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Major snagging of salmon gets past Department of Fish and Game
Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle
November 14, 2002
If many small leaks will sink a big ship, the state's toll-free poacher hot line appears to be going down for the count.
One of the worst cases of illegal snagging of salmon reported in years somehow leaked through the widening holes of the Department of Fish and Game.
This case started on a trip to the Smith River in Del Norte County (featured in last Sunday's editions). At a spot called the Sand Hole, a group of fishermen numbering from 20 to 60 at various times were lined up along the shoreline. When a big salmon was caught -- with fish averaging 25 to 40 pounds -- the fishermen were rendered into frenzies, casting out, then trying to illegally snag the giant salmon.
In one 10-minute sequence, we saw six salmon killed that were snagged in the tail, stomach, dorsal fin, pectoral fin, gill cover and head. Two of the fish appeared to be over 50 pounds. In a three-hour sequence, about 25 salmon were illegally snagged, killed and lugged off.
By law, the salmon must take the lure or fly by its choice, that is, in the mouth, of course. Anything else is unethical, illegal and can get you a fine, jail time, and probation, with all your equipment seized.
So I phoned the DFG poacher hotline, known as CalTIP, which was invented to stop this sort of illegal activity. I was greeted with a confounding maze of recorded messages, then after several minutes, had the opportunity to leave a message of my own.
Eventually I was called back by Lt. Liz Schwall, who interviewed me for more details. In turn, I provided the exact location, access points, and description of suspects, including the boat identification numbers of one. I then predicted that on the following Saturday, that DFG wardens could stake out the activity and arrest 30 to 40 poachers. I told Schwall exactly how wardens could get access to private property for a well-hidden viewing area.
Well, on Saturday, the poachers did indeed return. One alone was seen snagging and killing five salmon, all over 25 pounds, and most closer to 40.
The game wardens, meanwhile, were again nowhere to be seen.
"We can't guarantee that we can respond to all the tips we get," Schwall said.
According to field scouts, not a single game warden has been on the river for weeks, and everybody in the county knows it, including the poachers.
Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle
November 14, 2002
If many small leaks will sink a big ship, the state's toll-free poacher hot line appears to be going down for the count.
One of the worst cases of illegal snagging of salmon reported in years somehow leaked through the widening holes of the Department of Fish and Game.
This case started on a trip to the Smith River in Del Norte County (featured in last Sunday's editions). At a spot called the Sand Hole, a group of fishermen numbering from 20 to 60 at various times were lined up along the shoreline. When a big salmon was caught -- with fish averaging 25 to 40 pounds -- the fishermen were rendered into frenzies, casting out, then trying to illegally snag the giant salmon.
In one 10-minute sequence, we saw six salmon killed that were snagged in the tail, stomach, dorsal fin, pectoral fin, gill cover and head. Two of the fish appeared to be over 50 pounds. In a three-hour sequence, about 25 salmon were illegally snagged, killed and lugged off.
By law, the salmon must take the lure or fly by its choice, that is, in the mouth, of course. Anything else is unethical, illegal and can get you a fine, jail time, and probation, with all your equipment seized.
So I phoned the DFG poacher hotline, known as CalTIP, which was invented to stop this sort of illegal activity. I was greeted with a confounding maze of recorded messages, then after several minutes, had the opportunity to leave a message of my own.
Eventually I was called back by Lt. Liz Schwall, who interviewed me for more details. In turn, I provided the exact location, access points, and description of suspects, including the boat identification numbers of one. I then predicted that on the following Saturday, that DFG wardens could stake out the activity and arrest 30 to 40 poachers. I told Schwall exactly how wardens could get access to private property for a well-hidden viewing area.
Well, on Saturday, the poachers did indeed return. One alone was seen snagging and killing five salmon, all over 25 pounds, and most closer to 40.
The game wardens, meanwhile, were again nowhere to be seen.
"We can't guarantee that we can respond to all the tips we get," Schwall said.
According to field scouts, not a single game warden has been on the river for weeks, and everybody in the county knows it, including the poachers.
