Alright, which one of the Bodega Crew was this....

http://spearboard.com/showpost.php?p=514588&postcount=5

Fort Ross:
"We ran into a couple guys who were RR fishing from their kayak. We paddled over and asked what they were fishing for...Vermillion they said.  We could see the Ranger on the point watching them. 
We advised them they had a week to go until RR is open on that area and not to bring anything back to the beach. They later told us they were from Bodega marine lab."

 

Not any of us regulars on this board that I know of.  We do have a bunch of spring class students here in from UC Davis and they're always getting in trouble (beach bonfires, underage drinking, etc..), it could be one of them.   

More likely however, it's our "Animal Resource Group" which helps keep the tanks around here going and often goes out on collecting trips for various reasons (mostly just to keep our display tank pretty).  Becuase they were fishing for "Vermillion" in particular, I'm guessing it was a collecting trip.  They have scientific collecting permits from DFG that allow them to take certian fish and invertebrates out of season, it could have been them.    Some caveats to their permits... they have to notify DFG at least 24 hrs in advance everytime they plan to go out, they have to carry their permit with them, and they have to report back to DFG exactly what they kept and what happened to each speciman.

Brian

I can see how in maybe March or April, a few "permit collected" rockfish would unfortunately succumb to trauma, and then be disposed of in the least wasteful way possible (burp).  Not that this actually happens, but I'm just saying it could...

Regards,
Scott

Scott, I'm not sure if that happens or not, but most of the things that die in the tanks end up being eaten by other things (other fish, sea stars, and/or crabs).  We also have a "marine waste" protocol which involves a really nasty smelling garbage can and I where that goes I have no idea.  I just hope human consumption isn't part of it.

I was thinking more along the lines of the fish suffering inadvertant blunt force trauma to the cranium sometime during transportation to the lab itself

But seriously, can you collect from a kayak, and bring in healthy fish? How would you confine the fish in a manner that would not be harmful? A large ventilated baggie?

Regards,
Scott

Sometimes, samples aren't required to be kept alive.  Maybe they just need a tissue sample for a DNA or other histiologial test.  I really don't know.  I suppose I could ask around and try and figure out the story behind this.

The fact that a warden was watching them means that he/she probably got to the bottom of this when they came to shore. If they truely were from the lab and using a collecting permit, all is well and they would be let go with out a citation.  If they didn't have a collecting permit, then these poachers most likely got caught.

Offduty mentioned in a later post that the yak-fishermen stopped fishing immediately after being told that rockfishing is off-limits there.  This seems like quite coincidental and/or guilty action on their behalf.  I refrained from posting any insinuations, but my personal conjecture would be that they probably just didn't understand the regs.

I was pretty sure it wasn't one of the NCKA Bodega Crew, but found it humorous since it's on the heels of the Bsteves "scallop-poacher" discussion.   

On another note, I think Scott's posts about how to keep the fish alive were in direct reference to your coments :
More likely however, it's our "Animal Resource Group" which helps keep the tanks around here going
You have to admit that rock-fishing from a kayak at a place like Ft.Ross seems like one of the worst possible methods of getting healthy tank specimens back to the lab.



BTW Brian, I was in baja for 4 days and not a single Wanted poster of you - I think it's safe for you to return.   

Thanks Fuzz.  I didn't catch the kayak bit at first, and the more I hear about this, the more it sounds like someone trying to claim the marine lab as an excuse for poaching (or it was two of those drunk spring class students).  I don't know of anyone doing research on dead rockfish at the lab, and I didn't notice any new fish in the display tank.

As for Mexico, I snagged the scallop accidentally with an iron in 100+ ft of water and it was yummy.  The really sad part of that whole story is that I'm so paranoid about regulations in Mexico, that I'm probably one of the few people that actually register their kayaks as a fishing vessel with the Mexican ministry of fisheries when I go down.  Unfortunately, I don't see myself going on a trip like that again for a long time, wanted by the authorities or otherwise

You guys realize that there is a marine protection, no fishing zone around the Lab at Bodega head? If I remember right it goes 500 yds out and starts just south of Horseshoe Cove and goes North around the point about half way down the point  toward Salmon Creek.

I can't remember where I got it but I have it GPS'ed into my handheld.

The Bodega State Marine Reserve actually extends 1000 ft from the mean high tide line (500 yds would be a safe buffer) which isn't much.   The point north of the lab is called Mussel Pt.   Despite the small size, we catch people fishing and ab diving there every year.  Another popular pastime for the locals is to sneak into Horseshoe Cove to go surfing (also not allowed).  Also, despite being a no-take reserve, scientific collecting with a permit is allowed (at the lab that usually that means sea stars and algae)