Check out this on Craigslist

[oldjigger]

I also think that he needs to word his add differently.  at $50 a day he isn't making a living he's just going fishingand after this sat  he is probably legal with the catch and immediate release

[djkimmel]

Picking and choosing which laws and regulations to follow or not is always a very slippery slope for any society built on laws, regulations and equality.

Blatantly and publicly ignoring laws and regulations, whether through ignorance or choice is almost always a bad choice.

I don't allow posting about breaking any law on here because I know that for every person who feels it is okay to break a law or regulation there is another who does not feel it is okay, and I want both to be members and feel equal here. No one person's voice overrules another's. Debate all you want with respect but don't try to drown out someone else you disagree with.

On this particular issue of the season, many on both sides of the choice to follow or not follow the law want to see regulations and law changed. Some just choose to follow the law until it changes and I can definitely respect that choice considering how difficult it is when people are talking all over the Internet out in the open about ignoring it, breaking it. Even including photo evidence and details that could be used against them.

As far as the angler's advertisement, the person is blatantly and publicly talking about breaking several laws in the post. As someone else pointed out, at what point do you start deciding to follow laws? Is it okay to break two laws? Three laws? Four laws? Five laws? Is it okay to break 'little' laws and long as you don't break 'big' laws?

What about tournaments? If a person is known to publicly break one, two, three or more laws, how much of a stretch is it to think the person is also choosing which tournament rules to follow and which ones to break? I sure can't blame anyone for wondering such a thing. Not much of a stretch.

I've been doing this a long time and I've come across a number of anglers who have done just that, and yes, I resent that I follow ALL the rules and they feel it is fair to me and everyone else if they pick and choose which rules to follow to gain an advantage over me. (Some of those anglers who have told me things like they 'follow the spirit of the rule' have also been banned from tournaments for life.) So I can definitely understand the same feelings from people who choose to follow laws and regulations.

[1javelin]

I got into this discussion with TCook a few days ago while walleye fishing Lake Michigan;  what do you do when you are illegally targeting bass and you catch a giant, possibly even a new State Record!!!  I know it seems far-fetched, but what happens then?  You can't claim it, or you get a ticket at minimum.  You can't keep it, that would be the same thing.  If you take pictures it will come out that you did it illegally.  What then?  A great reason to stay off the water in my honest opinion.

1jav

[smbassman]

I am not condoning what the guy is doing, I just meant that I don't see why this deserves an internet lynch mob and citizens arrest by fellow bass fisherman.  I also did not (and do not) suggest that we should all openly break the laws we don't believe in, but I am surely not going support the enforcement of a law that takes away rights of honest citizens to assist in enforcement against criminals.  Remember the C&R season opener was set at the pike/walleye opener because it would have been too easy for criminals to target pike/musky/walleye and claim they were bass fishing if the season was left open all year.  The law (C&R season dates) inacted had nothing to do with the act of bass fishing, so why is this guy breaking the law?  BTW - this is a rhetorical question intended to induce deep thought.  No response required or requested.

[Durand Dan]

I have to quote my Mother who passed a few years ago when she said numerous times " You have enough to do worrying about your life than to concern yourself with others faults" 

[LennyB]

I would like to thank those who report unlicensed guides.

As a licensed guide, I can tell you it litterally costs a couple thousand dollars to become legal and it's not fair to those compling with the law to have the illegals go unchecked. Aside from the $1500+ worth of safety equipment (Radio, class 1 life jackets with lighted beacon (2) in every size imaginable, water light, sea anchor, regular anchor, first aid kits, 2 auto bilges,etc, etc, etc....), you have to pay for and pass the Coast Guard test $250, you have to have a DOT drug screen and physical and retest at random $150 a pop, you have to have an up to date TWIC card (transportation workers identification card) $150, a radio operators license $100, Commercial boat insurance policy $500, and after you do all that then you can apply for the MI DNR dry dock and dock side inspections (another $250). You are also required to report you catch to the DNR on a monthly bases and are ticketed for failure to do so. You will also have to plan on spending a couple hundred a month for advertising if plan to have any kind of business. And last but not least, this all has to be renewed every three to five years.

Thanks again, Len B.

[LipRip]

I got into this discussion with TCook a few days ago while walleye fishing Lake Michigan;  what do you do when you are illegally targeting bass and you catch a giant, possibly even a new State Record!!!  I know it seems far-fetched, but what happens then?  You can't claim it, or you get a ticket at minimum.  You can't keep it, that would be the same thing.  If you take pictures it will come out that you did it illegally.  What then?  A great reason to stay off the water in my honest opinion.

1jav

a guy did this sort of thing in minnesota last year dear hunting. Shot a new state record 8point.......it was his 3rd buck (only allowed 2) and he was hunting on land he wasnt supposed to be hunting on! i'm pretty sure he went to jail!

[djkimmel]

You can't claim a state record for anything caught out of season. Technically, we aren't even supposed to take the time to snap a photo even during the catch and release season. Just be quick about it and most reasonable law officers will not give you a difficult time. Definitely do not put a fish in the live well, stringer or basket at all.

1jav - I would take a quick picture and then just keep it somewhere for my own memories. You can't really even brag about something like that other to some real close friends, but you know how things get around anyway. Sometimes, people do legitimately catch a truly big fish out of season while fishing for something else, but every time they have publicly shared the information, it causes a great big stink. Just not worth it.

Now, if someone catches 10 bass in a row while a CO is watching and that someone stops to take pictures of them during the closed season, you odds of getting a ticket go up dramatically.

As far as the advertisement that started this, he is not just admitting to fishing out of season, he is also admitting to guiding without a license in Michigan out of season. The regulations are very strict on that due to the large charter boat industry. Multiple, blatant, public violations. Not smart.

While I understand DD's Mother's advice, I also believe that part of the slide we seem to be in at times is due to good people not taking action enough. I don't blame anyone for reporting someone who is blatantly and publicly showing a disregard for laws and regulations. Simple cure. DON'T DO IT! I give the same advice to people who complain about 'speed traps' - don't speed.

I also have NEVER been in favor of regulations that punish a lot of good people because of a few bad people. Which is why I have tried to use some of my personal time to change things like drop shotting and the bass season. And why I will continue to try to do so. Because we have so few CO's and because a few bad people choose to ignore laws and because it is easier to just make an act illegal than try to prove intent, and maybe even a little because many people do look the other way too often when they see lawbreakers, trying to change these types of things takes time and a lot of effort by many people.

[MadWags]

- this is a rhetorical question intended to induce deep thought.  No response required or requested.

hmmmmm let's think about this. deeeep deeeeep thought.............
yep pretty sure........TOOL!.

[dartag]

wonder if it just someone trying to get everyone stirred up. 
Seems to be working.

 

Remember the old days before the internet.   All we did was just go fishing.....

[motocross269]

Everything about the guys post is wrong.....It isn't fair to the guides on LSC that do the right thing and follow required regulations....Put yourself In Balog, Bondy, Doug's or any other guide that is out on LSC trying to make enough money to break even and maybe put a little food on their table...It reminds me of what we face with foreign competition not playing on the same level playing field..

If the guy was legitimate he would have posted...."Looking for a fishing buddy to fish with during the legal season".....

I think it says a little something about his character if he has to post on Craig's list in order to get someone to go out fishing with him.....Most guys have plenty of "friends" that are willing and eager to spend a day on the water....He could join a forum like this and I am sure someone would be willing to split gas for a day...

[djkimmel]

I like what moto says!!!

[MadWags]

Exactly

[matt]

Everything about the guys post is wrong.....It isn't fair to the guides on LSC that do the right thing and follow required regulations....Put yourself In Balog, Bondy, Doug's or any other guide that is out on LSC trying to make enough money to break even and maybe put a little food on their table...It reminds me of what we face with foreign competition not playing on the same level playing field..

If the guy was legitimate he would have posted...."Looking for a fishing buddy to fish with during the legal season".....

I think it says a little something about his character if he has to post on Craig's list in order to get someone to go out fishing with him.....Most guys have plenty of "friends" that are willing and eager to spend a day on the water....He could join a forum like this and I am sure someone would be willing to split gas for a day...

I couldn't agree more!

[mikesmiph]

It seems a lot of people just dont think. In the last two days, I have gotten 3 posts on my facebook of people holding big bass. They all say when they caught them. You just never know who is watching, or telling. There are many ways to get in trouble for fishing out of season. Be a little more discrete people. I'd hate to see any of my friends lose their license. I like fishing with all of you.