Snaggers

$500.00 each...not nearly enough.
 
Good work buy the WCO's.  They'll have their hands full this weekend

what happends with those fish? do they do anythnig good with them like donate them? Where in the world would they purchase those hooks 2.99 looked like the price tag on them. I hope no bait shops locally were selling them thats basically encouraging snagging unless those hooks are used for something else. Still  they should be removed from shelves in any bait shop. 

Good job WCO's. 

I got 1 smoked from poor richards gave a few pieces away and I still have a whole side, I try to eat it every once in a while but you can only take so much fish. I couldnt imagine 33 steelhead unless they intended on selling them to a restaurant or market.

And for the one to have enough nerve to get upset about the wco's for not giving them their hooks back.

Frenchy,s.

  They used to sell those snagging hooks in NY when snagging was legal at olcott. What a sight 75 guys flinging giant crickets all day..Helmets and flak vests encouraged.
 I think the fine should be by the fish. You kill more you pay more..

How is that even fun? nothing disappoints me more then seeing a fish come in backwards. Even snagging suckers how is that enjoyable? I got tons yesterday on a local stream on hares ear if theres so many some will eventually suck your bait up. Thats like shooting 6 deer in one season there just isnt a point to it. 

Should have been $500.00 a fish!

ORIGINAL: KJH807

is this animal cruelity??? can we get some Vick-style charges and fines???

 
That would just be fuel for PETA and the like to ban fishing all together.  You get these guys for animal cruelity, then next thing you know, a judge decides that all fishing is cruel.  If fish can feel pain, then how is a hook in the mouth any less cruel than a hook in the back?  Not that 90% of the trib steelhead don't already have a few hooks in their backs from people fishing for them in these conditions.  I don't think that fish can feel pain, so none should have animal cruelity charges.

The fact that the snagger got upset that he was n't getting those hooks back tell me that they r'e going to come back again,apparantly $1000 fine is n't enough.They should get their **** hooks imbeded in their ****,see how they like it,then beat them with a whip,maybe that 'll change their ways!

ORIGINAL: Porktown


That would just be fuel for PETA and the like to ban fishing all together.  You get these guys for animal cruelity, then next thing you know, a judge decides that all fishing is cruel.  If fish can feel pain, then how is a hook in the mouth any less cruel than a hook in the back?  Not that 90% of the trib steelhead don't already have a few hooks in their backs from people fishing for them in these conditions.  I don't think that fish can feel pain, so none should have animal cruelity charges.

 
good point... i guess a certain mindset would equate legal sport to cruelity...
 

Just wondering because I don't know . . . is there a black market for steelhead?  I mean are these losers doing this for "fun" or are they getting some cash somewhere for these fish or eggs?  I would think that there must be some financial payoff here.  And I don't mean the jagoffs who run a little cleo over the backs of fish over and over again till they get 3 roped & smoked and head home.  I mean the guys mentioned in the WCO report and the guys with nets at Trout Run under the cover of darkness.

If you guys think those hooks are big I once saw 12/0 treble hooks with 6 ounces of lead on them in the bass pro book. At the time I had no clue what they could legally be used for and I still dont have an answer. It just makes me sick to see that many ilegal fish just wasted.

Hey  Salty,  How has the stripper fishing been?  I heard a rumor that in NC and Virginia the numbers have been way down this year.
 

Those numbers I'm not aware of. Our spring season started out slow, but once the fish showed they stayed around. Bass were being caught in through august. Right now everyone is waiting for the fall run to start. Once it does all hell should brake loose. There are large amounts of bait sitting in the back bays around all the marina's. This is the most anyone has seen in any of the yrs past. We were out this past sunday, found some false albacore, but nothing wanted a fly. Caught bait w/ the cast net and w/ a single throw had in excess of 400 bunker(5-6 in in size). Only had blues come to the live chum slick. We anchored on a reef and then proceded to catch tog or black fish they are also known as. For the next 7 hrs there was a low of 1/2 hr w/ no bits. We caught tog from 1lb to 8 lbs. Your able to keep one each at this time of the yr, so everything else went back. Come nov. 15 that changes, 8 per person. If anyone has blackfish its like eating lobster, absolutely sweet white meat.

Come our fall run the bass will readily take flies. So anything close to the bunker pattern will work. Intermixed w/ them will also be blues, up to 12 lb'ers.

I've had a pretty good yr here w/ bass to 25 lbs in the spring and blues to 10 lbs. False albacore and bonita on the fly. Tried chasing a ghost again this yr w/ the tuna. So far no luck, did get a small schooly bluefin a couple yrs ago, but now looking for the mom or dad of jr. Never in the right spot for the mahi or the sharks either this yr. Looking for that shark on the fly, and I have done the mahi on the fly. W/ them the take happens in front of you. They flash, light up and charge the fly.

I was hoping to make to erie this yr, but as usually the work comes in the way. I wish I was just a little closer than 7 hrs. Could make it a quick weekend trip, but nothing quick about the drive time. I'll have to shoot for the spring. Catch one for me.
Tom

ORIGINAL: Bughawk

Hey  Salty,  How has the stripper fishing been?  I heard a rumor that in NC and Virginia the numbers have been way down this year.