This is plagarized from another forum. Similar topics have arisen on this board, regarding the same location(s) as this article. It was good to hear about actual enforcement of our game and fish regulations.

On May 23, 2009, Virginia Conservation Police Officer K.G. Bilwin received a report from Richmond dispatch about a group using a spear gun to catch fish and keeping over their limit. The caller stated he observed this group keep everything, including undersized fish and exceed their limit. The complainant stated that this activity happens every weekend, but more so during holiday weekends. Officer Bilwin, Officer Billhimer and Master Officer Martin decided to work the complaint undercover. Officer Martin launched a canoe from a nearby boat ramp and floated down to the other officer's position. Together, officers observed as nearly 25 subjects were fishing from the banks of the river using hand lines. While taking notes of the descriptions of the subjects fishing, Bilwin and Billhimer noticed two males out in the middle of the river acting suspiciously. One of the males had underwater goggles and a snorkel and rarely came above the water and when he did, he did not bring his hands above the water. The other male was acting like a "lookout"; he was not fishing but just kept looking all around while the other male stayed under water. Officer Bilwin then boarded the canoe Officer Martin was utilizing. Billhimer joined them in a kayak and began to develop a plan of action.

Officer Billhimer drifted close to the two males in the middle of the river and notified Bilwin and Martin that he saw a string tied to the ankle of the male that was spending most of the time underwater. Officers Bilwin and Martin approached the two males and identified themselves. The males dropped everything they had and stated they were not fishing, but were looking for crawfish. CPOs Bilwin, Martin and Billhimer rounded up all the people they could identify as the ones that were fishing. None of the people that were seen fishing had fishing licenses. Officers Bilwin, Billhimer and Martin began issuing summons for the fishing license violations and confronted the two males suspected of using a spear gun. The two males denied fishing or using a spear gun. Officer Bilwin and Billhimer then swam out to the area where the two males were last seen and tried to locate a spear gun. Underwater goggles were utilized and within 30 minutes a stringer full of fish was located at the bottom of the river. The stringer had one catfish, eight bass and eight bluegill. Four of the bass were within the illegal slot limit. Shortly after locating the stringer a spear gun was found at the bottom of the river. Officer Bilwin then confronted the subjects about the spear gun and fish. One of the males admitted to using the spear gun to shoot the fish. The spear gun, along with the fish, were seized. Overall there were 11 summons and one written warning issued from this undercover operation. For more information contact Captain Kevin Clarke (540) 248-9360.

For the rest of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Outdoor Report, go to:

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/outdoor-re index.html

glad they got them. here in florida in the saltwater this happens often, and it's not right.

Glad to hear they caught some of these clowns

That's good news and all but they could make busts like this EVERYDAY if they actually patrolled our fisheries or answered our complaints. Most people I know who have called in violations are ignored. I know some guys who live in a private community who pay to maintain several ponds that are currently being fished out by non-residents who aren't allowed to fish there let alone keep fish from the ponds. The residents can't do anything because the game people won't come out, the Sherriff's office can't really do much about it and they don't want to get into confrontations and have anyone get hurt should things get physical.

It's tough to get excited about a bust like this when I know how many violators they could catch if they actually responded to our calls. Granted, I know they are greatly limited by their budget and small staffs but all the same. I've only seen two game wardens in the entire state in my last 4 years of fishing...

Dan,

You hit the nail on the head man. Our fisheries locally are polluted with tons of trash, people are keeping illegal fish (poaching, not in small quantities), and people are taking up entire shorelines by having 5 - 7 rods casted out at one time. No body enforces anything. But god forbid if it's a dead day on the water no one is launching and you are fishing from one of the launch areas, then game wardens are up your behind. I'm not saying that game wardens don't do their job, all I'm saying is LOCALLY in Northern Virginia they could be spending their time much more wisely instead of sitting ina building at the park looking out the window.

This is my honest opinion.  No disrespect to anyone working in the field in the area.  Just people need to step it up and enforce things ALL the time.  I think in the three years I've been bass fishing I've had my license checked twice.  Once at Burke Lake, the other at Accotink.  Some places are better than others but for the most part it's the same old song and dance.

The problem is we don't have enough Game Wardens.  I my neck of the woods, we have one for several counties.  It's just not right.  

Micro hit the nail on the head.  Game wardens are very sparse across the entire country.  Until they put more money towards the program (which will probably never happen while we're alive) it will continue to happen.  

One word of note, please don't blame the wardens that are out there for all these troubles.  Every single warden I've encountered is doing their job to the best of their abilities.  

Our local police have had a greater effect on these problems than the game wardens.  As far as I can tell, it is because of citizen complaints, much like the situation in the article above.  On the same forum I plagarized this article from, another post just came up about a bust/roust of "illegal" fishing in Ashburn.  It is a bit different as the lakes/ponds at issue are private (part of a HOA).  But, again, to paraphrase the post, the police told him "We've gotten thousands of complaints about illegal fishing/trespassing on these lakes, and its going to stop." Again, the squeaky wheel getting the grease.

So, in your best Ray Parker, Jr. voice: "Who you gonna call"?  I don't have any answers exactly, but the right numbers should be no more than a google search away.  (Or a post from someone in the know).

The article above mentions a "Virginia Conservation Police Officer."  This sounds ideal.  Does anyone know if or why this position is distinct from a game warden?

Our local police have had a greater effect on these problems than the game wardens. As far as I can tell, it is because of citizen complaints, much like the situation in the article above. On the same forum I plagarized this article from, another post just came up about a bust/roust of "illegal" fishing in Ashburn. It is a bit different as the lakes/ponds at issue are private (part of a HOA). But, again, to paraphrase the post, the police told him "We've gotten thousands of complaints about illegal fishing/trespassing on these lakes, and its going to stop." Again, the squeaky wheel getting the grease.

So, in your best Ray Parker, Jr. voice: "Who you gonna call"? I don't have any answers exactly, but the right numbers should be no more than a google search away. (Or a post from someone in the know).

The article above mentions a "Virginia Conservation Police Officer." This sounds ideal. Does anyone know if or why this position is distinct from a game warden?[/quote]

Answering my own question, these are what Virginia now considers game wardens.  One number is 1-800-237-5712.

Hey Drum, I'm sure there are plenty of wardens doing what they are paid to do and helping out with some of these problems.  But I do know of one specific place I go to a lot where I see a lot of stuff that they could be doing that isn't done.  So I believe you as far as you making that statement, I just wish we'd see it everywhere across the board like the others are saying.

I almost went back to school last year online for a parks and recreation grad school type degree but with the kid coming around I haven't had the time to pursue it.  But all of this stuff makes me want to go back and help contribute to this cause.

I only hope we can get more and more young people into the conservation and protection type stuff and just teach our youngsters and new fishing buddies what is acceptable behavior when on the water and so forth.

Just to add on this topic, one place I fish around the NoVa area alot is Lake Fairfax, and I'm sick of seeing people (mostly hispanic) take out 5 pounders and put on stringers. That is unacceptable. Don't get me wrong, I don't just stand idly by and do nothing, but I wish there was a way for people to sign up and be able to check licenses and contact authorities.

Just to add on this topic, one place I fish around the NoVa area alot is Lake Fairfax, and I'm sick of seeing people (mostly hispanic) take out 5 pounders and put on stringers. That is unacceptable. Don't get me wrong, I don't just stand idly by and do nothing, but I wish there was a way for people to sign up and be able to check licenses and contact authorities.

Is that illegal at L. Fairfax?

Rushfactor, I hear you, this is happening all over Northern Virginia, it makes me sick.  Most of these people that take all that they catch do not even have licenses.  They also net fish and they do not obey the limits or the laws, plus they leave trash behind.  It has got to the point where I do not shore fish much because of what is going on.  Most of the locations where this is going on are loosing significant amounts of fissh and it will take quite some time for them to recover.

VDGIF is doing a poor job monitoring Northern Virgina right now.  Even when you call in complaints nothing gets done.  Sorry to you guys that work for VDGIF but I am just stating facts.  If you feel I am wrong I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue with you.

Rushfactor, I hear you, this is happening all over Northern Virginia, it makes me sick. Most of these people that take all that they catch do not even have licenses. They also net fish and they do not obey the limits or the laws, plus they leave trash behind. It has got to the point where I do not shore fish much because of what is going on. Most of the locations where this is going on are loosing significant amounts of fissh and it will take quite some time for them to recover.

VDGIF is doing a poor job monitoring Northern Virgina right now. Even when you call in complaints nothing gets done. Sorry to you guys that work for VDGIF but I am just stating facts. If you feel I am wrong I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue with you.

I would guess <5% of these people bought licenses.

You see that in NC too. On Wylie I consistently see folks skirting the law. There are a set of ski boats that I have seen on there for 2 years, a bunch of kids (18-25 tops) in there, who enjoy trying to run over or swamp fishing boats. No hull numbers on the craft at all for the last 2 years. Have called the cops, NOTHING is done, nobody follows up. They fly full throttle < 20 ft from docks and boat houses with boats tied up to them. They think it is funny as heck.  

On one occasion I hit their hull with a large sinker when they were trying to swamp me and my daughter in a 1446 jon. Last time they nearly capsized us, my bud brought a 9 mm along and pulled it after we warned them. The tend to avoid our boat(s) now. I loathe the thought of it going that far but these dudes endangered our lives and I cannot gave that.

As far as game wardens go on Wylie, never seen one. Given the state budget though that does not surprise me. We are cutting teachers from school so enforcing environmental laws, not up there on priorities.

DGIF changed the moniker of the game wardens to conservation officers a few years ago.

I have been stopped only once, on the Chickhominy Lake.

I had everything in the bass boat, and the two conservation officers told me that had not happened to them in over two years.

They gave me a Junior Game Warden decal which I proudly display on my boat's windshield.  ;D   ;D  

Just to add on this topic, one place I fish around the NoVa area alot is Lake Fairfax, and I'm sick of seeing people (mostly hispanic) take out 5 pounders and put on stringers. That is unacceptable. Don't get me wrong, I don't just stand idly by and do nothing, but I wish there was a way for people to sign up and be able to check licenses and contact authorities.

Is that illegal at L. Fairfax?

It's legal to take out trout in season, but honestly, I don't know if it's illegal to take out bass. I personally am a catch and release angler.

That's good they caught him, but a better headliner would have been > "Spear fisherman speared" !  

Fish

One time on the Potomac, there were these people keeping tons of baby striper so my dad and I called the park police and left.  I Came back an hour later and no one was there.

Just to add on this topic, one place I fish around the NoVa area alot is Lake Fairfax, and I'm sick of seeing people (mostly hispanic) take out 5 pounders and put on stringers. That is unacceptable. Don't get me wrong, I don't just stand idly by and do nothing, but I wish there was a way for people to sign up and be able to check licenses and contact authorities.

Is that illegal at L. Fairfax?

It's legal to take out trout in season, but honestly, I don't know if it's illegal to take out bass. I personally am a catch and release angler.

So they were taking bass legally? I just don't want to confuse the catch and release debate with the legal vs. illegal debate involving actual laws (creel limits, nets, spears, etc...)