Poaching Hotline Information

[Mike Carey]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/reportin ... tions.html

[boocaster]

I called the Hot line for the Olympic park 2 weeks ago.Got an answering machine both times.This is a joke.I know the parks Ranger, gave his name , told them there were 3 clowns in a blue inflatable poaching wild kings. 2 days later I get a call back.Waste of tax payers money.

[strider43]

I called the Hot line for the Olympic park 2 weeks ago.Got an answering machine both times.This is a joke.I know the parks Ranger, gave his name , told them there were 3 clowns in a blue inflatable poaching wild kings. 2 days later I get a call back.Waste of tax payers money.

last time I called LE they told me they were too busy in the next town over. There are supposed to two dedicated officers for my town.

[ncwflounderer]

the OP shows that if there is "poaching in progress" to call 911.

[coretron22]

I have also tried busting poachers via the hotline/911... the guys who are running 15+ lines off the swim docks in Seward Park. They did it all August/September.
RE: the WDFW page - 911 operator said they had no idea what I was talking about, didn't even have WDFW phone number. A cop actually showed up later, but he didn't know the regs, or what a trotline is. The next day they were out there doing it again...and every day since. I filled out an online report as well...nothing. Okay, these guys are merely illegally harvesting Perch & Bass mostly, but it frustrates me to the point that I cannot fish there anymore...plus they have followed me and know what car I drive.
So yeah, a total joke.

[The Quadfather]

I have also tried busting poachers via the hotline/911... the guys who are running 15+ lines off the swim docks in Seward Park. They did it all August/September.
RE: the WDFW page - 911 operator said they had no idea what I was talking about, didn't even have WDFW phone number. A cop actually showed up later, but he didn't know the regs, or what a trotline is. The next day they were out there doing it again...and every day since. I filled out an online report as well...nothing. Okay, these guys are merely illegally harvesting Perch & Bass mostly, but it frustrates me to the point that I cannot fish there anymore...plus they have followed me and know what car I drive.
So yeah, a total joke.

Oh man, stuff like that whole story is just more than I can take. It is so frustrating when the left hand doesn't even know the right hand, or what the laws are, etc. You can walk the horse (law) to the water, but do you have to hold and read the regs to them? Pisses ya off because you value the fishery in your front yard (Coretron/Seward) and you play by the rules, but then when we see stuff like this and feel helpless because of inaction or poor communication within the enforcement people.

[natetreat]

You have to call the warden that works that area directly to get anything done. Can look them up on the relevant websites. The hotline or 911 won't do you any good.

[coretron22]

Good to know Nate. I was wondering because 2 years ago a warden checked me out when I was 2 miles down the trail @ the point in Seward park. I'm pretty sure someone saw me lobbing my fishfinder transponder (portable fishfinder thing) and then casting my lure and assumed I was 2-pole fishing, so reported me. I was pretty shocked to have him coming out that far to check that I was following the rules...so been thinking that's the guy I need to talk to.
I haven't checked lately on those guys in Andrews Bay, as I said, I don't fish there anymore. I have no doubt they'll be there next year if they've already moved on this season...probably poaching Salmon...although they are thankfully not the best catchers of fish from what I've witnessed. I still have pics & video of the operation btw.

[skagit510]

Thank you for posting this. This will come in handy as of late. Salmon season seems to bring out the worst behavior on some.

[obryan214]

I'm 50/50 as far as responses to poaching reports. A few clown on the Satsop were right below the hatchery, I had Joe up at the hatchery make the call and they got tickets. New warden at the time who stops in and checks on mine and my neighbors land occasionally at our requests. We have a trespassing, vandalizing, poaching problem.
The second was a couple guys keeping way more then they're limit on ling cod while fishing way to close to Les Davis pier. Emailed a video also with the boat numbers and faces clearly visible, nothing.

[coretron22]

Wow, they (poachers @ Seward Park) are still there after dark every night, saw them there Fri. night 9:30pm in pouring rain...one guy watching the parking lot. This is quite an operation. Why would someone stake out the parking lot unless he's getting paid? So they've fished from 5:00pm-10:00pm or later nearly every night since at least August.
I wish it didn't bother me as much as it does...

[strider43]

Fish gangsters? I have heard about organized poaching a few times in the past few years. Usually eastern Europeans.

[coretron22]

These guys are Asian. They stash a raft so they can get on the swim docks that are stored there over winter. They run up to 20 rods between 6-7 guys plus several trotlines hanging all over the dock. I'm guessing they catch most of their fish after dark because they stay there really late...past park closing sometimes. You can see their headlamps on the docks at night, so I drive by occasionally to see if they are still there. Gonna take a crafty warden to get 'em. I'd at least like to know what they are doing with the fish...restaurant?

[sickbayer]

That is quite depressing, hopefully some law enforcement catches them.

[coretron22]

I'll be paying them a visit tonight...going to confirm they are still poaching & fill out a more detailed report/get ahold of a warden...gotta put a stop to it.

[racfish]

Hey Corey I see those guys from dads house. They're out there daily. All along the lake I see guys fishing more poles then legal. I hear you cuz its frustrating watching them. Its like people fishing for sockeye. Ive called many times and not too much action. I now call the Mill Creek Office of WDFW. They are good people.

[coretron22]

These guys are like 5 poles per person, plus who knows how many trotlines are still hanging off those docks. It was an interesting evening in Andrews Bay last night. I went "fishing" there @ noon to check out the operation and plot my evening strategy. As I was standing near their makeshift raft, soaking a senko, contemplating whether I should cut the ropes & send the raft sailing, a park worker came and asked if I ever catch fish there. I said I wasn't after fish and explained my situation. He grabbed his pocket knife and cut the rope instantly! He was not aware of the poaching. I still returned in the evening. No poachers on the docks...but a truck came through and closed one gate early & then went around the park on the footpath. I watched, but it didn't stop at the docks.
What's weird is that it was a great night to fish. Water glassy, warmish and calm air, whereas they were fishing the night before in torrential downpour. Maybe they were discouraged by the raft getting cut (they could still retrieve it if they wanted), or maybe they are done for the season as fishing from shore has dropped-off, or they read or heard about this...no matter. I'll be out again if I see 'em.