10-31-2007, 01:52 PM
I've heard about this before. From an enforcement point of view, how do you suppose to prove beyond a reasonable doubt these guys are intentional snagging fish. I mean even if you post a CO in the campground and one in a boat how can you prove they intentionally snagged the fish. Maybe the 8' jerk is their way of jigging. There isn't a statue on the books that says how you must lift the rod. Unless the lure/instrument used makes it obvious, it would be very difficult to make a case. Perhaps you could make a case if the person kept a snagged fish, but aside from that, there is no way to convict them of a crime. Not to mention the guides are probably locals who know every CO and what boats they have access too. So putting the sneak on them probably won't work either. I know it sucks, but it is what it is........
Now what you could do is make a law that says, every fish hooked outside the mouth must be immediately released. This is a law practiced in California. It was primarily introduced to protect spawning largemouth, but it has some draw backs. How many times have you hooked a fish outside the mouth on a jerkbait. It happens all the time especially with trout because they slash at the lure instead of eating it. Enforcement is still a problem, but if the CO can cleary see the fish was hooked outside the mouth, then the intent to snag is a non-factoid...... The pentalty should say the angler and/or guide will lose his privileges to fish/guide for X number of years if convicted. Make sense??
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Now what you could do is make a law that says, every fish hooked outside the mouth must be immediately released. This is a law practiced in California. It was primarily introduced to protect spawning largemouth, but it has some draw backs. How many times have you hooked a fish outside the mouth on a jerkbait. It happens all the time especially with trout because they slash at the lure instead of eating it. Enforcement is still a problem, but if the CO can cleary see the fish was hooked outside the mouth, then the intent to snag is a non-factoid...... The pentalty should say the angler and/or guide will lose his privileges to fish/guide for X number of years if convicted. Make sense??
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