EP Checking Fish at the Canal

[GonnaCatchABig1]

at first i just thought of licenses as a way to suck more money out of people. but if they actually enforce the license rules.. can you imagine how many of these knuckle heads could be eliminated? get caught with a short there goes yer license. get caught with out a license.. world of pain.


if the enforce it i will love it. if not.. just another way to sap money.

[BigFish]

Chris.....think about it.......if someone has such low moral scruples as to keep shorts......do you think they are going to abide by whether or not they have a fishing license?

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Chris.....think about it.......if someone has such low moral scruples as to keep shorts......do you think they are going to abide by whether or not they have a fishing license?

So true.....


Sweetwater-so many times fish size has been debated here......
So many seasoned fishermen and its interesting to see how they all vary when the yearly "guess the size of this fish" thread comes around. I dont blame the EP one bit for breaking out the tape too be sure.

In the past 10 years I think I have been checked once or twice by the EPs or rangers........Its sad because I enjoy seeing them out there and wish they were there more often.......

[GonnaCatchABig1]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Chris.....think about it.......if someone has such low moral scruples as to keep shorts......do you think they are going to abide by whether or not they have a fishing license?

very true.. but i feel it will still deter many of the "ignorant short keepers". the people who just don't care however, nothing but constant fines/arrests will stop them.

[BigFish]

Then you are easily fooled Chris! Nothing stops the ignorant! Their attitude is that they have a right to take them and damn the rules/laws! They are lawbreakers at heart and do not care about the fishery....take, take, take!

[Joe]

The dude with the fish and no Korkers would have fallen anyway - just later on.

[Mike P]

The "world of pain" for fishing without a license would probably be a measly $50 fine.

Last year, some guy on the Canal got caught dealing in lobsters without a license. The fines started out at $14,000 and all but a few hundred were remitted because the guy couldn't pay. No one wants to lock someone up because they're on a documented disability and can't pay a fine. Especially over a fisheries violation.

[BigFish]

Sounds like grounds for discrimination if an able bodied person got slapped with the same thing? What a great land we live in.....justice for all? I think not!

[GonnaCatchABig1]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Then you are easily fooled Chris! Nothing stops the ignorant! Their attitude is that they have a right to take them and damn the rules/laws! They are lawbreakers at heart and do not care about the fishery....take, take, take!

well by "ignorant" i meant the people who just don't know any better. myself tom and especially ryan have had to tell numerous people the limits just this season. i think the license would remove the ""don't knowers"". of course part of that problem lies on the shoulders of B&T guys. who i would assume can spot an experienced guy a mile away. and try to pound it in there heads that the limit is 2 at 28". or have some sort of sign or something by the counter with a lil reminder. not b laming it completely on them. but these guys gotta get their bait some where. so it seems the best place to start giving them the message.

but you are completely right about the guys who decide it just doesn't matter. the only thing that will stop them is upped patrols and checks.. but i don't see that happening. this state and country have other priorities... and wasting money (to them) on regulating recreational fishing probably isn't to high on the list at the moment. it sucks. but what can ya do? just do your part and try to get every short you see back in the water. just don't go to crazy, no fish is worth your health.

[davisd]

All fishermen should know the length's and have a tape measure on them at all times. And always have th EP's number handy to make that call for the guy catching shorts.

[Jenn]

sorry Gonnacatchabig1 but it is no more the B&T guys responibility to educate the public on the rules as it is the car salemen giving you driving lessons. Each angler should be responsible for knowing the laws. No if ands or buts about it!