Striped Bass:

[AndyS]

Set all the rules you want:

[Broad Bill]

Andy any idea where that's at? There's 62 fish in that pic plus two fillets. There's no ethics in fishing anymore so I agree without enforcement, rules and regulations won't get it done. Maybe it's only 10% who do the damage but these scumbags impact the other 90%.

Quick story, went to a well known lake that gets Landlock salmon about six weeks ago. With the drought conditions stocking this fall as most know was delayed. I went every day until I saw signs the lake was stocked as it's from the same location every year and there's obvious indications. The day they were put in, I gave it three days for the fish to acclimate themselves and went back the following morning.

What I witnessed and experienced was unbelievable. The fish in this lake congregate in the shallows for at least a few weeks until the deeper waters get colder. Got to the spot where they dropped them in, you could see fish swimming all over and there's three guys literally fishing with a weighted treble hook and three hooks tied above it just like Salmon River fishing used to be years ago. Called NJF&G, no luck. Saw these three scumbags snag 9 fish between them, throw them into a plastic bag and take them back to I assume their car only to return for more. It takes New Jersey with their bartering arrangement with Massachusetts significant time and effort to raise these fish from fry at the hatchery before they release them into the four lakes in New Jersey so we can develop and enjoy a trophy landlocked salmon fishery in the state. And *******s like these will destroy it for everyone.

This went on for about an hour until I finally had enough after telling them multiple times what they were doing was illegal. I told them I called NJF&G and local police at which point one of them pulled a knife on me. It's amazing how quickly they learn our language when it benefits them. They don't buy licenses, they don't give a s*** about the resource or nature or anything but taking as many fish as possible illegally and if you speak up you put your personal safety at risk.

Our Country is absolutely out of control when you have to be concerned about your own safety fishing or doing anything for that matter. Until we have adequate enforcement of the laws and regulations and support our law enforcement officials, it's going to get worse. Absolutely true story in an area I never would've expected something like this to happen.

[AndyS]

I would just keep throwing rocks.

[Duffman]

BB……a perfect example of what I’ve been chirping on the forum about FOREVER!!!!

I don’t give a flying eff about whatever stupid ass misguided regs the gov puts out there. If there isn’t anyone to enforce the rules, wtf is the point of having them?

That pic Andy posted……..everyone who has fished the Raritan bayshore in the spring has seen that DAILY. Nothing new. But ya know what? Change the regs…..the guys doing the illegal shit will fall in line and obey the laws. Lmao.

Ok Rant over. Been cooking for 6 hours for NYE guests coming. I’m beat. Gonna have a Basil Hayden’s and disappear to the garage

[bulletbob]

sadly,the SOB that pulled the knife on you can get away with that in NJ, as they took away your 2A rights.. Up here he might have had a pistol aimed right at his nose for doing it, as in many upstate counties the 2A is still respected, and many of us avail ourselves of that constitutional right.

The kind of crap you guys are discussing does not happen quite as much here but it does happen. Not so much by the " no hablo ingles" crowd, but more among the rural types that believe anything that moves is fair game.. We have midnight deer jacking, all sorts of off season meat hunting for deer, turkeys, small game, illegal commercial fishing for panfish,and lots of taking over legal limits of all edible fish species,

Its not as out in the open as NJ, and the faces and lifestyles of the perps are different.. In NJ its more an urban/suburban problem, up here its more a rural issue, and the "harvesters" are actually VERY efficient ... also we have some massive problems with fish populations being devastated perfectly legally.. Tournaments out of control here, and they are year round.. Perch tourneys, Trout tourneys, Walleye tourneys, Bass tourneys, catfish tourneys, even friggin' ROCK BASS tourneys which have devastated populations of panfish, all so sponsors can make a few bucks.. World class fisheries wiped out in some of the giant lakes here.. There's a "Crappie Derby" up here on a reservoir called Whitney Point.. Its an ice fishing derby, and draws THOUSANDS of people some years.. Can you imagine a couple thousand people ice fishing on a lake only about 600 acres bigger than Hopatcong? For an entire weekend?.. every year?... So yes resources are being decimated illegally everywhere.. However, a lot of times it happens with smiles, pats on the back, and prize money..

[Broad Bill]

It's sad because it seems to get worse every year. Best we can do is keep your eyes open and call the right enforcement agency if you see something not right. Don't do what I did and intervene, only take getting into an argument with the wrong person once.

[WhaleFart]

So let me get this straight you had a knife pulled on you and didn’t call the police to report that but instead reported them poaching fish?

Pulling a knife, on anyone, results in immediate arrest. You could have gotten this animal arrested and maybe deported (assuming they are not here legally).

My brother and I beat the living shit out of some poachers in the point pleasant canal a few years ago who tried getting physical when we confronted them poaching schoolies. When we were done rearranging them we just tossed all their gear into the canal. Highly don’t recommend doing this as you never know what someone may have on them.

[Broad Bill]

No you have it wrong. It was early morning. When I realized how these guys were fishing, I called NJFG without luck and no one returned my call. At that time, nothing had happened. After an hour of watching them snag and keep landlocks, I confronted them and told them I called NJFG and local law enforcement to report them. That's when one of them pulled the knife.

As soon as it happened, I left and so did they. Unfortunately they were parked in a different area so I didn't get their license plate number(s) or see what car(s) they were driving. So no, I didn't have someone pull a knife on me and call NJFG for a poaching violation, the call I made to NJFG happened before the incident actually occurred.

And before you ask, I never called the police. I told them I did hoping they'd stop snagging and leave. No pictures, no license plate numbers and the guys took off after the incident. The only thing I cared about was getting the hell out of there. You're last comment was why I didn't wait around, three on one and I wasn't about to risk them driving by and the problem re-escalating. In hindsight I should have called local police later to report it and regret I didn't but I will tell you local law enforcement know they have problems at this particular impoundment.

[birddog]

Calling f&g is a waste of time. I called once to report guys trout fishing the day before opening day and the co was pissed off at me because of the amount of paperwork he now had to complete because I called operation game thief. The other time I called to report 7 deer carcasses that were dumped with only the back straps removed. I was told if I didn’t like seeing that then I probably should be hunting. Can’t tell you the last time I’ve even a co and haven’t been checked in over30 years!

[Broad Bill]

I've actually had pretty good results over the years with call backs and follow up.