[seaslug44]

Yesterday, some of my neighbors were clamming in CLOSED WATERS and they were caught by DEC. Two officers responded to separate calls that reported the illegal clamming. The DEC officers confiscated their shovel and issued them a summons. These neighbors often go clamming, keep undersized fluke & stripers, and keep fish that are out of season.

The part that amazes me is that they are now running around furious. They're complaining that their problems are all the fault of the person(s) who made the phone calls and gave DEC the tip! To me, this is like a drug dealer dealing drugs on a corner and then blaming the concerned citizen for their arrest!

They are pointing their fingers towards my wife because she is home all day and could have been the one to call DEC. One of the clammers was a ten year old kid. His mother is actually so upset that somebody called and put in the complaint that she wants to go down to the State office and demand that they tell her the names of the callers so she can confront them or try to "get" them for harrassment!!!!

Sometimes I wonder what is actually going on inside the minds of some people.

 

[617110]

Doc,

What are the rules/laws for clamming? I see people anchored and digging or foot clamming all the time. Is this not allowed? Also what is the definition and significance of "closed waters"? I have never been clamming but sometimes I think about doing it and if I do I want to make sure it won't cost me anything more than gas and time. I also have neighbors who keep undersized/off season fish and it bothers me somewhat. A friend of mine has a brother in law who is DEC and he said they actually do not catch that many people with undersized fish. From my experience at least last summer (I got inspected 3 times) they just pull over the wrong people. Every time I go out I see people sometimes not even look at the length of the fish...it's just tossed in the cooler. Sometimes I feel like saying something and sometimes I wish I knew who to call on the water. But when push comes to shove I couldn't report anybody because I don't want to be that kind of guy. What a dilema. As far as the situation with your wife is concerned...neighbors will be neighbors. Do not let it bother either one of you.

somoan

 

[seaslug44]

Somoan,

In New York, recreational clamming licensing/permits is a TOWN issue. You need to contact the Town Clerk's office of the town that controls the waters you would like to clam in. They'll tell you whether or not a permit is needed and what the limits are. For instance, in the town of Brookhaven, no permit is required and I beleive you can keep up to a half bushel per day.

CLOSED WATERS are an issue managed by DEC. They can tell you what waters are open or closed to shellfishing. This is mostly to protect the public from health issues.

 

[FredyFluke]

Good for em

Doc
Wait a minute. They are caught breaking the law and want to charge someone with
Harrassment because of it ??
What a joke...

Nice to hear the DEC boys are on the job. I head some guys were busted with short fluke yeasterday around JI.
FINE EM ALL I SAY.....
What most people don't realize is that most areas require a shellfish permit to take clams, and that many areas are closed in summer due to higher concentrations of various bacteria and alge that make the calms risky to eat.

It's funny how a lot of people feel it is a God given right to pull clams (or fish) where/when ever they want, and do not check local laws.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Fine them all I say, AGAIN....
As far as the 10 y/o kid goes, the parents should get the fines, and they should be doubled, just for being stupid and teaching the kids the wrong way to do things.....

 

[GradySailfish]

People like that deserve what they got. I mean if this was a one time offended deal where they usually abide by the laws, and just so happened to not know that the area they were calmming was off limits, then I'd be lienent. However considering the fact that they routinely (according to you) keep short bass, fluke etc, and are given they are not in a serious need for them as a food staple, then I think that any serious punishment is reasonable.

I can't stand people poaching fish, JUST to make an easy buck. I have the greatest respect for commercials, but not for recreational guys making violating the rules and in consequence making it harder for us later.

 

[seaslug44]

The ten year old wasn't related to the others. He was invited the day before to go with them and his parents KNEW that it was going to be ILLEGAL but they sent him anyway. The kid was bragging all day about what he was going to do. Now the parents are acting like the victims with phrases like "I don't know who to trust anymore" and "who would do this to us?" Meanwhile, they were warned the day before not to let their son go because it was illegal!

The attitude these people have is that EVERYBODY does it so why is it not fair for me to do it. The reality is that the area has been closed to clamming for decades and other than an occassional poacher, very few people break the law on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, DEC told them that they were there because of several tips but I think that it was just a scare tactic to make them think twice about doing it again if people are watching. DEC often hides behind trees or a bluff with binoculars looking for poachers. Yesterday's DEC officers were in the right place at the right time. They were clamming in the middle of the day, fully visible from a road. The DEC officers stated that they watched them fill a bag for over a half hour. They dumped the bag before they got to shore because they finally noticed the officers waiting for them at shore. But that didn't stop the officers from taking the shovel and writing tickets.

I haven't had a chance to research it yet, does anyone know what the fine is? Also, are they going to have to go to court or can they pay by mail? The ten year old was lucky. The officers only took his name and phone number and they let him walk home.

 

[LkyLindy]

Busted

Doc-

I can't believe you are sounding all apologetic for the fact that "someone" turned in the lawbreakers.They need to be responsible for their own stupidity.
What if someone ate those clams and came down with hepititis or salmonella poisoning.Who would be sorry then? They took a chance and were BUSTED!-Tough ,but a good lesson for the kid

 

[622520]

Hi Doc, in response to your message first let me address MOM: Knowingly allowing your child to participate in any conduct which is against the law, no matter how minor, is acknowledging that this conduct is permissable. Allowing your child to break just a couple of small laws at age 10 is the breeding ground for conduct that might get way out of control in just a few short years. You cannot be with your child 24/7 but if you set a good example and teach him/her right from wrong you are building a foundation that will last him/her a lifetime.
Now to all my beloved fellow anglers: It is our job to not only enjoy this wonderful sport but to teach and advise others how we can keep this sport alive for future generations to come. We cannot turn the other way or close our eyes to obvious violations of our fish and game laws. Many times a simple explanation of why these laws are in effect will suffice. Teaching a child, and many adults as well, that the joy of fishing is the "catching" not the "keeping" is what this sport is all about. Explain that just like people little fish become big fish some day if given the chance. Throw that little fish back and many other children and adults can experience the same thrill of catching that "big one" some day.
It is our job as anglers to teach others big and little to enjoy this sport for what it is. If you are not willing to step forward and help make this sport more enjoyable for all, then you should not complain. Tight Lines
P.S. Doc I love your idea about taking the kids on a fishin trip. Email me anytime and maybe we could set something up. They will probably show us all up. God I love this Sport.

 

[Flukinit]

The DEC guy's do what they can...

there's just not enough of them. If I have an extra hour or two after work I usually run up to the pier by Cedar beach in Mt. Sinai. Nothing major I just go there w/ a light and porgy fish or go off the beach to kill a little time. I always see people keeping shorts of fluke, porgies or bass. I try to tell them they're not gonna get anything off the fish it's to small but they don't listen.
One Sunday evening I was up there about 7PM and this guy had a small bass had to be about 20" along w/ a baby fluke that didn't even touch the ends on the bottom of a 5gal. bucket. Of course no DEC then. I saw one the next day and told him what happened. he was a nice guy. Told me they just don't have enough officers to do all the patrolling. He said he get's to that dock atleast once a day when he's one duty.
Since then I've seen the guy several times at the dock and he is always handing out ticket for illegal fish. I usually talk with him for a few minutes but try to limit the conversation as I know he is very busy. Nice guy does what he can but there's just not enough of them out there.

 

[618696]

Doc,
You said it best when you said "Sometimes I wonder what is actually going on inside the minds of some people" My Friend was at Robert Moses the other day and was catching schoolie bass. He said he saw a group of guys that had no clue what they were doing. He said amazingly one of them somehow managed to catch a short bass and the threw it into a garbage bag. I think that it is great that the DEC is coming down on people like this, but the fact that they are complaining about it is ridiculous. Just goes to show you how some people think.

 

[fliesthatcatch]

Doc,
all I can say is GOOD, glad to see people care enough to call the dec,as for the people who were caught if you want to dance you have to pay the fiddler.And who ever called should be proud.
Bob

 

[614527]

They should be cained and then have their tongues removed. The first action is for being stupid enough to clam in closed waters for clams they are or someone else is going to eat. They're closed for a reason. Second, the removal of the tongue is needed in order to stop the verbal crap that is coming from their mouths. Viva DEC!!!!

 

[craigkoproski]

Its what happens before the sun comes up that bothers me!

I like to get out early 4 am early I am usually the only one out there which is why I choose to wake up at that un Godly hour to fish. I am the same with hunting. I have seen guys out there some mornings especially with snappers and take home a **** of alot more than 10 fish. Its because they know that if they go out at 4 and get back in at 5 there is no way a DEP officer will be at the dock waiting to check them. Flukinit was right there are just not enough of them. We have a coast guard auxilary who I don't beleive get paid why can't they deputize a few fisherman and give them the authority to issue tickets etc. I know I would volunteer as long as it would ensure fewere restrictions in the future. Just my two cents.

 

[togmaster]

The only answer

YOU WANT TO PLAY YOU GOT TO PAY!

 

[622859]

DUMB & DUMBER: Your neighbors sound like really STUPID people!!

Doc,

Tell your wife not to worry about getting blamed for making the calls. Based upon what you've told us, your neighbors sound like very stupid people and nobody should care what these kinds of people say, think, or feel!!

I read your story today to a conference room full of highly educated professionals. Many of them say your wife should take the credit for the calls to DEC even though she didn't make them. These neighbors of yours are so stupid that they deserve the fines and a whole lot more!! Poaching clams in full view of the road with kids is pure STUPIDITY!!!

As far as the woman and man who KNEW that their ten-year-old would be poaching clams and they let him do it anyway, those have got to be some of the worst parents in the world!!

Let me guess, do they also let their kids ride their bikes in busy streets without their hemlets??
-WE BET THEY DO!!

This just goes to show you that the world is full of STUPID PEOPLE. Breaking any law is not a smart thing to do. Breaking a law in full view of the world without any regard for the consequences is outright STUPID. You should call these neighbors DUMB and DUMBER!!

DUMB are those idiots who break the law and then get upset that somebody called the authorities to report it!

DUMBER are the BRAINLESS mother and father who KNEW that their ten year old was GOING TO BREAK THE LAW a whole day before and they STILL let it happen!

Tell DUMB & DUMBER to all shut up, get a life, and start paying attention to how they are raising STUPID children (the apples don't fall far from the tree!!!).

If they wanted to PLAY, they should have been prepared to PAY.

The DUMBEST part is that instead of blaming themselves for their own mistakes, they are so STUPID that they are trying to shift the blame to your wife and or who ever else they think made the reports to DEC. That really, really is a sure sign of their STUPIDITY! ! ! ! !

 

[capt jack]

MY what a RUDE post that was. i thought rudeness was not going to be tolerated?

I am wondering what type of"highly educated professionals" you read that post to? And why?

just wondering.

 

[capt jack]

By the way ,i am glad the poachers got caught!

 

[gottog]

Doc,

As it was said, ya play, ya pay. Most of the more important life lessons are learned the hard way.

 

[seaslug44]

Capt Jack, You are correct. Rudeness, bashing and writing personal attacks against other Noreast members will not be tolerated. Since this conversation has been about a nameless group of poachers, I see no harm in Sandshark or others stating their views as long as the language is kept clean. Keep in mind, everything you read here is being reviewed by moderators. What you don't see are the posts that are deleted.

 

[616362]

Took a ride from Asharoken to CSH last weekend to sit on the beach with my brother...drifted a live snapper by the OB on the run over and caught a nice 4 lb. fluke....When I got to the beach to sit with my brother i just couldnt relax...There was a family of koreans fishing for snappers...they had a 5 gallon orange home depot bucket filled to the brim with 4 to 5 inch snappers....How much meat could be on a snapper that small, and whatever meat there is on them was being ruined by sitting in the sun...Must have been well over 200 fish in that bucket...and there was no sign of them stopping...told them about the bag limit but they didnt stop...I had no cell phone or way to contact the DEC...I made a deal with them, gave them my fluke if they would leave with out killing anymore snappers. Thank god they did...the next deal was gonna involve the snapping of their snapper rods....My brother thinks im crazy to get so worked up over it....It really pissed me off