DEP seizes black sea bass caught out of legal season

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by spence

I would be astounded if a Captain of a party boat wasn't ultimately responsible for customers behaving in a legal manner on board especially considering fishing licenses and catch limits.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I would agree with Mike if it was a few fish here and there, but we aren't talking about someone sneaking a BSB or two into their cooler.... 108 fish!

[JohnR]

It is too much. It isn't looking the other way on a fish it is allowing - on your boat - significant violation of the rules as the apply to the people you are bringing to the fish. And he profited by it.

[Rockfish9]

As a captain of a vessel you are ultimately resposible for everything that goes on onboard your vessel..... that includes the safety of your passengers and violations of the law.. ..this includes reporting known violations.. these people are fishing on YOUR permits.. this one will end up in court.. we'll see what a judge has to say...

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

As a captain of a vessel you are ultimately resposible for everything that goes on onboard your vessel..... that includes the safety of your passengers and violations of the law.. ..this includes reporting known violations.. these people are fishing on YOUR permits.. this one will end up in court.. we'll see what a judge has to say...

No it won't wind up in court as the Captain wasn't cited for anything. Eveidently the NJ DEP knows the law better than you do!

And for all those that asked, no I do not allow poaching on my boat, but that is a personal decision to go above and beyond what I am required to do by law.

On a party boat what could the captain do? He can't force the offenders to release the fish. I'd wager that the fish were destined to be sold and weren't cleaned by the crew. We don't know where the "tip" came from, it could have been from the Captain for all we know.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

No it won't wind up in court as the Captain wasn't cited for anything. Eveidently the NJ DEP knows the law better than you do!

And for all those that asked, no I do not allow poaching on my boat, but that is a personal decision to go above and beyond what I am required to do by law.

On a party boat what could the captain do? He can't force the offenders to release the fish. I'd wager that the fish were destined to be sold and weren't cleaned by the crew. We don't know where the "tip" came from, it could have been from the Captain for all we know.

So when 'M____' or one of the other boats out of Galilee got popped for taking short blackfish, the fares got fined and not the Captain?

that's not what I heard.

Again. 1 or 2 fish, no big deal.
108 fish in one cooler?!? the Captain/Mate knew and should have called DEP himself.

[toaster816]

How is this even up for debate? A Captain should not ignore customers breaking the law aboard his boat. Fail.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by toaster816

How is this even up for debate? A Captain should not ignore customers breaking the law aboard his boat. Fail.

what would you have him do, forcibly remove the fish from the customers coolers? This is a party boat, he can't threaten to cut the trip short and return to port, like I would do for a private charter.