Tournament ethics?

[Fendercaster]

I was fishing the tidal Potomac River a few years back and had a four pound largemouth in the livewell, waiting to show to a buddy before I released it. While I was waiting at the marina, a guy fishing a tournament pulled into the dock and asked if I'd had any luck. I showed him my fish and he offered to buy it from me! I couldn't believe that a tournament fisherman would stoop so low to try to win. Have any of you experienced a similar situation while out on the water? If I'd been able to find the tournament director I would have reported this guy in a heartbeat!

[preach4bass]

There's a guy who fishes a lot of local tournaments that I know has offered to buy a few bass before.  Thankfully, the guys he's tried to buy them from have been as ethical as you.  Thanks for not selling the bass.

[RecMar8541]

Pathetic, maybe they should have livewell and wallet checks.  Im teasing about the wallet checks of course, but still thats sad.

[The Duke]

I'm guilty of jokingly offering money for a fish, but never with real intent. Too bad. Gotta remember though, fishermen are people too, and none of us would be surprised to see/hear of an athlete doing something illegal.

[FisshhBill]

Guess that gives a whole new meaning to "dock Fishing! > I'll give this technique the middle finger, or should I be polite and just give it a thumbs down?

[Guest avid]

Comes with the territory.

Once money enters the equation, ethical conduct is the first casualty.

[justfishin]

I used to fish the Fed Trail and I saw some shady stuff from time to time but, over all most of the guys were on the up and up. We caught a guy who was catching big fish and tying them off on docks and piers until tourney day. He won a few doing this until we caught wind of it by someone who knew what he was doing. He was arrested by the DNR while winning a tourney one day and accepting a check. It is stealing, no ifs ands or buts. To that guy I said, aaaaaaaaaa.......ba buy!!!

[burleytog]

I just don't understand going to such lengths to win a grand or less.

[Matt Fly]

Tournament ethics,    ????????      This last April, I was fishing a 3 day event on Sam Rayburn,   after tourney hours, I offered a guy 20.00 for a bass.

It wasn't for the tourney.     One hour later, it was filleted at the boat ramp, a nice 7 lber laying at the ramp in the water.  

Maybe his ethics were different than what you percieved.

Matt