Mr. Sandman |
06-20-2005 02:38 PM |
Well to wrap up this thread....I got them back. I met with the Eviron. Police officer on Sat and spoke with him for a while. It turns out I had a small adminstation oversight and he returned them to me and said, otherwise the were "model pots" I wish they were all marked like yours. He said my were the first he picked up and he said almost all of the rec lobster fishermen have something incorrect and he could not pull all the pots. He is recording their numbers and sending them a letter telling them what they have to do.
He said he is after the guys who have bad pots. Pots with plastic zip-tied escape vents or SS hog rings. (must be steel so they rot out if lost) Also all pots without numbers were pulled. He said a lot of people pick up a pot at a yard sale and toss it in the water...half the time the pot does not even have an escape vent or is wired shut, has no numbers and has a couple of beer cans in the parlor. These have to be removed.
I support this guy. He has a lot on his plate . He said the State has been giving out bad info and not educating the public as to what need to be done. You can't even buy a current gauge in 90% of the places that sell them anymore. Also he is following up on leads of fisherman taking short bass. I think his main message was he wants to see fishermen "make an effort" to keep up with and follow the rules. Mistakes and misinformation will happen...generally there are no fines for this but purposely avoiding the regs will get you a summonds.
PS you guys with illegal scup or fish traps....you better watch out and don't get caught hauling them (if they are still in the water).
Anyway...my babies are home again :usd:
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