Cheaters

[mcp633]

Since I don't know any of you guys by sight yet. I hope it wasn't one of you guys, but if it was, I certainly hope I'm stepping on your toes, because I wanted to stand on your throat.

I suppose anyone who was there this weekend was aware of the "men's tournament" that was going on Saturday. One of the prizes was for "heaviest stringer." If that doesn't beg for cheating, I wouldn't know what would. Anyway, I take my wife along to introduce her to trout fishing. I thought it would be good to have her enjoy something that I enjoy doing, and have another thing that we can do together. Making a long story short, I saw more idiots taking fish off of stringers and loading their next fish on when they've already got four. I assume trying to win "heaviest stringer." Number one: I know that to be illegal. Number two: I know it to be unethical. Number three: It pisses me off! Here I am trying to get my wife to enjoy something (weather didn't help)and get her into some fish, and here the are the dopes standing in a hole blatantly cheating not giving anyone else a chance. Then, I see the same dopes in the afternoon with a whole new stringer of fish! I saw this everywhere I went in the park, with the exception of the fly only area. In the fly area, the dopes that were there were fishing bait.

I believe the regulations say once you have four fish on, YOU'RE DONE for the day. I believe the intent was to give everyone a fair shot at enjoying themselves and catching fish. I guess these B.E.M.S. are only interested in showing their buddies how many fish they can catch on salmon eggs. Woo Hoo! I don't have a problem finding and catching fish, but for someone on their first time out it's difficult, and these selfish individuals make it that much more difficult.

I don't have a problem with catch and release all day and pick the four you want to eat along the way, but once they're on your stringer, they're yours. All you did was kill a fish that someone else doesn't get a chance to catch.

If this was one of you, shame on you, but I'm sure everyone on this forum is an ethical angler.

Alright, off my soapbox, but this is why I don't fish the parks often! I just get mad.

[Terry Beeson]

Just another example of how greed is going to be the eventual ruin of the human race... And another reason I don't participate in very many competative sporting events... even fishing ones.

[kenjenmo]

I too was down there this weekend with my family for fun, not competition. I did not witness any of the above mentioned activity but it did seem that there were more fish floating around on their last leg than I had ever seen before. I didn't enjoy being down there with the crowd for the tournament. I will leave it at that.

[jdmidwest]

Sounds like I made the right decision and went to the gunshow instead. I hate fishing up there when there is a crowd like that and a contest going on. I saved my hard earned gas money for a better weekend.

[NoLuck]

This is the prime reason that fishing should not be a competitive sport.Fishing is supposed to be something that is enjoyable and relaxing. I purposely stayed home because I knew this type of stuff would be going on.I fully intended on going Sunday only.

If you want to compete then pick up a ball sport.Fishing is a past time not a sport.That is why I hate it when I hear people saying the term "sportsman".I don't want to be lumped into that catagory.Hunting is in the same boat. I truly hope that this was an isolated case.Where were the wardens? Maybe someone should have pointed the park ranger toward these lawbreakers.Sometimes its up to the law abiding people to make the scoff-laws adhere to the rules. I personally don't have a problem with the parks for fishing.Its the lack of respect for fellow fisherman and wildlife that ruin it for everyone.

mcp, I'm sorry you had a bad day and I'm sorry your wife had to endure that type of behavior from what should be a respectable group of anglers.

Oh well thats my .02

Rich

[Watcher]

All for $25.00 Prize.

[Don]

Nothing is wrong with a friendly and somewhat competitive tournament. Tournament or not, I usually point out violations in a friendly way by starting out "Did you know that.......?" and ending with "I thought I'd save you a couple hundred dollars in fines before the game warden caught you." I've gotten replies that it was none of my business, whereas I proceeded to explain how it was by business, in detail at times. Other times I was asked if I was a game warden. I would reply "No, but I can get you one really quick."

Did anyone report these violators?

Don

[mcp633]

Don,

I didn't report them because there was a group of about ten of them standing in the fish and as I mentioned, I was with my wife and I'm banned from confrontation (different story altogether ). However, I did snap some pictures of their seedy activity with my trusty digital camera,and they eventually left after some whispering amongst themselves and looking over their shoulders. I do kind of have the law enforcement look for good reason (minus the greasy mustache) , so maybe I made them nervous snapping thier pictures. I did see the same group of BEMs with full stringers again in the afternoon.

[Gavin]

I really wish that they would get rid of some of those tournaments at Montauk. I could live with one or two tournament weekends, but five weekends a year is too many to devote to that type of activity. Cheers.

[3wt]

I'd be all for eliminating tournaments from parks completely. They completely ruin the weekend unless you're competing.

In my opinion (this is where I become a really snooty fly fisherman)trout fishing is getting too popular for all the wrong reasons. I would stand for eliminating all bait fishing in the parks, further limiting the daily limit and expanding the C&R areas. The overall effect would be more resident fish that aren't purely put and take, and less ridiculous crowding. But, I know my idea of trout fishing isn't the same as everybody else's so I'll just fight the crowds and fish more outside of the parks.