Doran Beach Theft

as we came in on a charter boat rock fish/crab combo day...friday in monterey...everyone was joking and waiting to get into the bay-dock-home...when the motors revved down and the boat began a hard trun...
The captain had his eye glasses out and was watching a 18-22' PB as three guys dropped his bothers buoy back on the water and motored away...then stopped and tossed a ready to drop trap of their own to cover their quick move-=and pretend to be dropping  a trap they owned....

The Captain of the charter boat motored right up to the guys in their smaller sport boat and asked WTF

they played dumb...he said ''is that your trap you were hauling" and the three guys stared back...then the one driving the boat comes out of the canopy and say oh that!! that is our trap
The charter captain says...not that trap you just dropped...the trap you were pulling as we came by ...the orange one over there....oh we were not touching that...we dont know nothing about that orange one.....the charter captain said...okay thanks guys...you know we are just trying to make a living out here...and got under way...I asked him later..what happens next on that type of deal...he said...I let them know...I saw their boat....word will get out
total assholes....the whole charter was at the railing looking at these three guys face to face

Damn guys that's F UP!      With all of the $ & resources being spent on enforcement one would think that the DFG, Coast Guard, & County Sheriff's Dept would be willing to spend a little time to help alleviate this ongoing problem. But the only success I've heard about with regard to crab poachers being caught was when private citizens got video & radioed to get the LEO on scene. It would go a long way to curb crab poaching if LEO's actually nailed some thru their own surveillance/sting activities. Anyone know if they actually do spend any time trying?

.I get all the crabs my family and I can eat via the boat but I feel bad for the vacationers and part timers who only get a few chances to get out and have a chance to get a few for themselves. .karma  is a vengeful bitch....set her free.....

Pretty sure there's little to no incentive to raid a bunch of crab traps for a few sport limits. So these people who are raiding are likely taking overlimits or are bunch of nutjob  environmentalists who are providing these crabs their freedom.

100% positive its the prior rather than the latter.

Last week during the opener fish and game was heavily patrolling Doran Beach, i noticed 3 trucks in the park and one more on the west side, according to the guy camping in front, they came over on Oct 31st and ask to see what was on their coolers, freezer and pots to be sure there was no dungies.
On the 1st there was a rumor going around ( most likely true) that one guy in a boat noticed one of his pots on somebody else boat then called fish and game and they met him and busted them at the west side ramp.

one of the guys from fish and game game me his card and said to call him if i see anyone robing pots, they will be stationed in the area all year long.

one of the guys from fish and game game me his card and said to call him if i see anyone robing pots, they will be stationed in the area all year long.

What's his name and number??
The biggest problem LEO has in patrolling the area is how to determine someone is pulling their pot or someone else's pot.
Night time ops I think would provide better results.
How does everyone here mark their buoys to distinguish theirs from another?
Name and phone #on my buoy. Thinking now about a SS ID tag on the trap too.

Man out of all the lowlife thievery done in the outdoors crab pot raiding has got to be the lowest.
If they have the means of going out and raiding why not just go out, drop your own shit, and then participate legally in taking crab like the rest of the folks out there.

People that steal really are just fucked up. I don't get it.

Because there poachers, and can't follow legal limits!  Scumbags!

maybe have a time during the day when pots can be puled  for sport guys..only like from 8-2 ...hassle but then it would stop the midnight tweeker guys

My pot got raided on opening night.

All of O2B's got raided last night.

My overnight soak at HMB on the opener was raided but they didn't take my tackle. Yesterday there were 2 small boats with 2-3 guys each hanging out in the crab grounds with fishing poles. They knew each other and had dropped 1 pot each. I peddled over and ask them what they were fishing for. They didn't answer me and I kept an eye on them for the day. I know it doesn't bother some people but it really pisses me off. Keep your cameras ready and talk to anybody acting suspicious.

Craig,
Next time take a pic of the boat and post it.  Word will get around.  It would help if u described the boat so we know what/who to look out for.

Time release floats. And an NCKA sting, not to catch them in the act, to find out what truck is theirs, and where they store the boat, where they live, where they work, where they shop and drink, why should we follow the law?

More exciting than chasing crab….Hunting crab thieves…we should have a crab thief tournament/MBF/hookup.

My floats are orange on one end, yellow on the other with a white band between, gray rope. Please merk anyone pulling my stuff.

More exciting than chasing crab….Hunting crab thieves…we should have a crab thief tournament/MBF/hookup.

Go on, I'm listening…

Wouldn't the winner just get the spoiils from the thieves?
Or we could all dress up like Pirates!