Crab thief Busted

[CP]

from the WDFW facebook page:

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!) 

[jackmaster]

awesome, cant stand it when people mpull my pots, however we did have an *censored* that pulled are pots and left an empty beer can in each one  would have been nice if they were full, but what do ya do. would be better to fit them in the pot and use them for crab bait but that might be illegal    . friggin thieves.... 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. (i am not starting a native bashing thing here peeps) but it was kinda messed up because had it been a round eye they could have done somethn  . again great job gamies, cant stand thieves 

[boneaddict]

 

[Ripper]

I hate thieves altogether but especially crab thieves. Probably because they affect me more than any other thieve. I had a pot stolen on opening day. I had 4 all in the same area and when I came back one was gone.

[Taco280AI]

Good! 

[lokidog]

Notice on my crab buoys: 

If you can read this, I can see you in my scope....   

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.    

[BOWHUNTER45]

He picked a good to go  Well maybe not he got caught 

[Encore 280]

I sit on my pots while they're soaking and never leave them out over nite. We fish for sole while they're soaking and use them for fresh bait if needed. Makes the time go by a bit faster and the wife likes to fish while we're waiting so everyone stays happy.

[JohnVH]

Im boatless this year, but I always left them out, had good luck so far, my dad lost one of my pots though.

[Fishstiq]

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...     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?!!!"

[JohnVH]

.... 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.... 

[PolarBear]

I had 6 brand new pots stolen on opening day a few years back.  I wasn't the only one.  A WDFW boat showed up and said that there were a lot of people who had their pots stolen and that they had a suspect from the Nisqually tribe with over 30 pots and no identifying buoys.     From then on I never leave sight of my pots and carry binoculars with me. 

[Skillet]

I've been lucky, I guess.  Left mine out overnight all the time last year, haven't had one stolen yet.

 

[h20hunter]

Mark my words Skillet....this year I'm gonna find em', pillage em', and stock your pots with a few cold beers. However, I will of course return your crab to you at a later date while rafted up and enjoying a beverage while being responsible boaters.

[jackmaster]

we havent had any pots stolen, i did have a couple lost to a huge bank of seaweed that came through, after the run in with are pots being checked by someone else, we started ring netting around where we were soakin are pots, ring netting is pretty fun or we would catch dog fish, the wife and kids don t care what they catch as long as they are catchn somethn