joeblowwwww Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I was fishing at my local lake when i noticed down the bank that there were a bunch of kids taking bass ( about 3 to 4 lber's) and smashing them with stuff on the bank. Kids are kids but after the 3rd or 4th fish I nicely said " hey guys could you please not treat those guys like that?" and they were like "sorry" but their dad got in my face and told me to mind my own business. told me he was a local and he could do what he wanted to do with a mean sneer. Well first off I was taken a little aback cause I fish this spot at least 8 to 10 times a week and I have never seen this guy before. not to mention I'm a local ( though I never pull that card) and quickly asked him what schools he went to he was at a lost for words. also I could have snapped this guy like a twig but that is never the answer and it's never a good idea to beat someone up in front of their kids. I say this cause he kept taunting me and I was starting to feel really uncomfortable. To make it short I went back to my truck called the Ranger and left.... they called me later that day and told me that when they showed up the dumb ass still had all the dead fish on the bank, didn't have a fish license ( never had 1 in the state) and tried to start a fight with the Ranger claiming he was local. they said they gave him every possible fine that they could. how much they wouldn't say but i could only imagine. what a dumb ass!!! Anybody out there have any similar stories? 14
EvanT123 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 This should get interesting. NY has instituted a new law where you can't take a picture of a fish out of season, yet the bucket brigade rolls on. You can try your best to be diplomatic but you can't fix stupid. Just try and take solace in the fact that there are many fish in the sea, lake, or pond. 1
BooyahMan Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 First off, just wanted to say you have an awesome username and profile pic, OP! Second, it's really sad how some people have absolutely no regard for wildlife. I don't know if fishermen really are great examples of good stewards for wildlife either (driving hooks into fish's mouths and such) but the blatant disrespect for life in the OP is absolutely sickening. It's one thing to just not know as with many beginner fishers that drag fish up onto beaches or mishandle fish, but it's completely different purposely injuring fish to the point of death just for amusement. And yeah, kids will be kids but they have to learn what's right and what's wrong, and obviously their father isn't being a very good role model. 3
RSM789 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Good for you, you handled it very well. I can only hope those kids saw their father get arrested or tased in front of them, to show that the dude is way out of control. 2
Super User FishTank Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 One of the ponds I go to used to be a pay lake and is now run by the city's park department. I see guys show up from time to time that carry buckets, fill them up and kill what they don't want to keep. Funny thing is there is a police department directly behind the pond. Some days they get caught and other days they don't. There are also signs that say "Catch and Release Only". Nothing seems to discourage them. I have even seen them get fined and ticketed and come back the next day. I heard from another fisherman there that they had been fined for each fish they had in the buckets once before. This same group litters like crazy too. I wish they would at least some respect. 1
papajoe222 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 My neighbor is a 'meat' fisherman. I don't have a problem with that, table fare is one of the reasons he likes to fish. His dad, on the other hand, keeps everything he catches. We were all fishing from the neighbor's boat and I caught a little 14in. bass. I unhooked it and as I released it he swore at me and followed that up with ' whatever comes in this boat, stays in it.' I proceeded to flatten the barb on my hook and didn't land another fish all day, I did manage to loose quite a few including a nice 4lb. smallie. He got his just rewards the following season. He kept an undersized bass, wrapped it in the foil from his lunch and put it in his lunch cooler. The man not only caught him, but confiscated all his gear and if not for some fast talk would have taken the neighbor's boat and gear too. He's never bought a license in his life. His son now refuses to take him out and the old man still refuses to purchase a license.+ 5
Super User Lund Explorer Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 One of the things I've learned on Bass Resource is that all bucket fishermen keep everything they catch, never have a fishing license, and are usually illegal immigrants. We need to update that profile by including the fact that they are all fans of the NE Patriots! Seriously, you have limited options. Call the fish cops, whine about it, or if you are really worried about it, join PETA. Bucket fishermen have been around way longer than the current crop of C&R fishermen. Somehow, there are still fish to catch which leads me to believe that these people haven't had that big of an impact on the resource. If your lake or pond is the exception, call the fish cops and then find another lake or pond to fish. One last thing. When you catch your new personal best, consider releasing it alive and unharmed rather than tossing it on the ground while you dig out your measuring tape, scales, and camera. Nothing says abuse that a trophy with a good battering of dirt/grass. 5
Super User scaleface Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 Oh yeah , I had a run in with a bunch of them. When I say them Im talking about tresspassers who litter the place up , park in yards... It got nasty and I think they were later responsible for some vandalism. I scared myself and was thinking of seriously hurting some people. I dont handle confrontation well and have to avoid it .
MDBowHunter Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I also see it every day here when people post pictures with a bass laying on the ground in the dirt. That is one of the worst things you can do to a fish.. 2
Super User Oregon Native Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 Thanks for making that call
Super User the reel ess Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 This should get interesting. NY has instituted a new law where you can't take a picture of a fish out of season, yet the bucket brigade rolls on. You can try your best to be diplomatic but you can't fix stupid. Just try and take solace in the fact that there are many fish in the sea, lake, or pond. Ohio has done the same, I think. I can never understand those with no idea what conservation means. Some people want to catch a trophy and make it so no one can ever catch it again. They can't stand to go home without proof. I used to feel that way too, but then i grew up.
RSM789 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 ...and are usually illegal immigrants... By definition, an immigrant is one who enters a country and becomes a citizen through the legally recognized process. Therefore, the term illegal immigrant is an oxymoron, for one can't be an illegal legal citizen. The correct term used in all federal statutes is "illegal alien". And don't get me started on the phrase "undocumented immigrant", a term that totally devoid of logic because it suggests that all these folks are missing is some messy paperwork. Pray tell, if I broke into the White House, outran the Service Service into the Oval Office and sat down behind the POTUS's desk, would that make me the "Undocumented President of the United States"? But you are spot on about all those cheating bait fisherment being Patriots fans... 1
Jtrout Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I saw a video on you tube a few years ago of a thug type guy lol catch a 5-6 pounder then just throwing it on the ground and killing it. like yeahh just caught that! Couldn't beleive it
Super User WRB Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 The OP did the right thing by contacting the ranger and not escalating a argument with a crazy person. Tom 4
Starchalopakis Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I also see it every day here when people post pictures with a bass laying on the ground in the dirt. That is one of the worst things you can do to a fish.. I know that it harms the protective coating of the fish, but is there anything else that this does? I see a ton of people doing it on Instagram, and I put a fish on the grass every now and then when getting pliers or something out of my backpack. Is this basically signing a death warrant for the fish? I even see some more seasoned anglers than myself boat flipping and letting fish flop around the boat on a lot of youtube videos.
Penguino Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I know that it harms the protective coating of the fish, but is there anything else that this does? I see a ton of people doing it on Instagram, and I put a fish on the grass every now and then when getting pliers or something out of my backpack. Is this basically signing a death warrant for the fish? I even see some more seasoned anglers than myself boat flipping and letting fish flop around the boat on a lot of youtube videos. On the dirt, I will bet it will greatly reduce the bass's slime layer. But on grass, I do it all the time, and have not seen any fish get hurt. In fact, I caught a fish and layed it on the grass and released it, and the next year, I caught it again, and could not view any negative effects on the slime layer. 2
Super User slonezp Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 Might as well get it over now....IBTL Had he harvested those fish legally (having a license) They are his for the taking. If he bashed it in the head to use as fertilizer or fileted it for a deep fry, that's his choice. I commend the OP for calling the DNR and I hope the poacher was punished for his crime 1
livemusic Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Thanks goes to the OP for doing this. I can't stand disrespect for wildlife. I would love it if I could do a "Citizen's Arrayest, Citizen's Arrayest" like Gomer did on Andy Griffith Show. But I'd be packing heat, these rednecks here are wicked.
Starchalopakis Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 On the dirt, I will bet it will greatly reduce the bass's slime layer. But on grass, I do it all the time, and have not seen any fish get hurt. In fact, I caught a fish and layed it on the grass and released it, and the next year, I caught it again, and could not view any negative effects on the slime layer. Oh ok cool, thanks for clearing that up! I am fishing mostly golf course ponds right now, so there is lots of grass! I can definitely see how the dirt would do a lot more harm.
Super User F14A-B Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 Might as well get it over now....IBTL Had he harvested those fish legally (having a license) They are his for the taking. If he bashed it in the head to use as fertilizer or fileted it for a deep fry, that's his choice. I commend the OP for calling the DNR and I hope the poacher was punished for his crime Yup, nothing wrong with keeping, dispatching "legally" caught fish. Who cares who agrees, I don't... Incidentally, I probably would have called CPS on behalf of the kids.. The fish are the last concern on a huge list of " proper priorities " as far as I can see... 2
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 I don't know if fishermen really are great examples of good stewards for wildlife either (driving hooks into fish's mouths and such).If it wasn't for fisherman and hunters there would be no wildlife to protect. End of story. We aee the guys who are paying for it.. Yes, we want to enjoy it but without us no one would care.. Period. 1
Super User slonezp Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 If it wasn't for fisherman and hunters there would be no wildlife to protect. End of story. We aee the guys who are paying for it.. Yes, we want to enjoy it but without us no one would care.. Period. You are wrong with your thoughts. We are not the only ones who care. The vast majority of Americans are not running around killing fish and wildlife for $h!ts and giggles. Then there are the extremist tree huggers like PETA who care, albeit they are in their own worlds. There are many here on BR that are against harvesting of fish while others are meat fishermen. Just because someone is a meat fisherman does not automatically label them as not caring.
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted May 17, 2015 Super User Posted May 17, 2015 You are wrong with your thoughts. We are not the only ones who care. The vast majority of Americans are not running around killing fish and wildlife for $h!ts and giggles. Then there are the extremist tree huggers like PETA who care, albeit they are in their own worlds. There are many here on BR that are against harvesting of fish while others are meat fishermen. Just because someone is a meat fisherman does not automatically label them as not caring. No, and sometimes corrective harvesting is needed. There is nothing wrong with harvesting fish... I don't do it because where I fish it is prohibited. But if you are an outdoorsman (fisherman, hunter, camper) and you make sure to follow all regulations, not to litter, and to generally be a responsible outdoorsman, then you care a lot more than the general population of people. Taxes on guns go to conservation. The guys with the conservation tags are more likely than not outdoorsmen. 2
joeblowwwww Posted May 17, 2015 Author Posted May 17, 2015 I guess there are people out there who keep Bass.. sometimes I forget that because where I live about 99% of the fishing population release them. 1
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