(This came out of the Bellingham Herald this last weekend. What a fish hog and ass*&^% !)

As endangered spring chinook salmon wend their way toward the Nooksack and Skagit rivers this week, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife is sending a message to would-be poachers: stay away from the fish or lose your gear.

On Wednesday night, officers seized seven fresh wild steelhead that Gordon Leistiko, 42, of Bellingham, had caught on the Skagit, where steelhead are running now, officers said.

To protect the wild fish, the state has closed fishing on both rivers except for catch-and-release fishing on the Skagit near Concrete.

"Wild steelhead are in desperate need of protection," said Robert Lantiegne, a Fish and Wildlife enforcement officer. "We have spring chinook that are endangered coming in. ... We're increasing surveillance and patrols on the Skagit and Nooksack."

Lantiegne and fellow officer Troy McCormick seized the seven fresh fish and Leistiko's boat, motor, trailer and firearms - the guns because of a previous conviction. Leistiko paid a $1,050 fine for possessing steelhead during a closed season, but could face future charges, McCormick said.

"His freezer was totally full" with other frozen salmon and steelhead, Lantiegne said. "You have to ask yourself, why is he out there poaching when he can't put any more in his freezer?"

A Ferndale man who was fishing with Leistiko faces fines and gross misdemeanor charges for allegedly taking two steelhead.

Leistiko's boat is in state custody, but McCormick said Leistiko could seek a hearing to get his boat back. Under civil proceedings, Leistiko might get it back without a fine, but could have to pay up to 100 percent of the boat's value, McCormick said.

If he doesn't pursue the boat, Fish and Wildlife can keep it.

It was the second time this year that Fish and Wildlife officers have caught Whatcom County people poaching steelhead during a closed season. In early February, officers caught a Custer man posing for a photo with a freshly caught 22-pound steelhead in Lynden on the banks of the Nooksack River. His fish, gear and boat also were impounded.

Auction their stuff off, including the boat and truck. Fine them up the ASS. Get a search warrant and take all their tackle, and auction THAT off. No more fishing licenses for LIFE.

Did I miss anything?

DJ-
That is being too nice...I say a little corporal punishment to teach the f*cker a thing or two!!!

Want to hear something really funny?.....
It was his dad's boat!!!!

Well said Ryan

I hope he was caught because he was spotted by C&R fisherman on the river. When rivers are closed completely to fishing, who is there to spot the poachers?

It's the same great feeling and excitement when you get to watch a law breaker fall and fall hard...book him Dano!

You're up early Aunty!!

AuntyM, That would be to tough for him.

He is "TRASH" along the river. And he would not be able to pick up after himself let alone after the rest of the litterin'A-Holes.

Probably get the gear back and a little hand spankin'.

A freezer full? Not alone there either, I bet!!

fp

id say, lets go find where this dude lives and i will leave the rest up to you people's imaginations.. **berkley boy**

These guy's are the lowest life form there is, they need to have all of the above done to them and then some. I think a five year tour of the Seattle and Portand sportsman shows where they are made an example of. Show what items were taken from them, how well stocked his freezer is, what water shed they poached and what the dammage and loss of genetics and future spawning they caused. Best of all is they would have to hear and answer to the public.

I think that they should tatoo a big "POACHER!!!" across the idiots forehead for all to see so people can sucker punch him as he fishes.

I think that they should tatoo a big "POACHER!!!" across the idiots forehead for all to see so people can sucker punch him as he fishes.

I think that they should tatoo a big "POACHER!!!" across the idiots forehead for all to see so people can sucker punch him as he fishes.

I think that they should tatoo a big "POACHER!!!" across the idiots forehead for all to see so people can sucker punch him as he fishes.

I've got four poachers, anyone give me five?

Make him run nude thru a gauntlet of C&R fisherman rigged with snagging gear, a chunk of lead, treble hook with 20lb line. If he can make it thru to the end his dad gets his boat back. He still looses his gear and license and pays the fines.

"Looky looky, Balls on hooky!"

Better yet Maguana, Whoever snags him and lands him wins the boat. If he gets through, he gets the boat. Whoever lands him also gets to bonk him as an added bonus.

Can we bonk him even if he's a native? Would something be clipped on him if he isn't?

The bad thing is that he has been doing this for 25 years up here and on the peninsula. All of us who fish up here knew it and the game department just now busts him. He has already paid his fines and still has his license. What a crock of [Bleeeeep!]!