Crabbing Question

[Wacenturion]

On page 135 of the regulations it says....

"Any angler may assist the person whose name is on the buoy while he or she is pulling the pot."

but therein lies the question. It says may assist the person's whose name is on the pot while he or she is pulling the pot. However it does not specifically say anything about the helper harvesting crabs from that pot.

One more sentence saying that.....

the person helping may also legally harvest crabs from said pot with the proper license while adhering to specific individual area limit(s)

would certainly end any confusion.

[huntnphool]

 I know for shrimp we have to have a different buoy for each person, I made poles that the buoy can slide on and off to make it easy to swap them on the water.

[Wacenturion]

I know for shrimp we have to have a different buoy for each person, I made poles that the buoy can slide on and off to make it easy to swap them on the water.

Will probably be doing something similar.

[lokidog]

I know for shrimp we have to have a different buoy for each person, I made poles that the buoy can slide on and off to make it easy to swap them on the water.

IMO - A waste of time unless one of the people leaves the boat whose name is on the buoy....    

[huntnphool]

Put some duct tape over your name on one of the pots and put his name and address on the pot. They are extremely strict when it comes to crab.

"GENERAL GEAR RULES:
Every shellfish pot, ring net, or star trap left unattended in Washington waters must have its own buoy line and a separate buoy that is permanently and legibly marked with the operator’s first name, last name, and permanent address"

[Wacenturion]

Here's what I sent to the office in charge of fishing regulations and well as the WDFW's Commission office.


Suggestion for next years fishing regulations.........


The statewide general rules....crab, shrimp and crawfish state the following............


On page 135 2nd full paragraph under general gear rules
"Any angler may assist the person whose name is on the buoy while he or she is pulling the pot."


Therein lies the question. It says may assist the person's whose name is on the pot while he or she is pulling the pot. However it does not specifically say anything about the helper harvesting crabs, shrimp or crawfish from that pot.

One more sentence saying that.....

"the person helping may also legally harvest crabs from said pot with the proper license while adhering to specific individual area limit(s)" ....

or

"if the person assisting has the appropriate license, he or she can also record crab, shrimp or crawfish harvested from those pots."


would certainly end any confusion. Please consider adding something of like that for next years publication.

Thanks

Dan

[Wacenturion]

Here's the first response back........


Dear Mr. XXXXXXX ,

Thank you for taking the time to email your comments to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Each commissioner will receive a copy.

Opinions and comments such as yours provide the Commission with valuable insight into fish and wildlife issues of concern to communities throughout our state. The Commission relies on public testimony, email, and correspondence to help determine what is working well and what requires more concentrated efforts.

Thank you for your interest in the conservation and management of the state’s precious fish and wildlife resources.

Sincerely,

Erin Gariépy, Administrative Assistant
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
Mail: 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Phone:(360) 902-2267; Fax : (360) 902-2448
Web: www.wdfw.wa.gov/commission

[Chase 1]

That is their auto generated reply. Did you send that through the "proposal for rule change" form to the DFW also? If not here is the link 

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/

Really all your asking for is an amendment for clarification. You can already harvest using others traps but specific language would be reasonable. 

[huntnphool]

Here's the first response back........


Dear Mr. XXXXXXX ,

Thank you for taking the time to email your comments to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Each commissioner will receive a copy.

Opinions and comments such as yours provide the Commission with valuable insight into fish and wildlife issues of concern to communities throughout our state. The Commission relies on public testimony, email, and correspondence to help determine what is working well and what requires more concentrated efforts.

Thank you for your interest in the conservation and management of the state’s precious fish and wildlife resources.

Sincerely,

Erin Gariépy, Administrative Assistant
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
Mail: 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Phone:(360) 902-2267; Fax : (360) 902-2448
Web: www.wdfw.wa.gov/commission

  Thank you for your email, now go away!

[Wacenturion]

That is their auto generated reply. Did you send that through the "proposal for rule change" form to the DFW also? If not here is the link 

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/

Really all your asking for is an amendment for clarification. You can already harvest using others traps but specific language would be reasonable. 

Sent it to the Commission, and the Fish Section earlier.  Just now followed your link and submitted as an amendment there also.

Thanks.

[Wacenturion]

'You can already harvest using others traps but specific language would be reasonable."

You think....lol 

Current language says absolutely nothing about harvest...zip, nada.  I realize it a matter of interpretation....no not even that.  Officer could write a ticket on that and I would have to show where it said I could harvest off my buddies trap.  Unfortunately, I could conceivably lose....language doesn't exist.