Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement

[Billfish715]

How effective do you think the law enforcement division of Fish and Wildlife is in deterring saltwater fishing infractions? When you think of the miles of shoreline and the number of saltwater fishermen in New Jersey versus the number of CO's, what prevents fishermen from committing any number of fishing violations? It's pretty much of an honor system that makes most fishermen abide by the rules.

I agree that many situations might arise that would require common sense and therefore violate a regulation such as releasing a deeply hooked and bleeding 16" fluke that will become crab bait within minutes of being thrown back. If it were retained and if a CO were to inspect your cooler, there would be no room for reason and common sense in trying to explain how the fluke would be wasted by tossing it back since it was almost dead.

I also agree that many fishermen will put on their pirate hats and eye patches and take the chance that they will not be confronted by a CO which will lead to size and bag limit violations, primarily by private boaters and shoreline fishermen. Considering the odds of being stopped or checked, the odds are truly on the side of the fishermen.

It's just an observation but a legitimate issue to ponder.

[bigfishy]

The odds are against the CO....that's why EVERY
investigation is a slam dunk....thr problem iz not enough
funding and or COs to make a difference

[Chrisper4694]

The odds are against the CO....that's why EVERY
investigation is a slam dunk....thr problem iz not enough
funding and or COs to make a difference

and on top of that, when they do issue citations and make busts, the court system basically laughs it off, giving out, basically 'slaps on the wrist'. And that is coming from a CO that we talked to for a while out on the ice last year. Basically the penalties are old and out of date and do not fit the times or the laws. it absolutely is basically an honor system unfortunately.

and i know guys always say to call and report if you see laws being broken...but Myself and friends, while fishing, have personally called in to report regulations being broken on 3 different occasions and no officer has ever shown up. And two of them were very close to parks where officers almost definitely were around. Not blaming them, they don't have the numbers of staff, but that's just the reality.

best bet, probably, is to buy a big foot costume and try to scare the poachers away!

[rumster]

When the regs are so out of touch, people become pirates.... Think about how much money is spent for someone to not even be able to catch 1 dinner for their families.... Not looking to get into a pissing match, so please do not even respond if that is the case.... If someone is taking home countless undersized fish, then obviously that is a problem and let your conscience be your guide.... How many legal fluke do you think a shore bound angler catches??? Not into raping a resource, but I am also not into dropping a dime on my fellow man over a dinner either.

[FISHGERE]

Regs are plain stupid when you take into consideration how many days are fishable with the weather winds sea conditions and time to fish you have about 7 goods days a month. Rod and reel guys are not to blame for any shortage of fluke. C O should target the commercial boats, Those nets vacuum the ocean until they start targeting them I could care less what peps do

[Duffman]

I am also not into dropping a dime on my fellow man over a dinner either.

X2

Well said.

[MudCat08]

I agree that there's not enough funding going into COs. Few have to cover large areas - there's just not enough of them for efficient and impactful law enforcement. Because of lack of funds, there is little incentive to join and become a CO..I would love a career like that. Chances of me getting the position are slim to none.

[a-baum]

but I am also not into dropping a dime on my fellow man over a dinner either.
Let's not even begin to argue that people are fishing to put food on the table. Fishing is recreation, and the food is just a bonus. Take all the fishing gear, licenses, etc and add it up and it's a tidy sum every year. Enough for far more meals than fishing produces. These aren't Inuits doing subsistence fishing. They are outlaws and their justification for keeping shorts to "Feed the family" is total BS.

[penn50w]

Regs are plain stupid when you take into consideration how many days are fishable with the weather winds sea conditions and time to fish you have about 7 goods days a month. Rod and reel guys are not to blame for any shortage of fluke. C O should target the commercial boats, Those nets vacuum the ocean until they start targeting them I could care less what peps do

AMEN to that!!! ;)

[Angler Paul]

Sound fisheries management is based on compliance with the regulations. Although, I don't agree with some of them, I always obey the law. In my opinion a poacher is nothing more than a thief stealing from a public resource. Paul Haertel

[bulletbob]

Sound fisheries management is based on compliance with the regulations. Although, I don't agree with some of them, I always obey the law. In my opinion a poacher is nothing more than a thief stealing from a public resource. Paul Haertel

Disagree.. Some guys have $100,000 boats and unlimited time.. If they can go fluke fishing out to deep rocky bottom 4 or 5 times a week, and limit out each time , all season, they are within the law, and are totally justified taking and killing all those fish, correct?.. however some other poor slob that has to search between the sofa cushions to scrape up enough money for a pack of squid can only get down to the tidal creek down the road on rare occasions, and might catch a 15 -16 inch fluke or two once in a great while... THAT poor SOB is an outlaw and a thief for taking that fish or two home to eat..

Sorry, don't buy it.

You are saying that ONLY those that can get to where the big ones live are entitled to take them, no exceptions. Too many guys simply do not have that opportunity. the regs need to be changed, they are unfair to far too many anglers, and I for one do not see those anglers as ""poachers"".... bob

[Capt. Debbie]

DONT FORGET to blame the commercial guys like we always do too.

We can justify anything given enough time- right? A thief is a low life. Justify what you do, but still it's a dirt bag move usually by dirt bags.

So if you can't beat them, join them dirt bags

[rumster]

Disagree.. Some guys have $100,000 boats and unlimited time.. If they can go fluke fishing out to deep rocky bottom 4 or 5 times a week, and limit out each time , all season, they are within the law, and are totally justified taking and killing all those fish, correct?.. however some other poor slob that has to search between the sofa cushions to scrape up enough money for a pack of squid can only get down to the tidal creek down the road on rare occasions, and might catch a 15 -16 inch fluke or two once in a great while... THAT poor SOB is an outlaw and a thief for taking that fish or two home to eat..

Sorry, don't buy it.

You are saying that ONLY those that can get to where the big ones live are entitled to take them, no exceptions. Too many guys simply do not have that opportunity. the regs need to be changed, they are unfair to far too many anglers, and I for one do not see those anglers as ""poachers"".... bob

Amen to that Bob.... For a minute, I thought Jessie James gave up his horse and stopped robbing banks to catch fish with a rod and reel....

[Solemate]

Paul Haertel I disagree as sound management starts with sound science

[FishingSinceIWasThree]

The biggest troubles by far in our country are:

1. Too many ridiculous laws which really, really hurt businesses
2. Too much government debt

If the regulations were good, people wouldn't complain and we wouldn't need enforcement. Reduce the salaries, benefits and pensions of the conservation officers to encourage them to find real work which helps their neighbors rather than giving ridiculous fines to families on their day off. This will reduce government debt and there will the same amount of fish out there regardless.

We don't need to give tickets to honest families who were happy to take home a couple of fish a couple of times a year. Isn't it already a very expensive $300 day they have just spent to be with their families? Why the punishment? Go punish drug dealers and thieves and their like....that's why enforcement guys get paid the BIG bucks (which they do) and also why they have so many days off from work while so many others are working six or seven days a week.

Has the world gone mad? Yes.

[Capt. Debbie]

Sounds like you're running for office?



The biggest troubles by far in our country are:

1. Too many ridiculous laws which really, really hurt businesses
2. Too much government debt

If the regulations were good, people wouldn't complain and we wouldn't need enforcement. Reduce the salaries, benefits and pensions of the conservation officers to encourage them to find real work which helps their neighbors rather than giving ridiculous fines to families on their day off. This will reduce government debt and there will the same amount of fish out there regardless.

We don't need to give tickets to honest families who were happy to take home a couple of fish a couple of times a year. Isn't it already a very expensive $300 day they have just spent to be with their families? Why the punishment? Go punish drug dealers and thieves and their like....that's why enforcement guys get paid the BIG bucks (which they do) and also why they have so many days off from work while so many others are working six or seven days a week.

Has the world gone mad? Yes.