Huskerrod and the Perris fish of epic proportions.....and jail time. (8-25)

[HuskerRod]

Hey gang,

Hit perris thursday with a buddy for some bassin. Was doing real good on the bass and then "it struck". At first it felt like a snag and then it moved. Seconds moved to minutes, minutes to hours and time seemed to stop. The battle started at 630 pm and by 830 pm the war was still on. My pole was buckling, my line screaming, a tug of war ensued. The problem is 830 is closing at perris. I became concerned at about 730 of the time issue, but at 830 as a fisherman i just couldnt give in. Would you??? I was two hours into the fight and whatever it was kept it going making long runs and just muscling its way to the lake bottom. The lifeguard got on the speaker from shore, "You need to get off the water. Lake perris is closed to private boats". I tried responding back, "im fighting the fish of a lifetime..please". At that point he just gets in his truck and speeds off towards the marina and his patrol boat. I wasnt trying to be hospitable, abrasive, or challenging. I had a once and a lifetime fish hooked. Should i have broken him off and gone in? Would you have?? By 850 im winning line on the beast, but the patrol boat is bearing down on me. He is coming in hot so i reposition my pole to not get my line run over by the patrol boat motor as he motors up to me. Politely i explain to him the situation. I am two hours into the fight for the ages and winning. He wants to hear nothing of the circumstances. He asks me if the fish is worth a $400 fine. I dont respond as im not sure what to say. Politely i ask him if i can finish the fight. He in an abrassive tone explains to me the budget situation in California and how me being on the lake is requiring the quagga mussle inspector to work extra. And why should the taxpayers have to pay for me to fight a fish. I ask politely if the inspector at the launch ramp can just go home and I wont get my boat banded tonight? No response. I then explain to him Im a regular at the lake. He explains bluntly since I am a regular I should know the rules. The officer does not seem happy and makes me forfeit my license as he runs my information like a regular criminal. I hear my data recited over the radio: height, weight, eye color, license number, etc. At this point I begin to hoarse the fish. I know when he is done running my info and writing the ticket its either head in or be arrested for insubordination. This guy is treating me like he has just taken down the leader of the "Lake Perris Bass Cartel". The fight of my life continues. My information comes back. No priors, no warrants, nothing on me, but why do I feel like I just broke into Fort Knox. Im winning line, but wenching the fish in. The officer is not happy. He continues writing. I know the end is near for me as he repositions his boat to give me my license back. I wench. The line gives. I know the dream has ended. Time has simply ran out on me. I lose. If you not a fisherman or outdoorsmen you wouldnt understand.

In the end, I understand an officer had a job to do. Would it have been to much to ask from one human being to another for him to let me finish the fight? What about from one fisherman to the next? What would you have done?

So as it looks now I have a court date for August 4th at 1220 p.m. (I think). I can wav the court date and just pay the infractionm but what about my story. Actually it is difficult to read the officers writing. On the back of the "Notice to Appear" it says for this violation (non traffic) I will receive something in the mail in 4-6 weeks and I can pay the fine This is not a misdemeanor, just a nontraffic infraction as specified on the front by the check. Is anyone clear on the fine. I understand it will be in the $400 range. Can I go to court date and have it reassigned as community service versus a fine? Will being honest and telling the judge the situation even make any differene what so ever? Does it pay to be human anymore??

Ill sleep just okay tonight. I did all I could. I just ran out of time. Ill get another chance.,,,someday. But part of me knows I did the right thing AS a fisherman you understand. Others, including the ranger probably not. And thats okay to.

Passion aint for everyone.

So Ill probably end up paying my ticket or going to court and trying to plea the fine to community service. I cant really plea down an "infraction" down to anything lower like one does a felony. But if my "medince" is to pick up trash at Lake Perris or DVL Id go for that. Plus you never know, might pick of a few fishing tips.


Hey Perris Ranger, how much of a fine is this one. (THr Bass was successfully Cpred so I can catch him again some day, No, this wasnt the big one. Just another perris bass the big one could have eaten) The big one is still out there. And if you catch him. Thank the ranger.