Saw this on facebook

[TimS]

On 5/20/2023 at 7:44 PM, R.R. Bridge Fisher said:

I agree 

He's angry that nothing is being done everywhere by anyone. 

 

A very natural frustration...I get it...I've watched fish crimes in progress and called the number to get an answering machine. A ****ing answering machine   And then to get a call back a couple days later - seriously? Why even bother?  

[TimS]

On 5/21/2023 at 7:19 AM, Kones1 said:

Sorry Tim for upsetting you. I can't sit back and watch.  I can't not say anything to these guys calling me out the way they have. I'm wondering if they aren't related to this guy on FB 

It doesn't upset me, bro...I just won't allow tough guys telling other people to start beating the **** out of poachers because someone is gonna get a clam knife in the chest and I'm not gonna be responsible for allowing buffoons to recommend violence instead of law enforcement. You can can keep doing whatever the **** you want, but don't post your crazy in public - thanks

 

TimS

[TimS]

On 5/21/2023 at 11:05 AM, z-man said:

How do you get these people to pay the fine? They are going to claim no ID, no English, etc. If the govt gives them everything else in life for free then why can’t they take some free fish? Have you guys heard about the hotels in southeast MA that have been turned into housing for migrants? There’s one in Taunton and a few others I heard about. I think there’s a bigger issue at hand than just the fish. 

That's too funny when you vote for that stuff only to complain about it later....

[jmei]

Yes, there are a lot of poachers who are Hispanic or Latino. But there are also a lot of law-abiding Hispanic and Latino fishermen. The problem when you start overgeneralizing and complaining about “illegals” and “these people” is that you start implying that everyone who speaks Spanish is poaching, which is just textbook racism. So complain about poachers all you want, just don’t tie it to a specific racial group. Besides, I’m pretty confident that the weekend warriors in their 21 CCs do more damage to the fishery than the landbound poachers. 

[z-man]

On 5/21/2023 at 3:54 PM, TimS said:

That's too funny when you vote for that stuff only to complain about it later....

I voted for it????

[NHAngler]

Sorry, that guy did not sound genuinely surprised at learning he was only allowed to keep one. 

 

Later today, I'm going to call MA DMF and ask for clarity on the new slot ruling coming up. I want to know if that applies to just one of the many fish that we can keep or if what we poach is excluded. I would imagine that the size of the fish becomes irrelevant but just want to be clear on the differences between the law and what's enforced / not enforced. 

 

This is an enforcement issue. I have also called in the past reporting a poacher in the middle of a weekday, only to be ignored. This guy was keeping 20-24" fish and had a runner transporting them so guessing he knew what he was doing.

 

Once the local news stations get low on content, maybe they should be enlisted to do a story and open this issue up more so that it gets real attention. I know they would rather push out a story of how they caught a poacher and it makes the headline news as if MA DMF is effective, but... If if the root of the story brings out that they don't have the resources, so be it! 

Edited May 22 by NHAngler

[ifishthebadspots]

On 5/22/2023 at 8:40 AM, NHAngler said:

Once the local news stations get low on content, maybe they should be enlisted to do a story and open this issue up more so that it gets real attention. I know they would rather push out a story of how they caught a poacher and it makes the headline news as if MA DMF is effective, but... If if the root of the story brings out that they don't have the resources, so be it! 

Not a bad idea actually, maybe one of you can poke a reporter if you know one. I can totally see an undercover journalist making a video with blurred faces, people would watch this stuff.

[mackerel hunter]

Regardless the issue, the response will always be, we don't have enough resources. Works everytime!

[HugeDinghy]

*

Edited May 23 by TimS
Wrong forum

[HanoverStriper]

Was reading through this yesterday, and understand the frustration around enforcement. I'm at my office in Gloucester, and took a ride down by the water after work yesterday. To my surprise, I saw an EPO truck parked, and the officer working his way out onto the rocks to check licenses. 

[FishermanTim]

On 5/21/2023 at 4:17 PM, jmei said:

Yes, there are a lot of poachers who are Hispanic or Latino. But there are also a lot of law-abiding Hispanic and Latino fishermen. The problem when you start overgeneralizing and complaining about “illegals” and “these people” is that you start implying that everyone who speaks Spanish is poaching, which is just textbook racism. So complain about poachers all you want, just don’t tie it to a specific racial group. Besides, I’m pretty confident that the weekend warriors in their 21 CCs do more damage to the fishery than the landbound poachers. 

 

That's a valid point, but when you have someone pulling a "I don't speak English" ploy, they are essentially lying to portray an immigrant who is new to the country. Sure, it could do without a racist hint, but remember, ignorance of the law is not defensible.

As with all rules and regulations (driving, fishing, hunting, ets...) You are SUPPOSED to know the laws, not "find out" about them after you break them.

 

Sorry, but if the choose to play that game, then they must accept all that it entails. 

[finbar]

On 5/20/2023 at 11:31 AM, Fitzy said:

HA! Well done...

[R.R. Bridge Fisher]

On 5/20/2023 at 11:40 AM, PaulS said:

So I assume each time you gave them a "wicked beating and took their gear" as I don't want to think you are just a keyboard tough guy?

He's pretty tough. 

I was fishing with him and he knocked me down in the sand.

[Jeff270]

On 5/26/2023 at 7:02 AM, R.R. Bridge Fisher said:

He's pretty tough. 

I was fishing with him and he knocked me down in the sand.

Edited May 27 by TimS