I want to relay a story from the capilano today. I went there and saw snaggers everywhere. one particular (under the foot bridge) was sweeping his 10.5 foot rod 180 degrees. He was obviously snagging fish.
I called RAPP on him and a number of other snaggers and proceeded to go to the foot bridge and video tape him in case DFO showed up. After enough carnage I shouted down at him that snagging is illegal. On a side note someone who made a posting earlier was describe as making racist comments but I think we need to go here. Describing this person as asian or chinese is accurate and I think an important part of the issue...is it really racist...not in my books.
Anyhow, long story short, when he heard me yelling down at him he started smiling and laughing and said "no English, no English". Am I right in thinking if he can't speak English, he can't read it? Not sure if anyone learns to read a language and cant speak it???
I question if a fisher like this is capable of understanding and interpreting the laws/regs that are supposed to govern we sports fishers?
He obviously didn't know the regs, so I dont think I am wrong questioning if he can even read the regs (his casual behaviour after I called down to him makes me think he doesn't even know snagging is illegal). I certainly couldn't communicate with him that what he was doing was wrong.
Bottom line, we have some confusing regs (they change from season to season and river to river, they change after printing and need follow up online in many cases). Are there regs in any other language than English in BC? Not that I have seen at any local shop.
I think its too easy to get a fishing licence and I don't think we properly prepare ALL fishers properly (opposed to CORE/hunting).
Anyhow not sure where I am going with this now, just kind of venting...its really sad to see 90% of the fishers on the Cap blatantly snagging fish. The system is broken and needs to be fixed.
And yes there were whites and first nations there snagging too...those individuals are just ignorant as I think there is a certain level of awareness there....they need to be regulated with better regs. In the case of this "Asian" fisher, I am not sure that there was any awareness (of the regs) so thats another issue all together.