#1233378 - 07/18/1001:24 AM
Re: out of state commercial bunker poachers
[Re: EnCon Police]
mikek06511
Member
Registered: 06/25/02
Posts: 9782
Originally Posted By: EnCon Police
I did talk to the Director of Marine Fisheries about this issue yesterday. They are going to look into the possibility of a creel limit on bait for personal use(for example, 50 or 100 in possession)in the upcoming regulation package. This would still allow recreational fishermen to catch bait for personal use, but hopefully stop the people like the ones you guys are complaining about.
Well I now know what part of the nights agenda will be at the next MAG and FAC meetings.
#1233584 - 07/18/1011:35 PM
Re: out of state commercial bunker poachers
[Re: John from Madison CT]
Danny B
Member
Registered: 08/25/05
Posts: 1783
Loc: shelton
Originally Posted By: John from Madison CT
I can fully understand the frustration of Danny. So often we hear excuse after excuse by the DEP and other law enforcement officers.
Guys get written up for keeping a 18" Fluke, yet these guys get away with poaching because we refuse to do the proper inspection knowing full well that they are selling these out of state.
Thank you John!!!..and as stated by the other guy a few posts back..thier boats weren't even registered..couldnt the DEP call the Marine Police in Fairfield thats a mile away and get them down there to stop this..i'm not trying to dis -respect the DEP but theres many ways to skin a cat..didn't that DEP officer see the HUGE amounts of coolers in their trucks..and the Mass.plates..C'mon!!!..
i'm shutting up..but the bad guys won again!..and they shouldn't of..raping a harbor of bunker in an un-registered boat..today i seen a guy in the same harbor get pulled over for doing 7 mph instead of 5mph...something wrong here!!!
Put a GPS tracker on their truck/trailer while they are our stealing our bunker, way safer and cheeper way to see where they go, Then next time, wait for them where they stopped. Just an idea, I know the DEP must be so pissed, but it sounds like their hands are tied
720 Monday morning and two mass poaching boats are back.. I would like to commend the DEP for another stellar job of turning their head and doing nothing.. just from last week the bunker population is down 90% thanks to two scumbsgs making thousands of dollars and thanks to the DEP not having the balls to do what's right, take some pride in what you do! This effects the whole central sound, guess we will be porgy fishing all summer, and don't count wrong and take 11... you'll go to jail.... maybe just take 3000:day and run free...
#1233706 - 07/19/1012:27 PM
Re: out of state commercial bunker poachers
[Re: Dukefan]
EnCon Police Moderator
Registered: 03/01/04
Posts: 3899
Originally Posted By: Dukefan
720 Monday morning and two mass poaching boats are back.. I would like to commend the DEP for another stellar job of turning their head and doing nothing.. just from last week the bunker population is down 90% thanks to two scumbsgs making thousands of dollars and thanks to the DEP not having the balls to do what's right, take some pride in what you do! This effects the whole central sound, guess we will be porgy fishing all summer, and don't count wrong and take 11... you'll go to jail.... maybe just take 3000:day and run free...
I believe you talked to the Sergeant for the Marine District this morning and he explained it all to you. It's not a matter of us not wanting to do anything, it's a matter of what is a legal activity.
It is not illegal for them to take the bunker the way the law is written right now. It's not that the officer looked the other way when he saw them, he did not find a violation. If he did he would have taken action.
I talked to the Sergeant myself this morning and from the information he has developed it appears these guys are taking the bunker for personal use for tuna fishing. Apparently there is no bunker in Mass and they want the bait to fish with. This is the way it is, if you want the law changed then I recommend that you contact your state representative and request is. Our Marine Fisheries people are looking into possible changes and may be able to get something done on their end. If they are able to make a change it's not going to take effect until next year.
There are creel limits on other fish, there are size limits on other fish. When you exceed the creel limit or do not meet the size limits these are clear cut violations.
Bottom line - there were no violations found - no violation equals no arrest.
That said, those of you who recommend that ENCON tail the truck; why not get in your vehicle and do it yourself? Granted, it's not your job to be doing so, but you know that there is nothing ENCON can do about it.
At least if you trail them and watch what they're doing you might find out whats going on. If they are stockpiling bait for tuna, they mgith also be supplying a bunch of buddies. Not hard to imagine huge quantities of bunker going to bait for sharking/offshore trips if you're giving it away to lots of people also.
It really sucks that it's happening but it doesnt' sound like it's going to stop.
Registered: 05/21/06
Posts: 607
Loc: New Fairfield
Now that the precedent is set...I've got nothing but bad feelings about this whole deal. If the bait ever returns, what's to prevent 4,10,15 or more opportuntists from swooping in?
What about a law preventing netting in harbors? It can be a hazard to navigation, right? Or, allowing netting only in open water? Or, no netting from May to Oct?
There's plenty of examples of restrictions that were put in place to protect a fishery, (ie. illegal to trout fish near tribs of the Hous during heat of summer; herring moratorium etc.)
#1233718 - 07/19/1001:09 PM
Re: out of state commercial bunker poachers
[Re: EnCon Police]
Crazy Ivan
Registered: 08/26/02
Posts: 18009
Loc: New Milford, and Anywhere Salt...
Originally Posted By: EnCon Police
Originally Posted By: Dukefan
720 Monday morning and two mass poaching boats are back.. I would like to commend the DEP for another stellar job of turning their head and doing nothing.. just from last week the bunker population is down 90% thanks to two scumbsgs making thousands of dollars and thanks to the DEP not having the balls to do what's right, take some pride in what you do! This effects the whole central sound, guess we will be porgy fishing all summer, and don't count wrong and take 11... you'll go to jail.... maybe just take 3000:day and run free...
I believe you talked to the Sergeant for the Marine District this morning and he explained it all to you. It's not a matter of us not wanting to do anything, it's a matter of what is a legal activity.
It is not illegal for them to take the bunker the way the law is written right now. It's not that the officer looked the other way when he saw them, he did not find a violation. If he did he would have taken action.
I talked to the Sergeant myself this morning and from the information he has developed it appears these guys are taking the bunker for personal use for tuna fishing. Apparently there is no bunker in Mass and they want the bait to fish with. This is the way it is, if you want the law changed then I recommend that you contact your state representative and request is. Our Marine Fisheries people are looking into possible changes and may be able to get something done on their end. If they are able to make a change it's not going to take effect until next year.
There are creel limits on other fish, there are size limits on other fish. When you exceed the creel limit or do not meet the size limits these are clear cut violations.
Bottom line - there were no violations found - no violation equals no arrest.
There's only a ton of herring and mackeral up in Massechusetts! Its not like there is no bait up there.
How does one request a law be put into effect for a creel limit on Menhaden?
I'm not fat, I'm fluffy!
Judge Smails:
"Its easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat. But the man worth while is the man that can smile with his shorts too tight in the seat."
I have numerous cousins, nephews and friends that are police officers & my son a fire/rescue guy. I have a deep appreciation for the folks out there on the line. Buttttttt what isn't being told here is that
The DEP "is" spotting numerous violations, just ones they can't enforce (No Registration, No Life Jackets, No proper lighting, throwing a wake at Cedar Marina, etc.) however they are FAILING to contact a law enforcement agency that can write them up for these violations, and then stand by for their arrival.
Based on what's happening here & correct me if I am wrong, If I were a DEP Officer, I would call in a local police, CG or whatever law enforcement agency to nail these guys on those "other" violations. I cant believe they wouldn't dispatch quickly to the scene to assist another officer.
If I were the DEP Officer (seriously) I would write them up a ticket anyway and impound their boats for taking more than for personal use (as per my personal judgement as an officer) and let the judge determine that the fine or arrest was illegal....some times you just gotta take a stand...maybe I'm offbase i dont know
oh well ...this inside info I'm hearing is coming from a lot of folks that are steamed up & rightfully so...there are more than a few ways to skin a cat and we need to try them all. Including changing the law, but not excluding other means
Edited by SoundsFishy (07/19/1001:27 PM)
In Bombings, we blame the Bomber. In Drunk Driving deaths we blame the Driver. In Shootings we Blame the Gun ??
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