Helping Enforcement

About a week ago a friend that I fish with sent this E-mail to Enforcement Division;

Why do hundreds of people line up at Finch Creek everyday and snag fish. Why
isn't there an officer enforcing the law? This is the only place producing
fish right now in this area. It really ticks off the people who fish
responsibly and throw them back, even when the hook is in the mouth.. Where's
the enforcement? Next up is the Skokomish, then McAllister creek at
Martin Way. Please do something, if I know the routine, surely you do. Also I
see a lot of fisherman limit at the Nisqually, then hit McAllister for two
more.
Here is the reply;

Hello I'm the Sargeant in Charge of Thurston County. We do work both the
Nisqually River and McAllister Creek. In the past several years we have
responded to many citizen complaints relating to illegal acts. In Thurston
County we have only had one officer to respond to calls for service. This
year we have hired an additional officer and I expect to be able to respond
to more calls. If you see or know of any poaching, please call the state
patrol radio or you can page me at 360-534-6889. I am on call 24 hours a
day.
Thanks for your interest in helping,
Sergeant Steve De Miero

Well today another friend I fish with sent me this post;

Observed on Friday multiple "fishermen" being ticketed for snagging and fishing the hatchery creek at Hoodsport. You can only fish the creek when it is submerged under salt water & are not supposed to keep snagged fish. He said a warden marched ~20 of these fellows up to receive their paperwork.

I have to think the tip paid off!

If we respond and do the responsible thing by calling enforcement when we see illegal activities taking place even a day or two later quite possibly enforcement will catch the bad guys! After all as you can see by the second post, enforcement is under staffed.
Remember YOU are the first line of defense, if you see something illegal taking place
do the right thing and make the call!
Enforcement needs all the help they can get! Give them a tip!

Enforcement: 1-800-477-6224 Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

To report outside these hours call WSP listed on page 7 of your game regulations.

Nice job SKA GUY!!!

Remember that if you call in a report to WDFW that you can also receive a reward of at least $50.00. The best way to do this is to have the officer meet you at a pre-arranged spot, NOT YOUR VEHICLE (you don't want any bad guys to associate your vehicle with the enforcement officer)!!!, and give the officer a basic description of the activities that you have observed. Also let them know that you are interested in a reward if available. If the violation is bad enough, you may even earn 10 extra bonus points for a deer or elk hunt. Hopefully we are all honest enough so that this doesn't happen, but we do live in the real world.

I know that some of you might think that the fact that snaggers get a ticket carved to them is reward enough. But for those of you who need an extra incentive, or if you feel you are taking a risk to your personal safety, it does no harm to ask the enforcement officer about rewards, as the worst thing they will say is "no".

Kudos to you, SKA GUY, you are one of the good guys!

Andy

Thanks Andy for the compliment, just trying to do the best I can. To coin a phrase "No brag just facts"
Thanks to you guys that take the time to do the right thing too! You know who you are and what you stand for.