HenryL
08-21-2006, 03:12 PM
This past Saturday, I was invited on a chartered rock trip.
The boat had been out earlier in the day and got skunked.
We went to the captain's favorite haunts- no fish.
Trolled for a short while- no fish.
He found some on the depth/fish finder, and the mate put out some chum.
My daughter was hooked up within five minutes, but it got off.
Just then, I caught a 13-15 incher. 'That's ALMOST a keeper!' I exclaimed, but as the mate was de-hooking the fish, he conked it on the head and said 'IT's a keeper now!' I was at a loss for words. 'I DO NOT KEEP SMALL FISH.' I said. 'It wasn't small- I know my fish'. Well, so do I, and it wasn't legal.
About two minutes later, the same thing happened to another paying customer. This time, the captain was the killer. 'Another keeper', he said. I was disgusted.
Thankfully, just then, we were onto big (read LEGAL) fish.
THis occurred just the day before the article in the Sun describing how Buddy Harrison was caught with numerous undersized fish for the FOURTH TIME.
A true sportsman is aware of how precious the resource is, and how, if the rules THAT WERE WRITTEN FOR EVERYONE aren't followed, there will be NO FISH AT ALL.
Have they forgotten the moratorium? Do they not see the profound impact it has had on the numbers and size of the rock we're catching?
Given the number of So-called 'Sportsmen' out there, I shudder to think of just how long we'll be able to catch rock.
These guys should have their licenses removed, and serve whatever penalties the laws prescribe.
The boat had been out earlier in the day and got skunked.
We went to the captain's favorite haunts- no fish.
Trolled for a short while- no fish.
He found some on the depth/fish finder, and the mate put out some chum.
My daughter was hooked up within five minutes, but it got off.
Just then, I caught a 13-15 incher. 'That's ALMOST a keeper!' I exclaimed, but as the mate was de-hooking the fish, he conked it on the head and said 'IT's a keeper now!' I was at a loss for words. 'I DO NOT KEEP SMALL FISH.' I said. 'It wasn't small- I know my fish'. Well, so do I, and it wasn't legal.
About two minutes later, the same thing happened to another paying customer. This time, the captain was the killer. 'Another keeper', he said. I was disgusted.
Thankfully, just then, we were onto big (read LEGAL) fish.
THis occurred just the day before the article in the Sun describing how Buddy Harrison was caught with numerous undersized fish for the FOURTH TIME.
A true sportsman is aware of how precious the resource is, and how, if the rules THAT WERE WRITTEN FOR EVERYONE aren't followed, there will be NO FISH AT ALL.
Have they forgotten the moratorium? Do they not see the profound impact it has had on the numbers and size of the rock we're catching?
Given the number of So-called 'Sportsmen' out there, I shudder to think of just how long we'll be able to catch rock.
These guys should have their licenses removed, and serve whatever penalties the laws prescribe.