Super User deep Posted July 13, 2013 Super User Posted July 13, 2013 Yes, I believe you did the right thing.
nascar2428 Posted July 13, 2013 Posted July 13, 2013 You did the right thing and the DNR must have been close by. I usually see them the following week after a call, once the word gets out that they did a sweep, I see fewer people fishing. Makes me wonder just how prevalent the sitiuation really is.(No license, Poaching)
prjavelin Posted July 13, 2013 Posted July 13, 2013 I would not do it, if that will mean I will have to go to court. The lake is my shrine, my peaceful place, I dont want to go there thinking I could get jumped going through the woods. It would have to be anonymous or nothing in my personal opinion. I guess your conservation efforts are stronger than mine. You DID the right thing, go through with it. Ive had people asked me for fish since I exclusively C&R and I always give them something. Most of the time Its tilapia and catfish when they attack lures never a bass, rarely a blue gill. I always feel bad for the people that dont have anything to eat while others like us have the hobby of catching and releasing what will be food in their case.
Super User Sam Posted July 13, 2013 Super User Posted July 13, 2013 The local pond by my home no longer has a bass population. People took the bass. People don't visit the pond anymore as the bass are gone. I wonder if they wonder where the bass went? You followed the law and did a good thing. Unless we stop the practice of harvesting illegal fish we will not have to worry about catch and release of anything. Our Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has only 135 conservation officers covering the state so if you call them the odds of having them show up to enforce the laws is slim to none. Nice to know Michigan addresses the issue.
Avalonjohn44 Posted July 13, 2013 Posted July 13, 2013 I turned in some folks once. They were seining the creek I was fishing and keeping every single thing they got, including crawfish and minnows. They were obviously fishing for food and were poor as heck. I struggled for a while but in the end I called DGIF to report them. I felt bad as heck when the actual cops showed up and cuffed all six of them and took them away. Turns out they were illegal immigrants. The cops left behind their nets and buckets, so I grabbed them. Got a cool cast net out of it.
Traveler2586 Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 I wish i could have remained anyomous, but i couldnt in this situation. Never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in; that principle gave us our country. Going to court is not that big of a deal, you can ask to file an affidavit with the court, or arresting officer, in lieu of a court appearance. 1
Traveler2586 Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 I turned in some folks once. They were seining the creek I was fishing and keeping every single thing they got, including crawfish and minnows. They were obviously fishing for food and were poor as heck. I struggled for a while but in the end I called DGIF to report them. I felt bad as heck when the actual cops showed up and cuffed all six of them and took them away. Turns out they were illegal immigrants. The cops left behind their nets and buckets, so I grabbed them. Got a cool cast net out of it. Why would the officers leave the evidence behind?
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 14, 2013 Global Moderator Posted July 14, 2013 Why would the officers leave the evidence behind? If they were arrested for being in the country illegally then their equipment had nothing to do with why they were being arrested. Still, would be very easy for them to cause the officer/agency issues for losing their property by not collecting it.
NEjitterbugger Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 I think you did the right thing, but who knows, maybe him and his family haven't had a meal in a few days... I know it is still wrong and agree with what you did but I don't think that the guy who did it is necessarily a BAD person.. ~Good work
Kevin22 Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 Why would the officers leave the evidence behind? They obviously arrested them for something other than a fish and game violation, since I doubt seining a creek is an arrest-able offense.. The nets/buckets had nothing to do with what they were being arrested for so he didnt collect them. The officer probably could have gotten in trouble for leaving their person property, but as illegals they are going straight to jail and then back home if convicted of being in this country illegally. That is probably why he left them.
Traveler2586 Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 They obviously arrested them for something other than a fish and game violation, since I doubt seining a creek is an arrest-able offense.. The nets/buckets had nothing to do with what they were being arrested for so he didnt collect them. The officer probably could have gotten in trouble for leaving their person property, but as illegals they are going straight to jail and then back home if convicted of being in this country illegally. That is probably why he left them. I got that they were arrested as possible illegal immigrants. But it not like officers to leave behind personal property, even nets and buckets. I believe it's accountable property.
Loop_Dad Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 You already know this and we don't have to tell you this, but you did the right thing. You stood for what you believe in. Congrats on that! You should be proud of yourself. Once I came across a situation in special regulation area. It wasn't clear case as yours. I asked my local bass fishing forum what would you do question, so that I would be prepared for the next time. While I got several good advices and information such as to take time to talk to them, educate them if needed, and to find out more of what is going on, I was very surprised to see many people, too many IMHO, said they would just walk away pretend that they didn't see /hear anything. It was kinda sad so many fellow bass fishermen don't stand up. I now got DFG number on my cell so that I am ready to make a call if necessary. (I am not sure how their response would be thou.)
AJMichigan Posted July 14, 2013 Author Posted July 14, 2013 I would actually feel bad about them being illegals and me being the one who is getting them more than likely deported. I would feel pretty bad about that. As I would feel bad if I got someone in trouble who was fishing to feed their family. Still illegal, but I would still feel somewhat bad.
The Young Gun Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 IfI there weren't people like you, there would not be fish in the lake. I'm glad you did what you did, it was the right thing.
jiggerpole Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 You did the right thing. There's no telling what effect this guys influence may have had on others with his actions. Disregarding the right thing to do is never a good thing. Maybe he will have a change of attitude and by telling others what happened to him in this case could change a mind for someone else down the road.
Traveler2586 Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 I'm sorry to say I know anglers that laugh at the thought of buying a Wash. D.C. fishing license because they believe D.C. has no DNR and they will never be caught. I also have people on my block that act like they're poor and need a handout, but they drink beer, smoke, and their kids have up-to-date sports clothing on. I would report any of them in a hart-beat for poaching and never think twice about it. If people are so poor they can't feed themselves there are places they can get help, not a handout, but real help; all they have to do is try. We were poor when I was a kid, but my Dad always had food on the table and cloths on our backs; he never took a handout when many were offered; we took care of ourselves and did what was right. So I give no quarter to sob stories. 2
AJMichigan Posted July 14, 2013 Author Posted July 14, 2013 If people are so poor they can't feed themselves there are places they can get help, not a handout, but real help; all they have to do is try. Lets not turn this into a political debate.
Brian Needham Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 Lets not turn this into a political debate. He wasn't ..... 1
gripnrip Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 Lets not turn this into a political debate. I'm not seeing it either.
FrogFreak Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 I would hope I'd have the courage to do the same as you did. Great job!
PABASS Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 Everyone wants to play the devils advocate, OP did the right thing, we don't know if the person keeping the fish was poor or trying to feed his family what we do know he was breaking the laws and those are the facts.
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