Hypothetical

[BassBen]

Guys this hit a raw nerve with me. Last April opening day of trout season in NJ. I was fishing off a small bridge, for pickerel. Nice quiet time for about an hour. All of a sudden 3 18-19 year olds came by. Tried to push me out of my spot, did cause another angler fishing from the bank to move.
These guys were throwing night crawlers to the trout sitting in the current right below my spot.
One guy catches a trout and smashes it into a tree! Just killed it and left in on the ground.
The older guy that moved when the kids come down, walked over and said something to the kid, and all three kids left.
Don't know what the oldtimer said to the kid but they sure didn't waste time leaving.
I was so stuned when he killed that fish. I don't know what I was going to do or say, but my wife talking to my son on her cell said uh oh here he goes.
I wanted to ask the oldguy what he said but he walked off through the woods.

[ho_shi]

shoulda got their license plate number and called game and fish

[dipper69_2000]

hopefully what ever he said sticks with them. so ether they take more pride and respect for there quarry or never fish or hunt again. respect is the first thing i teach the young one around me. then safety and finally what little knowledge i have of the outdoors.

[Timotha7]

Dipper, that is the way it should be

I want my kids and grandkids to really SEE what is in the world around them, not just
walk by it.

There are so many special things to see, and so much beauty if you just take the time to open your
eyes and ears

Tim

[Feddy]

Originally Posted by dipper69_2000

hopefully what ever he said sticks with them. so ether they take more pride and respect for there quarry or never fish or hunt again. respect is the first thing i teach the young one around me. then safety and finally what little knowledge i have of the outdoors.

Thats what I try to show my son, granted hes only 2-1/2 but I think he still gets the just of it, teach him to pick up not leave garbage that will eventually trash the waters after we leave.

[eich]

As for the hypothetical original post, shouldn't angling for that species (trout in this case) at that location be hypothetically stopped after the limit is reached? If you want to continue angling, go to a lake where there are no trout stocked and catch anything but trout. As for the catch-and-release you are just talking average percentages. Kind of like milage stickers on vehicles, "may vary in your area."
As for the other situation my thoughts are that you as a witness should gather as much information as possible to identify the law breakers and call the proper authorities. After all it is up to us all as sportsmen (and women) to properly try to police our sport. JMHO.

Ray

[trouthunter]

Originally Posted by BassBen

One guy catches a trout and smashes it into a tree! Just killed it and left in on the ground.

I am a pretty mellow, easy to get along with guy, BUT...There are times when I feel the need to "show my war face", this would have been one of them. I'd be inclined to pick the fish up and slap the kid upside his head with it right before I put his face underwater to gain a little perspective...(I probably would have taken the fish and ate it too so it wasn't a total waste)

Three things I simply will not tolerate:

1. Poachers
2. Litterers destroying a watershed
3. People killing wildlife just to be destructive

As for the Catch and Release "is the only way" guys, don't much care for their lack of reason. I love eating fish, and frequently take my bag limit when I am going to eat them. I am careful not to keep breeder sized fish or ones with bellies full of eggs. I got no problem with worm fishermen either. Didn't we all have someone at some point teach us to fish with a bobber and a worm?

I do think fisherman should be stewards of the land, but harvesting fish has been proven to help the sustainability of some waters and species. Ever fish a lake with stunted fish because there are too many?


3.