Discretion.

Although I appreciated Parker's response the most - for entertainment value, I think the F&W agent could have done a better job exercising discretion. Agents meet all kinds, and I think they develop a reasonable sense and ability to detect the truly clueless from those who just don't give a damn about the fishing regulations. In this case, a father with a son with a Snoopy fishing pole seems to be a likely candidate for the clueless catagory who probably had no idea he was breaking the law, and who possibly wouldn't or couldn't understand why there would be such a law. Unless there is more to the story than we've been told, it appears this might have been the time and place for the F&W agent to explain the regulation, and why such a regulation is important, and just issue the guy a written warning (written, so that he understands it really is a state offense and carries potentially severe penalties) and let it go at that. If we ended up to two more informed citizens and anglers that day, then the agent's mission might have been well done.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.