[QUOTE] OLYMPIA - Enforcement officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have cited a Mount Vernon man for multiple fishing violations, including possessing wild chinook salmon, which are protected from harvest under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Melvin R. Kingma, 65, was cited Oct. 13 for illegal take and possession of seven wild chinook from the lower Skagit River. Kingma was observed fishing with multiple fishing poles, which is against state regulations.

In addition to the seven chinook, Kingma was also in possession of 18 coho salmon. He was cited for possessing more fish than the personal limit allowed. Kingma paid a total of $600 in state fines.

Kingma could also face federal penalties because the chinook salmon he possessed are listed as a threatened species under the ESA. Chinook have been off-limits to anglers in the Skagit since 1999.

A similar poaching incident occurred in 2001 when a Mount Vernon man was caught with a 40-pound chinook taken from the Skagit River. The man was fined $5,000 for violating the ESA, and his 16-foot custom-built fishing boat was seized.

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This guy can't be getting off for $ 600.00 can he. I can't do a Weekend at Neah for that kind of money and keep a fraction of the fish.
The SOB should spend the rest of his lousy life scrubbing the honeybuckets at every state boat launch in the state or at least the columbia basin and Vernita in Aug & Sept

Yeah Art I know about the "secret" compartment in your boat. It's just the same size of a nice 30-50lb king or a half dozen uncliped coho.

There isnt room for extra fish and me in my boat.

so he took some fish, not saying it wasnt wrong, but why do the indians get to do this same thing, but its ok for them?

Well BB, AND I am definately NOT siding with the Indian Nations BUT they are a soveriegn nation seperate of the United States Rules and Laws when doing whatever they do on their reservation and treatied waters. Unfortunately I don't think we'll ever be able to do anything about that.

I hope they bend this guy over with a real hefty fine and a few months in Jail with his cell mate Bubba. That would serve him right.

I agree with BB, why do the tribes get a free pass, they live here in this country too. Last time I looked they enjoy the same security, roads and utilities that I do and yet I have to pay for mine, perhaps its time for the tribes to join the United States and start contributing to the way of life that we all enjoy.....

believe me i'm not trying to stir any pot but instead can see a very short answer as to why Indian on Reservations get to play by different rules. Quilt felt by our goverment in how they treated the Indians in ripping off there land, hurding them up, taking them to reservations, killing there leaders, giving them desease ridden blankets to keep them warm (olny to kill em).

I can see why they (the goverment) might try and turn a blind eye) but that does not make up for the wrongs done and does not benifit anyone anymore. Imo it's time for us all to live by the same rules, black, white, Red, blue or green.