Howe Sound Prawn Thieves caught with photos

Macdonald beach. North side of airport
Thanks,
I know MacDonald Beach launch. Used to launch from there when I had a boat. Go there often now to watch launches and retrievals, but have never seen this boat. Will watch for it.
 
Thank you for that. I live very close to there I will print up some posters and put them up at the launch. Would be great if lots of people that use their launch know about their behavior.
Hey Matt - post your report on a few other fishing forums too, to get more coverage:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/forum/
http://www.fishnbc.com/galleries/discussion_forums.html
https://www.bcfishingreports.com/
http://www.sharphooks.com/club.aspx?subpage=fishingforum

Send GA Checkpoint a message, their sales guy might remember these asshats:
https://gacheckpoint.com/contact-us

I doubt the cops will do anything. Bowen police (who have tons of free time on their hands) will get in touch with Richmond police, and the most Richmond PD will do is add this to their list. They're not going to follow up on it, I guarantee. The poachers will just say "I thought it was my bouy until I pulled it in". That's it. It's up to you (and us) to push this as far as we can by reaching out to fishing stores, social, and local papers. I like your laminated poster idea posted at boat launches.

http://www.voice-news.ca/en/
https://www.bowenislandundercurrent.com/contact-us
 
DFO does not deal with gear/ fish theft. They will say its a police matter. They will get involved with commercial gear disputes as they have authority under the Fisheries Act to do so; but not gear thefts. Usually commercial guys deal with it the old fashioned way. Let them know folks are on to them would be the best way IMO.
 
DFO does not deal with gear/ fish theft. They will say its a police matter. They will get involved with commercial gear disputes as they have authority under the Fisheries Act to do so; but not gear thefts. Usually commercial guys deal with it the old fashioned way. Let them know folks are on to them would be the best way IMO.

Some years ago I had a police marine unit guy tell me to call DFO when I raised an issue concerning a trap theft issue. You have got to love it.
 
Some years ago I had a police marine unit guy tell me to call DFO when I raised an issue concerning a trap theft issue. You have got to love it.

I wonder if this also becomes an issue of jurisdiction area for Vancouver Police Marine Unit vs RCMP and then which area of RCMP?? And where does Coast Guard fit in with law enforcement on the water?
 
Some Canadian Coast Guard vessels have an officer that has special training to enforce the Fisheries Act, some vessels have fisheries officers aboard to enforce the FA. many don't have either so in that case they could enforce boating safety regulations. Theft is not part of the FA but as mentioned Gear Disputes are. I would guess that if a Fisheries officer caught someone stealing gear red handed they would collect evidence and pass it on to Police ; the same as they do with impaired boaters. In my experience Fisheries officers are not going to be actively enforcing gear theft......... but you could get lucky and get a super keener officer to do something.
 
Some Canadian Coast Guard vessels have an officer that has special training to enforce the Fisheries Act, some vessels have fisheries officers aboard to enforce the FA. many don't have either so in that case they could enforce boating safety regulations. Theft is not part of the FA but as mentioned Gear Disputes are. I would guess that if a Fisheries officer caught someone stealing gear red handed they would collect evidence and pass it on to Police ; the same as they do with impaired boaters. In my experience Fisheries officers are not going to be actively enforcing gear theft......... but you could get lucky and get a super keener officer to do something.
Wouldn't pulling someone else's gear fall under fishing a trap without proper markings either way. Still a fineable offense.
 
That could be a potential ticket. I would assume they would say that they made a mistake yada yada yada. I would expect/ hope that they would be over limit which would really rack up the potential fine............. $ 100 to start plus $ 50 for each prawn over up to $ 1000. Fingers crossed they get caught for something.
 
This blue kingfisher just passed by me. Heading out past Wreck beach, going towards Howe sound or Bowen.
 
Dang poachers got me all suspicious. I’m out here right now (gorgeous btw) at Passage and there was a similar looking boat pulling a float. Got close enough to see it was different but I definitely did a fairly close cruise by. Apologies to anybody on the forums if it was you I was creeping on!
 
We have the fake boat registration number on that Kingfisher as displayed on the side of their boat so should be easy to identify them.. If someone sees them around any traps or at the launch or on the water, give them a mouthful. I am if I see them.
 
Buddy just texted me saying he saw lots of traps floating south of passage island in over 1000 feet of water. Current has been crazy strong the last couple of days so if you are prawning, use caution. If your gears are missing that might be place to look first.
 
Or the poachers are lifting traps and not dropping in the same spot but right off the ledge, watch your traps some commercial boat has already started and dropped traps on guys sets, someone said native maybe..

happened to me too just the other day . all my gear got rolled and dumped in a pile together. i was just glad to get it all back. i know who did it too but i’m not starting an online war with this punk. I’ll give you a hint: he ran a seine net thru the tyee pool a few years back...
 
90% sure I saw this boat heading up Indian Arm yesterday. I was too far away to get a close up look but it was definitely a blue King Fisher with a grey top. Passed me in the opposite direction from about 300 years, so I couldn't get a really close look.
 
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