Just a side note from our steelheading discussions. On Sunday, January 14th, a buddy of mine launched his Tide-runner out of the Point Defiance boathouse, and proceeded to go fishing. He had his fly-rod along, as well as another rod that he planned to use for ground-fish which also was open in the area. The area north of the narrows bridge is closed to the taking of salmon. He proceeded to the Gig Harbor side and caught and released a few Cutthroat trout with his fly rod. He then went to the Tacoma side and caught his one rockfish limit that he planned to have for dinner. On his way back, he stopped at the claybanks and caught a few flounders to top off his skinny rockfish.

This is where it got interesting, while fishing, he saw the fisheries vessel approaching his boat at a fast clip, and knew that he was about to be checked. (He was one of the few boats out). He continued to fish and was told to reel up, as he was fishing for salmon illegally in closed waters. He asked them what they meant, as he stated that he was fishing for groundfish, which was open! When he reeled in, they said that they were going to cite him for salmon fishing, because his leader was about 5 or 6 feet long and that if he was fishing for groundfish his leader would only be 2 feet long. REALLY! .......

He proceeded to ask them where in the regulations it said that he had to use a certain length leader for fishing for groundfish? They just kept on arguing with him and then proceeded to do the boat safety thing, trying to find a way to cite him in that manner, but he had it all, from flares to whistle.

While they were doing this, he noticed that one of the uniformed officers name was none other than "Kirke Lisi". This was one of the WDFW enforcement officers that had been cited earlier in the year for allegedly killing an antelope while he and a fellow WDFW officer were hunting in Montana and neglected to remove it from the field. (Gross wastage) There was an article by Bob Mottram in the TNT on this violation last month. Upon realizing this, my buddy then asked if he was the same "Kirke Lisi" that he had read about in the paper and elaborated on the article. He asked him if he should be in the business of "harassing" a fisherman, while in his predicament? GUESS WHAT? Officer Kirke says nothing and then disappeared to the cabin and never came back out. My friend was released with no citation.

My buddy also told the officers that while he was fishing for groundfish, he realized that in the event that a salmon had bit his bait, that he would have promptly released it unharmed. He is a class fisherman and has caught many salmon and doesn't need to poach for salmon, as he even releases many even when the season allows catch and keep.

There is more to this story, on Monday he called the WDFW and asked to speak to our director...Mr Koenigs(Sp.), and believe it or not, he actually got to talk to him in person. He told the director his story and Mr. Koenigs apologized to him, and told my friend that he was perfectly within the limits of the law and had done nothing wrong. He also stated that he felt that he had "Egg on his face" after hearing the full version of the incident.

I do believe that it is great to have the WDFW out there doing their jobs, but they need to do it correctly and if this means leaving the little guy alone, then so be it.
With all the high powered equipment they have, I am sure it would have been easy to tell if someone was breaking the law without the harrasement. A point could have been better made with a few educating words of wisdom and queries from the officers.


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Steve Ng....The FishNg1
99 F-350 Powerstroke 4x4 , 18ft Alumaweld Formula Vee Sled, 115 Yamaha, and now also Campion 215 walkaround, 135 Merc.

[This message has been edited by Steve Ng (edited 01-19-2001).]