Vince,

Is it possible to suggest to WDFG that they do an emphasis patrol like the WSP does on sections of highway for drunk drivers and really hit and area like this hard with multiple enforcement officers?

I realize that our enforcement people are overworked and thin in numbers, but if they hit an area really hard, it might have the desired effect?

Several years ago my buddy and I were fishing Quilcene Bay for silvers and stopped to look at the Quilcene where it was open.

There were several people including fathers with kids that were snagging silvers and as I recall, summer chums. We called out to them that snagging was illegal and were ignored.

We went back to the boat ramp at the Marina and talked to a Tribal Enforcement officer to ask if he could do anyting. Unfortunately he couldn't leave as he was waiting to ticket some tribal netters who were fishing inside the closed line.

He told us that the local WDF&G officer couldn't respond because he was tied up with paper work that day with all the tickets he had written already.

I'd love to see several uniformed officers from local, state, and Federal agencies pull in to check license plates, fishing licenses, etc.. show up at one time at a scene such as the Skok or Quilcene.

Many years ago when I was in the tackle manufacturing business, my partner and I did a lot of seminars for tackle shops and at sport shows.

I happened to earn a Master Sports Fisherman patch from the State for a short time Copper Rockfish state record.

I sewed it on a short sleeve forest green shirt as a shoulder patch. We frequently would go out and catch some display fish before a clinic or show and I became aware that a lot of fishermen at the ramp suddenly drifted away as I approached.

I re-sewed the patch onto a red flannel shirt shortly after that so I wouldn't be confused as an officer.

The point is if several uniformed officers made their presence, I'd bet that a large percentage of the crowd would drift away.

It might be more effective than writing citations and tying our field personnel up in court.