Well, it was good to finally hear of something being done about people illegally bringing fish from out of state into Mass to sell. One would have to be completely ignant to think it isn't happening.
Last week there was an interstate collaberation at one of the fish buyers that resulted in the confiscation of a gentleman's catch. Apparently he brought a load of fish up from CT. After he finished unloading and selling the 20 some odd fish, the squirrel cops jumped out of the bushes and nailed him. They had CT EPO (originated in CT), RI EPO (drove through RI), MA EPO (sold in Mass) and NMFS involved. They followed his pickup truck the whole way. From what I was told Apparently this has been going on for years. They also seized records from the fish house to investigate his past sales.
I am sure he will get nothing more than a slap on the wrist and maybe a little fine, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to how much he has made doing it.
So my hat is off to the men in blue.

And green (EPO), I think that they should be doing more of this way to go guys.

That's good news. Been hearing lots of scuttlebutt about Comms crossing state lines to sell when the RI season closed. Problem in Rhody is that more than a few of the R&R Comms are retired and current RIDEM employees so I'm sure they know when things are getting hot.

DZ

Clinton CT. is the hub for that activity. Four years ago the same thing happened to a guy which resulted in some court fees, similar to which Bradshaw incurred.They took the guys truck,boat etc but he got them back eventually.I still think we have it backwards when we allow out of staters to fish comm in MA,not to mention we invite this type of activity which is quite common at this time every year.

BTW, congrats on ANOTHER cow!!!

Careful DZ

nm

they should be able to sell his boat immediately

Talked with an EPO that was sitting in his truck at the canal. He was in the middle of processing two guys for keeping shorts and poaching lobsters. Was good to see a couple of scumbags finally get what they deserved.

Thumbs Up for Enforcement :btu:

the measly fine every so often is worth the risk for these guys... they will not stop.... having to pay a 500$ fine every few years when you get caught is not going to make these guys stop...the punishment has to be so tough that they wont even want to look at the ocean...

Heck, if they enforce the laws and ADD really stiff fines, they could use the fine $$ to lower or maybe eliminate a saltwater fishing license fee altogether! :fishin::rtfm:

Yeah, wishful thinking.:screwy:

I love the argument that it's only out of staters... People have any idea how many mass guys are fishing Newport, block, the race, watch hill???
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Heck, if they enforce the laws and ADD really stiff fines, they could use the fine $$ to lower or maybe eliminate a saltwater fishing license fee altogether! :fishin::rtfm:

Yeah, wishful thinking.:screwy:

fines??? Put it this way, they will be out the next day and make enough $$$ to cover the fine... Hey, it's job security! $50 bucks a fish is the norm for a fine.. After all it is only a fish....
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Yeah, but if the fines were designed more as a "kick in the nuts" than a "slap on the wrist" they might get the message.

(My wishful thinking was that the fishing license would ever be free again after next year.)

The fines are a joke. They will be out the next day doing it again.

This goes on all the time !
Even by some who post here in the past !
Me personally, I don't like the fact that out of staters can get a Ma. permit.
I can't get a R.I. permit !

I wouldn't have a problem with out of state residents getting a commertcial ticket, as long as their state of residence offers the same to Mass residents. But that would be too simple for the powers that be.....

they should set up a rule that if you get busted poaching they take your liscence - end of story.

they should set up a rule that if you get busted poaching they take your liscence - end of story.

One would thing it should be that simple :uhuh:
but I guess not apparently :(

Glad to see some of the laws enforced, good for them
now get on with busting others too
and like cowhunter said, stop out of state fishing by MA comm guys too.
I'm sure it's not easy

I'll just stick too catch and release myself

Me personally, I don't like the fact that out of staters can get a Ma. permit.
I can't get a R.I. permit !
...I know several MA guys that hold RI commercial licenses; In RI, the DEM officals were smart enough to realize that they could not keep licensing open to every Tom, #^&#^&#^&#^& and Harry without problems arising (as in MA open licensing)...namely, TOO MANY FISH BEING CAUGHT AND SOLD, so they put a close date on issuance (MA did the same, several years back, but haven't called it in yet).....that is why ALL licensing is on hold. Also, RI and MA share reciprocity with each other when it comes to licensing....that's why its a big concern that a few CT comm guys have RI licenses (no reciprocity).
I originally got my MA license in 1982...probaly only 10 or so RI guys had it then (we have been fishing MA waters since the 70's)....in the 80's and 90's, the MA season had no bag limits and stayed open most of the summer....way too many licenses issued now.

They may be paying more then 50 bucks a fish. they bagged three people down the Cape area last year and they were fined about 15,000 each.

the measly fine every so often is worth the risk for these guys... they will not stop.... having to pay a 500$ fine every few years when you get caught is not going to make these guys stop...the punishment has to be so tough that they wont even want to look at the ocean...

Revoking their Mass commercial licenses for 5 years for a first offense would be a good start. Lifetime revocation for a second offense. Having a 33-1/2" fish in the box, or getting bagged at 11:45 PM on a closed night when the next day is an open one, is one thing. Keeping truckloads of fish in coolers in a garage, and tr#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g them 30 at a time across 2 states to sell in Mass, is a blatant violation and should result in loss of license.

But DMF wants the revenue. It's so easy to get a commercial license in this state, that it's ridiculous. Even out of staters pay a pittance for it. $100 for rod and reel shore, $260 for a boat under 60', plus $60 for the bass endorsement. They make that back on the first 100 lbs when the price is good.

You can't even get a recreational shellfishing license in my town if you're not a Mass resident, but want a commercial fishing license? Do you swear under penalty of perjury that you paid all of your taxes due from fish sales last year? Step right up. :doh:

On another topic raised--lobster poaching at night is at epidemic levels in the Canal. Almost every night that I've fished, regardless of where I'm standing, I see guys on the other side, standing at the water's edge for an hour with headlamps on the whole time, holding nets. I highly doubt that they're netting crabs. :hs:

Revoking their Mass commercial licenses for 5 years for a first offense would be a good start. Lifetime revocation for a second offense. Having a 33-1/2" fish in the box, or getting bagged at 11:45 PM on a closed night when the next day is an open one, is one thing. Keeping truckloads of fish in coolers in a garage, and tr#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g them 30 at a time across 2 states to sell in Mass, is a blatant violation and should result in loss of license.

:btu:


As far as enforcement goes (as explained to me by EPOs) , the few that get arrested get taken before a judge and the case is moved through quickly and relatively painlessly (minimal fines) because there are more important cases to hear or the arestee claims poor-mouth and was only doing to stay head above water. Most ways removing teeth and further eroding the incentive not to poach.

it would be my favorite show EPA STING

Better than Bait Car

better than DEA drug -taskforce- storm troopers

better than Border wars....

you could scope these guys out with night vision binoculars
and stealth mode sneak up on them...
bagging and tagging the fish as evidence

confiscation of all gear... to the impound Lot
where it is donated to veterans :buds: