what would you do

[Andy Macfarlane]

Hard one to deal with I reckon.As it stands I believe all fish are regarded as wild and are the sole property of the captor..regardless of wether stocked or not.So fish theft is not an option.Also it is only a civil offence to fish without the owners permission and removal of such people may prove impossible.Also...if they are fishing somewhere private outwith the season then they may be prosecuted but this is a minor offence and would be "put back" in the long line of court cases.If not dealt with within one year the offenders would walk.Hardly worth the hassle when it comes to it.Only on well monitored waters are the local police informed on what action to take.City centre police have far more important things to deal with and also if they do not exactly what they are charging you with then they cannot make an arrest.You would have to phone the copper from Heartbeat...hes the kind of country bumbkin that could tell what by-laws they are breaking.

[Chris Plumb]

Same thing happened to me 2 weekends ago - A bloke was fishing the Kennet with his 2 teenage sons (On a club stretch too). I politely pointed out it was the close season and was met with "we know, now @^&! off".

 

"Fine, but I shall be ringing the EA when I get home" say I (from a distance and with a clear escape route planned!!)

 

Half an hour later when I returned along the opposite bank they had packed up and gone.

 

Chris

[Brian Talbot]

Chris. probably with a couple of barbel or chub in the back of the van to sell or stock elsewhere, maybe./Well done in shooing them off.

Keep your eyes open everybody. Watch out for the nets next time as well.

[phonebush]

Chris,

You have described one of the many benefits of NOT having a Second Amendment. Thieves in the US are generally armed with handguns.

Phone:)

[RONAN]

phonebush:

Chris,

You have described one of the many benefits of NOT having a Second Amendment. Thieves in the US are generally armed with handguns.

Phone:)

Well, I don`t know about you, but in my state, it`s legal to conceal & carry for that reason.

 

It`s called an even playing field...LOL

RONAN

[phonebush]

Hey RONAN, We travel 2500 miles and back to talk. Phone is a STANCH supporter of 2nd.

Phone

[OP-JB]

Great Chris, job done...

 

Op -JB

[phil hackett]

Here’s one I genuinely used last close season on a couple of guys fishing on the R. Goyt.

 

The river had suffered a fish kill (not unusual for Mersey Catchment) some miles up river. I incidentally heard it on local radio. Being the nosy sod I am, I went to see if it had affected my favourite stretch. Two guys larger cans around them were fishing it.

Tact and diplomacy called for here I thought! Not always my strongest point!

 

“Hi guys seen any dead fish?” “No mate why?” “Been a pollution incident up river." "Where?”

“The weir at the Hare and Hounds. Just been up there and there’s loads of fisheries officers checking the river and working their way down they told me.” (pack of lies on my part) “Oh right mate!” “Catching much?” “Few chub and dace.” “What you using?” “Maggots mate!” “I’d be careful with all these EA officers about fishing maggot in the close season. They might nick you for illegally fishing during it.” “OK cheers for that mate!” Off I go down river and by the time I come back they’re gone. Didn’t take their empty tins with them though! Dirt ********

So I had to bin them for them.

 

A little creativity and economy with the truth….., goes a long way. Enough said!!!!!

 

[ 25 April 2002, 02:00 AM: Message edited by: phil hackett ]

[Steve Burke]

Andy Macfarlane:

As it stands I believe all fish are regarded as wild and are the sole property of the captor..regardless of wether stocked or not.

Presumably you mean river fish as we're talking about a river here. However, for the benefit of newcomers, fish in stillwaters belong to the owner of the fishery.