Open letter to the MDWFP

[fireplug]

God knows the COE rangers aren't doin schit I saw one cruise by the other day, 4 trucks(MO) didn't have hangtags, no tickets were written b/c he didn't exit his truck.

I saw the same thing on Enid Monday. Guy just cruised through, never even looked. Had two guys from AR parked right beside me with no parking tag. He never slowed up.

If there is a need for part time rangers or wardens to enforce the regs I'm sure several people would do it at no charge to the COE or the MWFP. I would be one of them.

No matter how much money is being spent in the community or the state for that matter, I for one am all for reducing limits (mainly on transportation limits.) The question was asked, how you would know for sure how many people were fishing..... The pos. limit should be for the one person that is transporting the freezer, no matter how many people are riding in the truck.

Someone has mentioned it before on this forum and I agree the solution to the problem is to hit them where it hurts the most, in the pocket book. If we eliminate the annual out of state fishing license and only sell out of state 3 - 5 day passes, and sell them at a high cost, then this will eventually get into the profits of the people selling the fish over state lines. Sell a 3 - 5 day pass for $200 +. I'm all for non residents coming and enjoying the wonderful fishing that the MS COE lakes provide, and I don't mind them taking fish home for consumption, but if we want to stop the raping of the lakes for profit, we are going to have to start cutting deep into their profit. Just my opinion.

[Dutch Dog]

Just raise the prices on MO licenses. Cut them back to a 3 or 5 day trip license ONLY, and make the price such that it's not worth the effort or expense of driving down here to rape an pillage our lakes. How "@#$%#" hard is that? This will end it all in one fail swoop. If you make the cost of getting the supplies (crappie) more than the reward (price of filletted crappie) then there won't be any profit in it and they will have to find something else to do to make money. SCHIT. Don't tell me they don't want to get into a pissing match with license costs to neighboring states. Hell we do it with Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama...why not add Missouri to the list.

You could make a TRANSPORT limit of 60 crappie across state lines. If they had to drive back and forth to MO every time they had 60 crappie it wouldn't be worth it.

[jacksbuddy]

All in favor?
I

Aye

[REBEL DUCK]

I got me one them coe violations for no parking tag. I was testing a boat out and just forgot it was a common mistake but i made it. The ticket said warning I am about to call the fellow and see if it is a ticket or warning. If it was a ticket I think i will quit feeding his lab that eats at my house but it wasnt the dogs fault

[Wingman]

Just remember, not every OOSer is selling crappie. Some are here, just like we are, to enjoy what MS has to offer.

I'd hate to think that if I ever got in the financial shape to take a trip to one of the other 49 states that I could only stay there for 3 or 5 days per license and had to pay several hundred dollars for each license.

Dutch, I like your idea of 60 crappie in possession for transport. Still, you've got the logistics nightmare of enforcing the possession/transport limit.

If it were truly enforced like is needed to curb the violations, residents and non-residents alike would not welcome it after a few weeks. Can you imagine sitting in line for a few hours each time you leave the lake while every boat, cooler and vehicle is thoroughly searched?

[torch]

Sounds like duck hunting with me

[Dutch Dog]

I'd hate to think that if I ever got in the financial shape to take a trip to one of the other 49 states that I could only stay there for 3 or 5 days per license and had to pay several hundred dollars for each license.

I don't think it would cause a problem with the other 49 states. There would need to be some sort of systematic approach to it. First Mississippi lawmakers would need to contact Missouri lawmakers to try to put a stop to the sale of crappie in Missouri. Make it a game fish and not legal for sale. If they are un-willing to cooperate, then let them know of our plans to raise the price of fishing licenses in our state, as well as eliminating the sale of annual licenses to anglers from their state thus affecting EVERY angler from their state. If they cut out the legal sale of crappie in their state, that really won't eliminate the sale of the fish, only make it illegal. Something that will still happen, but maybe not on such a grand scale. Maybe there could be some sort of checks/balances put into place. Make it known to Missouri anglers that their names/addresses have been recorded and will be reported to appropriate agencies in Missouri that they have purchased a non-resident fishing license in our state and that the sale of crappie in their state is now illegal. This way the appropriate agencies can then be able to police some of the illegal sale of gamefish. Heck I've heard of reports from local co-ops reporting sale of corn in deer season. What would be the difference.

[digger]

I agree with wingman that it's not just oss that will do wrong,or all oss sell fish but the one's that do need to be stopped.I all so agree on the transport poss. idea it would put a stop the transport for sale because it would'nt be make money.This may not be the rightway to look at it but here goes,local's could fish everyday catch a limit everyday keep a mess give them away whaterever just never have over poss. at home just like duck's it would'nt effect this fellow too bad.Oss have to come fish catch poss limit (let's say poss 60 ) I dont care what they get for crappie it would'nt be no way to drive back every time you caught 60 fish sell them and make money,so make a carry across state line poss. limit.

[MSDawg870]

Sounds like duck hunting with me

I hear ya torch

[Dennis Riecke FW15]

I appreciate the fact that I can go to any state to do whatever I want as long as I abide by the laws of that state. I realize that some of the locals folks ("us") believe that since I am a nonresident ("them") I am the principal reason for most of the illegal activity in their area and "the rape of their natural resources". I expect that I will be discriminated against by some people because I am a nonresident, even though I am away from my home in another state for a short while. I believe that "greed" is not good no matter where it occurs. I believe that "selfishness" is not good no matter where it occurs. I believe that since no one owns our natural resources, everyone has the opportunity to use them. I believe that it is easier to blame nonresidents than to admit that residnets may be doing the same thing, surely they outnumber the residents and it is very convenient for them to fish more and thus have the opportunity to do so. I am not a "blame-game" player. But then, I realize that not everyone believes as I do but I sure enjoy being around people who believe as I do. I wish we could all just get along. We have much more in common than we realize.

[torch]

Dennis, I am not blaming anyone just what I see. I camp at Cossar State Park pretty much all summer. I catch fish but I am not profiting from my catches. If you camp and just fish for fun why do you need 3 to 5 deep freezers. No one family can eat 700 fish in a year. I am sure that locals do the same thing its just we don't see the deep freezers out in the open and surley local aren't selling there catches, that would be illegal in MS.

[fireplug]

I believe that "greed" is not good no matter where it occurs. I believe that "selfishness" is not good no matter where it occurs. I believe that since no one owns our natural resources, everyone has the opportunity to use them.

I assure you this has very little if nothing to do with greed or selfishness, I'm pretty sure the majority of the people (locals) that fish on these lakes on a regular basis have no problem sharing the wealth that God has given us with people that don't have such wonderful fisheries. The really only major compliant that most "locals" have is the OVER harvesting of the fish for profit. Yeah you have "locals" that go out and catch more than the daily limit, but that is rare. Also most of the locals are weekend fisherman, and don't take an entire quarter of the year off work to fish Feb - April either. I have been fishing Grenada since I was old enough to hold a jig pole and I never take more fish than myself and my family can eat in a year. I know a large number of friends and family that are exactly the same, so I would venture to say that 95% of the "locals" that fish the COE lakes don't abuse the population. But this huge, and I mean HUGE influx of Missouri and Illionois fisherman is creating major problems and the fact of the matter is that it has to be addressed. Yes the locals may have to suffer the consiquences but if it isn't done then we will be on the lake with our grandchildren many years from now saying "I remember when".

[Wingman]

Yeah you have "locals" that go out and catch more than the daily limit, but that is rare

You should get out more.

[timberjack]

Who cares who's doing it-OOS or locals? Prosecute all-- problem solved.

[mudsucker]

Who cares who's doing it-OOS or locals? Prosecute all-- problem solved.

We have a winner!