I HATE POACHERS!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO STOP POACHING!!!!!!!!!

[Josh Huizar]

I talk to fish and game wardens perodically whenever they do come around and they said the best thing to do is to get photos of the person, liscenses plate of the vehicle they are driving. Most 911 calls are not taken seriously which is wierd considering they post the number to call in case poaching is taking place. I bring my camera wherever I go because of this

[Lugan]

What good does taking photos of license plates do? I would think that you'd need photos of the poachers with catch in hand too...and proof that the photos were taken at a time and place and using a method of fishing where keeping those particular fish was illegal. That seems impossible.

[Flyborg]

In my experience, when you complain to the dfw too much about poaching, dfw just closes the fishery down. Then the poaching continues, but there's no one complaining about it. I stopped trying with the dfw years ago. Only thing Ive seen work is to create a local culture where poaching is unacceptable. The more people that take pride in legitimate fishing the better.

[Clarki]

Why would the tribe(s) leave fileted carcasses behind? Or have to do the "dirty work" in secret in the middle of the night?

Cutthroat, I called WDFW to report what I thought was a poaching violation a couple of weeks ago. It turned out they were just tribal fishers. When I was on the phone with the contact at the WDFW office, he informed me that about 50% of tribal netting happens in the dark, especially in the salt, but in rivers too. In areas such as Jordan Rd. you could expect that tribal fishers would not want to have conversations with conservationists like you and I.

[Buck]

I'm willing to call WDFW. I'll get as much info as possible, but I'm not about to get into it with someone else. I wouldn't approach a bank robber, or an arsonist.

I know it's frustrating but I try and keep in mind they are generally real poor, and that fish, although taken illegally, will likely be on the table feeding a family that night. People with steady, good income, generally, don't poach.
It seems everyone should know not to do it, but some people are just ignorant. Ignorant meaning to not know of, be aware of.
Sucks seeing it all the less.

[Don Freeman]

In my experience, when you complain to the dfw too much about poaching, dfw just closes the fishery down. Then the poaching continues, but there's no one complaining about it. I stopped trying with the dfw years ago. Only thing Ive seen work is to create a local culture where poaching is unacceptable. The more people that take pride in legitimate fishing the better.

I have to disagree with you on this one. My son works for WDFW and is doing creel count on the Nisqually. Enforcement officers have been nailing guys left and right there lately. I'm still wiping my eyes over the story he brought home from yesterday.

There's the usual hog line of drift fishers standing in the river, and a "sportsman" snags a Chinook, and drags it up onto the bank. The guy on his right says " hey, that fish is foul hooked, you're supposed to let it go!"

The snagger replied "F*** You! Are you the game warden? I don't see ANY game wardens around here! Where upon the guy fishing immediately on his left interrupts and says "Let me see that fish!" The "fisherman" is the notorious enforcement officer (Name withheld) who confiscates the fish, the guy's equipment and license, writes an enormous citation, gives the fish away to another angler, and wanders off to continue fishing elsewhere along the river where he's still not recognized.

I have taken pictures of poachers license plates, phoned them in and had violaters busted based on my testimony.

WDFW enforcement is hampered by budget shortages and lack of numbers, but you can help them. They care, and are doing the best job they can.

[Derek Day]

The 4 carcasses were coho. The tails didn't look like steelhead, but the picture wasn't great, probably coho. How is this poaching? I'm pretty sure the area is open for coho retention (quick check of the regs). The only problem would be if they were caught at night or snagged.

STILLAGUAMISH RIVER, SOUTH
FORK (Snohomish Co.) from mouth to
400' below Granite Falls fishway outlet
(874)
ALL SPECIES - Aug. 1-Nov. 30: night closure and anti-snagging rule.
TROUT First Sat. in June-Feb. 15 Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
Other Game Fish First Sat. in June-Feb. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit.

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you might want to look into what the regs are before you call the WSP. I just did a cursory check and could be wrong. But, I 'm pretty sure that there isn't any proof of a misdeed here.

This isn't broodstock protocol. Those fish would have been way too green to spawn. Fish that get donated, are usually donated whole.

But to answer your question, I usually call in poaching.

[Split Bamboo]

I'm pretty sure the area is open for coho retention (quick check of the regs). T

STILLAGUAMISH RIVER, SOUTH
FORK (Snohomish Co.) from mouth to
400' below Granite Falls fishway outlet
(874)
ALL SPECIES - Aug. 1-Nov. 30: night closure and anti-snagging rule.
TROUT First Sat. in June-Feb. 15 Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
Other Game Fish First Sat. in June-Feb. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit.

My quick cursory check indicates the south fork is closed to salmon. Per the regs you posted...salmon are not considered game fish. Notice on the Stilly below the forks Salmon are specifically listed. If they are not listed its not open for them.

[Derek Day]

You're right. Don't you love how clear they make the regs.

[Cutthroat_52]

Split Bamboo is right. You may only keep two hatchery steelhead (no adipose fins) or two trout over 14". The only other fish you could keep would be an Atlantic Salmon if caught as part of your daily limit.

[Cutthroat_52]

Good point, Don. If the WDFW didn't cut their feet off by not having enforcement officers, we might have less poachers and more people paying their fair share of licenses, not to mention income for the State via fines and ticketing illegal parking at the WDFW parking sites. (i.e. no permits, which should clue you in that they did not purchase a license). There is only one officer to cover this part of Snohomish County.

[Cutthroat_52]

BTW Rockyday, a minor point but the statement you made "picture wasn't great". I just bought a new Lumix 12.1 MP Camera. The thumbnails can be clicked, those enlargements can then be clicked and then you can use the "magnifying glass" tool to zoom in even closer. You're right, though. With the square tails they are probably spawning Coho

[bigman]

Good point, Don. If the WDFW didn't cut their feet off by not having enforcement officers, we might have less poachers and more people paying their fair share of licenses, not to mention income for the State via fines and ticketing illegal parking at the WDFW parking sites. (i.e. no permits, which should clue you in that they did not purchase a license). There is only one officer to cover this part of Snohomish County.

There are 7 WDFW Officers that cover Snoho County. 2 of them are primarily marine (saltwater) officers, one is a supervisor and the other are primarily "land" officers. Also, the state does not see any money for fishing and hunting fines, those monies go the county where the ticket is written, if you think that should be changed then contact your legislator in Olympia.

[Be Jofus G]

Today, I went to the S. Fork of the Stillaguamish, near Jordan Road. It is a nice park called Riverscene Park. I had been there until sunset the night before, and had seen only one other person fishing. Today, I came back and went to a favorite spot to cast and looked into the water and saw four fish carcasses. I pulled them out of the water, and set all of them further up the bank near a rock. There turned out to be 4 salmon and two more tails of other fish (steelhead?!)

At least 2 of the fish appeared to be Chinook salmon, the other two were could have been Coho or steelhead....

Those aren't kings or steelhead man.

[Derek Day]

It's not so much that the quality was bad. It was that the tails weren't photographed in a way in which one could easily I.D. the fish. The fillets were easily coho. A close up of the tails, splayed open would have been helpful, for future reference.