While pre-fishing Potholes this weekend my partner and I encountered a group of 4 older boys(18-20 yrs old) camped and fishing from the bank. As we got closer to them I saw that one of them was trying to remove a lure from an obviously dead largemouth bass approximately 14" long. This fish had been in his hand for over 15 minutes so I knew it was dead. I then asked if they were going to keep it. They all replied, "yes" and proceeded to raise up a rope stringer with 4 big largemouth on it also dead.
I then tried to tactfully educate them as to the statewide slot limit on bass and the importance of C&R. I could sense a touch of sarcasm in their voices as we left them.
A short while later my gut feeling told me to call the law, which I did.
About an hour later I received a call from the local warden who had just arrested them for 1)no fishing licenses, 2)retained fish without the proper licenses/tags, 3)retained fish of an illegal size(slot limit 12"-17") and 4)minor in possession.
The warden thanked me and  informed me that they were  very disrespectfull to him as well as having no respect for the law.
At first I thought maybe I was being to hard on the boys but after the conversation with the warden I felt I had done the right thing. At least a few more bass will live to be caught by my kids.
Mark

Good job, Mark!

Good job...I would've done the same thing.

Good judgement call Mark!    What number(s) did you call, so that we can add them to our cell phones right now.

The number I called was 411. Believe it or not, I didn't have any regs in the glove box. Duh.
I asked the 411 operator to please stay on the line untill we connected to a live person as I was trying to report an "in progess fish/game violation." She did stay on the line and tried quite a few numbers untill finally connected with 911 at Moses Lk Police which transferred me to the State Police whom stated they'd pass the info along to a game warden. I really didn't think it was going any where after all that but low and behold, an hour later I got a phone call from the warden and the satisfaction of knowing that the system really works.
He was very gratefull and stated that he needed more folks like me to call as he was stretched very thin and can't possibly cover all his area as thoroughly as needed without our help.
Get involved folks. We've got to help police our own game if we want to continue playing it.
Mark

Great job Mark,  definite atta boy on this one and taking the extra steps to ensure that it was reported to the right people.  Hope the word gets out to people about conservation and breaking laws will result in fines and punishment.

Mark

Hats off to you! I think all of us work hard to stay within the laws that are presented to us. Even though there are some that we may not agree with. Don't for one second think you were being to harsh on those boys. My father taught me to fish at a young age. He also went over the regulations with me so that I understood what was right and what was wrong. I am sure more of this goes on than we are even remotely aware of. It is good to see the good guys win one for a change. I am sure the bad side prospers way more often than we on the right side of the law do. I remember one of the first big fish I caught when I was just a 4th of 5th grader. I caught a big King salmon out in the sound. If my memory serves me right it was a 25 to 30 lb fish. At the time I caught it you were not allowed to keep Kings. As they hoisted that big fish up and took a picture the next thing I know they said "To bad we gotta let her go" I thought they were joking and the next thing I knew they tossed her back in the drink. I was in shock and I remember even a few tears came to my eyes. A real heart breaker for a little kid. I learned an important lesson from that though. One I obviously have never forgotton. Its too bad these kids had to learn such a lesson the hard way................

Kirk,
I never thought to ask him for his phone number but the numbers are in the regs by area.
On the weekends we need to call the state patrol I'm told since the WDFW is out of office and the state patrol will get ahold of them.
Kirk, can't tell ya what they were catchin em on. You know the drill: If I tell ya I'll have to - - - - - - -
LOL
Mark