Catfish Guide arrested

[Captain Jimbo]

With a great many of the posters on this board clamouring for commercial fishermen to be prosecuted to the fullest for violations, I thought this information might interest some of you.

A well known and vocal James River Catfish Guide was arrested Saturday morning 3/27/2010 for destroying a commercial fisherman's gear. This can be verified by visiting the web site below and searching the Charles City County arrest records for March 27, 2010.

http://epwsgdpl.courts.state.va/gdco...casesSearch.do

[LY2000]

I think most of us want all poachers penalized to the fullest.

I think most of us want commercial poachers penalized to the fullest not necessarily because they broke the law. We want them penalized because they ruthlessly depleted our public resource that is facing too many challenges as it is. Poaching in sanctuaries- come on. Shame on the catfish guy for destroying that stuff, but it isn't as bad as poaching in my book and it's probably good for the future of our fish stocks- not that I would do that sort of thing.

The rec EEZ poachers on this board don't help my argument I know. Do you feel that poachers are penalized too hard or something?

[27 sailfish]

Link did not work for me.

Any chance someone could cut / paste the story / details ?

[Captain Jimbo]

I have three newspapers on it just wait a little while. LY2000 your morals are in the wrong place if you condone destroying someone's livelyhood.

[B-Faithful]

If the legal system doesnt punish him enough, maybe a civil suit will. No one deserves to have their property vandalized when they are doing something legal.

[srman]

The same way that the charter fishermen make their living the commercial guys do the same thing. I am all for doing whats best for the river and keeping the catfish abundant. At the same time I do not want anyone to have to stop doing what puts food on their families table. I know for a fact that some of these commercial fishermen have been on the river longer than probably anyone on this site. It is unacceptable to destroy someones things, much less when its the tools that keep dinner on their table and a roof over top their head. I am not taking sides. Im simply saying to identify all comercial guys as "outlaws" and "jerks" is wrong. I know a couple of commercial guys and their great guys just trying to make a living.

[slim23]

agree 100%


The same way that the charter fishermen make their living the commercial guys do the same thing. I am all for doing whats best for the river and keeping the catfish abundant. At the same time I do not want anyone to have to stop doing what puts food on their families table. I know for a fact that some of these commercial fishermen have been on the river longer than probably anyone on this site. It is unacceptable to destroy someones things, much less when its the tools that keep dinner on their table and a roof over top their head. I am not taking sides. Im simply saying to identify all comercial guys as "outlaws" and "jerks" is wrong. I know a couple of commercial guys and their great guys just trying to make a living.

[B-Faithful]

The same way that the charter fishermen make their living the commercial guys do the same thing.

Not true. Charter fishermen make their money through the opportunity to catch a fish and facilitating recreational anglers to fish. Comercial fishermen make their money directly from the harvest of fish. A charter capt makes money if fish are harvested or not. A commercial fishermen does not. They do not make their money the same way. Not really relevant to the discussion of the thread. Just wanted to clarify that point.

My thoughts on the vandal are above. If the law doesnt punish him enough to deter further illegal activity, maybe a civil suit will.

[LY2000]

I have three newspapers on it just wait a little while. LY2000 your morals are in the wrong place if you condone destroying someone's livelyhood.

I'm not codoning anything. I said shame on the vandal. I'm saying I think recs get more upset with poaching (rec poaching too I said) than vandalism and that is why you see so many posts on it here. After all, we are all about more fish to catch.

[Captain Jimbo]

OK I stand corrected, I appologize.

[LY2000]

Accepted thanks. I do understand how it must bother comms how we recs are always complaining though.

[madtom]

The thing is that "some" of the commercial fisherman are taking more than the legal limit. They said this in a meeting just last week. They said they thought they we excempt from the law. They were corrected. We just want the fishery to thrive and for the fish to get bigger. Were some of the comm guys want the 32inch law to be removed all together. I just want to see the fishing laws enforced, 32 or not 32 just everyone play far. I also think if you are caught more than once breaking a cull law they need to take the persons license. Guide or Commercial guy. Next time Jail time.

[CaptainK.Salmon]

This is B.S the only person who broke the law was the commercial guys. They received tickets for catching over limits of catfish over 32". The guide posted on a public forum that he had ran into the trot lines and had them.( they were returned undamaged ) These trot lines were not baited and blocking a small channel( under water ) and the law has no marking requirements for the trot lines. Trot lines in this same area had torn up his and several more lower units including my lower unit. These commercial guys have been breaking the law for years for not marking hoop nets with floats but all this is changing now with all unmarked hoop nets been pulled from the James river. All the guides i know, none break the law, all help out with the river clean up, donate trips to help wounded warriors, give free trips for the disable and helps DGIF when needed.

[27 sailfish]

MadTom - In Md waters - some poachers had over 30 convictions for fishery violations.
There is hope though - new rules took effect in Feb. that are designed to curtail repeat offenders.

Shame the big Catfish are being killed. They are a strong fish and can be caught / released many times by anglers paying a guide.
The commercial guys might want to try that - cool to be paid over and over to catch the same fish.
A lot easier to catch 3-4 then a whole bunch.

I wonder who is buying the bigger Cats ? The meat must likely has high levels of toxins. Very common for older / larger fish.

[hackeyfly]

MadTom - In Md waters - some poachers had over 30 convictions for fishery violations.
There is hope though - new rules took effect in Feb. that are designed to curtail repeat offenders.

Shame the big Catfish are being killed. They are a strong fish and can be caught / released many times by anglers paying a guide.
The commercial guys might want to try that - cool to be paid over and over to catch the same fish.
A lot easier to catch 3-4 then a whole bunch.

I wonder who is buying the bigger Cats ? The meat must likely has high levels of toxins. Very common for older / larger fish.
Skip- the word I got from my personal catfish guide is that the big cats are being caught alive, then sold alive to "pay to fish" ponds, where for a few bucks you can dangle a doughball in front of a river cat now stuck in some fetid livestock pond, and claim you caught a trophy.
Pat in Joppa

[fishingarchie1960]

Va. dept. of health recommends no one eat a blue cat over 32" because of the toxins. i am also interested in who buys these fish. do they actually know what they are buying or are they corrupt as well. i agree with capt. salmon, we as guides and recs have done everything to make this a world class fishery only to have it stolen from under our noses for years. i'm sure their are good law abiding commercial guys but there are also the ones who are wrecking the river for a few extra bucks. us guides are in business because of big fish, no one will come from out of state or in state to fish for 20 pounders. we will never give up our fight to bring this river back to where it belongs. capt. archie gold

[Captain Jimbo]

I have to admit that I know nothing about the situation up the James River. In fact it is none of my business. I have nothing but the utmost respect for anyone that makes a living on the water. I apologize to anyone that has been affected by these negative posts of mine. Nothing good can ever come from a thread like the one I started. It is my sincere hope that the parites involved can resolve their differences.

[Andyb]

I know the guide in question. The commerical equipment had no identification and got caught up in the prop of his boat. I would have pulled it up too. If any damage was done it will be the responiblilty of the equipment owner. If you are going to fish commerical catfish you need to mark your stuff. I have myself hooked a commerical hoop net and put it up. It was in deep water and would not interfear with boating so I put it back, and it was not marked or I.Ded. The captain in questlion did the right thing, could have saved someones life.

[C-Hawk18]

I have to admit that I know nothing about the situation up the James River. In fact it is none of my business. I have nothing but the utmost respect for anyone that makes a living on the water. I apologize to anyone that has been affected by these negative posts of mine. Nothing good can ever come from a thread like the one I started. It is my sincere hope that the parites involved can resolve their differences.

Wait a minute......a day ago you had 3 newspaper articles.....no you know nothing about the situation? Well was the guide charged?


I have three newspapers on it just wait a little while. LY2000 your morals are in the wrong place if you condone destroying someone's livelyhood.

[Brandon]

This thread is being closed for legal reasons.