Castnetters destroying BASS....

[Bassn Blvd]

What would you do if you had the authority?  

#1.  The law in Florida is Any person 16yoa and over must possess a valid fishing license while freshwater fishing. This also includes using a castnet.

#2. No person is permitted to harvest game fish by net.  You can keep talapia and catfish but NOT Bass, bream, bluegill, speck, etc.

#3. Using a net or fishing rod w/out a license is an infraction.

#4.  Keeping game fish caught by a net is a misdemeanor.  Can also be charged if the bag and size limits are violated.

QUESTION-  (I don't mean to single out any specific group of people, but)  The Mexicans and Guatamalens(sp) are raping our lakes and canals here in S. Florida.  I routinely see 3-5 people using a cast net to harvest fish from local lakes, ponds and canals.  The people are keeping any and all fish they catch, like bass and panfish. They also destroy the habitat by pulling in tons of grass/hydrilla with their nets.  Most of these people will tell you they are keeping the fish to feed their families, even though they are illegally harvesting them.

What would you do if you had the authority?  Arrest them, warn them, educate them, or ignore them since they are using the fish to feed their hungry family?  Deporting and shooting them is out of the question.

[grimlin]

Give them heavy,heavy fines....then tell them they should have went to McDonald's because it would have been cheaper.

[fourbizz]

Deporting and shooting them is out of the question.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

This certain ethnic group seems to be the worst.I too have had this problem around here.They also use the fish to sell and they keep shiners and minnows to sell also.If it gets in the net it's going home.

I get really upset when they are doing it in small ponds.It takes a lot less harvesting to ruin the balance in a small lake.

 I have called the game warden when I see this happening but like you said I don't believe the penalties are stiff enough.

[Grey Wolf]

Deporting and shooting them is out of the question.

Why???????????????????????????????

[fishinfiend]

What about getting an INS sign for the side of your vehicle?

[roadwarrior]

Get the authorities involved.

>

[BUCKEYEone]

What about getting an INS sign for the side of your vehicle?

hahaha, this may be the most effective approach!

[simplejoe]

Get the authorities involved.

>

That's what I would do.  I would get them on video then take it to your local fish and game office.  That's my good side talking

Now my mistake side would say get a couple sticks of dynomite and sink them and have fun doing it

[bigbaitfisher]

I have DNR on speed dial and have NO TROUBLE calling them WHENEVER I see an infraction.  Recently called on a group of individuals who were keeping undersized rockfish (stripers/striped bass) and DNR was there within 5 minutes, handing out a $500 dollar fine.  The penalties here in MD are stiff, as they should be.

I would be calling your DNR agent every time you see this.  EVERY time.  Demand that an agent comes out to your location.  Eventually, they'll just move on to another pond unfortunately, but hopefully they will catch the drift soon enough.

[ptomacbass]

I hate it when people do that.  the best thing to do is scream at them until they release the fish and then scream at them a little more.  It always works.  though you should always do it under adult supervision.

[Avalonjohn44]

There are a lot of good tips on what to do with cast-netters and seine netters over in this thread:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1224541772

Just replace stray cats with cast netters, and there you go...

[Bassn Blvd]

I called The Fish and Wildlife yesterday to get the Fl. statute and fines.  They said they get about 20 calls a day on cast netters but only have a couple Officers working the entire county.  The netters are usually gone by the time they arrive.  

[Dan:]

Yeah, I've seen it too. I want to call the VDGIF on them but I know they have limited resources and it is likely that nothing will be done. I could call the police but I doubt they would want to spend time busting people catching fish when there are other more dangerous crimes going on.

[Bassboss]

Give them a strict bag limit of 18 fish and only 8 bass (but they can keep as many evasive spies as they want) , And if the bag limit is violated, than give them HEAVY FINES! 175 dollars per fish over limit. No slot limits on panfish, tilapia, cats, gar, and evasive spies. But a max of 22" on bass, no minimum!

I've had people come up to me when I have caught fish and ask for it!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

????

Why would they get to have an 18 fish limit???????  

[Bassboss]

????

Why would they get to have an 18 fish limit???????

To give a little wiggle room. It's not just bass, it's bream and tilapia too.

And plus, it's not like the fish are going to wast.

18 dose sound like a lot if it's only bass so I modified the regulations to 18 fish and 8 bass.  

What would you do? :-?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

You call the authorities, they're breaking the law.

[Bassboss]

You call the authorities, they're breaking the law.

What would you make the regulations is what I meant to say.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Why would I change it?

[Bassboss]

What are the state regulations for your state?

[Bassn Blvd]

It sure aint 18 bass here in Florida.  The fact is they can't keep ANY game fish caught with a net.  Plus, they don't even have a fishing license to use the net.

[ptomacbass]

many times it's not that the authorities don't have enough officers it's just that they don't care.  never has a park police man actually come to arrest people who are illegaly keeping fish when I have called them even though they said they would come and arrest them.  

I personally believe that all gamefish should be illegal to keep and that there should be major fines for keeping them.  though thats my opinion.