Herring Poaching

[Smitty's Ice Cream]

If you're a lobsterman, you are legally allowed to shoot someone if they poach your lobsters (I think). If you're a fisherman, are you allowed to shoot the person who poaches your herring???
I know that its not my livelihood [like lobsters are to lobsterman], but I worked hard and lost sleep getting those herring, and went to great lengths to keep them alive.
After going out fishing on Saturday morning, I returned to my dock to find my herring pen up-ended, broken, and obviously empty. My herring pen was on a Private Dock, on a Private Beach, in a gated community. If it wasn't safe there, then where? This is the second time this has happened. The first time I chalked it up to local kids, but after talking to parents, etc I think it might be an adult.
Why can't people have a little respect and leave well enough alone??? I think a fellow fisherman would realize what it takes to get those fish and sustain them, and respect that. If the person had asked, I would have sold or traded them some live herring. But of course not. They have to ruin the pen and steal the fish.

I guess I have to lock my new pen up and stick off my mooring.
Sorry for the diatribe, i just needed to vent.

[Bigcat]

There goes the neighborhood

[Raven]

Sorry to hear that Smitty....once you get past the outrage and anger stage then you must start looking at the crime's with logic.
first: Since you have two incidents you need to figure the possible
time and date for each, what tools if any were used and the strength it took to carry off the fish and pull up/wreck the pen. Is someone dumping the fish back into the ocean or taking them for their own use to use for bait. A gated community sounds rather small to narrow down a list of suspects of fishermen or perhaps a member of peta. Its obviously someone who has a personal vendetta or an axe to grind with you or perhaps a lack of money.
Someone may have approached the dock by boat in the night and knows that the fish are there ->HOW? Or is it because they were fishing off the dock.So start writing down all the clues you have and enlist the help of neighborhood watch or another gate.
A final note: In order to get finger prints post a no trespassing sign so you will have the legal right to prosecute trespassers.
In any crime there are always clues left behind somewhere.

[Squid Hound Bob]

It may have been a p.e.t.a member. Like free Willy. It is prety sad people sell thier soul for such a low price.They steal my green crabs and even bags of chum mussels.I work hard they steal hard. My sypathy for you.

[MAC]

my guess (because of the destruction) is that it is a " treehugger" doing this to you. If you find out who it is take that person for a "Nantucket sleigh ride". maybe you could find a way to rig up one of those cameras that Cabela's sells for hunting. I think it is a trail timer or something like that.

[Raven]

great idea newell guy !! i was thinking along those lines too as they sell fake surveilance cameras.... if you post a sign with small nails most vandals grab it and toss it aside leaving their finger prints on it & superglue fumes make them appear easily

[179]

Smitty
Sorry to hear that, I was at the herring run on Friday talking with a guy who had all his herring taken from his penn Wed. evening about 50 in total.

Is there a lock out there that can withstand being submerged in saltwater for several months?