Hey, all. I know you have to have a net aboard a boat (see below), but no such rule exists for pier and shore fisherfolk. This has become an issue in recent years when I fish on piers. I always carry a net because it makes common sense to me. Big conventional net for the shore; standard crab ring for the pier. Yet, too often in my view, I am the only one on a given pier who has a crab ring. I am expected to yield this when someone is fighting a fish. Sometimes people do not even bother to ask. It is arrogant and I do not stand for it.
It's one thing when a newbie needs help. But I see the same people targeting large fish--squid baiters with big poles going after sharks or bat rays--and they never bring any landing device. Ever. Given their gear, it is obvious they can afford a net. But the attitude is, gimme gimme gimme. It's a sentiment that has me avoiding piers altogether more and more these days. Who needs the aggravation?
So...does anyone else think it's high time to require anglers be responsible for their catches? I know, more rules are the last thing we need, and this poor benighted republic is sadly combative and fractious and polarized. But we've seen what happens when people are trusted to rely on the better angels of their nature. Chaos.
Peace, and a good World Kindness Day to one and all.
Under Gear Restrictions, General 28.65 (d)
No person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without
having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize fish
of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less than
eighteen inches in diameter.
It's one thing when a newbie needs help. But I see the same people targeting large fish--squid baiters with big poles going after sharks or bat rays--and they never bring any landing device. Ever. Given their gear, it is obvious they can afford a net. But the attitude is, gimme gimme gimme. It's a sentiment that has me avoiding piers altogether more and more these days. Who needs the aggravation?
So...does anyone else think it's high time to require anglers be responsible for their catches? I know, more rules are the last thing we need, and this poor benighted republic is sadly combative and fractious and polarized. But we've seen what happens when people are trusted to rely on the better angels of their nature. Chaos.
Peace, and a good World Kindness Day to one and all.
Under Gear Restrictions, General 28.65 (d)
No person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without
having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize fish
of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less than
eighteen inches in diameter.