Let it be known, shrimp pot poaching verified

[breausaw]

Went out Friday morning dropped 2 sets of pots outside Culross then headed to Henchenbrock, returned to pick pots Saturday night. The pots seemed a tad bit off from way point. First set had a few shrimp but not what I would have expected, then pulled the second set. When first pot came up something looked strange, the knot I use to tie into the main line was different; someone pulled and reset my pots.
At least they had the courtesy to reset, and I liked the way they tied into the main line; pot doesn't wrap around as much.
With that said, this is a first, the first pot pouch I can verify.
Wondering what was going through the mind of the perpetrators when they re-tied the knot.
Two weekends pier dripped 2 sets in different location and retuned to find low numbers, makes me wonder.
Son of a b****

 

[rimfirematt]

I've shrimped 3 times this year. My best day was when I was checking my pots every 2 hours and sitting within watching distance. The other 2 times I left them all day and got 1/4 gallon and 1/2 gallon... I've always seen boats just sitting around in the back of the bays..

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[kobiejohn]

Have a buddy that uses colored zip ties on his. He's pulled them and had the zip ties gone several times.

 

[Kisutch]

Very interesting to see this post. I was out this weekend and think my pots were raided also. I set them in Passage Canal and left them for 2 days loaded with bait. Returned today and had 0, 0, 6 shrimp in 3 pots. A month ago I set in same place I had 45 in each pot. They were very close to same spot and tied up in the same way but I just can't believe there were so few.
Almost the exact same thing happened to me last weekend on Perry Island. Set on my go-to hotspot and ran out to Naked Is. for a night. Came back and had hardly anything where I usually kill it.

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[27 sportfisher]

what a trip to hear dudes setting and heading out for a day or two. of course the crooks are to blame but come on at some point you fellas are creating a reliable opportunity for the dead beats. maybe put a case of natty ice down by beans with your name and number and a sign saying "mine dont take" how many will be left in two days. i use the zip ties as well.

 

[akrstabout]

I agree it happens out there. But also longer soaks gives octopus n maybe other prey time to enter and eat all the shrimp. I've seen it personally w just big empty heads or tail hulls stuck in pot and few times octopus still in there.

Back in '07 I had found a sweet spot close to my bear spot. Seen whale in this spot n figured I'd drop. Tricky terrain down deep but I never lost a set there. But once I pulled and came up empty after every other pull averaged well over 100 or more, sometimes I remember it was over 200 between 5 pots. Just over night soak. On said pull, there was another boat near by and they had their pots so close to mine. No proof, but I never dropped there again to prevent possible theft of all gear.


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[Kisutch]

what a trip to hear dudes setting and heading out for a day or two. of course the crooks are to blame but come on at some point you fellas are creating a reliable opportunity for the dead beats. maybe put a case of natty ice down by beans with your name and number and a sign saying "mine dont take" how many will be left in two days. i use the zip ties as well.

Yeah I hope you are kidding. Two days or two hours shouldn't matter, it can happen any time. So basically you're saying never let your pots out of sight? What a fun fishing trip that would be, sitting around watching your buoy all day and night.

I think the point of Jay's post and my comment was to make people aware there are thieves active out of Whittier right now and to be watchful. I know there is little enforcement out there but people can help out by posting here and reporting to a trooper if they have a substantial lead. I know that if I saw a boat pulling multiple sets of pots I would get a description and report it.

 

[27 sportfisher]

heck im not basiclly saying it im flat out saying it. and yeah it aint a peaceful endeavor to make sure i am not robbed. pity be on the soul that touches my gear.

Yeah I hope you are kidding. Two days or two hours shouldn't matter, it can happen any time. So basically you're saying never let your pots out of sight? What a fun fishing trip that would be, sitting around watching your buoy all day and night.

I think the point of Jay's post and my comment was to make people aware there are thieves active out of Whittier right now and to be watchful. I know there is little enforcement out there but people can help out by posting here and reporting to a trooper if they have a substantial lead. I know that if I saw a boat pulling multiple sets of pots I would get a description and report it.

 

[Kay9Cop]

Lately I make shrimping a camping trip. Set the pots, grill some food, and drink some beer...and watch the pots like a hawk. Much more productive with my time if I really want the shrimp.

 

[coho slayer]

Troopers pull pots all the time and reset them, too, so keep that in mind. The reset is going to be close, but probably not exactly the same spot. They aren't stealing your shrimp, though. You'd be amazed at the things people do while "shrimping." Throwing a crab pot in the middle, attaching baited circle hooks to the outside of pots, using way more pots than allowed, illegal pots to begin with, etc....there's an entire yard of confiscated illegal stuff in Cordova (or at least there was a few years ago...I think they auctioned some of it off).

 

[smokumreds]

Every time I have had my pots robbed it been during the night. Last time they tossed my string out 2 miles away from where they were set. Had a tough time finding them. I've gotten to the point that I won't shrimp unless I can fish where I set my gear. It's cheaper to buy shrimp at Costco then running my boat around pulling empty pots. Even if you catch someone pulling your gear the troopers won't do anything and if you put a hole in thair boat you go to jail and they go back out steeling more shrimp.

 

[Akgramps]

I have been working on a ocean boat and was getting excited about "shrimpin", after reading this, I am not so sure....

 

[MaximumPenetration]

Troopers pull pots all the time and reset them, too, so keep that in mind. The reset is going to be close, but probably not exactly the same spot. They aren't stealing your shrimp, though. You'd be amazed at the things people do while "shrimping." Throwing a crab pot in the middle, attaching baited circle hooks to the outside of pots, using way more pots than allowed, illegal pots to begin with, etc....there's an entire yard of confiscated illegal stuff in Cordova (or at least there was a few years ago...I think they auctioned some of it off).

Troopers pulling other people's pots without a warrant is illegal. I wouldn't condone or allow this behavior with my pots.

 

[coho slayer]

Troopers pulling other people's pots without a warrant is illegal. I wouldn't condone or allow this behavior with my pots.

They don't need a warrant to check gear, coolers, licenses, etc.

Feel free to argue with them, but I know for a fact that they check pots regularly.

 

[MaximumPenetration]

They don't need a warrant to check gear, coolers, licenses, etc.

Feel free to argue with them, but I know for a fact that they check pots regularly.

Checking pots is far different than pulling pots. So is checking gear, coolers, and licenses. Pulling someones pots without their knowledge, and without them being present, is illegal. If I caught troopers doing this, I wouldn't argue. I would take pictures, get their boat and badge numbers, and file a complaint with the attorney general's office. If they pull up to my boat while I'm pulling or putting pots down and want to see my equipment, I will comply happily. But to pull up to a random buoy, albeit marked with information pursuant to fish and game laws for shellfish gear, is not within their privilege as a law enforcement officer.

 

[coho slayer]

Checking pots is far different than pulling pots. So is checking gear, coolers, and licenses. Pulling someones pots without their knowledge, and without them being present, is illegal. If I caught troopers doing this, I wouldn't argue. I would take pictures, get their boat and badge numbers, and file a complaint with the attorney general's office. If they pull up to my boat while I'm pulling or putting pots down and want to see my equipment, I will comply happily. But to pull up to a random buoy, albeit marked with information pursuant to fish and game laws for shellfish gear, is not within their privilege as a law enforcement officer.

I recommend asking a F&W Trooper about it, then.

I worked for them for a summer and personally pulled many random pots without their owner's knowledge or consent.

 

[Daveinthebush]

Troopers can pull gear any time they want to check if it is legal. In the Trooper daily dispatches I see them ticketing for illegal crab gear and shrimp gear all the time.

 

[MaximumPenetration]

Troopers can pull gear any time they want to check if it is legal. In the Trooper daily dispatches I see them ticketing for illegal crab gear and shrimp gear all the time.

So can they pull someone's anchor? What happens if a person pulls your pots and attaches something illegal? I won't be paying any tickets and they'll be much better off if I don't catch them messing with my gear illegally.

 

[alaskanap]

I see the trooper here in Wrangell with gear that doesn’t comply in the back of his truck almost every week. They pull gear all the time.

 

[Patsfan54]

The Fourth Amendment says:

[FONT=&quot]"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

As anyone who has set a shrimp or crab pot or halibut skate knows you need to identify who the pot belongs to. There are numerous different rules for each set of gear some require ADF&G#, some the vessel name, some a phone number, some no phone number. There is a reason that these regs are not standard. The only gear that the troopers can legally pull would be those that are not in compliance in plain view, meaning if your gear isn't labelled correctly that gives them probable cause to investigate further. If they are pulling legal gear, with no probable cause, then they are in violation of the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution, as I understand it.

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