Last night at the canal, I was fishing with Seamule and we saw a guy keeping what was clearly a short fish. As we were riding by, we saw him hooked up fighting a fish on fresh water gear, while sitting down on a rock. I saw him land a small striper after a much too long fight, but kept riding to my spot. Seamule stayed closeby and saw the guy throw the fish into the rocks to keep it. He told me this, so I called the Environmental Police. The following is the gist of my phone call with the officer that answered the phone:
Me: Is this where I should report a poacher keeping short fish at the Cape Cod Canal?
Him: Yes, what is your phone number?
Me: Didn't it just come up on your caller ID?
Him: Oh, yeah (he repeats my number back) What's your name?
Me: Gave him my name.
Him: Ok, we'll send someone right down.
Me: Would you like to know where he is? The canal is pretty big.
Him: Oh yeah, where?
Me: I give him the side and pole number and he thanks me and hangs up.
I may have just got an officer who didn't care, but it was pretty disheartening to try to do the right thing and then find out the Enviromental Police don't even care enough to ask where the guy is. Geez, was he planning on just sending someone to check out the entire canal on both sides?
Anyone else feel like it's not worth even trying to report something like this because the EP's don't even care themselves?
Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them tools at their disposal that make it possible for them to access all the hope, all the promise, all the opportunity that America offers. - Marco Rubio
Nope you did good to call. I call, but know that there is most likely not an officer around, and I know how short staffed they are. But, if they have an officer in the area, they will usually follow up on your call.
I don't bother...I am there to fish not do someone elses job! They don't give a crap about someone not playing by the rules so why should I?? Sounds like I don't care but I do....however the same thing happens everytime like Fishbones reported! I am there to fish and relax...not baby sit! You did the right thing John but here are some words to live by...."No good deed goes unpunished"! You got no result for your time and aggravation......you would have gotten the same exact result had you just moved on! Just sayin'!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the $10.00 + fishing license fee supposed to provide the funding to hire more officers?
Wasn't one of the first thing they did was buy a new boat?
I appreciate those that are able to provide the deterrency to the poachers, but if they have to be called to do so instead of having a specified route/schedule to cover the same areas, where is the incentive to stop???
It's starting to look like they promised us better policing of the resorces for better safety and better conditions and turned out to be just like every other useless politician when keeping their campaign promises......"Just words"!!!
I might be wrong in my presumption, and I hope I'm wrong, but this is how it looks from my perspective.
Here's a novel ides.....How about the state EPO's pay us for reporting poachers and lawbreakers? since they seem to have been stock-piling all the license money somewhere they should be able to afford us???
(just kidding)
I love the "we have no one in the area" thing. There's an EPO office at Trading Post Corners in Bourne village.
For many years, they wouldn't acknowledge that it existed. Then, they claimed that it was a "training facility only". That must explain why I'd drive past there at like 3 AM and see 3-4 green trucks parked outside, and the lights on in their office.
To be fair, I once made a lobster poaching complaint that they took seriously. They even went so far as to set up a surveillance sting. The EPO parked his truck out of sight, and stayed in the woods watching until the poachers came in to pull their traps. No license, pulling traps at night. They even had the CoE and Bourne PD on alert. The parking lot looked like a police convention. The only reason why there wasn't an OUI arrest to boot was because the EPO couldn't say for sure which drunk was driving.
In addition to the fines, they also had to pay for the taxi fare home. The EPO was clear: start up that truck and you will get arrested for OUI. They believed him.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools, because they have to say something.
Just another state do nothing, drive around in nice trucks & boats ( on our dime ) job. Where do I sign up ? Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
seriously... sounds like a good gig!
really though, Mike's story is encouraging, but I would think if there are nowhere else in the entire state, they would be all over the canal all season long just busting people, that would do a number on those poachers or at least make them fish in different (hopefully less productive) areas.
I wouldn't expect to see them in my area and I never have!
Any of above who are whacking the EPO aren't
fsihing enough--particularly the canal. I've met and
chatted with a few and they are polite and dedicated
people. As far as calls I've made a few over the years
with good response. Saw one in the parking area with
guy and couple of shorts, and passed a EPO patrol
car as I was leaving late one night after making a call.
They're there but you have to been there too.
We all don't fish at the pier John.....I bike up and down there enough to know and to see......the pier is a nice easy spot for them to hit.....lazy! They should be seen routinely driving up and down the sides of the canal.....and they don't!!
I guess I just haven't had the time to meet them, and since I rarely, practically never fish during the day I probably will never meet them.
Here's something to consider:
Since they have a limited staff resource, and can't "be everywhere at once", they could stake out some of the more popular poaching spots based on complaints received by phone or even read here on this website.
Seems that if there is a recurring theme of poaching complaints by phone or web, wouldn't it be worth investigating those areas?
I made the call on 2 occasions this year for poaching under size bass. My 1st call RI DEM was there within 20 minutes. Second call was less than 10 minutes. Both calls were from Newport Ocean Drive.
RI DEM is very present at the public boat ramps doing safety checks and looking for poachers. 2 years ago, I was boarded 3 times in the early part of the season. Very impressed and grateful they are so tuned in.
Don't have any recent experience w/Mass. The spots I fish in Ma don't get a lot of pressure at night due to the long hike required. As well as the fact that I am rarely present when the sun is above the yardarm.
1 @ 32 Pledge. Our beloved Striped Bass are in trouble AGAIN.
I fished through the lean years and don't want to live through another collapse of the stock.
I've seen them in the truck a few times in the middle of the night, but only had my license checked once. I've also seen them during daylight hours stopping and presumably checking licenses. My big complaint about last night was that the guy clearly didn't think it was a big deal since he never asked the location of the poacher.
And RIJIMMY, you're right. It's pretty bad when I didn't get a bite all night and some guy sitting down on a rock, using a freshwater set up and using squid for bait, catches a fish right under my nose.
Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them tools at their disposal that make it possible for them to access all the hope, all the promise, all the opportunity that America offers. - Marco Rubio
I've seen them in the truck a few times in the middle of the night, but only had my license checked once. I've also seen them during daylight hours stopping and presumably checking licenses. My big complaint about last night was that the guy clearly didn't think it was a big deal since he never asked the location of the poacher.
And RIJIMMY, you're right. It's pretty bad when I didn't get a bite all night and some guy sitting down on a rock, using a freshwater set up and using squid for bait, catches a fish right under my nose.
You should make a second call tday to the main office and speak to a supervisor that gives you his name when he answers the phone like a professional is suppose to do. File a complaint about lack of action. And tell him the next time Deval wants to move his budget into the general fund we'll back him.
Swimmer a.k.a. YO YO MA
Serial Mailbox Killer/Seal Fisherman
Walking the dog near blacks creek in Quincy I noticed the white bucket dynasty keeping a bunch of 15-20 inch fish. When I called, the dispatcher told me that's a tough spot for them. Nobody speaks Mandarin. WTF ! Perfect state job response. Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
Walking the dog near blacks creek in Quincy I noticed the white bucket dynasty keeping a bunch of 15-20 inch fish. When I called, the dispatcher told me that's a tough spot for them. Nobody speaks Mandarin. WTF ! Perfect state job response. Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
Years ago my fried RJ, Gene Ayotte and I were fishing the West Wall in the Spring. First place the schoolies use to show. Had a couple of guys that were from another country (ahem) keeping 15" bass so I said something. They indicated they didn't speak English so I decided to call DEM. Pulled out my cell and the next thing I know this clown has a 9MM in my face and says "Put the phone away". I did not wanting to get shot, so I did. We left. I guess he did speak English.
Years ago my fried RJ, Gene Ayotte and I were fishing the West Wall in the Spring. First place the schoolies use to show. Had a couple of guys that were from another country (ahem) keeping 15" bass so I said something. They indicated they didn't speak English so I decided to call DEM. Pulled out my cell and the next thing I know this clown has a 9MM in my face and says "Put the phone away". I did not wanting to get shot, so I did. We left. I guess he did speak English.
I hope you called in after you left, an armed poacher that threatened you ought to bring in the swat team. I've had great response from the RI DEM on several occasions. I've actually seen scup poachers taken away in the back of police cars and their vehicle towed.
You did the right thing that's what matters regardless of outcome. You may catch a time when they happen to be stationed at the pier or Scusset you never know unless you call Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
If you called after normal business hours, you probably didn't talk to an EP officer; you probably got a volunteer manning the phones or worse yet, someone doing community service- I've heard of it here in CT.
I've met a few of the guys in the past few years, seemed pretty nice, thorough (checked my truck and license closely) and musta been fishermen- when I asked them for reports/info they just smiled and said- "Well, there's fish around" and drove away.
That's why I walk quite aways if I'm shore fishing. Have zero tolerance for non engrish speaking DB's. We are well on the way to the end of our parents America. Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
The General fund is taking all that lic money!! This state is great for stealing cash from everyone!!
I have never been asked for my lic salt or freshwater! The only time I got crap was I had my wife on the Canal rd in her bttery powered wheel chair and they stoped and told us we had to leave?? Cause we had no permit to ride the powered chair there, I was WTF!!! He said its a free permit but you need to go to town hall and prove your handicapped and get the permit! and you have to renew it every year and have it visable at all times!
thers you money hard at work!!
I have called RI DEM twice and they were on the scene, i was very impressed. I night at the canal about a couple guys pulling traps, i got the "we do not have an officer in the area"... Never been check for a license in MA, but got check this spring ar a popular spot in CT. I know a couple EPO's in MA and they are good guys who take their job very seriously. I may be fishing with one of em this weekend. Maybe they are different than others.
Can someone explain WHY we pay for a saltwater license?
Where does the money go, or better yet, whose pockets is it going into?
Sounds like just another case of them lying to our faces, promising this and that so they can start charging us a new "fee", and delivering absoluteluy nothing in return.
As a matter of fact, the situations are just getting worse all around (except for the EPO's who get to buy new vehicles for "those new hires" they hinted at)
Now we have proof of dereliction of duty because they don't speak a given language. I need to become proficient in another language other than English so I can fish whenever I want, wherever I want and keep EVERYTHING regardless.
How about piglatin?
(sing along) "B-A BAE, B-E BEE, B-I BICKY-BI, B-O BO, BICKY-BI-BO
B-U-BUE BICKY-BI-BO-BUE"
Wait, maybe a more common one like spanish, french, mandarin, german or any other popular languages since the EPO phone personnel probably can't speak any of these.
Maybe they'll issue an Exception license to everyone that "claims" to not speak English? Maybe make it part of the welfare program so they don't have to pay for it.
Let the absurdity go on and on, and on, and on.......
Hybrid Mode
