Just Wasn't My Day

[PoseidonsGirl1106]

LOL.....it could have been worse. Maybe add a jellyfish in your mask and some fishing line to get tangled in?....LOL....Where are you diving this weekend? I plan on diving with a former MA "green police" on saturday in the gloucester area. Were looking for lobsters.

 

[scubastew]

I am confused...how does a short end up in a catch bag? Do you have an older gauge? Does your gauge malfunction on occassion?

Maybe get a new gauge and measure (and re-measure if necessary) before they get into the bag so you dont have to re-check them on land.

I might have given you a hard time about that one as well.

I have also heard from a number of different people that the EPO are on a "mission" to start the summer. perhaps they need to raise some funds for the office xmas party or something.

In all seriousness they do have a very important role to play in the grand scheme of things...

sorry sir, you had a tough day and that blows, but like others have said, it could have been worse...

 

[paulthenurse]

With all due respect...Quit your freakin' whining!
The time to "Double check" your catch is before you put it in the bag. If you are not 100% sure it is legal than it shouldn't be subjected to being tossed around in a catch bag with a bunch of other pretty pissed off lobsters. You knew (or had a pretty good idea) that one of your bugs was short ~~I may have one that is questionable~~ and instead of owning up to the fact that you screwed up, you are attempting to evade your responsibility for your actions and blame the cop. "He was mean to me! Boo Hoo! He ruined my dive! Boo Hoo! He accused me of breaking the law! Boo Hoo! That's not my style! Boo Hoo!"

Hey, the cop didn't put the short in your bag, you did! Quit your whining, pay the fine, and make sure that you only take legal lobsters in the future. If you don't speed you don't get speeding tickets. If you do, have enough balls to admit it and accept the responsibility and the consequences

 

[SteveAD]

While Paul is using considerably stronger language than I would, I certainly agree in principal. My attitude when measuring is not "can I find a way to keep it" it is "is there any reason I can find to let it go" no questionable bugs ever go in the bag.

on the flip side however, you are supposed to be allowed to recheck at the waters edge. and the so called report of raiding traps is pure fertilizer. it falls into the category of ALL DIVERS RAID TRAPS EVERY DIVE mentality that we do unfortunately see all to often.

the ticket could probably be appealed but it's only $100 that's less than a days pay, and you'd probably have to take a whole day off work to appeal it.

take it as a learning experience, a $100 class in how to properly measure a lobster.
if you didn't like the instructor try not to have the opportunity to take another class with him. you now know how to avoid it.

 

[PoseidonsGirl1106]

I know there is a PADI SPECIALTY Lobster Hunter Course you can take with Boston Harbor Diving Company out of Winthrop MA. Check it out under advanced courses at www.bostondiving.com. Its a great class!

 

[Damselfish]

Sounds to me like he was being pretty decent and polite about the whole thing to start. As far as the bit about someone calling, it's probably true someone did. Even if it's a stupid accusation, if they get a call like they they're going to have to do something. The whole game may be annoying, but it's also irrelevant. You broke the rules, live and learn. and let bad enough alone.

 

[Dragon2115]

I think it's pretty obvious that if the law allows for rechecking of the catch at the waters edge then the EP officer overstepped his authority when he wouldn't allow you to do so and should be held accountable for his actions. There's no excuse for an LEO arbitrarily bypassing the law. That makes them no better than the people they're there to stop and does nothing but breed contempt for them in the process.

 

[Rick2]

Paul,
Whine, whine, poo, poo!!!!!
You are correct sir, I was in possesion of a short--I will pay the fine, I have no problem with that. It was the 50# of B.S. and b___ busting that sends me. I can't believe I'm laughing now--you sir, are a busting son of a gun, it would seem!
Time for some cheese to go with the Whine, Rick

 

[paulthenurse]

[/rant]
Excuse me for a moment while I climb off of my soapbox... OK. There, that's better!

So it seems that after I hung up the phone at the conclusion of a conversation with my daughter about personal responsibilities and being accountable for your actions, I stumbled across your post and it waved a red cape in front of my own angry bull.

"What do you mean it's not your fault you ran out of money in Barcelona? Whose fault is it? Did someone else spend your money? And paying me back when you get home isn't the point. If you are old enough to go to Europe, you are old enough to make sure you don't run out of money before you get back!"

Sooooooooo, you may have been a victim of poor timing with regards to my rant. Not that I don't stand behind my main point, but perhaps, just perhaps, I was talking to someone else at the same time. If you have children I'm sure you understand. If you don't, would you like a couple?

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maximum culpa.

I owe you a beer.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

If you have children I'm sure you understand. If you don't, would you like a couple?

I'll let mine go for a $1.99/lb