Are all Georgia fishermen like this? Steve H.,you will find this interesting!

This news story was in my local newspaper the other day(Baton Rouge, Louisiana). When I read the short story on the front page, and saw the number of fish, I thought this must be a typo. After I read the full story inside the newspaper, and found out the number of fish was no typo, I could hardly believe it was true, since I have chartered with this Captain before.

Apart from the Captain, what I really find troubling is the attitude of these 18 fishing individuals from Georgia, I truly hope they are an exception to the rule.

Here is the link to the newspaper story.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/outdoors/18475969.html

If any one from Georgia, or anywhere else, is reading this and wants to know the names of the 18 Georgia scofflaws, here is a link to the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries with the names of individuals.

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/?id=957

Here is a link to a commentary from the newspapers outdoors writer about this event.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/outdoors/18559454.html

SWB

While I hope the captain doesn't lose his license, I do hope that he gets fined severely. I don't care if he was taught that he only has to worry about what's in "his box," he was in the wrong for even allowing them to drop one hook over the side of the boat without a license. The boat never should have left the slip unless everyone that was going to fish was properly licensed! If they refused to buy the proper licenses, he should have refused to start the motor, plain and simple.

Then to compound the problem by allowing them to catch and keep undersized gamefish that weren't even in season is just plain criminally stupid. Once the first illegal fish went into an ice chest, the anchor should have been raised, the fish released and the boat turned to the harbor. Would the clients have been upset? Sure, but by allowing them to continue to catch and keep illegal fish, he was knowingly aiding them in breaking the law!

I figure as a guide, I'm responsible for my client's actions. I'm sure I've lost repeat business because I refused to allow a walleye or muskie that was 1/8th of an inch short of the size limit to be kept. I've had to threaten to end the day when a client caught a big smallmouth just days before the catch & keep season opened, and he wanted to have it mounted. But I value the resources, respect the law and want to continue to guide with a clear conscience.

I wonder how long this kind of activity has been going on with this group and the captain? I'm getting an idea this wasn't the first time it happened. Hopefully it will be the last!