Ignoring the Rules

[Bassthumb]

Last Sunday, I finally got the wife and daughter out on the boat, and went to Walnut Creek to fish for a bit.  I am embarrassed as an angler, for everything I saw, outside of my own boat:

We watched a guy in a SPEED BOAT run wide open back and forth across the dam about 10 times!  Then,
I saw a shore fisherperson catch what appeared to be a 3-4 pound LMB, and then get cradled in a women's shirt and carried back an forth across the jetty for everyone to see.  She then, when questioned by a bystander, (she was going to keep it), attempt to throw it back in, but amazingly fell short of the water (the poor de-slimed LMB dropped about 6 feet into the rip rap and didn't even flop).  She then pick it up and flung it into the water.  I hope it survived.

Then, while I was waiting to trailer, I saw two older men, trailer their boat, while holding 3 bass in a black mesh bag, (none of the bass were 15")...  and even better than that, the boat's registration sticker was from 1996. 

After they finally moved away, the two rude young male kids that kept fishing (from the shore, but out into the boat ramp--my lane) got all huffy when asked to clear the way, went over to the boat dock, and untied his stringer (which had 2 bass on it, one 9" and the other 12").

So, after much introspection, I called the G&Ps and got the Operation Game Thief Hotline number for my cell phone, and decided from today on, I am going to protect the rights of all law abiding anglers by turning in every short fish, unregistered boater, and general idiot (I know, I know, Idiots are idiots, and I (we) should take the time to educate them on handling, creel limits, and general good fishing practices -- they most likely did not break any laws). 

Now I know some of you are thinking, why not do something on the spot... Well, after finally getting the wife to come out with me (she thinks she is a fishing widow) I didn't want to ruin any chance of her ever fishing with me again.  I know where my bread is buttered.


Sign me: Finally had enough,

BassThumb

[Bassthumb]

Oh  ,

I forget to include my secret weapon:

800-742-7627

This is the NE Operation Game Thief #.  Put it in your cell phone!

[weirdlittleman]

that realy to bad that it happed  had the fanily out and they had to see that


ed

[bassfishing5]

Glad to see you're stepping up. We've got idiots on the enforcement side of things around here though. They allow certain rules to be bent for some. My general expectations for people these days has reached a new low.

[Bassthumb]

One other thing...I know this won't deter anyone, because "those" folks don't frequent this web site but maybe mentioning this while mentoring those "Idiots":

The ticket may be:
a short fish (non keeper-any species) is $50
a dead fish under 12" ~$20
a dead fish over 12" $50
and court costs $44


$94 to $134.  It is a shame its not per fish....

BT

BT

[Skipper (ripnlips)]

You forgot to mention Bassthumb that lake is a no-wake lake and the minimum length for largemouth bass is 21 inches. Every jerk in the area hits that lake. Thats why I avoid it. You should have taken them to the base lake. Nobody is ever there and the fish are biting