5 poachers caught with 143 illegal trout

[Fishstiq]

http://nwsportsmanmag.com/headlines/5-poachers-caught-with-143-trout-before-central-wa-lake-opener/

Honestly, WTH is wrong with these people?

"Five men who got a jump on the March 1 trout opener at a Columbia Basin lake ended up hooking themselves as well.

WDFW reports that on February 26 an officer got suspicious about men loading fishing gear into two vehicles at Upper Caliche Lake, alongside I-90 near George.

“They initially claimed not to have been fishing, but the officer found several large plastic bags full of fish in both cars,” WDFW reported.

Inside those sacks? A whopping 143 rainbow trout, the agency alleges.

That equates to 2 percent of all the trout stocked last year for this month’s opener, though there could be carryovers from previous seasons swimming around in Caliche too, depending on catch rates and fry survival.

“Even if the season had been open they would have been 118 trout over their daily limit,” the agency reports.

That’s a potential gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and fine of $5,000, but charges will be up to the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office.

As it stands, WDFW cited the quintet for exceeding the daily limit in the first degree, as well as fishing during a closed season. One was also cited for no license. A sixth men with them was not fishing.

All the trout were seized and donated to a food bank in Moses Lake.

Unfortunately, it’s not the only example of piggish behavior of late, with the Westside representing too.

WDFW reports a case on Oakland Bay, by Shelton, in which two women and a man were contacted while walking off the beach carrying a big bucket allegedly containing “more than 12 times the allowable daily limit of clams.”

Another container in the brush held illegally shucked oyster shells.

“They were cited for first degree exceeding the bag limit and harvesting without licenses,” WDFW reported.

Two illegal gillnets were also pulled from the Columbia near Cascade Locks. Suspects were reportedly identified by Columbia River Inter-tribal Enforcement officers."

[WapitiTalk1]

Absolutely amazing........

[C-Money]

Wonder if Dano will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law?

[Southpole]

Russians? 

[chester]

 

Russians? 

was my first thought

[KFhunter]

me 3

[huntnphool]

Doesn't say if they had licenses either.

[C-Money]

Doesn't say if they had licenses either.

Pretty sure they wrote one of them for no licence

[Skillet]

Wonder if Dano will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law?

I had a good conversation with him a few years back regarding the gillnetting in Lenore, where I expressed my displeasure at the plea his office offered the russians.   He expressed that his office will be more tuned in to wildlife violations.  Will be placing another call today, to remind him of our previous conversation.

Russians? 

was my first thought

I'd bet my milk money on it.

[C-Money]

Nice Skillet, glad you are doing that

[Fishstiq]

Nice Skillet, glad you are doing that

Yeah, let us know how it goes for sure!

[Skillet]

Left message at his office, reminding him of my disappointment in April 2015 in  his office's lack of commitment to prosecuting the Lake Lenore gillnetters, and asking that they pursue this prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.  It is message that desperately needs to be sent in Grant county.

Garth Dano's office can be reached through the phone tree at

509-754-2011

[baldopepper]

Hope they throw the book at em, but can't help wondering what bait they were using.

[Skillet]

There is a much better chance of them feeling like they'll need to put resources to this if they get some pressure.  Even if you're not a Grant County resident, but spend a bunch of money recreating there, it is worth the call, imho.

[pianoman9701]

These guys are not poachers. They're heroes. Don't we want fisherman to catch the illegal trout? If the trout are here illegally, we should use any means possible of getting rid of them. Just sayin'! Carry on.