Poacher/Illegal fishing ....what would you do???

[muskymatt]

I agree with RJ...

MNR wont come running, their understaffed.
I've run into a situation not quite the same but similar in Cobourg several years back. I with concern, thinking they werent aware of the regs or rules approached. I told them fishing for steelhead on this side of the bridge at this time of year is illegal right now. He said ya we know.. But have you seen the chinese guys on the "Gagne" snagging and poaching as well. I spoke up and said 2 wrongs dont make a right. And they dont probably realize theyre doing something illegal just yet.. He also said the MNR is on strike so who cares. After this and the dirty looks I got I said ok stay, Im calling the OPP. Hope you get no bites! Then I procedded to walk away and flag down a near by OPP...

Its importnat to get your voice heard especially if its the right one. And concerning this sport we all love we need as many people doing the right thing to ensure our natural resources last. If we have to abide by them "everyone should".. Matt I know whats its like to freeze or not be to sure of waht to say, Ive been there.. But Ive realized that nothing happens if you stay quiet, and sure if you do speak up. And they arent happy, no matter what you were still doing the right thing..

Its interesting this topic. These occurences are common. People either think they have the right because their locals, or are just not educated enough on what their doing..

Matt forgive yourself, just dont bite the tongue so much next time!

Regards

Spence

I regret not saying anything but like I said some of the reasons for not doing so are

being a guest on the lake and using access from a neighbour of his, that he had a young son with him and that my truck was like a lone sheep in a field ....it was obvious it was mine and you never know what a person will do.
Had the circumstances been different ie....large parking lot with lots of vehicles, crowded lake and no young kids,it would have been different.

I def would have said what with the lines and your breaking the law, and had their been any flack I would have gone to the next level. Anyone who knows me would agree I can handle my own so I'm not afraid to speak my opinion.

I though about cutting the lines but like I said , if this guys watching you just don't know what they are capable of .

JSDX

We did discuss the CO factor and they could be mistaken for our lines , that is why we stayed clear of them and made no tracks to them.And also why we didn't take them...that would be tough to explain.

Tough situation, I hope this person realizes his errors and abides the law in the future but probably not

And if not I hope he gets what he deserves

Matt

[almontefisher]

Further to this question...My nephew is 13 and we did not know if he was limitied to the amount of holes and how many species he can catch because he is young enough not to need a license. What rules are you bound by when you don't need a license.

[slushpuppy]

Further to this question...My nephew is 13 and we did not know if he was limitied to the amount of holes and how many species he can catch because he is young enough not to need a license. What rules are you bound by when you don't need a license.

You're bound by the rules whether you need a licence or not. Quote from the MNR website:

Those who qualify to fish without purchasing a fishing licence as indicated above, may fish with the same catch and possession limits as holders of a Sport Fishing Licence Tag. Additionally, they have the same responsibilities as those who have purchased an Outdoors Card and Fishing Licence Tag and must abide by all regulations.

Do you let your nephew drive your car on the highway just because he doesn't need a licence?

[Jebby]

i run into poachers almost every time i go out (there is a spot down by the public launch i use thats full of people all year long) most of them dont have licences (not ontario ones anyway) and they all seem to think limits mean nothing let along seasons its not uncommon to go in may and see people with a stringer of bass sometimes they dont even want to keep them they just dont want to unhook them. there are mangled perch no more than 3 or 4 inches everywhere because they just pull the hook out there are mudpuppies everywhere cuz there "yuckey" so they just step on them and pull the hook out.... there is garbage everywhere cuz they cant even take care of this.....

well i started out saying lil reminders like i dont think bass are in season or wow nice fish i cant wait till season opens.... dosent work... ive called mnr dosent work (poor guys cant help it) ive been an @$$ and simply dumped there buckets in when i left (ok ok prolly not smart but cummon) and now im on to saying nothing mearly calling the lasalle police (who are all of a stone throw away they seem to be interested hehe

damn poachers i think there should be an open season for us to target them

jebby

[Crunchy]

I think poacher season opens soon. Some of the new regs this year:

Catch/posession limits: unlimited

Eating guidelines: recommend not eating them as they can be greasy and the meat is probably already spoiled....

What to do if you catch a poacher: The NMR recommends throwing all poachers into the water and not to let them stay on dry land where they can reproduce adding to the poacher population.

[YakAttack]

I started fishing last season and I've never had the "opportunity" to be in this situation yet, but I hope that I would talk to the guy and mention that what he's doing is illegal (but with tact, like that I'm trying to do him a favour by informing him).

Whether you should call the CO or not, I would say that definitely all incidents like this should be reported so that they are on record.

That they are understaffed is prolly because either 1) whoever funds their department doesn't care about poachers and conserving our resources, or 2) whoever funds their department doesn't realize that the problem is as big as it is.

If we all report each incident, then the CO's records will show that there is a problem with poaching. Perhaps they can use that information to lobby for more funding and hire more CO's so that they can go out and enforce the law more effectively.

When somebody breaks into your home, the cops will tell you that likely they don't have much of a chance of catching the criminals. But knowing this, you still call the cops the next time, right? Same thing with poachers. They're stealing from our shared resource, potentially ruining the pastime that we all enjoy so much.

my two cents

scott

[OTRA]

It would be so nice if we could step back from a situation and then figure out what to do. So first, don't beat yourself up about ti and thank you for posting the issue. Ideally, you'd like that person's actions to stop, and also not pass them onto a future generation. At same time you'd want to avoid a negative confentation that no one benefits from. And at the end of the day you'd like to have a clear conscience.
First off, damaging, cutting their lines might make you feel better, it also is wrong and unethical, period. Second, letting the C.O. handle it while a proper course of action, you sound like the type of person where that would still bother you--as if you're passing the buck.
The only real solution that meets the above goals would be to mention the fact that they could get fined for that action and leave it at that. Thereby giving them the benefit of the doubt, and allowing them to resolve it on their own.

Or you could just break out your can of whup butt.

[almontefisher]

Slushpuppy: We learn to drive at age 13 here in Lanark County...Gotta get experience before you can drive... ...Just kidding kinda...we do drive in the back woods when we are young.

[Kpin]

Like I said b4, hindsight is 20/20. You never know the demeanor of a perfect stranger or for that matter their mental stability. Best to err on the side of caution and avoid a direct confrontation in my humble, non doctorate opinion.

One thing does ring quite clear in it's clarity and that is that you should in no way feel bad about this Matt.

Hell, ya think he lost any sleep over it?

[misterminnow]

There's nothing you can really do except talk and hope people listen. In all probability the guy knows what he does is illegal, but he feels it's no biggy.. heck he probably grew up there and has done this for years. No point into getting into an arguement either. You could lose your acces to the lake.

BUT, if if you do speak your mind, guilt has a funny way of surfacing eventually and maybe you could have gotten in the kids head who would later ask his dad why they were poaching... Explain that to your kid!

Matt, as FRUSTRATING as it is to witness these random acts of stupidity, you can't asume the policing of lakes across the province. There's no need in knocking youself over the head with this. I would probably have said something respectful and went along my business. If you keep seeing this on a regular basis, THEN COs could be made aware and find a way of catching the guy. I've done this with a guy leaving lines out all night on a remote trout lake. After the 3rd time, the ministry came in. Albeit, I'm in Q and maybe they are more responsive. (And I had cut the lines all 3 times and he didn't seem to get the message)

It is nice to see though that this strikes a chord out there and that people want to protect the fishery. We didn't have that 30 years ago. So there is hope that every little step helps.

[Spoonman]

Some excellent points already raised here. That was a tough situation to be in. I would be in the "cut the lines" camp.

My $0.02:

As a rule, I would not encourage confrontation - I've heard some stories about salmon poachers back east that would send shivers up your spine. While this case may not be as extreme, let's just say I understand why DFO now supplies federal Fisheries Officers with sidearms. MNR staffing issues notwithstanding, we anglers ought not to enforce the law. All we can do is fish well and set a good example.

[gussser]

Yank out the lines===Nevel Chamberlain made similar mistake by trying to avoid confrontation---APPEASEMENT NEVER WORKS

[1lastcast]

I vote to pull the lines out. But im not sure if i would have said anything either. Maybe till the man that the mnr was around and that what he was doing was illegal. I would not have spent much time around the lines. With my luck. Id be the guy getting the ticket.

[Weekend Angler]

Hey Matt;

Was it cold? Sounds like you may have desperately needed some firewood... I would have started a bonfire with his gear... If the gear is gone so is the poacher at least temporarily...

Yep tough call. What did your buddy say, that gave you access, when you told him?

You could always bluff him... say something like... you know if I was on duty right now I would have to take all of your gear and vehicle because you are poaching... You may want to check the fishing regulations from now on...

For future reference... Most of the Police Forces in Ontario have been authorized and trained to enforce the Fishing and Hunting Regulations. If it's something urgent call the local police.

Always take pictures of the gear, guys, vehicle and cottage if necessary. Make a call when you get home to the MNR just for the purpose of logging the incident.

Almontefisher said something about a limit on the number of holes you are allowed. There is actually no limit on the number of holes. You could swiss cheese a lake if you wanted too... The regs just limit the number of lines per angler 1 or 2 depending on the species and lake you are fishing in Ontario.

Later

Weekend Angler

[legend151]

I hate poachers!


I would not even leave to call the MNR. I always keep a cell phone with me in case of emergency. I'd take some pics, You gotta have a camera, (right beside your rubber tape measure) to record your catch! Or at least write down the location, Licence number of the shack or vehicle or description of the property and give it to the CO's! I've actually called the police on some poachers yanking bedding smallies out of Black's rapids! In the time I was there, they pulled 3 rather big ones and took them to shore. I don't know if the cops got them, but I feel that I did my civil duty as well as taking action to protect our resources. Don't get me wrong, I've always got a can opener asnd some whoop butt in my tackle bag! But if you do open it, you could end up in an even bigger mess!

FYI, The number to call MNR for such occassions is 1-877-TIPS-MNR
(847-7667)


I do like the rock in the sock !