A friend of mine came up to me yesterday and said he caught a king in a secret place(where it is illegal to keep all kings) He caught a 5 lbs native and let it go but he also caught a 15 lbs hatchery king in the same spot and kept it.. Can I have your views on that. Because I am mad at him for doing it.....

Breaking the law is breaking the law. Poaching is poaching. We have very little enforcement as is, without people making their own interpretations and decisions of whats ok and whats not ok.

Chris,

This one's a no-brainer. Your buddy's a poacher. Now it's up to you whether or not to keep fishing with him.......

Fish on......

My view?
Ask him if you could have a look at his set-up, take his rod and snap it over your knee and just say, sorrrrrrry,

Chris, how did your friend know it was a hatchery fish? Very few of the Chinook in the 15# class are marked.

The poaching hot line works well. But I know this is your friend so that will be hard to do. Let him know you do not agree and that it does not make you happy. Also let him know that you will not be able to fish with him. If he has any respect for your friendship he should stop.

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dank

Chris,

I'd have a few choice words with your "friend". Explain to him that it's people like him that are going to get our salmon fishery closed on our local rivers.

Rumors have it that the Skagit is a heartbeat away from being closed <PERIOD> next summer. All it will take is a couple more poaching incidents, and it's all over for the Skagit. Next in line, is probably the Skykomish.

If talking to your friend fails, I'd look for a new "friend".

Sorry to hear about your predicament.

Parker

Chris - I personally released over 50 summer kings this year in Area 10, none of which were marked, so I am suspicious of your friend's "hatchery" fish! Last year we had some very restrictive regulations in Areas 9 and 10 to prevent any incidental catch of kings (remember the downrigger and weight restrictions). This year, those regulations were relaxed to a "silent" C&R fishery, and those who took advantage of it had some incredible king fishing without the crowds that go with a catch and kill king fishery. Poaching incidents like your friends risk having F&W re-implement more restrictive gear regulations, or close areas inhabited by weak stocks (ie 9, 10) for the summer season. Some really good silver fishing would be lost along with this.

If this is really your friend, you should print this thread and show him what his fellow anglers think. Unfortunately, with the lack of enforcement, the only benefit of a call to the poachers hotline may be to add another incident to the list that F&W could use to "justify" the need for more restrictions or closures in these areas next year.

Chris,

You're in a tight spot but like others have said your friend is giving the rest of us a bad name. It's like one guy leaving wrappers and crap behind on the bank. People see that and think all fishermen are a bunch of redneck slobs. One or two guys poach a couple Kings and "lay" people get the impression we're all a bunch of morons out to kill 'em all off.

Maybe your friend had a brain fart and didn't really think about what he was doing. When my wife and I were recently up in AK we stopped in a little town that had a huge King hatchery run. Fishing or messing with them above the mouth of the creek was illegal. Lots of tourists were walking along the creek checking out this amazing site, including a set of incredibly strong falls the Kings had to jump up. Midway up the falls there was some slack water where they stacked up to rest before the final few leaps. One day we walked up and saw a couple tourists in Miami Dolphins hats (a true sign of low IQ) trying to grab the Kings out of the water to hoist up for pictures. Lots of folks off the cruise ships were amused. My wife and I were steaming till she finally yelled (in a nice way) that they shouldn't be doing that and explained why. Once they got the idea they apologized and headed back to their ship. Maybe your friend will be smart enough to realize what he did was pretty boneheaded.

Sorry to ramble.

Bruce

o

[This message has been edited by Gonefishin (edited 08-25-2000).]

Hey Gonefishin;
don't you ever have anything to say except for to degrade someone or something.
All i see out of you PC's is full of [Bleeeeep!].
If you want to stay here and talk about fishing or hunting, then lets get real and clean up your act or you will again be asked if not escorted off.

Thanks but no thanks

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elmtree (woody)

[This message has been edited by elmtree (edited 08-24-2000).]

Well, I am going to let this slide but I would never of let this happen with me around. He is a good guy who made a mistake I told him that he shouldn't of done that. He said after he thought about it he regrets it.

Oh gonefishin: Non of my male friends are gay (unlike one of my uncles who is gay and also dying, thanks) why do you have to take it there, this might not matter to you but this really upset me...

tight lines everyone else

OK guys,
I was not gonna post cause all it does is give gonefishin his sick jollies when we do respond, but had to voice my opinion. All we have to do is JUST IGNORE this clown period!!!! This is just another reincarnation of Lureman, Joefisherman, Buzzbomber on RT's board just to name a few. Yea bud it's me again, the one you complimented on RT's board with the expletive deleted that got you kicked off last time. Did ya get to me, naaaaaaaaaaah. Don't worry palsy you will be in the permanent penalty box in both forums. Just a matter of time.
For the rest of ya Good luck and tight lines, Jeff
For you clown, good riddance!!!!!

[This message has been edited by salmonhead (edited 08-24-2000).]

Hey gonefishing,I find it amazing you are able to reach and even see the key board with you're head so far up you're *ss,
whats up are the topics at you're site getting too boring
I think I hear that tall masked man riding back into town.....Sheriff please send this one home,enough is enough.

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Row Quietly and fish a Cataraft }<<(('>----<'))>>{
Release all Wild Fish

Gonefishin',

It is certainly illegal to let your dog harrass either fish or wildlife. It's in the regulations, whether you've seen it or not. Even if it were not in the regs, it's a damn shame that someone would be stupid enough to let their dog do that.

Wow. That's about all I can say...

Fish on...

Todd.

Gonefishin'... You've got one good point, let them get caught on their own, and they WONT do it again... As far as some of the rest of the stuff you say?! Come on over.. we can go poaching steelhead on the lyre sometime... We can take the halibut rod with 100 lb test, with a BIG halibut reel, we can get up there, and I'll see how you feel, when I beat the hell out of you with the butt end of it, and see how you like the water, as I'm snagging you, and yarding you back up the whitewater... Or maybe I'll just turn my 150 lb Boxer loose on you while you are gasping for air...

What a shame…

I said I thought Indians should do a better job of policing themselves, and we need to do the same!! Poachers, snaggers, and the like, when caught by fishermen should go for a swim!!!


Peace

Gentlemen,
Some of you sound real bad, break a rod, hook someone etc.The only thing that will work is to talk to them and turn them in to the fish cops.If I was in that persons place and some one tried to break my rod or hook me, I would fight! wrong or right don't get in my face, and don't puff you chest out and post crap like that unless you can back up your words,and even if you can, you will get sued. End of story,poachers will in a pinch use the law to there advantage or their lawyer will. Turn them in, save a lot of heart ache.