poaching and the striper cup - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Skitterpop · 07-13-2006, 10:08 AM

I really have caught numerous Striped Bass in the 30 to 50 lb range since entering the contest but have been too humble and shy to admit so or enter them

Major #^&#^&#^&#^&

numbskull · 07-13-2006, 10:20 AM

Just curious, what does a citation mean in this situation? Will he have to appear in court? Just pay a fine? Loose his license? How much bite does the law have for this kind of stuff?

DZ · 07-13-2006, 10:31 AM

Wow – is anyone really surprised at this? Many discussions were held about this tourney before it started – and to OTWs credit they revised it to help alleviate a potential and somewhat perceived large “dead fish tournament”.

Now seeing how popular it has become I have to say I’m disappointed in our recreational striped bass fishing community as a whole. Even my own club agreed to enter the tourney and some of our members are participating. When I read the leader board I hurt inside as I tally up the pounds of quality bass killed – for the mere sake of a pin in some cases.

In my opinion a pin-hooker shouldn’t be participating in this tourney – and it would also be naive to think that a majority of the bass entered into this event are not also going to market. I have nothing against commercial sale, as long as it’s done legally, but we all know that strange things are done for a buck…

I am encouraged however by some of the younger guys I’ve been able to influence, they’ve taken some real nice fish that were eligible for this tourney, and released them alive. And they feel good about it. Congrats to them. I’m proud of you.

Keep the “catch and release” concept alive, especially for the cows.

“Limit your kill, don’t kill your limit”

DZ

JoeP · 07-13-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZ

... and it would also be naive to think that a majority of the bass entered into this event are not also going to market. I have nothing against commercial sale, as long as it’s done legally, but we all know that strange things are done for a buck…

DZ

DZ I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.

RIROCKHOUND · 07-13-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeP

DZ I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.

Yup!

Mr. Sandman · 07-13-2006, 12:40 PM

I told you something like this would happen.

DZ, you want to feel sick, watch them unload 30 big fish, day after day boat after boat.

You will find most comm guys bend the rules...many of the comm guys cull out the smaller fish for the jumbos now. (dead or alive) the guys that fish with scup **all** fish with undersize fish. How do I know this? When the officer approaches the fleet, they all dump and run wide open in all directions. He nabs one guy for a few 9" scup. I have seen this myself more then once. Why dump and run if you are not breaking the law. Some catch 30 fish, sell them, then go back out and get more and sell them under a lic that is idle for a percentage, few guys get caught and the fine is not significant . Then you have the black market (which does not exists in the eyes of the state), the by catch dumping of dead fish and the fishing in the eez that also does not go on.) There are a million ways to work around these rules. They should JUST TAKE THE PRICE OFF THE FISHES HEAD and all will be well.

Most Comm fishermen don't think the rules apply to them and they think they are better fishermen then everyone else and because "we can't" catch 30 fish in a day we are jealous and want to ban them from doing it. This is a childish perspective. They should not be allowed to enter a rec contest.

**IF** this really happened to this guy I want to know what actually was done to him. Did they impound his boat? they should have. Did they remove his comm lic forever, they should have. Did they fine him, they should have. OTW must take some firm action IF this actually happend and perhaps ban him from further entry forever or the contest is doomed. You must hold in high regard the ethics and sportsmanship qualities or foregetaboutit, this is a test for the contest IMO.

All that said, I am confident OTW will do the right thing, they have some good people over there that know what they are doing and know what they want this contest to become.

I am not so sure the state will do the right thing however.