yup...it was at DP. I've always been told and understood the law to be that if the gauge fits over but there is NO GAP and no wiggle room front to rear it's the most MINIMAL legal you can have. But the first one I'm 100% sure it should've been legal. He said I might not be so lucky next time if I get another warden but I"m sure there are other wardens that WOULD have passed me. Oh well, that just mean they'll grow at the end of the season or next year. On a side note...I think he poached my gauge. I don't remember him handing it back and I cleaned all me gear today and it's nowheres to be found. I'm going back and am going to cite him for illegal possession and over limit of lobster gauges.
By no means was he an Ahole or anything. Just doing his job and he EVENTUALLY kinda vaguely determined they weren't totally legal.