Squid Dragger Anchor Cutoffs

[Bay Fishin]

Welcome aboard. I subscribed to your magazine way back in November, and havent received it yet. Is it on the way?

[captlen]

We had a very near miss with these assholes last year. If they approach my vessel on a collision course intentionally again this year, I WILL fire upon their wheelhouse. I have the right to protect my vessel and the passengers onboard. If they think I am kidding, well then they need to try me....

And you will go to jail-- assault with a deadly weapon---simple as that. That's if you don't hit anyone. Hit someone and everything changes for the worst. Use your head.


Len Belcaro
Big Game fishing Journal

[Hudson]

Can't wait to get this months mag - I know this stirred up a bit of controversy this year, and I think the fact you and others have brought it to the forefront might wake some people up. Maybe it makes a dragger capt. think twice about getting to close and maybe it's makes a sportie think twice about tying up a ball - hopefully it leads to a safer environment on the edge for all of us.

Capt. Brad

[cab]

With mooring light on, I had a Scallop Rig alter course and cut me off the hook last summer outside of O.C. MD. He changed course and came within 25 yards with his bird. I saw the dudes laughing in the wheel house when we felt the pull. That shit ain't funny at 2am. I keep an 870 with a handfull of slugs onboard for a different reason, but I don't know what I'd do the next time around. Those guys are making a living and that's fine, but you gotta tell someone your gonna $#*% 'em before you leave them in the ocean with no ground tackle!

[Seaker]

Yeah there's some heavy handed crap going down out there for certain. We keep a min. of two up all night just for this Sh*t. I don't even anchor anymore and we pay a price for that also rockn all night long but at least we are very mobile and can move real quick if needed.

[fishskipper]

Capt. Len,
Thanks very mich for bringing this to everyones attention! I fished those canyons in 2002 on a private vessel and was told by the owner to tie up like every one else, I refused. He didn't like it, but we caught a limit of fish most of the time, adrift. The fish will follow your drift , no doubt in my mind.
As far as the draggers, I feel that they should not even be allowed in those same areas at night or anywhere else as far as I'm concerned.
As in the articles in Big Game about the early years and the question asked "what was the biggest mistake that changed our fishing forever"? Answers were allowing foreign and domestic fisherman to come into the canyon and take ALL THE SQUID. Fish have to eat! Other answers were purse seining. I'll take it one more step and say to include menhaden dragging also. These practices have to stop, in order for there to be substantial stocks.
I don't know how to make this happen, but I think it would benefit us all and there will be nothing but support from this forum.
Capt. Ron
www.tunatool.com
www.littlejeanniesportfishing.com

[jjfishing]

I had the same thing off OC myself and caught it on vidio, My customers were recording a hot tuna bite in the Balt.and paned up to see a dragger close enough to throw a sinker at. luckly up my side and didn't snag my gear.
He was working around us all night and as morning approched he got alittle close.
Welcome Ken, life long (of your magazine) subscriber.Now live in SC and still love to read about the Northeast Canyons.
Jeff.

[Big Jay]

Dude i just spit my coffee on my keyboard

You rock big jay and glad to see you around brotha

Hahaha...glad to give everyone a chuckle now and then.

Good to be here! Look forward to shooting...ahem...fishing! with all of you this year.

[Washashore]

I don't know why you folks are so against some clear vigilant justice. These assholes are putting people's property and lives in danger, have been for a long while now, and for what? They get their jollies? Fuck them. There ain't a darned thing wrong with someone going lights out and running a couple of strafe runs at these assholes, taking out their windows with some birdshot. Then, it's off home, nobody's the wiser. I'm a fan of responsible commercial fishing, by the way, but these scum deserve adn should be given no quarter. Best regards,

Washashore

[Deep C]

Lenny
Great piece... About time you came over here where the pros play... We've got a far reaching geographic group here and are delighted to have you aboard...