Sword poachers busted 03/06/09

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by billspilingup

If the guy's 17, I think the only thing he has to worry about is her dad's shotgun. In any case, I'm sure she looked older.

Last time (a few years back) I was checked on the water with cores (rec fishing but didn't feel like dealing with it at the dock at 4am) on the boat, the FWC officers didn't even know what the minimum weights and lengths were. Then when they weighed, they couldn't decide on a weight. When they measured, they came up with three different lengths. After settling the debate, we were on our way.

After that experience, lynching these guys over a length or weight determined by the officers on fish that were right around the minimum size whole is unjustified. Only they know if the fish truly measured up but you've already found them guilty. Lady Justice and her blind scale of internet posing vs. knowing the whole story.

Not sure that everybody trying them on the internet (just going by the facts that are being presented as facts) and I can certainly relate that the FWC and Coasties have their share of ignorant officers that dont know the rules as well as they should.

What I think is the take home point here is that if your fish are close to legal/illegal, keep them whole till you get to the dock so that you arent pushing the limits of knowledge of these officers and if they do make a non- righteous bust, you have a better chance of defending yourself.

Just my two cents.....

[Harry Klauber]

Tackle Engineer posted that the officer has a history of "taking no prisoners". If you couple that with a youthful stupid mistake I would think the lesson will be learned and these kids will walk the straight and narrow from now on.

It was wrong but we can all learn from it as far as not taking any chances if we even think our fish is close to just over legal, and realizing that not all officers even understand the 3 different ways of determining legal measurement. Vinnie's pictures were the best and the fact that a 47 inch legal fish could NOT weigh the minimum once cored was a great point that could get anyone in trouble. Sticking to the Lower Jaw to Tail Fork, and preserving that legal measurement while on the water is the key for all of us.

The sad part is if the boat owner, simply being a good guy, loaning his boat to friends and not even there, gets hurt by this. The permit owner was as well not there (according to the posts) so his position might also be in jeopardy. It wasn't a capital offense, whatever fines will be paid, and they will never make the same mistake again. Sometimes adversity in life teaches good lessons so lets hope this particular crew, as well as anyone else that could make an honest mistake, learned from this thread and doesn't ever get in any trouble. Richard's last post really said it all. Harry

[Nick C]

Originally Posted by maverick18b

Scotty is one of the best fishermen i know...hes taught me alot the few times i've fished with him. Scotty just owns the boat they were on when they were caught with the fish.

.........

[jays900]

Why would you keep 3 shorts? You have three legal size fish. Idiots if you ask me! It should be a stiffer fine!

[Tackle Engineer]

Originally Posted by Harry Klauber

Tackle Engineer posted that the officer has a history of "taking no prisoners". If you couple that with a youthful stupid mistake I would think the lesson will be learned and these kids will walk the straight and narrow from now on.

It was wrong but we can all learn from it as far as not taking any chances if we even think our fish is close to just over legal, and realizing that not all officers even understand the 3 different ways of determining legal measurement. Vinnie's pictures were the best and the fact that a 47 inch legal fish could NOT weigh the minimum once cored was a great point that could get anyone in trouble. Sticking to the Lower Jaw to Tail Fork, and preserving that legal measurement while on the water is the key for all of us.

The sad part is if the boat owner, simply being a good guy, loaning his boat to friends and not even there, gets hurt by this. The permit owner was as well not there (according to the posts) so his position might also be in jeopardy. It wasn't a capital offense, whatever fines will be paid, and they will never make the same mistake again. Sometimes adversity in life teaches good lessons so lets hope this particular crew, as well as anyone else that could make an honest mistake, learned from this thread and doesn't ever get in any trouble. Richard's last post really said it all. Harry

Harry Your post says it all. I would recommend that all of us photocopy BP Vinnies post and plastic coat it!!! It is understandable and very possible that an officer can have it wrong!! and prosecute unjustly, Even though not intentionally, I would like to think, at least there would be definition for one to go by if measurement was in question. TE

[mneptune]