How do you deal with a walleye abuser?

[Brian Leonard]

I know someone that fishes walleye several times per week. Here are the issues I face with this person:

1) Keeps large walleye for the meat.
2) Usually fishes at night and keeps in a live net or live well into the next day.
3) Sometimes even keeps the walleye in a live well for more than a day.
4) Have found several walleye dead in livewell over time.
5) Thinks there is nothing wrong with this.
6) Has a freezer full of walleye.

I want some honeset opinions and how to deal with this person. It has been driving me crazy for years. Please help!

[Ozzy169]

To be honest with you, It doesn't matter what speices of fish we're taking about!! Possesion limits are established for a reason! There is a way and the only way to take care of this problem = #1 TIP (800) 652-9093. Remember this "sportsman" is damaging OUR fishing enviroment.

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Puff-Puff-Pass

[musky hunter]

Amen brother, the tip line is maybe the best solution for this slob. But he is not alone, and there are still too many out there that don't get it yet. Whether tehey are legal or not, the best way is to help change the culture of how we fish. Let others you meet know that you put back lager fish, talk up the benefits of why the 15"-17" walleye is the ideal eater, let folks know that you'd rather catch fish than clean fish, and talk up CPR. This isn't difficult, fishermen love to talk, and the power of gentle suggestion goes a very long way.

[Phred52]

DNR Tip Line, That's what it's for.

[jclymer]

The east alternative to solving this situation is the DNR tip line. More than likely this person is a friend of yours and I know I would not want to turn in my friends. I think that education would be a better option. I think most people learn the ethics about fishing from their parents or who ever they fished with as a young child. People need to understand that times have changed from back in 1960, 70's or even 80's and that anglers need to be smart about their harvest. Only take fish that are going to be eaten, etc... More than likely the person doing these things does not understand that they are doing anything wrong, and I think a little education may help. Make sure to be prepared to back up your education with facts!

[jclymer]

east=easy!! sorry can't spell today!

[The Grebe]

I would think that this person is either a friend, or a relative, probably a pretty touchy situation....whatever the case may be, unless you are afraid he will fire you, disinherit you, or knock your teeth out, or has the goods on you about something, tell him! Sometimes it really makes an impression, comming right out and confronting someone, about some thing like this....sometimes the impression will be a set of knuckle marks in your forehead! Seriously, confrontation does sometimes work. I done it with a couple relatives that took to many fish and I've done it on numerous occassions with fishing partners that litter....does'nt mean they stopped doing whatever it was they were doing, they just don't do it around me anymore.

[Death from Above]

Not that it matters much, but where's he from? Does he "understand" well enough for you to talk to him?

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If you see me....It's to late!

[fish4ed]

People are assuming that you do not want to turn this individual in to the DNR, which might or might not be true. Also, they are assuming that you have not yet confronted him. It can be a moral/ethical dilemma, and certainly you don't know how this person is going to react. My response is going to sound Dear Abbyish, but the only person you can control in this situation is YOU. If it truly bothers you to the point you can't stand it (it would me), you can assertively state the facts to the person. Not only is it illegal by statute, it also makes you feel........ tell them how it makes you feel, and why. You could also add that it bothers you enough that you would consider the other options available (TIP line, etc.) - you have then put the burden on that person as to how they are going to behave, which you have no direct control over, but they are now aware of the consequences.

If you have reason to be concerned of how this person will react, you can phone in an anonymous tip. You know this person better than I, and can decide for yourself how to deal with them. You can't be their conscience, do what you need to do to relieve yours.

[Guest]

If this guy is related to you--tell him how you feel and ask him to stop hoarding fish as it may result in over-possession limit fines.

You can't totally disassociate yourself from relatives as you can with acquaintences or friends.

I'm guessing this person has an attitude that he's above the law and he doesn't really care if he's caught. This lack of respect would tell me that I don't have much of a chance getting through to him with any kind of reason and that an attempt will "back-fire."

It seems relativley clear that your morals and his morals aren't equal as they should be in a true friendship--I'd consider looking for another friend with the same value system you have.

Then, I'd turn the guy in...

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Chells

[icehousebob]

I had a comparible situation years ago. I hunted deer in Wyoming with a father and son who didn't think rules applied to them. The son liked to drive around and shoot from the truck window. The dad came back to camp late at night with an ungutted deer he had shot in the headlights. To turn them in would probably have implicated me and since it was their truck I still needed a ride home. The next year when they called about hunting again I explained why I would never hunt with them again. They thought their licenses entitled them to deer and didn't see too much wrong with what they did. Some people just can't be taught to obey rules like the rest of us. The old logic that my daddy and grand-daddy did it and so will I.

[walleyehawk]

Hopefully he does not throw the walleye away if they die. If he is dumb enough to let them get bad and eat them, maybe the odds will catch up with him once. And from what I hear, you only need food poisoning once! Best quick weight loss diet known to man.

Otherwise, I would put it on the line. If you have too many fish in the freezer, and I want to retain my license, I can't and won't fish with you. If he is over the possession limit, and if you have a few, just catching any more puts you both in bad trouble. And you want to keep your license.

As far as keeping fish healthy, if you are going to the trouble to clean them, you might as well have a quality end product.

I would also tell him he had better get down to the limit. Have a family fish fry. Because everyone likes to brag, someday somebody will call TIPS on him, and then he will lose his a few days a week hobby.

[slick814]

HArd to give advice without knowing all the facts.
I'd say that if it's someone you care about, take some time to talk to them about their behaviour. It might be hard, but in the long run, you may be surprised how they react.
If you feel that this is someone who won't listen, or maybe just doesn't care, then I'd try the TIP line. maybe if this person "gets caught", they'll change their behavior.
One thing to think about, though. If you talk to this person, and then call TIP, are you ready for the possible fallout that could occur? There are those that don't think that it's worth losing a friend over...
I would, but some wouldn't. JUst be prepared to deal with the possibilities.

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Fishin' is life
The rest is just details

[jclymer]

I'd tell him if he loved fish meat so much go clean up some of those stinking little snakes that our MN lakes are full of. 18" to 24" Northerns taste as good if not better than walleye if fillet right! On top of keeping all the fish this person can handle he would also help clean up this over populated fish!

[fisherman-andy]

Interesting... this person whom you speak of must highly regard you as a close friend, relative or something to let you know what they have been doing.

It is wrong to keep so many fish. But before you go to the DNR, think of the consequences you will have and he/she will have. That is some serious stuff your talking about.

Here's what I would do, educate him. Warn him/her of their actions that someone somewhere someday will find out and it won't be pretty. Don't be afraid to tell them that it's wrong to keep so many fish, fish that may not even be eaten. If your close to that person, you can probably sit down with them and talk it over. Encourage them to not keep so many... don't forget about how many household per person they have. They may have more than the slot available for one person, but not for a family of let say 5 or 6 people. Know your facts first.

Going straight to the DNR will definately end your relationship with that person. And you may end up hurting the person more than you think possible.

And if worse comes to worse, tell them that you can't stand them keeping so much fish and that you are willing to turn them in to the DNR, if not tell them so just to scare them.

Again, weigh your options, know your facts before you make a decision, cause it will be an important one.

[This message has been edited by fisherman-andy (edited 06-08-2004).]