Fish & Game :(

Old Hubbard Rd · 05-30-2010, 07:10 AM

My 16 year old daughter brought her boyfriend to visit with our family this weekend up at the lake. Her boyfriend is a really nice polite person and is graduating soon from high school. He received a scholorship to college to play lacrosse. My daughter was showing him things that she has loved doing here at the lake since she was a small child. One of the activities she likes to show her city friends is fishing. My daughter and her friend took the old paddle boat out and cleaned it all up, grabbed 2 life vests and ventured off very close by our home in a rocky area. The fishing rods they brought with them are those children type rods. One was actually a spiderman rod. Mike was pretty impressed when my daughter pulled out this really large small mouth bass. He could not believe it. My daughter asked if he wanted to try the Spiderman rod as it was lucky. Next thing you know they are approached by a Fish & Game person. They told the kids that they had filmed them fishing and asked it they had a license. Growing up fishing at the lake and being only 16 Leah has never thought about a license. The F&G person saw that they were kids, had a few laughts about the Superman rod, asked if they were hiding something in a rolled up shirt, treatened to give them a fine for having life vests that were not large enough and handed them a $93 ticket. Nice experience for a kid who never fished before. Welcome to New Hampshire. I thought a simple warning and a lecture would have been enough. $93 ticket for a unemployed student is a bit much. I would think F&G would concentrate their time on adults who are clearly aware of the law and clearly breaking the law. I know some will say this boy is a adult and should be responsible yada yada. A simple warning would have been the proper thing to do in this situation.

eillac@dow · 05-30-2010, 07:52 AM

I agree. Two kids in a paddle boat with a Spiderman Rod!!! That I am sure put a damper on things.

I can agree that your daughter probably never even thought of a fishing license. She should have thought about the life jackets, but she didn't. Did she deserve the ticket. In my book....no way. Like you said, give them a lecture, tell them to go home and get the right size life jackets and then go on your way.

It's too bad things turned out that way for them, especially a first timer at the lake. Don't let it ruin the rest of what should be a wonderful weekend! Enjoy it!

BroadHopper · 05-30-2010, 08:15 AM

It's a well known and documented in the news that LEOs are required to 'ticket the hell out of us' for additional revenue. Since I read that, I have been minding my speeding, stopping at stop signs, etc. I'm not saying I have been disobedience, I'm just being aware of it more as to not make as many slip ups. To err is human. The law is divine.

Lakesrider · 05-30-2010, 08:54 AM

Pay it in pennies. Go there and count them out on their desk. One penny....Two pennies....three pennies.....

hockeypuck · 05-30-2010, 09:50 AM

Where has common sense gone? I agree a warning should suffice.
This Saturday is fish for free day in NH.

RailroadJoe · 05-30-2010, 03:17 PM

Where were F&G when the Gilford plow people plowed all the snow in the handicap area right next to their station in Gilford and by the police sub station. I finally reported the lack of handicap spaces being lowed in and the NH Governor's Comitee Disabilty people informed them to clear it up. They did.
F&G personel have no one who understands what its klike to grow up in a land with very little restrictions on fishing. As an old timer they really disgust me. I would have told them to pack it in and head home.
Lets hope a state tropper catches them speeding on the way home and gives them a $150 ticket.
Just my rambling.

XCR-700 · 05-30-2010, 03:38 PM

Hockeypuck hit the nail on the head, "where has common sense gone"

What a great way to ruin young peoples weekend.

So for the "law is the law" folks out there, is this what you mean?

I will say yet again, thiis is not the Winnipesaukee I grew up going to every summer,,,

I still very much enjoy Winnipesaukee, but stories like this sure put a damper on everyones experiences and memories.

I think it time to rethink the role of our police, marine patrol, fish and game, etc.

Protect and Serve before enforce and punish!

Loony Singer · 05-30-2010, 04:10 PM

Two summers back, my elder son (no kid, he was 29 at the time) was fishing from our dock, something he does maybe twice a year. Sure enough, a Fish and Game person came alongside. He was unfailingly polite, but the fine was issued anyway. That seems to be their norm...be nice about it, but hand the ticket out anyway. He did say that Fish and Game is not funded out of the state budget, but have to support their work through licenses and fines.

My son was pretty down about it, then decided that it wasn't so bad when you consider that it wasn't so bad if you amortize the $90 bucks over all of the years he's fished since he turned 16.

My 25 year old nephew just picked up a fine yesterday. His excuse was, "but we just live one cove over." That didn't cut it, either.

tis · 05-30-2010, 05:17 PM

In our neighborhood, we have a problem with F&G because they never seem to be available when you call them. My neighbors and I have called them several times over the years for help with injured animals. They have never once responded to our calls. They probably are too busy issuing tickets to really help when help is needed.

I think I may have posted this before but a deer was trapped in the ice and a guy came to my house and asked me to call F&G. I made several calls, one telling me to call the next and finally was told to tell the guy to shoot the deer. I went back out and relayed the message and the guy said no way was he shooting the deer, he would get in trouble. You know, I can't remember how it all ended (ashamed to say, but it was a long time ago) but F&G never came, I know that.

TomC · 05-31-2010, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loony Singer

Two summers back, my elder son (no kid, he was 29 at the time) was fishing from our dock, something he does maybe twice a year...

Has anyone ever tested this provision of the licensing laws?:

214:2 License Required; Exception. –
I. The provisions of RSA 214:1 shall not apply to resident land owners while upon their own land...

This reads to me that a landowner standing on the shore of their property (since the dock might not be considered the property owner's "land") does not need a license.

Not a lot of attention is called to this exception, for instance i could find no mention of it in the NH Fish & Game site and had to read the specific fishing related RSAs to find mention of it.

I am interested in hearing of any successful use of the "its my land and i don't need a license" exemption.

incidentally, i personally get licensed since i often fish from a boat

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/.../214/214-2.htm

Kamper · 05-31-2010, 05:53 AM

Next time you see injured or stranded wild-life call the Humane Society. They'll probably just call F&G too but since they have a PR machine I doubt they'll be ignored.

tis · 05-31-2010, 06:51 AM

That's a good idea, will they deal with wild animals? The incident I mentioned happened many years ago, before we even had an humane society in this neck of the woods!!

Skip · 05-31-2010, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomC

...Has anyone ever tested this provision of the licensing laws?:

214:2 License Required; Exception. –
I. The provisions of RSA 214:1 shall not apply to resident land owners while upon their own land...

Good point.

But while you may be standing on your own land lakeside, when you cast out into the water (Winnipesaukee) you are fishing in property owned by the State of New Hampshire. Therefore you need a license.

This limited exception is for resident landowners alone while fishing a waterbody that is entirely within the limits of that landowner's property line.

topwater · 05-31-2010, 08:58 AM

Tom, how long did it take you to try and beat the system. The kids broke the law! The kids got a ticket! Did it ruin their week-end, NO! It takes more then that to ruin a teenagers day! Mom and dad will pay the ticket, and the kids will diffently think about what they are doing in the future. Thats a cheap lesson in life, maybe mommy and daddy should have been thinking more about what their kids were doing instead of assuming that kids never break the law. The law is there for a reason, break it and pay the penalty.

TomC · 05-31-2010, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topwater

Tom, how long did it take you to try and beat the system. The kids broke the law! The kids got a ticket! Did it ruin their week-end, NO! It takes more then that to ruin a teenagers day! Mom and dad will pay the ticket, and the kids will diffently think about what they are doing in the future. Thats a cheap lesson in life, maybe mommy and daddy should have been thinking more about what their kids were doing instead of assuming that kids never break the law. The law is there for a reason, break it and pay the penalty.

did I say anything about breaking the law? i have a fishing license, so I am very confused about your message.

I asked if anyone ever tried using the landowner exception..

But if it made you feel better to get on your soapbox, i'm glad...

topwater · 05-31-2010, 10:12 AM

Tom, how long did it take you to try and beat the system... Does not imply YOU broke the law, yes I did read you have a license, it was directed at the way of trying to get around the tickets of others who have broke the law. I hope this un-confused you.

Jeanzb1 · 05-31-2010, 10:22 AM

I find this whole thread about F&G very interesting and very timely, as just this past week I had occasion to contact them about a dead bird floating next to our dock that had two bands on his leg. One would logically assume that if a bird had been banded that someone was tracking his whereabouts.
The woman who answered the phone for F&G was, first of all, rude and, secondly, unhelpful. She was able to offer no suggestions on who to call next or how to track him and from the tone of her voice I could tell she was annoyed that I even called over a dead bird! (She was probably sitting there playing solitaire on her computer!) The bottom line....I called the Audubon Society (very friendly and very helpful) who gave me a few other phone numbers to call. As it turned out, the bird was a homing pigeon who had been released 400 miles away just the day before and was on his way back home to Biddeford, Maine.

Grant · 05-31-2010, 12:19 PM

Yeah -- never really had a "quality" interaction with F&G, and most times I've had my license checked, they were simply floating down our shore, stopping everywhere where someone was fishing from a a dock. In fact, if I see them in the area, I will intentionally throw out a line just to make them stop again. Then look worried as they approach.

But for all the cursing I do as I pay my $53 (plus ridiculous $3 online transaction fee) each spring, it's certainly a lot less than it would cost to be caught w/o a license.

Oh, and this year is going great....

RailroadJoe · 05-31-2010, 03:26 PM

Just think. When you turn 68 (not 65 mind you) you can get a permanent license at no cost. But, you have to live that long.

topwater · 05-31-2010, 04:29 PM

Grant, thats one heck of a fish right there !! Congratulations----

WinniTroll · 06-01-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant

Yeah -- never really had a "quality" interaction with F&G, and most times I've had my license checked, they were simply floating down our shore, stopping everywhere where someone was fishing from a a dock. In fact, if I see them in the area, I will intentionally throw out a line just to make them stop again. Then look worried as they approach.

But for all the cursing I do as I pay my $53 (plus ridiculous $3 online transaction fee) each spring, it's certainly a lot less than it would cost to be caught w/o a license.

Oh, and this year is going great....

Love your post. Perfect way to handle F&G at home. Next time say your licence is in your other pants at the house and kinda trot up there to get it. They'll chase you down doing 'the one hand on the gun' canter.

MikeF-NH · 06-01-2010, 10:55 AM

I know this iisn't going to be a popular response but it needs to be said. A license in required to fish or hunt in NH once you reach 16 PERIOD! That's the law and it doesn't only appy to "bad kids" - it applies to everyone. Fines are not just revenue generators, they are designed for a purpose and need to be followed. The F&G officer was doing his/her job and should be commended for correcting the action and the fine was 100% warrented and necessary.

If you got pulled over on the highway for doing 100 mph and said "but I'm a good guy and besides, I only drive this highway one time per year" do you think the officer would be a jerk for fining you? Of course not.

I run into F&G regularly while hunting and fishing and have always ALWAYS found them to be polite and professional. They have a job to do and deserve our support. Given that I don't think either of these young people will make this mistake again, I would rate the COs response as 100% effective. If it were my boy being cited, I wouldn't (under any circumstance) indicate that the officer was a jerk but would rather recommend that he take responsibility for the action and pay the fine himself.

I'm sorry if this seems harsh but I don't see anything done by F&G in this occasion as a problem.

jmen24 · 06-01-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinniTroll

Love your post. Perfect way to handle F&G at home. Next time say your licence is in your other pants at the house and kinda trot up there to get it. They'll chase you down doing 'the one hand on the gun' canter.

And it is responses like this to a CO, asking a question that is of their concern to ask, that you folks get treated the way that you do. Act like an a** and you will get treated like one!

And we all wonder why out of staters get a bad rap from the locals.

XCR-700 · 06-02-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant

Yeah -- never really had a "quality" interaction with F&G, and most times I've had my license checked, they were simply floating down our shore, stopping everywhere where someone was fishing from a a dock. In fact, if I see them in the area, I will intentionally throw out a line just to make them stop again. Then look worried as they approach.

But for all the cursing I do as I pay my $53 (plus ridiculous $3 online transaction fee) each spring, it's certainly a lot less than it would cost to be caught w/o a license.

Oh, and this year is going great....

$53 for a fishing license!!! WOW that sounds crazy,,,

I had no idea they were that much.

So what exactly does that fee pay for???

WOW, now I know what sticker shock is,,,

dragonfly03246 · 06-02-2010, 08:51 AM

Sorry, I should have included that the $35 is for NH Residents. The $53 is non-residents which is still a small price to pay - about $5 a month.

Those kids also could've gotten a 1-day or 3-day pass for a small fee.

jrc · 06-02-2010, 09:00 AM

They do seem a little steep. I think a cheaper basic license and special stamp for trout and salmon would be a good idea.

N.H. RESIDENT
Fishing $35.00
1-day Fishing $10.00
3-day Fishing N/A
7-day Fishing N/A

NONRESIDENT
Fishing $53.00
1-day Fishing $15.00
3-day Fishing $28.00
7-day Fishing $35.00

secondcurve · 05-31-2010, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loony Singer

Two summers back, my elder son (no kid, he was 29 at the time) was fishing from our dock, something he does maybe twice a year. Sure enough, a Fish and Game person came alongside. He was unfailingly polite, but the fine was issued anyway. That seems to be their norm...be nice about it, but hand the ticket out anyway. He did say that Fish and Game is not funded out of the state budget, but have to support their work through licenses and fines.

My son was pretty down about it, then decided that it wasn't so bad when you consider that it wasn't so bad if you amortize the $90 bucks over all of the years he's fished since he turned 16.

My 25 year old nephew just picked up a fine yesterday. His excuse was, "but we just live one cove over." That didn't cut it, either.

Loony Singer:

Don't you think that your son and nephew should follow simple rules? They aren't kids and by the sounds of it they purposely avoid getting licenses and my guess is you support their behavior. The way I view it is all of us who pay for our licenses are supporting freeloaders like your son and nephew. Your situation is clearly different than the seemingly innocent kids who got bagged on the paddle boat. Maybe it is because of repeat offenders like your family that make the fish and game officers so quick to issue tickets.

4 for Boating · 05-31-2010, 10:36 PM

I guess I will share my story as it seems like the F&G were pretty active this weekend. So here it goes.

On my dock fishing with my two sons on and off for about an hour. (Ages 4 and 6) Kids get bored; walk off the dock and on to the beach. (About 25 feet away) I’m left with the rod (kids Zebco) and hook a fish. (Nice won actually) Call to the boys to come help. They get to the dock with my brother who helps lift the fish up, show it to the boys, let them touch it and get a picture of my older son with it. Quickly tossed back in and then F&G arrives to say they saw the whole thing and watched me land the fish and I did not appear to be “helping” my son how to learn. $93 later and off they go.

I understand the law but sort of rough I think. Funny this was as they were writing the ticket; my youngest son comes up and asks “Can we still fish?” I’m speechless as what to say and the officer’s don’t even bat an eye.
Well, I hope the money goes to good use.

As a somewhat unrelated topic, they tied up and disembarked on my dock which I did not really have a problem with but in general, does F&G and or Marine Patrol have the right to do this?

hockeypuck · 06-01-2010, 04:36 AM

I don't think the "Old Man" of the mountain fell down, nor do I think he was pushed. I think he jumped when he saw the way things were going in the "Live Free or Die" state.

jmen24 · 06-01-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 for Boating

I guess I will share my story as it seems like the F&G were pretty active this weekend. So here it goes.

On my dock fishing with my two sons on and off for about an hour. (Ages 4 and 6) Kids get bored; walk off the dock and on to the beach. (About 25 feet away) I’m left with the rod (kids Zebco) and hook a fish. (Nice won actually) Call to the boys to come help. They get to the dock with my brother who helps lift the fish up, show it to the boys, let them touch it and get a picture of my older son with it. Quickly tossed back in and then F&G arrives to say they saw the whole thing and watched me land the fish and I did not appear to be “helping” my son how to learn. $93 later and off they go.

I understand the law but sort of rough I think. Funny this was as they were writing the ticket; my youngest son comes up and asks “Can we still fish?” I’m speechless as what to say and the officer’s don’t even bat an eye.
Well, I hope the money goes to good use.

As a somewhat unrelated topic, they tied up and disembarked on my dock which I did not really have a problem with but in general, does F&G and or Marine Patrol have the right to do this?

F&G has the right to search you and your property without a warrant if a strong suspision of guilt for a wildlife related crime is perceived. So, yes, F&G can dock without your permission, I do not believe Marine Patrol has the same authority.

The thing to remember is this, when taking a child fishing, the idea is for the adult to have a license and then teach the child how to fish. If you had the license then there would be absolutely no issue with what you did. It sounds like you understand that.

Just to put these fines in perspective. The F&G officer could have done all of the following in the OP's situation. Confiscated the paddle boat, superman fishing rod, all tackle aboard the boat, suspended the oppurtunity to even purchase another license for up to four years and given a fine of $93. All of this is well within the scope of what they can do, for charging someone with poaching, which is what fishing and hunting without a license is.

You got off with a warning that you had to feel, by only having to pay a fine. Verbal warnings in situations like these do not deter it from happening again.

When I hear of people saying that I have never had a good experience with a F&G officer, I think to myself, what were they expecting to receive for service for breaking the law (in some cases).

Personally I have never had an experience with a CO that was not appropriate for the situation. I have been yelled at for driving an ATV down a dirt road, been talked to about why we were not allowed in certain areas after a certain date (closing of an atv park) and been helped in a quest to find a stock of game.

Loony Singer · 06-02-2010, 12:45 AM

Secondcurve,

It seems you misinterpreted my original post. In no way did I condone the behavior of my son or nephew. In the former case, he was of the impression that fishing from one's own dock did not require a license. He was ignorant of the law, and paid the price. In the second case, I was attempting to illustrate that F&G simply don't accept excuses, legitimate or weak....they're friendly but firm, as stated in the title of my post. Neither one of 'em got any sympathy or "support" from me...I'm a firm believer in "you did the crime, now pay the fine."

So please be a little more careful of your assumptions in the future, and you might want to avoid value-laden terms like "freeloaders" and "repeat offenders" unless you're 100% sure of the ground you're standing on. Thanks.

Dave R · 06-02-2010, 08:29 AM

I think there should be a free (or at least very cheap) warm water species license for residents who catch and release warm water species. F&G does not stock warm water species. Seem silly to me that I have to pay for a fishing license to cover the cost of stocking rivers with rainbow and brown trout, species that I'm pretty sure aren't even indigenous to the area, when I don't fish for them. I used to love to fish for bass and other warm water fish, now I just don't bother because the license is absurdly priced.

dragonfly03246 · 06-02-2010, 08:39 AM

I don't understand how people can complain about a license that cost them a whole $35/year which equals out to a whopping $2.92/month! Even if you bought it in May with 7 months left of the year it's still only going to cost you a total of five bucks a month to fish. I'm pretty sure people waste more money than that buying a Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Resident 2B · 05-30-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XCR-700

Hockeypuck hit the nail on the head, "where has common sense gone"

What a great way to ruin young peoples weekend.

So for the "law is the law" folks out there, is this what you mean?

I will say yet again, thiis is not the Winnipesaukee I grew up going to every summer,,,

I still very much enjoy Winnipesaukee, but stories like this sure put a damper on everyones experiences and memories.

I think it time to rethink the role of our police, marine patrol, fish and game, etc.

Protect and Serve before enforce and punish!

As one of the "Law is the Law" folks, I agree this is over the top. This is good kids/young adults having a wholesome, good time. They could be doing many more things much, much worse.

I believe a friendly warning would have been the most appropriate action from the F&G. That would have been educational, effective and harmless all at the same time.

R2B

aquadocton · 05-30-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Hubbard Rd

...They told the kids that they had filmed them fishing and asked it they had a license... and handed them a $93 ticket.

F&G filmed them? Thoroughly disgusting

On a related topic, the number of speed traps on I-93 this weekend have been the highest I have seen in years. They must need money too.

trfour · 05-30-2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquadocton

F&G filmed them? Thoroughly disgusting

On a related topic, the number of speed traps on I-93 this weekend have been the highest I have seen in years. They must need money too.

We all feel the grabbing! NoOne is demographically immune these days! Just venture out onto you're local street or highway!
Gov'Mint, Wall Street, and the latest GP O'l...
I would suggest that we All get involved and start letting some of these folks know that, being put in a corner with a dunce cap in grade school is no longer acceptable for the gross ineptness of these! PLEASE, let us get it together!
We all need to monitor and express our views. Winnipesaukee.com has been at the very fourfront of this from it's inception! Credit our WebMaster and Winnipesaukee.com!

Love
Terry
_________________________________

Begonezvous · 05-31-2010, 05:06 PM

I alway get my license each year because I've heard horror stories like this. I believe a portion of the proceeds are used for stocking programs so I feel that I get something back for my money.

Since I have a license, I have obviously never been questioned by an officer from F&G. What if I forget my license someday and I am asked for it by an officer? Would I get fined? Could I get it abated later on if I produce my license? The license shows the date and time of issue so its not like I could run out and obtain a license after getting fined.

What do the experts here say?

GTO · 05-31-2010, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Hubbard Rd

My 16 year old daughter brought her boyfriend to visit with our family this weekend up at the lake. Her boyfriend is a really nice polite person and is graduating soon from high school. He received a scholorship to college to play lacrosse. My daughter was showing him things that she has loved doing here at the lake since she was a small child. One of the activities she likes to show her city friends is fishing. My daughter and her friend took the old paddle boat out and cleaned it all up, grabbed 2 life vests and ventured off very close by our home in a rocky area. The fishing rods they brought with them are those children type rods. One was actually a spiderman rod. Mike was pretty impressed when my daughter pulled out this really large small mouth bass. He could not believe it. My daughter asked if he wanted to try the Spiderman rod as it was lucky. Next thing you know they are approached by a Fish & Game person. They told the kids that they had filmed them fishing and asked it they had a license. Growing up fishing at the lake and being only 16 Leah has never thought about a license. The F&G person saw that they were kids, had a few laughts about the Superman rod, asked if they were hiding something in a rolled up shirt, treatened to give them a fine for having life vests that were not large enough and handed them a $93 ticket. Nice experience for a kid who never fished before. Welcome to New Hampshire. I thought a simple warning and a lecture would have been enough. $93 ticket for a unemployed student is a bit much. I would think F&G would concentrate their time on adults who are clearly aware of the law and clearly breaking the law. I know some will say this boy is a adult and should be responsible yada yada. A simple warning would have been the proper thing to do in this situation.

So, are you saying that it is ok for nice polite graduates that have been accepted into a college, its ok to "break" the law? Essantially, no matter how anyone looks at this whole situation...thats what happened here. In case this was just a misunderstanding of the law....please inform your daughter and boyfriend, now being of age that one must get certain licenses/certificates, that they also must get a boating certificate if they want to operate a boat and a drivers liscense if they want to operate a car.
And obviously your daughter was wrong...the spider man rod did not bring them luck

05-30-2010, 07:10 AM	#1
Old Hubbard Rd Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 462 Thanks: 141 Thanked 54 Times in 33 Posts	Fish & Game :( My 16 year old daughter brought her boyfriend to visit with our family this weekend up at the lake. Her boyfriend is a really nice polite person and is graduating soon from high school. He received a scholorship to college to play lacrosse. My daughter was showing him things that she has loved doing here at the lake since she was a small child. One of the activities she likes to show her city friends is fishing. My daughter and her friend took the old paddle boat out and cleaned it all up, grabbed 2 life vests and ventured off very close by our home in a rocky area. The fishing rods they brought with them are those children type rods. One was actually a spiderman rod. Mike was pretty impressed when my daughter pulled out this really large small mouth bass. He could not believe it. My daughter asked if he wanted to try the Spiderman rod as it was lucky. Next thing you know they are approached by a Fish & Game person. They told the kids that they had filmed them fishing and asked it they had a license. Growing up fishing at the lake and being only 16 Leah has never thought about a license. The F&G person saw that they were kids, had a few laughts about the Superman rod, asked if they were hiding something in a rolled up shirt, treatened to give them a fine for having life vests that were not large enough and handed them a $93 ticket. Nice experience for a kid who never fished before. Welcome to New Hampshire. I thought a simple warning and a lecture would have been enough. $93 ticket for a unemployed student is a bit much. I would think F&G would concentrate their time on adults who are clearly aware of the law and clearly breaking the law. I know some will say this boy is a adult and should be responsible yada yada. A simple warning would have been the proper thing to do in this situation.

05-30-2010, 07:52 AM	#2
eillac@dow Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dow Island & Weymouth, MA Posts: 365 Thanks: 295 Thanked 94 Times in 48 Posts	:( I agree. Two kids in a paddle boat with a Spiderman Rod!!! That I am sure put a damper on things. I can agree that your daughter probably never even thought of a fishing license. She should have thought about the life jackets, but she didn't. Did she deserve the ticket. In my book....no way. Like you said, give them a lecture, tell them to go home and get the right size life jackets and then go on your way. It's too bad things turned out that way for them, especially a first timer at the lake. Don't let it ruin the rest of what should be a wonderful weekend! Enjoy it!

05-30-2010, 08:15 AM	#3
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,575 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 1,103 Times in 794 Posts	Sign of the times. It's a well known and documented in the news that LEOs are required to 'ticket the hell out of us' for additional revenue. Since I read that, I have been minding my speeding, stopping at stop signs, etc. I'm not saying I have been disobedience, I'm just being aware of it more as to not make as many slip ups. To err is human. The law is divine. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

05-30-2010, 04:10 PM	#8
Loony Singer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 110 Thanks: 30 Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts	nice but strict Two summers back, my elder son (no kid, he was 29 at the time) was fishing from our dock, something he does maybe twice a year. Sure enough, a Fish and Game person came alongside. He was unfailingly polite, but the fine was issued anyway. That seems to be their norm...be nice about it, but hand the ticket out anyway. He did say that Fish and Game is not funded out of the state budget, but have to support their work through licenses and fines. My son was pretty down about it, then decided that it wasn't so bad when you consider that it wasn't so bad if you amortize the $90 bucks over all of the years he's fished since he turned 16. My 25 year old nephew just picked up a fine yesterday. His excuse was, "but we just live one cove over." That didn't cut it, either.

05-31-2010, 10:22 AM	#17
Jeanzb1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 554 Thanks: 628 Thanked 176 Times in 95 Posts	Very timely message! I find this whole thread about F&G very interesting and very timely, as just this past week I had occasion to contact them about a dead bird floating next to our dock that had two bands on his leg. One would logically assume that if a bird had been banded that someone was tracking his whereabouts. The woman who answered the phone for F&G was, first of all, rude and, secondly, unhelpful. She was able to offer no suggestions on who to call next or how to track him and from the tone of her voice I could tell she was annoyed that I even called over a dead bird! (She was probably sitting there playing solitaire on her computer!) The bottom line....I called the Audubon Society (very friendly and very helpful) who gave me a few other phone numbers to call. As it turned out, the bird was a homing pigeon who had been released 400 miles away just the day before and was on his way back home to Biddeford, Maine.

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Old Hubbard Rd (06-04-2010)

05-30-2010, 08:54 AM	#4
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Pay it in pennies. Go there and count them out on their desk. One penny....Two pennies....three pennies.....

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Old Hubbard Rd (06-04-2010)

05-30-2010, 09:50 AM	#5
hockeypuck Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern CT Posts: 169 Thanks: 19 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Where has common sense gone? I agree a warning should suffice. This Saturday is fish for free day in NH.

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05-30-2010, 03:17 PM	#6
RailroadJoe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 620 Thanks: 259 Thanked 158 Times in 100 Posts	Where were F&G when the Gilford plow people plowed all the snow in the handicap area right next to their station in Gilford and by the police sub station. I finally reported the lack of handicap spaces being lowed in and the NH Governor's Comitee Disabilty people informed them to clear it up. They did. F&G personel have no one who understands what its klike to grow up in a land with very little restrictions on fishing. As an old timer they really disgust me. I would have told them to pack it in and head home. Lets hope a state tropper catches them speeding on the way home and gives them a $150 ticket. Just my rambling.

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Old Hubbard Rd (06-04-2010)

05-30-2010, 03:38 PM	#7
XCR-700 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: MA Posts: 1,342 Thanks: 757 Thanked 538 Times in 313 Posts	Hockeypuck hit the nail on the head, "where has common sense gone" What a great way to ruin young peoples weekend. So for the "*law is the law" folks out there, is this what you mean? I will say yet again, thiis is not the Winnipesaukee I grew up going to every summer,,, I still very much enjoy Winnipesaukee, but stories like this sure put a damper on everyones experiences and memories. I think it time to rethink the role of our police, marine patrol, fish and game, etc.* Protect and Serve before enforce and punish!

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05-30-2010, 05:17 PM	#9
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,725 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	In our neighborhood, we have a problem with F&G because they never seem to be available when you call them. My neighbors and I have called them several times over the years for help with injured animals. They have never once responded to our calls. They probably are too busy issuing tickets to really help when help is needed. I think I may have posted this before but a deer was trapped in the ice and a guy came to my house and asked me to call F&G. I made several calls, one telling me to call the next and finally was told to tell the guy to shoot the deer. I went back out and relayed the message and the guy said no way was he shooting the deer, he would get in trouble. You know, I can't remember how it all ended (ashamed to say, but it was a long time ago) but F&G never came, I know that.

05-31-2010, 05:53 AM	#11
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,306 Thanks: 67 Thanked 171 Times in 127 Posts	Next time you see injured or stranded wild-life call the Humane Society. They'll probably just call F&G too but since they have a PR machine I doubt they'll be ignored.

05-31-2010, 06:51 AM	#12
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,725 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	That's a good idea, will they deal with wild animals? The incident I mentioned happened many years ago, before we even had an humane society in this neck of the woods!!

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05-31-2010, 08:58 AM	#14
topwater Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 302 Thanks: 85 Thanked 116 Times in 48 Posts	Tom, how long did it take you to try and beat the system. The kids broke the law! The kids got a ticket! Did it ruin their week-end, NO! It takes more then that to ruin a teenagers day! Mom and dad will pay the ticket, and the kids will diffently think about what they are doing in the future. Thats a cheap lesson in life, maybe mommy and daddy should have been thinking more about what their kids were doing instead of assuming that kids never break the law. The law is there for a reason, break it and pay the penalty.

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05-31-2010, 10:12 AM	#16
topwater Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 302 Thanks: 85 Thanked 116 Times in 48 Posts	Tom, how long did it take you to try and beat the system... Does not imply YOU broke the law, yes I did read you have a license, it was directed at the way of trying to get around the tickets of others who have broke the law. I hope this un-confused you.

05-31-2010, 12:19 PM	#18
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,500 Thanks: 375 Thanked 230 Times in 124 Posts	Yeah -- never really had a "quality" interaction with F&G, and most times I've had my license checked, they were simply floating down our shore, stopping everywhere where someone was fishing from a a dock. In fact, if I see them in the area, I will intentionally throw out a line just to make them stop again. Then look worried as they approach. But for all the cursing I do as I pay my $53 (plus ridiculous $3 online transaction fee) each spring, it's certainly a lot less than it would cost to be caught w/o a license. Oh, and this year is going great.... Attached Images __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

05-31-2010, 03:26 PM	#19
RailroadJoe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 620 Thanks: 259 Thanked 158 Times in 100 Posts	Just think. When you turn 68 (not 65 mind you) you can get a permanent license at no cost. But, you have to live that long.

05-31-2010, 04:29 PM	#20
topwater Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 302 Thanks: 85 Thanked 116 Times in 48 Posts	Grant, thats one heck of a fish right there !! Congratulations----

06-01-2010, 10:55 AM	#22
MikeF-NH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 318 Thanks: 2 Thanked 120 Times in 80 Posts	I know this iisn't going to be a popular response but it needs to be said. A license in required to fish or hunt in NH once you reach 16 PERIOD! That's the law and it doesn't only appy to "bad kids" - it applies to everyone. Fines are not just revenue generators, they are designed for a purpose and need to be followed. The F&G officer was doing his/her job and should be commended for correcting the action and the fine was 100% warrented and necessary. If you got pulled over on the highway for doing 100 mph and said "but I'm a good guy and besides, I only drive this highway one time per year" do you think the officer would be a jerk for fining you? Of course not. I run into F&G regularly while hunting and fishing and have always ALWAYS found them to be polite and professional. They have a job to do and deserve our support. Given that I don't think either of these young people will make this mistake again, I would rate the COs response as 100% effective. If it were my boy being cited, I wouldn't (under any circumstance) indicate that the officer was a jerk but would rather recommend that he take responsibility for the action and pay the fine himself. I'm sorry if this seems harsh but I don't see anything done by F&G in this occasion as a problem.

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06-02-2010, 08:51 AM	#25
dragonfly03246 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 83 Thanks: 7 Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts	License fees Sorry, I should have included that the $35 is for NH Residents. The $53 is non-residents which is still a small price to pay - about $5 a month. Those kids also could've gotten a 1-day or 3-day pass for a small fee.

06-02-2010, 09:00 AM	#26
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	They do seem a little steep. I think a cheaper basic license and special stamp for trout and salmon would be a good idea. N.H. RESIDENT Fishing $35.00 1-day Fishing $10.00 3-day Fishing N/A 7-day Fishing N/A NONRESIDENT Fishing $53.00 1-day Fishing $15.00 3-day Fishing $28.00 7-day Fishing $35.00

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Resident 2B (05-31-2010)

05-31-2010, 10:36 PM	#28
4 for Boating Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 26 Posts	I guess I will share my story as it seems like the F&G were pretty active this weekend. So here it goes. On my dock fishing with my two sons on and off for about an hour. (Ages 4 and 6) Kids get bored; walk off the dock and on to the beach. (About 25 feet away) I’m left with the rod (kids Zebco) and hook a fish. (Nice won actually) Call to the boys to come help. They get to the dock with my brother who helps lift the fish up, show it to the boys, let them touch it and get a picture of my older son with it. Quickly tossed back in and then F&G arrives to say they saw the whole thing and watched me land the fish and I did not appear to be “helping” my son how to learn. $93 later and off they go. I understand the law but sort of rough I think. Funny this was as they were writing the ticket; my youngest son comes up and asks “Can we still fish?” I’m speechless as what to say and the officer’s don’t even bat an eye. Well, I hope the money goes to good use. As a somewhat unrelated topic, they tied up and disembarked on my dock which I did not really have a problem with but in general, does F&G and or Marine Patrol have the right to do this?

06-01-2010, 04:36 AM	#29
hockeypuck Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern CT Posts: 169 Thanks: 19 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	I don't think the "Old Man" of the mountain fell down, nor do I think he was pushed. I think he jumped when he saw the way things were going in the "Live Free or Die" state.

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secondcurve (06-01-2010)

06-02-2010, 12:45 AM	#31
Loony Singer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 110 Thanks: 30 Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts	you've got it wrong Secondcurve, It seems you misinterpreted my original post. In no way did I condone the behavior of my son or nephew. In the former case, he was of the impression that fishing from one's own dock did not require a license. He was ignorant of the law, and paid the price. In the second case, I was attempting to illustrate that F&G simply don't accept excuses, legitimate or weak....they're friendly but firm, as stated in the title of my post. Neither one of 'em got any sympathy or "support" from me...I'm a firm believer in "you did the crime, now pay the fine." So please be a little more careful of your assumptions in the future, and you might want to avoid value-laden terms like "freeloaders" and "repeat offenders" unless you're 100% sure of the ground you're standing on. Thanks.

06-02-2010, 08:29 AM	#32
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	I think there should be a free (or at least very cheap) warm water species license for residents who catch and release warm water species. F&G does not stock warm water species. Seem silly to me that I have to pay for a fishing license to cover the cost of stocking rivers with rainbow and brown trout, species that I'm pretty sure aren't even indigenous to the area, when I don't fish for them. I used to love to fish for bass and other warm water fish, now I just don't bother because the license is absurdly priced.