Poaching

Cwest · Post by **Cwest** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:07 pm

We dove KVI today. It was a pretty good dive with lots to see.Vis wasn't the best but it was good enough.
When we got there someone in a boat was fishing. Thought that was kinda odd but who am I to judge. Maybe they were fishing for flounders.
He left when he saw that we were dropping anchor and not going anywhere soon.

That is not what bothered me.

The problem I had was, when we found the reef,amongst all the other stuff to see, I found TWO (2) small lingcod with very recent spear scars on their heads.If you have ever wounded one you can't mistake the damage.
Now I have been spearfishing for a long time. I know sometimes people take a quick shot and wound a fish now and then. I think most wounded fish recover.
What I have no patience for is people that poach, especially spearfisherman.
I want folks to know and I hope others will do the same that If I see this happening I will take your photo, your boat numbers,call the cops and swear out a statement as to what I saw.
Happy Diving

Sergeant Pepper · Post by **Sergeant Pepper** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:57 am

Someone's gotta help me out with what "KVI" is.

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:13 am

Sergeant Pepper wrote:Someone's gotta help me out with what "KVI" is.

Boat dive frequented by several charters... "KVI Towers" might be a little clearer. It is right off a place with the large radio tower for said radio station.

And second the motion Cwest... I hate the indiscriminate taking of wildlife and I'd turn someone in as well.

It's one thing is someone was taking something to feed their starvin' chilluns... but come on, how often is that the case? ...and with scuba?

For that matter, legal harvesting (at least spearfishing) at divesites that get lots of "normal" pressure is counterproductive IMO and lessens the pleasure of what we see when we're down there. "Legal" octopus harvest at popular divesites is at least a downer...

Other comments / perspectives?

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:28 am

Spear fishing at popular dive sites is legal, but bad form. I think some folks do it because it's easier to approach marine life that are used to being approached. There was a case a couple years back of a guy who was using these boards to find out where the octopus were ... then going out and harvesting them. Might still be doing it for all I know ... haven't seen very many large octopus at places where I used to see them all the time (Day Island Wall, for example).

On the other hand, spear fishing out of season ... or killing fish that are too small to be legally harvested ... should result in large fines and seizure of scuba gear ... including a boat if one is involved in the activity.

If someone's poaching, I do hope they get caught ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Cwest · Post by **Cwest** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:09 am

Thank you,
KVI towers would have been better said. It is an artifical reef similar to Les Davis,Toliva and Itsami ledge. It is located in the northern part of Tramp Harbor on the east side of Vashon Is.It is open to fishing and that is perfectly fine with me.(I would like to see fishing reefs put deeper than rec diving depths but I'll take what I can get when it comes to reefs)

There was a case a couple years back of a guy who was using these boards to find out where the octopus were ... then going out and harvesting them. Might still be doing it for all I know ...

I recently asked about that guy at a local dive shop because I had not seen him around.If it is the same guy, I was told he died of a drug overdose awhlie back.

CaptnJack · Post by **CaptnJack** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:52 pm

1) Ling cod season has not started, poaching is cowardly stealing
2) Wounded fish usually die. I know this from experience culling fish at the Aquarium

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:20 pm

Cwest wrote:I recently asked about that guy at a local dive shop because I had not seen him around.If it is the same guy, I was told he died of a drug overdose awhlie back.

Aaah... how sad.

Rob Holman · Post by **Rob Holman** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:49 am

Poachers should be fined, have their gear confiscated, and right to harvest revoked.

I agree that people should not hunt at popular dive sties, but keep in mind some people have been hunting at sites long before they became "popular".