My worst (not safety related) experience ever

[TPG]

Originally Posted by nilsonov

What a waste. You should have kept the fish and taken your chances. You took your chances shooting it, so you should have taken your chances with being held accountable for it, especially if you decide to post on a public forum.

Yeah, don't listen to this stupidity. They're watching.

https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM

This morning while patrolling state waters on the Southeast of Block Island, Environmental Police Officers from DEM’s Division of Law Enforcement boarded a recreational fishing vessel with a group of people spear fishing. During the inspection officers discovered the group to be in possession of undersized striped bass, some of which had already been filleted and several tautog, which is out of season at this time. The owner / operator of the vessel was cited for the following violations and their fishing gear was seized:
•Possession of undersized striped bass
•Exceeding the daily limit of striped bass
•Possession of undersized tautog
•Possession of tautog out of season
•Failure to produce a Saltwater fishing license
•Failure to display a proper dive flag

They seized all spearguns.

[lidiver]

I appreciate the spearo expressing his feelings but posts like this takes us 10 steps closer from a striped bass spearfshig ban. In NY it was a long fight to get it recognized.

This slot approach is dealing a heavy blow to a sport we love. The fishery was in deeper trouble in the past and it recovered by setting a limit to 1 fish and increasing the minimum size to over 30”. Sorry to say it but we got played with this slot. Cool your engines there are plenty of fish around n the legal slot s don’t rush the shot. In other words if it looks like a fish that gets your heart racing, then it’s too big so let it swim.

Stefan

[Danceswithbass]

I agree with Stefan above. Posting about this is not a good thing, and I've been pretty happy to see that up until now it has been pretty quiet. Not sure what the positive point of posting this is, but am certain that it is ammunition for those who would like to see a ban on spearfishing striped bass - and they are out there. Maybe think about deleting it, if possible?

[North Star]

Originally Posted by Danceswithbass

I agree with Stefan above. Posting about this is not a good thing, and I've been pretty happy to see that up until now it has been pretty quiet. Not sure what the positive point of posting this is, but am certain that it is ammunition for those who would like to see a ban on spearfishing striped bass - and they are out there. Maybe think about deleting it, if possible?

I agree. Couldn't believe he posted about this in the first place. #1 exhibit for self-incrimination before the Fish and Game - and casting a bad light on spearos in general. Delete it.