I don't understand how the multi day declaration accomplishes anything especially for the sportfleet. The boats have a posted schedule and you can track their exact position on MarineTraffic.com so everyone knows exactly how many days they fished and where they were fishing. What difference does the declaration make except that the state of Calif collects a measly $6.95. If you can prove with absolute certainty that you fished for 3 days then what difference does the declaration make. Also it sounds like this is a rule that the CDFW never enforced in the past then suddenly they decide to enforce it and one unlucky group of innocent fishermen gets nailed for something they had no control over. The boat was not over limits, they didn't have undersize fish, they were not fishing in a closed area etc. They simply failed to file a form with CDFW which the department never seemed too concerned with in the past.
What prevents a private boat parked in a slip in San Diego from getting a declaration for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday then only going out on Wednesday and catching a 3 day limit of BFT. CDFW has no way to track which days the boat went out or where they fished.
Maybe I'm missing something but I just don't understand why a sportboat would need the declaration when CDFW knows exactly how many days they fished in Calif waters. I used to have a lot of respect for CDFW bit I think this leaves a bad taste in everyones mouth. What they did in seizing the fish from innocent passengers may have been correct according to their rules but it wasn't right.
Then work on changing the law.
I have been ticketed and even arrested multiple times where I thought the call could have easily been to let me slide.... lame law, no other traffic wasnt dangerous blah blah blah ...
At the same time I understand the cops job, to which they swore an oath, is to enforce the law.
They don't make them.
You wanna argue(and I have) the interpretation or method of enforcement, that is what courts are for.
Yes, I appreciate an officer who uses an opportunity to educate rather than cite when appropriate.
This is a case of the boat didnt have their shit together. Period.
If I was on that trip I would be stoked with that deal!
I dont feel like this makes the boat or its staff "bad". They roll stopped a stop sign and got caught. Life goes on.