Bucket Fishermen

[Zseen]

I don't care if people keep what they catch, I release my fish, if I want a few for dinner I pick those out after spawn. Now with that said most lakes that get stocked yearly need some fish removed. If I can go catch 25 or 30 1lb bass everytime i go, then some need to go... 

 

I still throw them back 

[HeavyDluxe]

If the rules are being violated (and you feel strongly about that), you should report them.  

 

That said, creel limits are another tool that the fish and game agencies can use to help manage a body of water and keep it healthy.  If all we did was catch and release, in some cases we would actually come back every year to a body of water in decline.  So, if people are within their legal limits and rights on a particular body of water, they should be allowed to 'do as they please'.

 

Talk to your game warden... 

[JellyMan]

I understand where you are coming from, Bro, but at least report it. You have better odds at accomplishing something when you at least do something rather than nothing. I'de report the incident and if you see it again, report it, again, report it. Bug the crap out of them and keep on fishing. 

[tugsandpulls]

They just stocked our waters with trout and those peeps I see are pretty ignorant, but the good news is, they're gone in a couple of weeks til October. Grin and bear it.

my fav pond just got stocked too cant fish there for bass too many trout fishermen

[tugsandpulls]

i started this same thread last year the bucket fishermen take all they want there is not enough wildlife officers to enforce the laws and if they do they play dumm in court no speak english and get away with it

 

[Sbennett9]

You are not wrong by doing what you did. Living in the same area I can definitely agree it is a HUGE problem. However, the correct measure of action is to report first... When I run into people I am sure to tell them that they are committing game and fisheries violations and if they continue to do so there could be ramifications. Most will release the catch but I have run off my fair share of those that dare to repeat....The hook thing is pretty funny tho I won't lie!

[SirSnookalot]

I seldom see anyone bass fishing so that isn't a situation I see much of. I see this all the time at the jetties on the ocean, for the most part I stay away from bait fisherman, they are in my way so I just relocate, a confrontation isn't worth it.  I'm not a FWC warden or a cop, I may call them but I won't get personally involved.  If someone is legally catching fish it's their business what they do with them, I have no more rights than they do.  

[Jigfishn10]

Why am I getting this image of Gomer Pyle running around yelling, "Citizen's arrest!  Citizen's arrest!"?

 

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gomer+pyle+citizen%27s+arrest&view=detail&mid=7A0D6A5476F8C55D20437A0D6A5476F8C55D2043&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR

 

WOW...A Gomer Pyle reference...LMDO!

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/115851-texting-codes-for-seniors/?p=1266887

 

Sorry...Couldn't resist

[BrettD]

Here in FL they are thinking about increasing the daily bag limits on bass. To many small fish will cause more harm then good. There is balance between predetory fish and prey. To many predetors and not enough prey will stunt bass growth.

[WRB]

The whole issue of rules and laws comes down to how ethical the local people are, you can't change that.

If your pond or lake has been posted with a sign that clearly has a penal code where people enter the area to fish and they don't care about the rules or law, it's a public waterway.

All you should do is make a call and report poaching. If that doesn't work, then find somewhere else to fish, it's not your property and not your fish.

Catch & Release bass fishing has gone over the top, fish are a renewable resource and catching over populated size fish with fishing tackle will not severely harm the fishery. Your local game warden may know that some harvesting is needed and considers the bucket fisherman a balance to the catch & release everything fisherman.

I have a problem with targeting big female bed bass during the spawn and that is legal. Those who care about this have had some success getting a few spawning areas posted "no fishing" in those area during the spawn, it's not a state or local rule or enforceable penal code, it's an honor system that lowers the public traffic and keeps out tournament anglers because it's posted as a closed area.

Tom

[Bankbeater]

It is always a good idea to contact the Conservation Dept. and let them know what is going on.  After enough complaints they will check it out.  A couple of years ago they set a check point to physically check your creel limit. 

That being said around my neck of the woods you don't see a lot of bass being taken home for dinner.  It's mostly crappie and catfish.

[JunkYard814]

I feel your pain. I found a local pond that was loaded with bass a couple years back, which is kind of a big deal here in Jersey. Not soon after, I saw many people fishing with salt water rods in that tiny pond. They kept everything they caught. I didn't mind the bluegill because there seemed to be plenty in there, but they would keep bass when they caught them, regardless of the size. This happened for about an entire year and a half. By the end of the next summer, the pond was destroyed. There are few bass left in there and now I'm out hunting for a new place to fish.

 

I find it incredibly aggravating. These people have no fishing licenses, no etiquette and have ruined the place with litter. I have called our state Game & Wildlife several times, but they said they were too busy to get someone over there at the moment but would look into it.  I got in a fight with a man (arguing, not physical) because he saw me catch a fish and decided he would fish directly next to me, literally shoulder to shoulder. When I told him he couldn't fish there he didn't understand and proceeded to tie on his bait directly behind me. A few minutes later I was setting the hook on a fish and took a step back, accidentally stepped on his rod and snapped in half. The man was furious, and normally I feel bad about situations like that and would have offered to replace it, but this time I felt it was justified.

[0119]

I hate to see this single mindedness.  Like bass fishing is the only fishing there is.  Like constantly buying the latest greatest and standing in 'pro' worship at the end of a glittery boat is the only way to fish.  This deviciveness is exactly what PETA has been indoctrinating schoolkids with.  If you dont want your fishing rights chiseled away we need to stick together.  Law breaking is wrong and always should be reported.  Eating your catch in these times is more fitting than ever.  40+ years of fishing, the friendliest,most helpful and willing to share info and catch folks Ive run into have been bucket sitters.   Maybe if you sat down on a bucket one night and felt the tug of a fish that eats bass, you'd realize they are more fisherman than many of us.

[JunkYard814]

Maybe I got a different impression from this thread, but it seems to me that no one has a problem with people keeping their catch as long as they follow the rules. Personally I love going fishing some weekends catching a bunch of sunnies and perch and frying them up with a couple beers. Limits and laws are in place for a reason though and that's to protect our fisheries.

[Teal]

As long as they follow the rules of the waters and limits, it is their right/privilege to fish and keep fish. If they do not, simply remind them that what they are doing is illegal.

Otherwise, report them and move to a better spot.

Playing dirty tricks is childish. CPBass, i do not judge you for what you did, but i do not condone it. Turn the other cheek, and report them. At that point you are done until law enofrcement wishes to speak to you again.

This day and time, eating fish that you catch is probably a good idea. Its cheap, and good for you, (good source of protein and omega 3)

[Jrob78]

Bass fisherman have gotten completely carried away with the whole catch and release concept.  I C&R 95% of the time but it's because I don't want to come home and clean a bunch of fish.  I mostly fish for fun, not for food.  I don't like seeing people keep really big bass, for food or for mounting.  With that said, to think that it's ok to tell other people what they can keep and what they can't is ridiculous.  As long as they're playing by the rules, it's their right to bring fish home every day if they want to.    Having a "holier than thou" attitude toward legal fisherman keeping fish is plain wrong.  As has been said, many bodies of water would be much healthier if more people did keep some fish.  Also, check your local lake's stocking report, you'll probably see a very large number of sport fish being stocked every year.  Some people need to relax a little.

[bartdude186]

In my local waters i see alot of people keeping bass reguardless of size. It really gets to me, but last year i witnessed a game warden stop a boat and pull out 8-10 under sized bass and i'm assuming they got themselves a hefty fine. I have no problem with the LEGAL keeping of fish, i go catfishing several times a year myself along with some Crappie trips. I honestly don't understand why people want to eat bass, i do not find them very tasty myself,but if its legal its legal.

[Brayberry]

I regularly talk to the local fisheries biologist in my area back home (Hampton Roads, Va), he says 60 years ago everyone kept their catch and ate it and it hurt fisheries, then in the 80's catch and release grebbed everyones attention, and today there is the opposite problem, there are to many bass in most local lakes.  I know he practically begs fisherman to start keeping some 12 - 14 inch bass to eat, to thin out the lakes.  I know for a fact that the last 3 times he electro shocked my favorite lake, every bass that was shocked up, was weighed, measured for length, then either given to local fisherman to stock a private pond or killed and donated somewhere for food.  There is nothing wrong with keeping bass, as long as you are in the legal limit.  I personally rarely eat bass, I'd rather have crappie, or bluegill, but I'm all for anyone legally keeping bass to stock their freezer.  A lake needs a balance of catch and release fisherman and people keeping their catch (legally) to be balanced an healthy, and I'm guessing for every lake that the OP can think of that has been "ruined" by people LEGALLY catching and keeping bass, I can think of 3 more that has a over abundance of bass that should be thinned out to avoid the bass getting stunted

[rockchalk06]

So, let's say they get caught once and the warden makes them release their catch. They will almost definitely be there the next day, except the warden won't be there to see it.

Who cares man. Your problem on a global scale is minute compare to others.

Your assuming they will. They may be ignorant in the laws of the area or pond. Report it and go about your day.

Keep this in mind from someone who has spent the better part of 11 years in Law Enforcement. One day you will come across someone who seems harmless doing something such as keeping an illegal fish. Not a major crime. Mess with them and the next thing you know, your getting your *** kicked or worse having a pig sticker stuck in your belly. Just food for thought. Unless someone is endanger of being hurt or being hurt, don't intervene, report it. Keep reporting it until someone listens. If that doesn't work contact your local news paper or TV station and tell them it's going on.

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Here in Va where I lived there was a little river fed lake. Some people (believe they were South American) started coming down to fish. They started with their deep see rods catching and eating everything they caught. Before you know it they were swimming and using casting nets. I would tick them off when I would catch and release. It got so aggravating trying to cast my bait and dodge the guy chest deep in the water with his casting net. They were pretty aggressive when confronted about the laws and I was always outnumbered at least 4 to one and they always had machete. Game Wardens were notified but they would have to walk 25 minutes through the woods to get to this spot since they can’t get there from the water. Needless to say it took less than a year to destroy this spot, you would need literally 50 trash bags to pick up all the trash.

 

 

 

Jay-

[newriverfisherman1953]

Sounds like a matter of 'mind your own business' to me.  They are fishing just like you if they are not breaking the rules.  Sounds like a clear case of high-horse bullying to me.  

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I reported some bucket fishermen last year. I never confronted them, never said a word to them. This was also at a catch and release area in our community. I called in, gave a description of what I saw and left it to the people with badges.

 

After that call, I never saw them there again. It works, maybe not as fast as you would like it to but it does work.

 

Another thought to keep in mind if you are running into walls with reporting people to authorities is to go up the chain. I'm not a political person, but your local legislator or state rep's office may be able to help you as well if they are made aware of the problem. It may be a statewide issue that hits home for someone in a position of power with the means to assist you. Find out who heads up the committee overseeing your Wildlife department. Write them a letter or send an email to them. The worst thing that can happen is basically the same results you are experiencing now and you get some practice with your letter writing skills. The best outcome is more vigilant patrols in your area. Either way, it only takes a couple minutes of your time.

 

I agree that you don't know what type of people you may come across if you are out fishing. I would not advise pulling your hook trick on anyone else. People are out there catching fish to eat, whether legally or illegally. If it's illegal and they are willfully breaking the law, you don't have the first clue what other laws they are willing to break. Keep yourself safe. A fish isn't worth what you are risking.

[Hyrule Bass]

so much about this thread disgusts me. if people are breaking the law, fine, report them. But pulling that hook bending stunt makes me sick. You crossed your boundaries regardless of the situation. Perhaps you try and educate them on the fishing laws theyre breaking, ignore them and report them and let authorities(or land owner) handle it, but sabotaging them is real foul. not all "bucket" fishermen are breaking the law, and just because theyre on the shore and keeping fish doesnt make them bad people either. They have the same rights you do, catch and release may be your choice, doesnt mean it has to be the next persons choice...

[RoachDad]

For some reason, I cannot get to the BassResource.com videos.  If you go there, you will see a great presentation by a guy who is a fish pond professional.  People all over the country hire him to repair their ponds and lakes.

 

Many times, he tells them to harvest the lake.  Too much C&R going on out there.  People complain about small stunted fish.  Well, sometimes there are too many fish.  Even too many bluegill who will eat bass eggs as fast as a bass will eat bass eggs.

 

If they are obeying the rules, mind your own business.

 

if they are not, feel free to stick your nose in there.

 

BTW, he tells a humorous story of having an intern who gets all upset because to him it was just accepted FACT that C&R is the proper way manage a fishery.  Well, anything can be taken too far. 

 

And one more thing, a bucket of fish will not hurt any lake.  Those old timers catching garbage cans full might but not a 5 gal bucket.

[BassinB]

In Wisconsin the catch and release rate for Largemouth and Smallmouth bass is well over 90%.  I would guess it's like that most places nowadays, because of the CPR mindset.  If you want to maintain a good fishery some fish need to be removed. Whether it is a pond or a lake or a river, fish need to be harvested if you want a larger average size.  Especially in the overly fertile waters here.  I have no problem with people keeping their limit of bass, as long as they are within the law.  Will I keep a limit of bass? No way. Why? because I catch my fill of walleye, perch, crappie, or northern when I want a fish fry. That's a lot better eating than bass IMO.  I've fished tournaments where there are people waiting at the launch for us to release our fish, so they can try to catch them. I've even been asked if they can have my 5 fish bag. To those people I say (___) off, go catch a carp.

 

To the OP, I don't think I would be going around wrecking people's gear because your a little upset about 5 bluegill... get real man. If your that angry, call the warden.