B
Betty Boop
Guest
My first two cents worth: I have been reading about all the bitchin' at the cleanin' station about all the Coho sportin' fins. I have been guiding in Sooke waters since '90, lived through the FISH WARS, CANADA VS US, that is when our Coho fishin' took a turn for the worst. Four years later when there were no Coho in the water we got our fishing coridors. Thats when we got our no barbs law. Thats when we were prohibited from keeping Coho. It is only of the last few years that we have been able to keep hatchery Coho.
A few years ago I came back to the dock with empty handed clients and behold there was an other guide cleaning Coho. I could tell that the clients were not happy with me for releasing all the fish that they caught. I approached the offending guide and informed him that he should learn how to identify the diferent types of salmon. The very next day the same thing he is cleaning Coho for his guests. I was hoppin' mad, I promptly callen in to the fisheries (the number is in the regulations) and did the "tatle- tail" thing. I felt bad afterwards but I have not seen him cleaning another illeagle fish.
Just a couple of days ago I pulled the crab pots for some guests and they were loaded with undersize females, one of the guests said why don't we keep a couple who will know? Right away one of the other guests said NO WAY! Seems he was crabin' off the public dock in Sooke Harbour and got caught with under size crabs and was fined $1000. He also said that he thinks the locals police the area, becaus they were looking in their buckets and one guy even put his hand in and stired em' around so he can see them all. You can bet he wont be taking undersize any time soon! And he is passing the word along.
All it will take is a few guys getting nailed for fins and the word will get out that you better be sure you can identify your catch. And you guys who stand by and see this going on are guilty of enabiling. There is no difference than if you see someone shooting does during buck season, I sure hope that you would report the POACHERS, YES POACHERS STEALING YOURS AND MINE FISH AND GAME!!!I am getting bloody well fed up with poachers and the wishy washy guys that do nothing about it but complain. Well thats my two cents worth.
A few years ago I came back to the dock with empty handed clients and behold there was an other guide cleaning Coho. I could tell that the clients were not happy with me for releasing all the fish that they caught. I approached the offending guide and informed him that he should learn how to identify the diferent types of salmon. The very next day the same thing he is cleaning Coho for his guests. I was hoppin' mad, I promptly callen in to the fisheries (the number is in the regulations) and did the "tatle- tail" thing. I felt bad afterwards but I have not seen him cleaning another illeagle fish.
Just a couple of days ago I pulled the crab pots for some guests and they were loaded with undersize females, one of the guests said why don't we keep a couple who will know? Right away one of the other guests said NO WAY! Seems he was crabin' off the public dock in Sooke Harbour and got caught with under size crabs and was fined $1000. He also said that he thinks the locals police the area, becaus they were looking in their buckets and one guy even put his hand in and stired em' around so he can see them all. You can bet he wont be taking undersize any time soon! And he is passing the word along.
All it will take is a few guys getting nailed for fins and the word will get out that you better be sure you can identify your catch. And you guys who stand by and see this going on are guilty of enabiling. There is no difference than if you see someone shooting does during buck season, I sure hope that you would report the POACHERS, YES POACHERS STEALING YOURS AND MINE FISH AND GAME!!!I am getting bloody well fed up with poachers and the wishy washy guys that do nothing about it but complain. Well thats my two cents worth.