Post by: CP on July 03, 2013, 06:39:51 AM
We receive many reports (and complaints) from people whose crab pots have been pilfered by greedy crab thieves, and we realize that this type of skullduggery deserves more emphasis than we are able to provide given current staffing shortages. However, our Officers are still making some great crab theft cases out there! In one recent instance, Officers Apple and Kim observed a subject as he pulled Tribal commercial crab pots using a row boat. Of course, this occurred before July 1, while recreational crabbing season was still closed. The subject was comfortable enough with his illegal activity to also cast a line out and do some fishing in between pulling in crab pots.
Officers Kim and Apple observed the subject's activity for several hours, and made contact with the lone poacher as soon as he came to shore. Unfortunately, the Officers' orders to stop didn’t have the intended effect, and the subject proceeded to toss some of the evidence back into the water as quickly as he could. However, the Officers were able to handcuff the man, and retrieve three of the crab that had been tossed back. During a search, the Officers also found a loaded handgun in the man's backpack -- a gun that the subject may not even be able to legally possess per a court order in an unrelated matter.
Officers Apple and Kim booked the poacher into Snohomish County Jail for failing to submit catch for inspection and interference in a commercial fishery. Additional charges include fishing without a license, fishing with barbed hooks and fishing closed season for crab. The subject's boat was also seized for forfeiture, making him one crabby poacher. (C'mon, we had to say it!)
Post by: jackmaster on July 03, 2013, 06:52:18 AM
Post by: boneaddict on July 03, 2013, 07:00:14 AM
Post by: Ripper on July 03, 2013, 07:12:16 AM
Post by: Taco280AI on July 03, 2013, 07:35:20 AM
Post by: lokidog on July 03, 2013, 08:23:59 AM
If you can read this, I can see you in my scope.... :chuckle:
I've also written: Caution sharp objects in line may cause injuries
Talked to a guy last year and he said he watched a 30+ foot yacht roll into the bay he was fishing (he was at the county dock) and picked up his two pots. They didn't just take his crab, they took his pots as well and were out of there before he could row out to even get a name of the boat. :bash:
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on July 03, 2013, 08:31:33 AM
Post by: Encore 280 on July 03, 2013, 08:52:31 AM
Post by: JohnVH on July 03, 2013, 09:01:15 AM
Post by: Fishstiq on July 03, 2013, 09:21:04 AM
So you're (the WDFW) saying that you are badly understaffed and know that there are a lot of wildlife-related crimes occurring, and your response is to send not just one but two of your officers to stare at a guy in a dinghy for several hours, and you are proud of your one arrest?!?!!
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they caught the poacher. However, couldn't you send just one officer out in one of those nice, fast, taxpayer funded boats of yours to deal with the guy as soon as you saw him pull and poach the first pot? At that point, every single charge and consequence they mentioned would have still been applicable. Arrest him, take his boat, give him a ticket or whatever else you guys do and then get on with catching the next guy!!!!! Oh, and in the meantime, since you only sent one officer, maybe the other officer would be available to enforce another law and catch another poacher... :yike: I know, radical thinking isn't it?!
Small wonder our wildlife isn't being managed effectively with this kind of thinking in place. Imagine any other enforcement agency operating like this...
"Yes, I saw the drunk driver speeding down I-5, so my partner and I watched him from our patrol car for several hours to see if he would also not come to a complete stop or forget to signal while changing lanes. Then, after watching him speed and swerve drunkenly from Chehalis to Mt. Vernon, we pulled him over and arrested him for DUI. Aren't you proud of us?!!!"
Post by: JohnVH on July 03, 2013, 09:25:59 AM
.... we were at john wayne and seen some guys pulln are pots, we got lucky and there was a gamie at the marina when we got in... after everything was said and done, the gamie couldnt do anything because they were natives.
This is what gets me....
Post by: PolarBear on July 03, 2013, 09:36:33 AM
Post by: Skillet on July 03, 2013, 10:04:03 AM
:dunno:
Post by: h20hunter on July 03, 2013, 10:10:05 AM
Post by: jackmaster on July 03, 2013, 10:12:27 AM
Post by: jaymark6655 on July 03, 2013, 10:14:05 AM
Post by: PolarBear on July 03, 2013, 10:15:19 AM
Post by: Alchase on July 03, 2013, 01:05:45 PM
Post by: lokidog on July 03, 2013, 01:34:51 PM
G
Am I the only one who's a little annoyed by this?
So you're (the WDFW) saying that you are badly understaffed and know that there are a lot of wildlife-related crimes occurring, and your response is to send not just one but two of your officers to stare at a guy in a dinghy for several hours, and you are proud of your one arrest?!?!!
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they caught the poacher. However, couldn't you send just one officer out in one of those nice, fast, taxpayer funded boats of yours to deal with the guy as soon as you saw him pull and poach the first pot? At that point, every single charge and consequence they mentioned would have still been applicable. Arrest him, take his boat, give him a ticket or whatever else you guys do and then get on with catching the next guy!!!!! Oh, and in the meantime, since you only sent one officer, maybe the other officer would be available to enforce another law and catch another poacher... :yike: I know, radical thinking isn't it?!
Small wonder our wildlife isn't being managed effectively with this kind of thinking in place. Imagine any other enforcement agency operating like this...
"Yes, I saw the drunk driver speeding down I-5, so my partner and I watched him from our patrol car for several hours to see if he would also not come to a complete stop or forget to signal while changing lanes. Then, after watching him speed and swerve drunkenly from Chehalis to Mt. Vernon, we pulled him over and arrested him for DUI. Aren't you proud of us?!!!"
Good point!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk 2
Post by: B Mo on July 03, 2013, 04:56:52 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on July 03, 2013, 05:52:46 PM
While I'm glad they caught the crab thief, I question what they were looking to enforce out there assuming ling cod had closed and crab/salmon had yet to open. The Tulalips pay no taxes, purchase no license and rape the dungeness resource in MA 8-1, 8-2 and 9. Let them enforce upon their own set gear. Lets hope our WDFW keep the same focus and dedication that they spent on the set Tulalip pots on the recreational crab pots now that our season has started.:yeah:
Post by: trophyelk6x6 on July 05, 2013, 06:24:21 PM
Post by: SCRUBS on July 05, 2013, 06:59:51 PM
Post by: wildweeds on July 05, 2013, 08:56:05 PM
Post by: PolarBear on July 05, 2013, 10:00:23 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on July 12, 2013, 03:19:04 PM