Poachers Nabbed

[Castuserraticus]

Got out for some hook washing Sat am in NW Calgary. Came across a group rigging up at a storm sewer outlet in Beaumont natural area. I checked out their gear and explained very nicely to them that using bait and barbed hooks was illegal. We even commiserated about the silliness of barbed hooks being available. They never even stopped rigging up. I mentioned the size of the potential fines and also let them know about the single fish 35 cm restriction. Then I wandered on to see if they would leave. I checked back about 20 minutes later and they were obviously dredging bottom with bait rigs so I called it in. They were caught with several fish, using bait, and barbed hooks.

 

They spoke fluent English so there was no question about understanding. They'll either think twice or be more deceptive next time.

 

Most times people are thankful for the information about the regs and penalties. Although they were polite, it was pretty obvious this group wasn't interested.

 

Also, I caught a nice 16" buck rainbow. For some extra challenge I hooked him closer to the outlet end rather than the inlet. Made him fight like a +20".

[toolman]

BUSTED! Well done....music to my ears.

 

And...next time I see you, we go through my fly boxes and you get 6 of my favorite flys.

[Glenbow]

Good job, way to go.

[Castuserraticus]

Here's an idea for a pinned topic. Let's track how many are caught by the board members.

 

I think only two in the Sat. group were fishing.

[BlueNorther]

Good on ya.Hope they feel the pinch in their wallets and will think twice the next time.

[Lawrence]

Good on ya dude! When will they ever learn

[admin]

Awesome. It's great to see some justice.

[fisher26]

Good job, it's great to hear that they were caught!

[esleech]

Nice my friend...nice!

[yodatrout]

Nicely done!

[cdock]

Well done!

[Brownstone]

SWEET!!!!!

[troutlover]

"I'm gona! buy me a cell pone and git all the poachers i see! yee haww!"--(satnight live)(altered a little:)

[chidders]

You did it perfectly by the book! Good job.

[kungfool]

It's nice to see someone actually get caught once in a while. Thanks for calling these jackasses in.

[LynnF]

One quick phone call goes a long way. Good job.

[MikeM]

Great job! It's nice to see poachers get busted.

[Neeper]

Bastards!! Good job. When you called it in, how long did it take before an officer came?

[Maximum]

Bravo!! Nice to hear a happy ending,.

[Suntoucher]

Well done dude!

Can someone tell me what the "report a poacher" phone # ???

 

Thanks

Suntoucher

[birchy]

Well done dude!

Can someone tell me what the "report a poacher" phone # ???

 

Thanks

Suntoucher

 

It's on the back of your Alberta fishing license.

[ham]

Nice glad to see they got caught, do you think they even had a license to start with?

[Castuserraticus]

They claimed to have licenses to which I replied they should have read the regs.

 

The approximate times involved were: I talked to the group at about 9:30. I called RAP around 10 am. Got a return call at about 10:30 asking me to return and confirm they were poaching to avoid a wasted trip. I went down on my bike and observed them for about 40 min and went home. I received another call from the officer heading to the scene about 11:30 to finalize directions. I called him back at about 12:30 to see if I'd wasted their time and he said he was at the scene and couldn't talk. They called me Monday am to give me the code number to claim the reward in 6-8 weeks (July 30 = new 7 wt. maybe).

 

Questions RAP asked: Could I see their vehicle license? What were they doing? Was I sure of the violations? What was the exact location, easiest access? What was the content of the conversation I had with them? It's apparent the conversation was being taped as there were occasional beeps. I do not remember them asking for a physical description of the poachers but I think I provided some description.

[vhawk12]

They claimed to have licenses to which I replied they should have read the regs.

 

The approximate times involved were: I talked to the group at about 9:30. I called RAP around 10 am. Got a return call at about 10:30 asking me to return and confirm they were poaching to avoid a wasted trip. I went down on my bike and observed them for about 40 min and went home. I received another call from the officer heading to the scene about 11:30 to finalize directions. I called him back at about 12:30 to see if I'd wasted their time and he said he was at the scene and couldn't talk. They called me Monday am to give me the code number to claim the reward in 6-8 weeks (July 30 = new 7 wt. maybe).

 

Questions RAP asked: Could I see their vehicle license? What were they doing? Was I sure of the violations? What was the exact location, easiest access? What was the content of the conversation I had with them? It's apparent the conversation was being taped as there were occasional beeps. I do not remember them asking for a physical description of the poachers but I think I provided some description.

 

I don't understand why they asked you to go back to make sure so that they would avoid a wasted trip....why would it be a wasted trip?...if they weren't in fact poaching, they could still cruise the area checking licenses of other people fishing in the area...I think that they should dispatch someone as soon as they get a call they feel is serious....if they keep calling you going..."are they still there...are they there now...now?...ok we'll send someone" then the better the chance that the poachers will finish for the day and leave. Maybe a bad comparison, but if you call 911, they get the info and send someone...they don't call you back in a half-hour and say, is that femoral artery still bleeding? Anyway, congrats on the "catch" and I hope we can all do our part in reducing poaching and increasing awareness for our addicion.

[Castuserraticus]

As has been mentioned on this and other boards, lack of enforcement manpower is a serious issue. They want to avoid false alerts and concentrate on the situations where the likelihood of successful prosecution is high.

 

In this situation, I offered to monitor the activity until the officer arrived to be sure I didn't create a wild goose chase but he said it was not necessary. As this was the first weekend the city stretch is open, I expect they had a number of calls.