After spending the first half of my Sunday slaying Stripers with Bob (TroutOnly), my sister and my niece.
http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/sho...127#post381127
I decided to head out to a local spot for an evening surf session. I hit the surf from 6:30 - 8:00pm, an hour and a half of winding down time to get me ready for a new work week. Not much of a catch to post and certainly not worthy of a full report, but I have to make people aware of an incident that took place right before I left the surf tonight.
The catch of the one and a half hour surf session.
A couple of "very" short Flatties.
A small Calico Bass.
A short White Sea Bass.
It was a very relaxing evening session until...
It was almost eight o'clock and I started to work my way back to the car when I noticed three guys walking down to the surf at a distance. It was getting kinda dark but I can still see what they were doing. They spread out about 30 yards or so in the surf and started throwing a hand-cast net. I couldn't believe my eyes... throwing these net into the surf and dragging it back to the beach. Then picking the fish out of the nets and putting it in the ice chest. I watched them from a distance for several minutes, to make sure that I really am seeing what I'm seeing. Yup, that's exactly what they were doing... My initial emotion was one of anger, I was downright pissed. I took a moment to calm down and analyzed the situation to see how I was going to handle this. Let's see... three of them... one of me. Maybe they don't know what they are doing is illegal... yeah right, that's why they snuck down here when the sun is going down and when hardly anybody is around. Maybe they are working for the DFG and collecting fish specimen in the area... probably not.
In any case... I said to myself, "Arthur, no need to hate... just try to educate."
I walked up the guy closest to me and took a pic as he was throwing... he looked at me and started dragging the net towards the beach. Unfazed with the fact that somebody was watching him now, he proudly showed me his catch in the net proceeded to empty it out. Which had two BSP's and a YFC in it. He threw the fish on the sand and walked back into the surf to throw the net out again.
The other two guys saw me and walked over. One of them pointed at my camera, shook his head and said, "No, no..." I put away my camera and try to communicate with them that this was "no good"... and of course they didn't speak any English. After a couple of minutes of failing to communicate, frustrated... I walked back to my car, knowing damn well that they did understand some, if not most of what I was trying to say. I have no doubt that they knew what they were doing was illegal.
I called the Cal-Tip Hotline (888) 334-2258, followed the automated prompts and after a lengthy hold time... this was the conversation.
Operator: Would you like to file a violation report...?"
Wingnut: Yes, but can I ask you a question first?
Operator: This is not an information line sir.
Wingnut: I just want to confirm if something is illegal before I file a complaint.
Operator: Then you should call the DFG first before calling us.
Wingnut: Uh... okay, if I file a complaint with you, how do you know if the activity is even illegal...?
Operator: I don't, your report will go to the department that will determine that... what county did the violation take place?
Wingnut: Los Angeles.
Operator: Please hold...
I was placed on hold for a very long time and nobody picked up. Called back the second time and was disconnected while on hold. Called back one more time and was put on perpetual hold again...
Sometimes, it's hard to do the right thing.
I wished that I had the rest of the S.W.A.T. with me tonight... Mike (Bones) & Steve (Flyngby) would surely have my back when I confiscate those nets and throw the fish back into the surf.
Anyways... hope your surf sessions was more enjoyable than mine this weekend. Remember to be true to others... and most of all, to yourself.
Keep in mind that in life, we're all in the race together... the "Human Race."
Arthur (Wingnut)
"I would rather live my life believing that there is a God, and die to find out that there isn't one. Than to live my life like there was no God, and die to find out that there is one..."
Parting shot.
Blast to the Past.
Who is this Puppy?