New information from WDFW....enforcement agent Kim Chandler, well known to North end fishers, busted 4 poachers at the Edmonds marina in the private covered moorage area with over 1800 shrimp or about 450 each. The bail was $700 each. The poachers were caught during routine enforcement checks. What is not routine , however, is that Kim checked people on the private docks which are locked off to the general public and have for years provided a safe haven for those who choose to retain more than their limits.

Apparently an emphasis patrol contacted 350 shrimpers and made 35 arrests. That would be a 10% infraction percentage which is sad.

I know some of the folks out there believe that since the indians get to catch as many as they want I should be able to do the same and I am going to no matter what the laws say.....Well I am a big critic of the harvest and reporting policies of the tribes but I nver advocate trying to protest their bad behavior with like bad behavior. The fishing laws are complicated and seem unfair but we all must obey them if we ever want to make progress in improving sports fishing.

Thanks to WDFW and agent Chandler for weeding out some of the dishonest fishers.