Overfished

[john60]

I have never been able to catch a limit.

Yes, the select group can hurt the resources when they are taking close to 100 fish every day that they can get out and yes I have seen it personally so it's not just talk. I have reported more than 1 including all pertinent information including registration number, boat and people description and on a couple of occasions even their address and the schedule they usually keep when fishing. Unfortunately since it's not a big ring and usually isn't on the tourist lakes FWC doesn't have the time or resources to do an investigation. At least that's what I have been told. Bottom line is I respect and honor all of God's resources so I don't worry about having to answer for my actions when the time comes.

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[wicklundrh]

Rob,

I feel your pain. It is really frustrating when you are "doing the right thing" and it seems as if nobody cares. You are not just trying to protect the resource but also the "integrity" of it. Don't get frustrated if it seems that nobody is doing anything, continue to do the right thing "in your mind" and turn them in. Eventually, someone will take action. All it takes is one and the word gets out. I have several friends who are State Troopers and also DNR conservation officers. Some of them are overrun with the amount of stuff they have to do every day. Seems like there isn't enough time to do everything. One statement I heard a while back that rings true: Find a brand new CO, one maybe fresh out of school. Oftentimes they are trying to make a name for themselves! Those are the guys you want on speed dial.

I make it a point to personally go over and meet officers in every area that I fish. Most of the time, they are treated like complete crap by people. They are seen as the enemey when all they are doing is enforcing rules and regulations and protecting something that, for lack of a better term, cannot protect itself. I help them launch their boats at the launches, I give them an ice cold water, soda, gatorade, or something else from my cooler, and I tell them I appreciate the work that they do. I fish throughout the state of Michigan and probably personally know 15 different Co's. All of them have given me their business card with cell number and I have been told that, whenever I see something, have a question, or "might" need something handled, shoot them a call. YES, I have used it multiple times and I can tell you that this personal interaction they remember. They remember who I am, how I was with them, and in all instances, they came out, investigated the issue, and, in all instances, wrote tickets or made arrests.

Continue to establish relationships with them and offer to assist in any way that you can. Don't give up on being part of the solution to the problem. You just have to find a unique way to do it.

[sunshine]

Well, i know most of florida is in NC come summertime. At least thats how it looks on the roads in the mountains from May-October every year. At least they arent fishing.

I don't mind the vacationers.

Its the retirees that come down and stay for months, bringing their crappy entitled attitudes and selfishness. Not all of them are this way of course, but you definitely see a trend.

[Ketchn]

Unfortunately in the end it's about money and the income the state gets during its off season. I hear tell if you are from out of state it's hard to get a traffic citation....just saying

[Jamesdean]

Ketchn,That just depends where you are...most places will target cars more readily with out of state plates as they think the person would just mail the fine in rather than show up in court...

[RobAnderson]

I know first hand that the Lake Wales PD doesn't care where you are from if you abuse disabled parking. I reported a truck with Alaska plates and they were getting in their truck when the officer arrived, they tried to say they were just leaving and he said not until I write a citation for being illegally parked.

Unfortunately in the end it's about money and the income the state gets during its off season. I hear tell if you are from out of state it's hard to get a traffic citation....just saying

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[Ketchn]

might not be about the money ,but to be sure if you call about that kind of thing in Texas .
Our gents in the TPW are likely to give you a handful of tickets on that kind of plundering .
they been known to confiscate trucks and equipment as well .
the game warden got a few boys at a local spot I like to hit on a tip a couple of years ago.
it was a flagrant thing and they had I think 54 undersized fish in the basket when he showed up .
he loaded them boys up in his truck and had the last one follow him back to the police station .
heard tell when it was all said and done it cost them fellas $14,000.00 total .
they yes have a saying here ….DONT MESS WITH TEXAS

[Eric_Rybak]

wow that's a tough situation. A crappie fishery or any fishery for that matter is vulnerable to unethical devastation like that. If the FWC won't take matters unde consideration, I don't know what you can do if not get the city involved

[SlabQueen]

This topic came up during the FWC public meetings about the Crappie Management policies... As Huntinslabs said, can catch a limit a day and process to be legal.. illegal when loaded and moved... Now talking with FWC they said at any given time you may only have 1 or 2 FWC officers on duty covering the entire county. For Marion county, that's over 1600 square miles.. so when you add in hunting seasons, ongoing investigations, etc basically there isn't enough man power...We have the snowbirds who are retired and come here to winter that fish every day, as long as they are legal, it's their right... just have to rely on their morals and integrity to say when enough is enough, take what you need throw the rest back have fun and catch them again

It’s their right to fish & catch. However, not to be greedy. You are so right! We do have to rely on morals & standards. Sadly, with the influx we see in our area, specifically, it just cannot be done. We do have FWC patrolling fairly regular, it still isn’t enough with the amount of waterways involved. Sounds to me, if they are lacking in support, they need to hire. Florida is a water & hunting state. JMO


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[SlabQueen]

I am not sure if a handful of vacationers could actually damage a fishery. And for sure all to often some bragging bla bla bla about I did this and I did that is quite often just bla bla bla .
They likely had a good day or 2 and quite possibly kept to many ,but in the end they would have to do it day after day and in large numbers for an extended time on a really small impoundment to have an impact on the population .
This all said , it does upset me to think someone is keeping to many fish and for sure its a problem if they exploit a natural resource and use it for profit .
One thing for certain in this type of scenario is that a call to the game warden might or might not make a difference ,but in the end at least you did your part to protect the resource . I hate to be a rat myself but to be sure I have 4 or 5 different game wardens on my speed dial in several counties and if I see flagrant fish or game violations take place I report them.
my 2 cents

Trust me, Ketchn, this is not “just a few anglers”. This happens every season! And, by season, I mean, as soon as we start to notice the license tags different, here in Central Florida, there is nothing but an influx of boaters slamming the water! This is NOT the issue. By all means, everyone has their rights to enjoy & have a lovely time fishing! The issue comes in when you can blatantly see 2 or more folks on a boat catching more than their limit (ea one of them).

I’m with you about, not being a rat! But, if they are coming to our lakes and ruing our ecosystems, your darn right! Something will get reported. This is a direct affect on the ecosystem and let me clarify that I don’t think it it simply out of towners. We have seen people do this that are locals. Depending on how large the lake is, how could it NOT affect it? Either way, everyone has the right to their opinion... that is just mine. ??


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