Poaching

[EastonCrabber]

Just thought I would share a very short story. Yesterday ( saturday ) I was out in EB striper fishing. When I returned the ramp there was a small boat pulling out that had crabbing gear on board. Asked the gentleman how he did as one of the 2 guys he was with was backing the trailer in. Said "we got about three and a quarter bushels" so I asked if he was commercial, his response "no we have 3 licenses" I tried to explain to him that the limit is 2 with no matter how many licenses there are onboard in this case 3. He tried to tell me it was 2 bushels per license? Wish the DNR was around. Looked at his baskets when he showed me one and not only did they have a full 3 bushels and change but MANY of them looked small. Just shows you there are many guys out there that don't know the rules and are breaking the rules. In my own words hes just a plain idiot. Left in disgust as the guy answered a phone call telling the person on the other line again that they had a little over 3 bushels.. Would have done more but it's not my job... Maybe one day it will be though, we'll see.

[jefftoleft]

That sucks I think I would have got his tag number and boat numbers and called him in. I really don't know what is so hard about following the rules this kind of stuff make me mad  idiots

[Hokis 614]

cant stand those people

i want the crabs but if i have to wait till nest year to eat them i dont care

[coggi]

Its dumb sob's like that that ruin it for everyone. I know the otherday I could have taken home at least 2 bushels of 5-5 1/8 crabs..... glad that Guy ain't in my spot.

[lone sailor]

In the immortal words of Ron White, "you can't fix stupid." I find a hard time believein anyone is that stupid though playin dumb doest work for me when you are that blatant about it. I may have had to make the call.....you tried to tell them first.

[thunderhawk]

its a shame they cant make everyone take a test every year in order to get a license! its like you said, "you cant fix stupid"! its really just ignorance of the law and to lazy to learn it!

[EastonCrabber]

I've called the DNR several times in the past to report things like this and 2 things usually happen. Either the DNR doesn't come or when they are able to send someone, the people are already gone or they have gotten rid of the evidence. I've seen people get stopped on the water and throw what they have overboard before they can get checked. Theres no way for them to get a ticket if there is nothing to see. Just hard to catch someone in the act. It's gotta be perfect timing. But yeah I agree, nobody is that dumb they just try to place stupid and it's too obvious.

[Big Liar]

I've called the DNR several times in the past to report things like this and 2 things usually happen. Either the DNR doesn't come or when they are able to send someone, the people are already gone or they have gotten rid of the evidence. I've seen people get stopped on the water and throw what they have overboard before they can get checked. Theres no way for them to get a ticket if there is nothing to see. Just hard to catch someone in the act. It's gotta be perfect timing. But yeah I agree, nobody is that dumb they just try to place stupid and it's too obvious.

This type of thing goes on more than most people think.  This is what upsets me as well as most commercial watermen the most.  I know there are some commercial watermen that break the law as well, but the majority follow the law.  They can't afford to lose their license.  Even on here and TF, people are admitting that the number of recreational crabbers is increasing like crazy.  If every person followed all the rules, there is exponetially more rec pressure then there was 10 years ago.  Combine that with people ignoring the catch or size limits and it really puts added strain on the resource.  

[EastonCrabber]

Yes I agree, I've seen people admit to keeping females several times. They usually say they have it sitting somewhere so that if the man comes along they can dump it overboard before they are able to check. Seen it with fishing too not just in Maryland but many other states. People keep more then they are supposed to and when they are confronted they toss the illegal catch overboard before they can get questioned. I honestly see no way of enforcing it any better then they do right now, only so many officers out there and so many ways to beat the law. But those breaking it I figure will get whats coming to them sooner or later.

[redheminwedge]

I seen something like this, this past weekend, I was in a creek in anne arundel county, and had a friend and his daughter on the boat and he knew a guy at a marina/ Inn.  We stopped over there to get out of the rain and there were a couple people there handlining and using traps off of the pier, but they were catching crabs under 5 1/4 and females and keeping them, knew they wouldnt get caught because all they have to do is run them back up to there house, only about 60ft away, it pisses me off but didnt want to be the arse hole, I just keep doing what I know is right

                                                             rob

[bellringer]

It seems to me that there are so many nice size this year you don't have to break the law. But there are so many butt chunks out there that don't give a [curd] and only want to brag about how stupid they are. 

[CaptMoose]

I'm sure ignorance plays a part too.  Not ignorance to the law, ignorance that many people can't tell the difference between a quality crab and junk.  They may have no clue that they will have a better meal if quality was the goal, not quantity.