Itelco brought up a point that I think bears more investigation.

I have not had a game warden in my boat to check my catch! EVER!!!

I've never had an enforcement person meet me at the launch and ask to see my catch!

I've had fish checkers ask their ?s

Hunting season is another thing! I am just interested in fishing, for this thing.

Have you been checked?

Did they come in your boat?

Did they ask to see your catch?

Did they open your coolers?




herm

I've been checked by the patrol at some of the boat launches/take outs on the Skykomish, especially Sultan. They've asked if we have caught anything and when we say yes they've politely asked to see the fish. No problem.

Herm

Most of the time the game wardens are just like traffic cops! They tend to be at the places where there are masses of people and lots of violations occurring. It just increases their chances of catching a lot more violators just by the shear number of people who are fishing.

Just look at places like the "Meat hole" at the Lewis River or the Barrier Dam or the Blue Creek boat ramp on the Cowlitz River. They make the state a lot more money at places like that then they would at far off places that are not used very often.

Herm, you may not "known it", but you have most likely been checked a lot more times then you may think! Many times the gamers are watching you through their scopes with the old camera attached. The problem that you are probably having is; you aren't breaking any game laws, so the boys aren't a knocking at your door! It's a whole lot easier for them to hide out and glass you then it is for them to pull up in their truck and walk over and check you out.

That's how I see most wardens working!

And I see a lot!!

Cowlitzfisherman

I've been checked on the water out of Edmonds durring silver season and on possesion when it was open for silvers but not kings. They asked to see my license, fish and I had to pull up my gear to show that I was fishing barbless. Saw a guy in a boat near me reach out with a knife and cut his own line when he saw them check my gear, must have figured a ticket for barbs would cost more than putting on a new legal set up. Fish cops saw him cut the line, so when he was checked I noticed they boarded his boat and were on it for awhile. Don't know if he got a ticket for anything.
The enforcement guys have always been very nice and polite with me.

I was checked twice last year by WDFW. First time was lake Washington sockeye season just outside the mount lake cut I was heading back after a day of fishing. They pulled along side my boat and stopped me. They checked everyones license and then asked me to open the ice chest to show them my fish. They thanked me and said goodbye. The next time was fishing point dalco for blackmouth. They again pulled up along side. Asked to check our hooks to make sure they were barbless and look at our licenses. Then opened up the fish boxes and ice chest. Again passing with flying colors he told me how much he liked my boat and to have a good day. I have been checked maybe 10 times in the past 25 years by WDFW and they have allways been nice and considerate. I have also been asked by fish checkers many more times than that to look at my fish. I never have a problem showing off the days catch. It was kind of funny last year at Alkia when the fish checker asked if I had any luck fishing for silvers and I said yes. He asked me to take the ice chest out of the boat and open it up witch I did. I think he was suprised to see we had four silvers for four fishing that day. He told me he had counted 46 other boats with 4 total fish.

I have been checked during the C&R on the Sauk by officers in a driftboat. They checked licenses and hook barbs is all.

The only time I have ever been checked on the Sky was last April at Ben Howard when I was giving a spey casting lesson. Once he saw all I had was yarn, he didn't even ask for licenses.

The last time I was at La Push, every boat out on tabletop was checked. They would just pull up beside, and tell us that they were coming aboard.
They did this and checked out all my compartments and coolers and then told us to have a nice day. There was a guy that was fishing next to us that was not so fortunate though. They got him for having four butts on board with only two guys, tried to tell the fish cops that it was his possesion limit,,,,,,that won't quite cut it with the gamies.
Later, Ng

Steve,

Love the new Avatar.

Hey Dan , lets do it again out at Westport this summer, hopefully the weather will be better than last year. Have a new motor on the boat too, a 150 Evinrude.
Keep in touch.....Ng

I'd love to join you Steve. And I'm just now getting the color back to normal, after turning green with you last time.

Talk to you later.............

I got checked on the columbia back in april but was not boarded. Only been checked twice in my life.

I get checked all the time, but then I fish all the time Last time was crabbing down at Potlatch on a nasty drizzely day, boat came sneaking out of the fog real effectively. Showed them my crabs and showed them I was wearing my license under my raingear which they said was fine. Asked how they had been doing and was told that I was the first boat doing everything legal that they had seen in an hour! The next boat they checked they wound up confiscating gear, crabs, and escorting them to the launch, so they must have really screwed up. They were real professional and real glad to finally be able to leave the ticket book in their pocket with me. Crappy job, I wouldn't want it

Come to Oregon and you'd better have a current lic. in hand. The Oregon State Police do 90% of the game checking ... and they have 'guns and back-up.'

Never could figure out why Washington/Calif. didn't do the same. We've got very few game guys/gals out there but lots of OPS. History, and probably a repeat, but last fall found 6 folks using illegal gear. the first four (all were within a 100 yards of each other) told me to ... well, "piss off." Wrong answer. The other two were a young couple whom I riigged up with fly end tackle, bobbers, etc. (all quite legal).

Called OSP on my cell phone and the officer was there in about 15 minutes ... and wrote about $1,200 worth of tickets.
Yes!!!
fae

Yes I'm checked at least once a year.

Only allow the coast guard to board without protest, so far state and county police have backed off.

Yes OSP has the authority to inspect your catch.

No, if possible will not allow an illegal search.

Ive been checked 3 times in the last two months lake fishing. 2 of the times i was the only one out there. Ive been checked 3 or 4 times on the Sky (Wallace flats, Sultan Launch, Lewis Launch, and once at a remote stretch) Yes, they do go through coolers, bags, and of course check liscences, gear and fish. Ive also been spotted though a scope on the Sauk, and N.F Stilly.

They are definetly out there for those who think otherwise. Most wardens know were all the hiddy holes are and canyon climbs, so its best to comply by the rules at all times, not only for your sake but for the fishes too.

Used to get checked more often when I had my old fiberform. Have only gotten checked once since I got my present more expensive boat. If gamies around and my minority friends are aboard its an automatic check. Profiling at sea

Thanks for the response!

It sounds better than I thought. I was beginning to think there was nowhere near enough enforcement.

Personaly, I'd like to see every boat and fisherman checked at least every third trip!

I'm more concerned with fisheries like the Columbia Sturgeon fisherie and the steelhead and springer salmon fisheries. I think they should just call Manpower and send a doz or so to Hoodsport and the other combat zones!
Major return on the buck spent and let the qualified guys do the important stuff like catchin long liners an gill and drift netters.

Thanks again! Thank you WDFW!




herm

I get checked all the time fishing in the salt. In fact I have ben checked twice since halibut opened up. Probably 5-10 times a year.

It seems like I get checked every time I go out. Especially Sieku! And Herm I know you had to have been checked @ Rivers last year. I was probably checked 3 or 4 times over there. I dont think your question was about BC though.
Robyns

I have been checked in the salt once.It was during the sinclair inlet bubble fishery.

I have never been checked on a river by a game warden.It would take a pretty ambitious warden generally though as I am never to close to a road.