of fishery regulations appears to be non-existent.
Well, they can't be everywhere all the time. Certainly isn't enough of them that's for sure. And when you seen an infraction, do you call and report it?

You must hold in high regard the ethics and sportsmanship qualities or foregetaboutit, this is a test for the contest IMO.

I Agree!!

If he does get awarded Angler of the Year.....I will boo him right there at the Banquet!

i understand your frustrations...but please don't paint everyone with the same broad brush.

I said "most" and it is from personal observations. When you see entire fleet of boats running as fast as they can from the enforcement officer it is a safe bet that "most" are breaking some law.

I said "most" and it is from personal observations. When you see entire fleet of boats running as fast as they can from the enforcement officer it is a safe bet that "most" are breaking some law.

there are over 7000 striped bass permits issued in massachusetts.

when you see that fleet, i bet you could pick out which guys are actually commercial fisherman, and which guys are weekend warriors looking to play commercial fisherman and trying to line their pockets.

rumor has it, guess who hit a 58# fish last night. Poacher(?) if said unconfirmed story be true, yeah he is. One hell of a fisherman if the 58+ be true, unquestionably. If you think you can cull through fish until you catch the numbers he puts up I think your dreaming. Most comm are not "cheats": poaching, fishing the eez, fishing out of state. And lastly who said that a sometime comm can't "line his pockets".

If he does get awarded Angler of the Year.....I will boo him right there at the Banquet!
If the rumors are true, I will be right next to ya big guy!:rude:

And lastly who said that a sometime comm can't "line his pockets".

:wave: that would be me.
i say, they should stick with their desk jobs. if you want to be a commercial fisherman, put your money where your mouth is and go full time. part time fisherman don't have the obligation to the resource like full time guys do. if times get tough, they don't have to go, they'll just stay at their desk.

rumor has it, guess who hit a 58# fish last night. Poacher(?) if said unconfirmed story be true, yeah he is. One hell of a fisherman if the 58+ be true, unquestionably. If you think you can cull through fish until you catch the numbers he puts up I think your dreaming. Most comm are not "cheats": poaching, fishing the eez, fishing out of state. And lastly who said that a sometime comm can't "line his pockets".

True, partially - to be able to catch a 58# bass means you are both lucky - the 58#er had to be there and Good - you had to know based on experience where that fish is likely to be, able to fool it, and get the fish into the boat. I don't think many are doubting the skill of someone commercial fishing for bass. Most of us cannot get out with anything approaching that kind of frequency, both to take a crack at that fish and to develop all of the skills.

As for the EEZ part, I firmly recall going to to an Amendment IV hearing a couple years ago at the Holiday Inn in Dedham where both of the Mass Commercial Bass fisherman said to Paul Diodati and the rest of the panel that they do in fact go well into the EEZ, beyond 12 miles if necessary, to catch all the fish they can sell.

Now as far as what comms do what and how often, I don't know. Half the time we find out because they get caught, how many don't get caught??

if times get tough, they don't have to go, they'll just stay at their desk.

what's wrong with that?

the 50's he caught are still quite an accomplishment

How did he catch them?:hs:

How did he catch them?:hs:

on a rod and reel from a boat supposedly

I think I know where too, but I am not a spot burner.

Been saying this for year's:

x number of lisc. sold divided into total #'s....your aloud say 2000#'s..your done for the season,,but the fisheries folk's just want the season over with as fast as possiable.again no man power to check on the who's got what.

fishery folk's say open the eez because we don't have the man power to cover the state water's .one more thing off their back.again no man power.

epo's say get 10 call's per day...if you talk to them [on the side] they'll tell you they can only check out 2-3 of those call's..epo is at the ditch,,get's a call from someone in ptown. has a trunk load of short's..sorry can't get there in time to catch them.again not enough man power.

charter boats shouldn't be aloud to sell sb. period.

SM<It's not only comm.fisher's that cull bass...you should have seen the floating dead at the end of monnomoy long after the selling season was over...all by the rec. boat's culling their catch. You wouldn't have needed to wet a line to bring fish home.//Comm.'s and rec's,,I put them all in the same boat. No one is beyond cheating.

saltwater tournament's have and will alway's be nothing but fish killer's... in this day and age none are needed to prove one's catching abilities to other's.One's own worth should be prize enough.

Big deal the guy caught a 58 lber. That means he is a great fisherman and he can do what ever the heck he wants. I don't really care if he was catching 16 lb fish he was caught breaking the rules. Just because it was a large fish we should be in awe of the guy. As far as lining my pockets I pay for my license and follow the rules and until that changes that is all that counts. Besides I am far from lining my pockets. P.

rumor has it, guess who hit a 58# fish last night. Poacher(?) if said unconfirmed story be true, yeah he is. One hell of a fisherman if the 58+ be true, unquestionably. If you think you can cull through fish until you catch the numbers he puts up I think your dreaming. Most comm are not "cheats": poaching, fishing the eez, fishing out of state. And lastly who said that a sometime comm can't "line his pockets".
It is true I caught another nice fish last night and I would like to defend my self as the one everyone hates so much

one of the reasons I have grown sour on fishing tournaments over the last few years is because of cheating. The day I saw a 5 pound largemouth weighed in and "released" was a day I cant get out of my mind when I think of tournaments. The 5 pounder was "released" right into the livewell down at the docks when they thought no one was looking :eek:

It is true I caught another nice fish last night and I would like to defend my self as the one everyone hates so much


If so lets hear it. Did you get caught poaching?

Mike

It is true I caught another nice fish last night and I would like to defend my self as the one everyone hates so much
For one, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Rumor mill has both that you were paoching and that this information will come to some sort of official light. Please tell us what happened and why you did it.

Thanks,

John

It is true I caught another nice fish last night and I would like to defend my self as the one everyone hates so much

Most of us hate poachers, yes it's true.
Go ahead and defend yourself if you are who you say you are.

One question from me, did the EPO's make you put the 4 fish back in the water to feed the crabs, that were above the legal limit?

there are over 7000 striped bass permits issued in massachusetts.

when you see that fleet, i bet you could pick out which guys are actually commercial fisherman, and which guys are weekend warriors looking to play commercial fisherman and trying to line their pockets.

Here's an idea, how about if an "actual commercial fisherman" (who is one of the honest ones) or even a "weekend warrior" get an EPO on his boat so they can easily motor up to the fleet and start checking fo short scup etc. ? Cops get to ride in unmarked cars, why can't the EPO's?

I think the bottom line is, stiffer penalties are needed to discouraged unethical and illeagal fishing practices.

If so lets hear it. Did you get caught poaching?

Mike
I have been advised to not say anything yet by my attorney just give me the benefit of the doubt

Here's an idea, how about if an "actual commercial fisherman" (who is one of the honest ones) or even a "weekend warrior" get an EPO on his boat so they can easily motor up to the fleet and start checking fo short scup etc. ? Cops get to ride in unmarked cars, why can't the EPO's?

I think the bottom line is, stiffer penalties are needed to discouraged unethical and illeagal fishing practices.

whos stopping you from doing that?


Majyaday...i doubt you are going to find many people will be giving you the benefit of the doubt.

All as I can say at this point is that I live to fish stripers.I fish for them 5 days a week when there in wheather its comm or Im just having having fun catch and release when I have a couple of buddies on the boat and I am out trying to catch a big fish sometimes I catch upwards of 50 Bass a night and if I don t catch a big one I will come in without a fish in the boat.When everything is final I will explain my situation it was a bit of a miscue on my part but in know way am I a poacher and I do not want to be known as one.I hope you all have a safe fishing and everyone get an opertunity to catch a big fish.
Bill Major

clambelly :)
nobody is stopping me, but I am not an epo, not a comm fisherman either.
and I doubt any epo would want to go anywhere in my 11' garvey.
It's just a suggestion to something sandman brought up is all.

Bill, good luck trying to explain your situation, and welcome to S-B.com
most recs. don't take miscues like yours lightly, especially those of us who fish from shore.

I understand its nice to meet you

Bill,
Don't know you, but am impressed at your standing up to face the music on this board with your first posts. You obviously know how to catch and find large. You're in a pickle and it's become a public one. Been there.... Is why I think it speaks volumns that you signed in, admitted a 'miscue' without trying to beat your own drum. So I will have no further comment until the process is complete.

Thank You

I can't give you the benefit of the doubt as I don't know you nor can I - at this time - villafy you without knowing more of what is going on (yet). As for "miscue", if you are such a live for stripers kind of guy that you state then you surely know what the rules are. I've made a handful of "miscues" in the past when young and dumb but not since learning the rules and becoming old and dumb.

But don't listen to an attorney on this, there are no good attorneys ('cept for those angling brethern here on S-B that are lawyahs).

I have to believe the epo had probable cause to cite the guy and summons him to court. But in Massachusetts nobody is ever guilty of anything. All the attorneys went to school together. They all go to the same monthly bar association meetings. They all want to be judges to get the $112,000.00 dollars a year. And none of them rock the boat. And all of them do whatever is necessary to get thier client off, because the LAW protects them in that endeavour.

Bill,

Whatever happened or whatever you`ve done, as others have said, I`ll wait to see the outcome.

Some nice Stripers you`ve caught by the way.

Mike

Personally having come from the freshwater bass fishing tournament scene and seeing what the pressure for success did to the Mass bodies of water, I'm not surprised. I didn't sign up and don't plan to support saltwater tournaments. Maybe I've mellowed with age, but I can't see promoting killing the resource for bragging rights.

I can't speak for what actually happened, but if officials inspected the boat and found 4 additional or even 2 additional bass, that's not a misque; it's poaching. It's only a misque if you can't add one striper and one striper = two stripers and the rest are released; even then it's poaching. I have no problem with people taking their legal limit, I love a good striper filet on the grille, but raping the resouce because you have no respect for the law warrants serious ramifications.

I am not privy to the facts, so I'm not casting judgement, but if the numbers are true; I say throw the book at him.

If it was a miscue why lie to the EPO's and tell them you only had 2 fish. If it were a time related mistake you'd have said "I have 6".

How bout the miscue of not having the boat registered? You told the EPO's you "Just bought it" Funny I saw you in that same boat when you showed me the 56#er on Devils Bridge a while back.

Was it also a miscue bragging that you left the EPO's and moved to the back of the islands and continued fishing?

Word travels fast and you never know who your talking to.

MA EPO telephone number is 1-800-632-8075. If your a MA tax paying resident give the EPO a call for them to prosecute poachers to the full extent of the law.

If what is alleged to have happened - that you were caught before 07/12/06 with more then 2 bass in your cooler, then it seems pretty cut and dried that you were poaching and not having a 'miscue'. Not hard to count to two, and pretty easy to know when you have gone past it. You obviously are an accomplished angler, and know how to take huge bass, but that should not allow you to keep above the limit. If you are out 5 days a week and know how to catch them, then why would you feel it necessary to put some extra away in preparation for the opening of the season? I don't fish the tournament, and don't know how this ties into the tournament directly, but I am sure that this will put a dent in whatever reputation you had enjoyed.

Pete

If it was a miscue why lie to the EPO's and tell them you only had 2 fish. If it were a time related mistake you'd have said "I have 6".

How bout the miscue of not having the boat registered? You told the EPO's you "Just bought it" Funny I saw you in that same boat when you showed me the 56#er on Devils Bridge a while back.

Was it also a miscue bragging that you left the EPO's and moved to the back of the islands and continued fishing?

Word travels fast and you never know who your talking to.

Goodbye Bill :fishslap:

Thanks Terry :musc:

All as I can say at this point is that I live to fish stripers.I fish for them 5 days a week when there in wheather its comm or Im just having having fun catch and release when I have a couple of buddies on the boat and I am out trying to catch a big fish sometimes I catch upwards of 50 Bass a night and if I don t catch a big one I will come in without a fish in the boat.When everything is final I will explain my situation it was a bit of a miscue on my part but in know way am I a poacher and I do not want to be known as one.I hope you all have a safe fishing and everyone get an opertunity to catch a big fish.
Bill Major

Sounds like u put urself in a unfortunate position.Contest or not, all we have is are integrity.It appears u are drivin by fishing an u seem to be pretty good at it.Ur the top gun right now the man to beat.It's a shame ur rep will be tarnished whether u straighten this out or not.
I hope it all works out for u an u can have peace of mind.
It's a good lesson for everyone one,
One oh sh!t whipes out ten attaboys.

In our system of justice, EVERYONE is innocent until proven otherwise. Let's give Mr. Major his day in court before all of us hang him. By the way John R, there are alot of honest, great lawyers out there. Get in trouble sometime and see how quickly your opinion changes towards these professionals.

i,ll wait to see the propper justice,, bm your ass is on the line right now all around ...if u r innosent good for u . if not ,,your screwed.. lies n stories will hurt u ..b ready to defend your self

I f you do not have integrity...you have nothing! Honesty and integrity are nothing you can get back once lost....folks will always look at you in that light.:hs:

By the way John R, there are alot of honest, great lawyers out there. Get in trouble sometime and see how quickly your opinion changes towards these professionals.


Steve - don't misinterpret something that was tongue in cheek

John R-- I guess I have to get used to your " sense of humor".

John R-- I guess I have to get used to your " sense of humor".

Specifically, that was for the benefit of some of the lawyers we have on this site. So yeh, I guess you missed that. Unfortunately it happens often that when people type something out it is not well enough written or understood that the point is taken incorrectly. Sometimes this ends up in pi$$in contests as both sides get their backs up and dig in over a misunderstanding.

In our system of justice, EVERYONE is innocent until proven otherwise. Let's give Mr. Major his day in court before all of us hang him. By the way John R, there are alot of honest, great lawyers out there. Get in trouble sometime and see how quickly your opinion changes towards these professionals.

Actually, in our justice system questions of innocence, right, and wrong take a back seat to the smooth working of the system itself (in all but the most serious crimes). This case is small potatoes as far as the judicial system is concerned, the court will not consider it worth much effort, and Mr Major's lawyer undoubtably knows that and will use it to Mr Major's advantage to obtain a small settlement (likely easily covered by the fish he has "miscued"), deferred charges, and likely no loss of his license (after all, your Honor, this poor man's livlihood is at stake....think of his family). At the end of the day, the lawyer's fees will prove the major punishment to Mr Major and Mr Major can go back to abusing the resource he, and the rest of us, "live for".

John R-- now you sound like a lawyer- just tongue and in cheek.

Unregistered boat ?:jump: :bounce: :jester: :uhoh: :eek: :tooth: :fishslap: :rotf2: :happy: :poke: :err: :laugha: :shocked: :behead:

I can't give you the benefit of the doubt as I don't know you nor can I - at this time - villafy you without knowing more of what is going on (yet). As for "miscue", if you are such a live for stripers kind of guy that you state then you surely know what the rules are. I've made a handful of "miscues" in the past when young and dumb but not since learning the rules and becoming old and dumb.

But don't listen to an attorney on this, there are no good attorneys ('cept for those angling brethern here on S-B that are lawyahs).


I took it as a joke JohnR... :jump:

But its nice to see Stevie VS looking out for us!:)

First off I must say that I was one of them guys who traveled up and down the coast fishing derby's for cash $$ Cape Charles Va was drum fishing Chesapeake Bay was Blue fish etc etc etc

A quick true story about people who cheat!
We were at the solamon island check point for a 3 day bluefish derby.
Slow as hell and no big fish on the board. as I remember I think a 7lber was in first place with 1/2 hr left. A new boat pulls up and a guy with 2 young boys lug a huge cooler up and pulls out a blue that was a good 10 lbs easy.

They weight it up and it's 11 1/2 lbs,,,, WAY in front as a leader. Until
they grab it by the tail and tiny little ice cubes start falling out of it's mouth. They now take a small pointed item up the old arse to get a reading :D next the old knife comes out and they cut it open only to find tiny ,tiny ice cubes full to the brim. We had the camara going for the whole event ,the crowd went a little crazy the kids started crying dad was a big loser. And to think he would have won with out cheating :bc:

Thats funny cause someone says lawyer an jokes are what comes to my mind.Like the one...
Ahhh nevermind.:D

If your fishing on a boat where thier is a commercial license available the captain has 30 fish to choose from to weigh in for the Striper Cup Derby. Thats obscene. I mate on a boat this time of year and would have the same opportunity, but have decided not too, because it is simply not fair. It is unethical and immoral at best. At worst ..........Mr. Major isn't the only person in this situation. It simply isn't appropriate that a fisherman who doesn't possess a commercial license is a fifteen to one underdog even before he leaves his driveway or mooring. I'm sure this fellow is a good guy and he is innocent until someone says otherwise. With the thousand of commercial fishing licenses issued there is the potential for this tournament ending before it really has a chance to begin/mature.

I say everyone is innocent until proven guilty -- at least in a court of law. Luckily posters here don't have any constraint to assume guilt first....human perogative.

Some people like their fish fried, some baked, some poached :hihi:

We will have to see what the out come will be on this. If it is true, this is how I see this situation. This issue for me is this! He is in question on all the entries now. He didn’t just decide to commit this crime today and they caught him, if he is guilty, he more than likely has been doing this sort of thing on a regular basis. What are the odds that he commits this crime and on that day they catch him? The odds are off the chart. It’s like hitting the lottery. Folks are saying wow the accomplishment of taking two fish over 50 pounds is incredible. He clearly knows what he is doing, I will give him that much, or he would not be taking such nice fish. However it is a well known by people in the know and I think it was actually reported in fishing Magazine, I won’t mention, that there were 50 and 60 pound fish off shore. I won’t say where, and was claming they would be coming in soon. It’s completely possible that these fish were taken out side the three mile limit. I am not saying that they were, however it brings into question all of his catches. If he is found guilty, he should loose his commercial license and be pulled from the tournament, including his catches. Cheating is cheating. That’s my thoughts any way. I won’t fish the fish off shore because I do not want to get caught, so I don’t do it. Those that do cheat need to be set as an example.

Anyone hear what happened to him?