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RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
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 02/15/2012 05:16 PM
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ironmike
Joined: 12/31/1999
Posts: 1446
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RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
From the daily breeze:
Redondo Beach firefighter allegedly sold catch from fishing trip illegally
A Redondo Beach fire captain who caught more than 800 pounds of tuna on a recent sportfishing trip off San Diego is under investigation for allegedly selling some of it from the back of his truck, authorities said Tuesday. Capt. Scott Harper might have violated state laws that prohibit sport fishermen from selling their catches. "Anything you catch is for personal use or to give it away to friends or family, but you can never sell," said Andrew Hughan, a spokesman for the state Fish and Game department.
Hughan declined to discuss the case that was opened last week in San Diego. "The Department of Fish and Game has an ongoing investigation into this incident and we cannot comment further until the investigation is complete," Hughan said. Harper could not be reached for comment. He could potentially face a misdemeanor that could result in an $8,000 fine, officials said. Redondo Beach Fire Chief Dan Madrigal said Fish and Game authorities notified him of the case on Monday. Madrigal said he would open his own investigation. Fish and Game authorities had not provided him any information about the case, which occurred while Harper was off-duty. "I have been contacted and they are looking into this allegation at this time," Madrigal said. "I'm not aware of charges against any of my employees. I'm unaware of any monetary transaction that occurred." Harper was the "star of the trip" aboard the Red Rooster III, which docked at H&M Landing in San Diego Feb. 3 following a 15-day Bluefin Jim and Pelagic charter, according to the website, Redrooster3.com. The trip produced 18 tuna weighing more than 200 pounds and about 100 wahoo. Harper, the website said, caught the largest fish, "a 293.6-pounder, on a double squid bait on Mustad 20/0 circle hooks under the kite with the boat's kite rig." "My best fish before this trip was a 160-pounder," the website quoted Harper as saying. "I got him in 15 minutes on that rig."
Harper also caught two tunas weighing 270 and 252 pounds, the website said. Madrigal called Harper a "very outstanding employee, very supportive of the profession and the city's Fire Department's policies and procedures." Also on the trip was Division Chief Paul Lepore, who caught a 204-pound tuna, the website said. A third firefighter also was on the trip. The Red Rooster III, a 105-foot sportfishing yacht, operates trips from Lee Palm Sportfishers in San Diego into Mexican waters. People who fish in Mexican waters must carry Mexican fishing licenses. Mexican law also makes it illegal to receive financial gain from fish caught while sportfishing.
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02/15/2012 06:20 PM
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Baja Dreamer
Moderator
Hunting Reports / Shooting Sports
Joined: 02/09/2004
Posts: 16165
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
Yes it will fishy, and even if the guy ids prosecuted and sentenced accordingly, nothing good will come of it.
All things like this do is confirm what many have suspected all along. It won't matter that 99.5% of us never do this, it makes us all look bad. 
FISH AND HUNT HARD!
Chris
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02/15/2012 07:43 PM
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Wils
Joined: 03/21/2007
Posts: 16025
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
tsurikichi wrote:
Hi ironmike,
Thanks for the thread in the sense that I would have never been aware of the current flap. Everybody needs to be aware such news is going out to the public. As said by Baja Dreamer, this can only negitively effect how the general public (and maybe even worse yet provide ammo to certain Mexican authorities wishing to shut down fishing down south) percives we angler's ethics although 99.5% of us follow the regs.
tsurikichi
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02/15/2012 08:18 PM
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reel man
Joined: 05/15/1999
Posts: 2752
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
Let's not be too presumptive of his guilt until the whole story comes out. He may have received monies for the processing cost from a friend or relative, in which case would be acceptable if the fish was given as a gift.
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02/15/2012 09:32 PM
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wallace
Joined: 09/17/2011
Posts: 68
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
Is that possible ? Or Legal ? That is, to sell sportcaught fish that has been vacuum packed / filleted and sell it for what the processing costs? I don't know where it would define this or how to find out. But that sounds good, I just haven't heard alot about that part.
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02/16/2012 09:39 AM
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ironmike
Joined: 12/31/1999
Posts: 1446
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
I really posted this to try to update and educate everyone on the issue. Most veterans know this already. I saw one local infamous fish processor sell sport caught fish to restaurant when I was at his fly-ridden shop once. He got in trouble for other things but not that.
This issue seems to come up on alot on trips Ive been on. A few people actually think they can finance the trip by selling fish. In California (but not every state) is it not legal to sell sport caught fish. In years past, there were undercover Fish and Game agents actually at the docks. If you even gave fish to some of the local asians that used to showed up to ask you to donate some fish to them, they would fine you on the spot. I saw it happen after a Vagabond trip on 1998. I talked to the agent who said most of "donated" fish ended up getting sold at a local market, so that donating to someone who intended to sell it is also illegal.
Even if you have a commercial license, you cannot sell fish caught on a sport boat. It has to be a licensed commercial boat.
As the article says, you can give to friends, but not sell it. Not sure about using it for barter though.
BTW - sport caught fish is legal to sell in Hawaii. Problem is, the boat captain keeps the money.
IM
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02/17/2012 03:05 PM
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chester smith
Joined: 10/29/2004
Posts: 222
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
800 pounds !! killing fish for sport? or fishing?
should be made to eat it at every meal
would prob. make a hit reality show( how many tuna fish sandwiches can yeah eat.)
Maybe he,s doing it to feed the fire dept. or occupy L A  
When there are no fish/ then what do we fish for?
what % of the fishermen ruin it for everyone else?
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02/17/2012 05:13 PM
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conchydong
Joined: 11/09/2009
Posts: 348
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
chester smith wrote:
800 pounds !! killing fish for sport? or fishing?
should be made to eat it at every meal
would prob. make a hit reality show( how many tuna fish sandwiches can yeah eat.)
Maybe he,s doing it to feed the fire dept. or occupy L A
When there are no fish/ then what do we fish for?
what % of the fishermen ruin it for everyone else?
I don't understand your post. 800 lbs of fish processed might yield a liitle over 300 lbs of loins, etc. When the fish is properly cared for an processed it will last for a year or maybe even longer as long as the packaging is good. If you give a little away to friends and family, before long you are out of tuna.
This post is about selling fish illegally. not how much fish you should retain on a long range trip. That is a topic for another thread.
This post edited by conchydong 02/18/2012
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02/17/2012 06:34 PM
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chester smith
Joined: 10/29/2004
Posts: 222
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
sorry if i pissed folks off but the point i,m trying to make is catch what ya need use what ya catch //only a few fisherman kill the highest % of this most val. res.
I;m not sure its the correct thing to be doing!??
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02/18/2012 04:37 AM
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phanton1
Joined: 03/27/2005
Posts: 296
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
reel man wrote:
Let's not be too presumptive of his guilt until the whole story comes out. He may have received monies for the processing cost from a friend or relative, in which case would be acceptable if the fish was given as a gift.
I met all three of the guys on that trip and I would like to say, you'll be hard pressed to meet finer guys. They offered there EMT service to the captain right off the bat. They were extremely professional, and courteous. I would agree, let it play out. I would also add we all make mistakes, so goes with saying.
However, have to wonder what type of witch-hunt this might be. I say that cause my understanding these guys fish but are not your 5 + trip or so a year guys. And yes they took a few fish home but no more than many others. So my last point why not spend the time and money catching the real poachers, and quit wasting you guys tax dollars....
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02/18/2012 05:57 AM
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Wils
Joined: 03/21/2007
Posts: 16025
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re: RR3 Angler under investigation for selling fish
phanton1 wrote:
I met all three of the guys on that trip and I would like to say, you'll be hard pressed to meet finer guys. They offered there EMT service to the captain right off the bat. They were extremely professional, and courteous. I would agree, let it play out. I would also add we all make mistakes, so goes with saying.
prisons are full of fine, professional, philanthropic guys who all made a "mistake"....and who all obviously got caught on their very first time of unknowingly breaking the law - laws that are made for ALL of us.
why cant sport-caught fish be sold? so that their isnt an endless merry-go-round of private boats heading out, catching a limit, heading in, selling their limit, heading back out to repeat the process. evfen with this law, are there still some who think they are slick? yup...just like in any other industry.
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02/18/2012 07:41 AM
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Steve K
Joined: 02/15/2007
Posts: 6534
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Some words on this from Tim Ekstrom
There was a pretty disappointing news story that came out yesterday detailing a veteran long range angler coming off a January 15 day voyage being caught up in a CDFG investigation for selling his catch. Though this was not an angler that fished aboard Royal Star the circumstance does call for some broad reflection; we all have much at stake here.
I’m not going to get on a soap box and preach morality, we all have our share of transgressions punished and unpunished, I am simply going to make a sincere request for everyone to seriously consider the value of this fishery to ourselves and others looking forward. The long range fishery in Mexico is a privilege afforded to an extremely fortunate few. It is a privilege that can be taken away in the snap of two fingers by the Government of Mexico. Although we have forged strong relationships across the border as an industry we still have our share of detractors. The above mentioned negative news is the kind of cannon fodder such opponents are only too happy to receive; and even more happy to use.
...Please don’t succumb to any ideas about financially profiting from the product that comes from your long range trip. This is the kind of situation that creates inexpressible angst to those of us dependent on this fishery for our livelihood.
More trips, less tackle
Pro Staff - Five Star Fish Processing
www.fivestarfishprocessing.com
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