Selling fish...isn't it a no-no?

Well, in the last few days I have heard of two cases where someone sold/intended to sell fish being caught.  On Saturday, a guy on the marina pulls out a five pound LMB.  I asked if was going to release it.  He replied that he would keep and eat it or sell it.

Today at work, a co-worker mentioned that he caught a large striper in the delta, and sold it for $2 a pound ($30) to someone else.

I'm pretty sure it is illegal to do this...so, what are the regs?

Totally illegal. I couldn't believe that guy even said that on Sat & it's a bad sign that you ran into 2 situations in 2 days. Your co-worker is really pushin' his luck, telling people about that. It just goes to show how much this kind of stuff must be happening.
The regulation is so basic, it's stated before the specific regs are listed. It's on pg 4 of the booklet, under License Information:
"Fish, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians and reptiles taken under authority of a sport fishing license may not be bartered or sold."

Thought so...I might gently and kindly (I have a nice work enviroment) let my co-worker know that her husband is out of bounds!

Thought so...I might gently and kindly (I have a nice work enviroment) let my co-worker know that her husband is out of bounds!

Yep, just educate them. Chances are they really didn't know, or think it's not a big deal, but as the saying goes, Ignorance of the law . . .

Back in the Summer of '07, during the great ocean salmon fishing season off Eureka, a good friend told me of someone in her church who was selling smoked salmon.  I asked about the source, "is he a commercial fisherman?"  "No, he just sells it to cover the cost of the gas..."  I told her it's illegal what he's doing and it's wrong too.  It's like me going abaloneing and selling it and claiming it just covers the cost of my beer and the ab card and my wetsuit...  She felt bad, and what's sad is that I couldn't tell if what I'd told her would make enough of a difference to her.  The Tragedy of the Commons is occuring on a larger and larger scale.  Things are changing right before our eyes.  ...   ...    ....     .......     It seems really significant to me that as a kid I would never have imagined that many of the African animals I learned of would be endangered and on the brink of extinction by the time I had kids... 

Hi Yakers:

       Small timers don't bother me as much as the water Wars between SOCAL and NORCAL. A better idea would be your Friend could buy retail fish at Costco and not use Game Fish.

       I still have a job so, I give away my Catch to Family and Friends for, future
consideration.
                                                                            Sea-ya at VanD
                                                                            Ernie

   

This is (sadly) a too-common occurrence.  I've seen people exchanging $$ for fish on more than one occasion...one time at the SC Pier I had a guy approach us on his bike and ask how we were doing.  (not good)  He then pulled out a burlap sack with 7-8 nice fat perch, and asked if we wanted to buy some at $2 each.  I declined, and then watched him work his way down the pier repeating the spiel.

That dude was back fishing the same spot the next morning, BTW, with three or four rigs. 

Ernie, no doubt that there are much bigger impacts on resources than individuals doing this stuff--the water wars, commercial fishing, large-scale poaching, etc.--but it's disturbing that so many people seem ignorant or just have no consideration of these laws that are there to protect the fish & game populations.

Most of us are not exactly in love with DFG, to say the least, but we are still aware that regs are in place for the most part to protect species, and we learn the regs & abide by the laws even if we might disagree with some of them. What bothers me is that it appears (and yes, it's only anecdotal) that a lot of people have major disregard for the regs and, more importantly, the resources themselves. Add up enough of those individuals and it will have an impact.

Once again, I think educating people on this stuff is key, but you can't force feed them, so . . .

And yes, gifting catches to friends & family is a great gesture, and see ya at Van D! 
Aaron

Gah, that's depressing. Confronting poachers is always tricky. I always approach such situations this way;

"Here's a heads up, if a ranger of DFG agent see's you doing that, you're gonna be in big trouble. The regs are XYZ. I'm just letting you know so you don't get a ticket and have to go to court."

I find that makes it less of a confrontation btw you and the poacher. If it's an honest mistake then they won't do it again. If it's intentional poaching then you've let them know that you know.

I know this came up here before but some guys sell fish at the capitola pier.  Turns out they have a commercial license so its OK.  On the surface it looked like some local guys hanging around an ice chest.  I assume this doesnt apply to bass but something to keep in mind.

 

I'll bet incidents like this are steadily increasing as more & more people start looking for alternative ways to pick up extra $. They probably don't even see anything wrong with it.

Gross. It makes me sad.

When I was about twelve a guy bought about 20 really large crappie from me for a dollar each  at Lake Isabella.  Didn't' know any better.  In Hawaii it's legal and common to sell your catch.  When I came in from kayaking someone gave me twenty dollars for a 7 or 8 pound Jack.  He got the fish for free and so did every one else that asked. 

In Hawaii it's legal and common to sell your catch.  When I came in from kayaking someone gave me twenty dollars for a 7 or 8 pound Jack.  He got the fish for free and so did every one else that asked. 

Hate to single you out, but this is a classic example of people not understanding Fish & Game rules due to perceived social acceptance.  It is NOT legal in Hawaii to sell your catch without proper licensing! 

http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/fishing_commercial.html

Hello fuzz   I said it was common for people in Hi to sell their catch.  I never said they did so with out a license.  I guess the way I posted sounded funny.  Sorry. 

Keep in mind that it's cheap and easy to get a license there.  Also most of my friends in Hi are commercial fisherman so I didn't really think about the license aspect when when posting.


Individuals or vessels engaged in taking, selling or offering for sale any marine life for commercial purposes (including charter fishing services) must obtain a Commercial Marine License. License fee $50 (resident) and $200 (nonresident). Dup. $10.