Poachers Caught on the California Delta 

Thanks to everyone who has sent attaboys to me and Budo Fishing but the real work was done by the person who called the tip in and the warden who responded. Game Wardens, Wildlife Officers, or whatever they are called where you live are spread thin and have a tough job. Most of them do their job because they are like us and they love the outdoors and the resources we all enjoy. So hats off the the Warden in this video, he was a stand up guy who seemed firm but fair in this instance and in other times he has stopped and checked me personally. Also, most states have a tip line that you can call if you see something fishy, in CA that number is1 888 334-CALTIP (888 334-2258).

I love how the warden put them on blast and shamed those guys and told you all their shit, more wardens like him are needed, put the poachers on blast, let their faces be known and shame them so they can't do that shit again without being recognized

As a fellow angler who not only takes the rules seriously, but the etiquette too. I appreciate you taking the time to help this officer, the world needs more people like you. Tight lines

I applaud y'all for helping out that warden.

6:03 you're welcome

Love seeing other fisherman supporting the wardens! Awesome job! Those guys deserve so much respect for what the do for our fisheries, and wildlife. Thumbs way up and subbed!

Strong work Chris. I've met that Warden. Solid guy that cares about the resources. Glad to see him out there catching people.

One time while fishing at our local dam my buddy and I saw this indian family had a cage on a string with 2 walleye (still alive). Walleye season was closed at the time so we told them to release the fish but they pretended they didn't speak english and ignored us. So as we were about to leave I walked up to their cage, opened it and dumped their fish out. Screw poachers man they ruin our ecosystems.

Way to be out there and thanks for sharing. This is a good PSA for anyone out on the water to do their part in stopping poachers. My blood was boiling when the warden was explaining how they were being pulled off the beds, tragic really.

So great to see the passion and respect you have for wildlife conservation. My troop leader growing up in the boy scouts was our local game warden. It set the standard for me from a young age about the way to interact with nature.

“Cause I ain’t a douche bag.” I loved that

Nicely handled dude!!! You are a Seward of the outdoors! Big thumbs up

it's your duty to report poachers as a fishermen. good job to the warden for catching them.

Boat & all gear should have been seized too! They KNEW they were doing WRONG!

Great video man! Chris, ur an awesome dude. Thanks for helping the GW out in need. Glad the GW was able to catch the poachers. Tight lines brotha!

Helping Wardens out while I'm out in my kayak is always a pleasure. They know most kayakers are legit and ask us often for help. Good job being cool & helping bust the poachers.

I've hooked a spawning bass or two in my day, usually by accident. I always turn them loose, even though I like to eat what I catch, I do have some morals. I've had more than a few encounters with Warden's, never been afraid of them because I don't fish illegally. I did have one who by all rights should have ticketed my family and I. We were wrapping up a day fishing a public lake for little channel cats that we love to eat. Had the car packed up and the kids, we always bring the fish up last. Warden dropped by and asked to see or fish. I had no problem showing him. Turns out we had 9 fish between my husband and I, and we should have had 8. So we turned the last one loose and walked up to the car with him. I apologized of course, my fault for not counting accurately. When we got up to the car her saw my sons in the car seat and asked them if they fished. Of course they said yes. He smiled at them and then said to me, "You should have told me you had four fishers instead of two, you weren't over the limit at all." Now technically that was true. My oldest boy was 5 and old enough to hold his own pole, and he did sometimes help reel in small fish. But the baby was only about 1. And that warden didn't have to let us off, but he did because we were decent and didn't try to lie about our catch. I've always been grateful to him, although I would have taken the ticket without complaint because I was at fault. These men an women do a terrific job with too few resources and too little thanks.

That's awful! When I was going to school for my fisheries degree we were at a hatchery run by the school that was at a popular fishing spot. Several of us used to stand at the landing area and land and unhook salmon for people. There were a LOT of people that tried to snag, and keep salmon there. Unfortunately after we did this for a few weeks we were informed by the warden's that they were thankful for the work, but didn't want anyone getting hurt by a confrontational poacher, so we had to stop. No telling how many spawning fish got killed after we stopped throwing back the ones that were snagged. The warden's are awesome guys who really have both the community and an incredible resource in mind all the time, I worked very closely with several of them during my time with the WA dept of fish and wildlife. If you ever see them out and about, go shake their hand and thank them for their hard work protecting a resource we all hold so close!

Hey Chris I thank you for helping the game Warden I was the one that called Im the landowner back here with the dock. P.s glad your hand healed up after the grass burner buried once again thank you

thank you, love seeing respect for game wardens. such a difficult, underappreciated job

Went bass fishing on a lake near San Diego probably 30 years ago that had a reputation for producing huge bass. Happen to get there the same day there was a tournament going on. All of the pros in their high dollar bass boats were nosing up into the tulies over the nests and snagging big females with weighted treble hooks. I mentioned it to the tournament officials and they just laughed and said that's how it works at these events. I was so disgusted with the whole thing I packed up and left, and never looked at a pro-fisherman the same way again.

Thanks for posting this. It really opened my eyes. Recently, I was fishing at a local lake and there was a guy there fishing with a long rod with heavy green line on it. There was a heavy weight on the end of the line, with several hooks tied up the length of the line, with no bait on them. He was just casting and retrieving it. I didn't realize what kind of technique that was. I tried asking him, but he didn't seem to speak English. Now after seeing your video, I realize that he was probably trying to snag fish. He didn't catch any bass while I was there, but he did get a huge carp. Thanks for the CA poaching tip number. I have now put it in my phone, and I'll call it in if I see someone doing that again.

To bad you cant snag a poacher wit ha treble and drag them around.

Awesome job! I'm sure the warden has much respect for you guys now as well.

Some Asian chick at my local river kept 125 bluegill, around 100 over limit. Crazy to see how some of the asians at my river get away with keeping over limit. (the lady got in a lot of trouble but other people dont get caught)

Crazy dude. Silver lining is you were there to film it and educate anyone watching this. Snagging fat mommies? Pathetic! Dude when you started paddling over to them, all I could hear was the 'Team America' theme lol.

i enjoyed this video. i wanna say it was about 7/8 years ago i was out there fishing that same slough , saw a guy on the bank doing the same thing. i called cal tip and reported it. good to see it coming full circle.

"I didn't snag it because I'm not a douche bag" best part of the video lol

So you have a net in your kayak but both of you decide to play "let's try to scoop a slippery fish onto a flat plastic paddle" Makes sense

Great job for assisting the warden! People just don't care about our natural resources nor the wildlife! Thank you for concern for the great outdoors and the wildlife. All of need to remember that we are only the custodians of the nature around us.

Thanks for spreading awareness man. Now I know what to look out for. I never even knew this was a thing. Nice job handling it calmly.

You have one of the contagious laughs! I like the videos! Thanks a lot

In Missouri if you follow all the game laws you can fill your freezer full of fish and game easily every year. Shaming and confiscating makes poaching not as attractive.

We have more of a problem with hunters poaching up here and pisses me off. It's one thing if one needs the meat, but too often it's just for trophies. Good to see you helping out bro.

You did a great job I hope you gave him the video! And all those who call the hotline about poachers 10 stars to you and this channel for sharing! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

First video I watched of yours but I’m glad it came up. To hell with those who won’t follow simple fair rules it destroys fisheries and gives real fisherman a bad name. Good on you for being there and helping

I dont know what the laws are in CA, but they should lose that little raft they are using, along with all of their equipment.

Some people needs a high five...in the face...with a chair!

Good job, bro. Makes me happy that they were caught. Keep up the great videos!

Those are some chunky look bass! Glad to see the warden there

Ok guys, stop with all the racial stuff. Every ethnicity has their bad apples. Just enjoy this man's video and give him the props he deserves, for uploading the video and helping the warden.

Good on you guys for the help for the warden.

Nice work Chris, hope those guys get the book thrown at them. Good to see the Game Warden out there protecting our natural resources.

Just stumbled on to this...Thanks for your efforts, we need more honorable fisherman like you...

Good job Chris, thanks for doing your part to protect our resources. That was a beautiful female, glad she was able to be revived!👍🏾

You should get an honorary warden's badge. Good job Chris.

You rock I see this so often with questionably fishing activity. Nice to see one go the fish's way for one time. #fishlegal and I will be saving that hotline number and all other sportsmen should as well

God bless you Chris, for being there and your ethics. In these times of pressure on our sport, we need to be vigilant with the poachers. Thumbs up from me

Good job man ! It's sad to see that big mama on that stringer :'( but, i'm glad she was revived and released !

they take the fish to restaraunts all over the bay area, seen it with my own eyes

Thank you for doing this, I fish in that area as well it is near Knightsen and Brentwood and see those people doing it all the time. I confront them and tell them why are you snagging the fish off of their bed and they always smile and say we don't speak english or they just ignore me. Also thanks for putting in the hotline I will definitely add it to my contacts on my phone so when I see others doing it, I'm calling.

Great job helping wardens...and glad to see these poachers caught!

I grew up in CA, I saw those poachers all the time- these people from all over they keep every tiny thing.

I hate that @&#$. Thanks for helping the warden out, and making people aware. Makes me so mad when people mess up such a great fishery that so many of us have contributed in keeping healthy.

I’ve been looking for a good California delta fishing channel. Finally found one

Thanks for posting this. I’m in totally agree with everything you said and did! I’m primarily a catch and release guy, but I enjoy the occasional trout, salmon, perch, crappie something like that. And heck yeah even though I don’t eat bass if someone legally catches one and takes it home that’s perfectly fine. I’d prefer it be post spawn, but legal is legal! Good on you guys and tight lines!

Glad to see people breaking the laws getting caught...

I swear I run into guys all the time doing that shit. No respect, no care, they don’t give a crap about protecting the ecosystem so future generations have the resources. It’s just so disheartening. That crap pisses me off so bad. I have the CDFG on speed dial for times like those.

Thank you for posting the truth! They net salmon out of the fish ladders also. Fish and Game never had officers to send in middle of the night.

Good man helping the warden out! More folk need to do that!

Whiskey slough has soo many poachers it’s unbelievable

I have had a issue with people taking more then needed or under size. It's always best to call they don't mind

Right on brotha!! Great video and great work out there....yes I agree if you’re catching appropriate sized fish the legal way and cooking it, that’s your prerogative; when people are clearly “fishing” the wrong way, they need to be stopped!! Thank you for the info line as well, in did not have it until now 🤘🏼🤘🏼

Great work buddy. That's crazy.

Props to you for doing the right thing. A few months ago, I was fishing at a pier and this one dude kept asking to keep every undersized shark people were catching. When others tried to dissuade him by telling him of the consequences if caught, he replied back that he didn't care since he was an illegal and had been arrested plenty of times anyways. Stated that the most that would happen is that he would be deported back to Mexico. Idiot literally perpetrated every negative stereotype people have about Mexican. immigrants

You picked the perfect emojis to cover their face. Probably didnt have fishing license either

Great video! Thank you for helping out.

Awesome job! Like you said I am sure many of us would have done the same. I know I would have if the warden asked. Thanks for sharing this video for more then just us to see but hopefully anyone thinking of poaching might see it and decide against it. I have to wonder if the 2 who disliked this video have poached before.

Beer for that cool warden! :) Nailed those losers.

All types of people poached. I've seen them all of every race or ethnic groups or whatever. The only solution is to report them n give them a big ass fine. Good work bro!!!

Poachers ruin it for everyone. Spent a lot of time on the delta. Good memories

That’s a great spot! The water is amazingly clear.

Use to be able to snag coho and salmon in my state back years ago. Way to much work and not very much fun either. No challenge. Not sportsman-like. Glad it was outlawed!

Thanks for helping the warden you are a good guy and I subbed to your friend. Poachers are the worst man no respect for the fish

As a former secretary of the calif delta striped bass association i'm not surprised by the actions shown here Many of asian ethnicity were placed here in the delta region as part of a relocation /assistance program for Vietnam.Laos and Cambodia immigrants yet these people still refuse to adapt to regional angling laws nor have any sportsman ethics. Worst part is the older ones teaching younger to do the same illegal actions and they think it's an acceptable practice since this is the way they fished in Vietnam,Laos and Cambodia. The Term of marginality and fishing practices applies here being of two cultures refusing to obey the laws and social rules of the country of residence . Additionally some sell their catch to black market stores or poaching rings with sturgeon and striped bass as prime targets. When caught red handed they pull the no speak english crap and try to lie to wardens to avoid prosecution and or claim they have a special right given their relocation status. I have pulled hundreds of illegal trot lines from the delta and stopped night time poaching for sturgeon via netting and snagging on 31 occasions The problem has also expanded outside he Delta to the Ocean where high value species are being wiped out by poaching and the wardens can't keep up with the number of cases. What needs to happen is licenses revoked for the prime offenders and if caught fishing again, proper jail sentences imposed, however the courts are extremely lenient and the problem goes on. Also for every 1 caught at least 10 are not and the native populations of many species are dwindling away at a record rate. Some depletion is natural selection of nature but that does not include things like a treble hook and snagging. Last week i caught a poacher of LAOS ethnicity with 3 illegal snagged sturgeon and got the fucker on smart phone. When caught he pulled a machete type blade and threatened to cut me if i did not give him the phone. I relayed pictures and 4 officers were on scene in a quick time placing him under arrest. It appears this guy was selling his catch to russians for the caviar and to local black markets for the meat. Same asshole was part of a abalone poaching ring selling abalone to a asian owned Casino. A know people think asians get a bad rep to quickly for fishing but the truth is they do poach more than other groups and the DFW arrest records clearly show this. A program to teach younger asian kids fishing rules is needed ASAP to change this barbaric old way of fishing. I know they have had success in Oregon and Washington with such programs but CAlifornia is a mess and getting worse. Thanks for stopping these clowns and addressing the issue here and best of luck in the future saving our fisheries.

Thank you,good job guys

Poaching is WRONG! Get them legally y'all

Looks like a sewage lagoon...welcome to California!

Great job Gents! It is not easy to participate (for some), but that was classy to see. Sub'd!

This is epic. Great Job everyone!

There’s no honor in poaching, when I see trap nets, unattended trout lines, stuff like that, I immediately cut that shit out of the water and dispose of it. We must respect are water ways and the sport of fishing so that the ones that come after us can enjoy it like we do. Stand up shit bro, I dropped a sub. You have my support form here on out bro

if you come to america you have to live by the law you cant treat it like the 3rd world youre used to.

as a retired Cop and avid fisherman I thank you for helping the warden. Hopefully he took all their stuff to include their car.

Wow... I need to find me a pond that clear. The clarity of that pond/lake is insane

Wow. If the pollution in that river continues unchecked.......no màs fishies. Lotta organics plus all kinds of crazy agricultural heavy metal jibber-jabber.

Happens in New England too. Foreigners pretend they dont know the laws and they get off. However if someone was too slightly break the law in THERE home country you’d be going to prison for years. Throw the book at ANYONE who poaches. My grammar smells

There are SOME people here in NOVA that treat the ponds, lakes, and rivers like a free grocery store. They keep everything they catch and trash the areas they fish, with (illegal) fires, beer cans, used diapers, etc. Poaching is stealing and if left unchecked, the poachers will rob law abiding citizens of their right to these resources and turn the waterways into dumps at the same time.

Glad to fellow fishing guy helped out the Warden..Here in Maine the Tip Line # gets lots of calls...if they were in Maine, well, Big fine @$10k and loss of fishing license for 5 yrs, car,boat ,trailer and whatever else was in boat and jail time. Snagging fish is just not worth it.

Dang man that bass was a pig, hate to see stuff like this.

Vietnamese be killing the game

What a Shame. Thanks for the help out there.

Where I live, there is a bit of a vigilante group called 'nipper tippers'. The public docks are lines with Asians keeping every single fish they catch, whether in season or not. Locals got fed up and started pushing...or tipping...them in to the water...lol

REACTION BITE..THROW JERKS NEXT TIME See if that helps you out. Them poachers piss me off. I fish DMC all the time and people keep 13inch 14inch stripe bass. Iv called the warden b4..its the right thing to do..anyhow youve earned me as a Subcriber. Keep up the awesome content.

Was it asians because they are so well known for this

well that made the trip a lot more interesting

This is why im on first name basis with the Wardens here, and have them on speed dial.

That's so messed up

Snagging happens. I've snagged a few Mackerel when they were trying to hit a piece of squid I was retrieving. When I was a kid, I snagged a catfish by accident. If something gets snagged, it goes back in. It's not sporting at all. But to purposely snag fish, and then keep them. That's just fucked up. I live in Central California, Fresno area to be exact. I was out fishing spots for Bass on the San Joaquin below Millerton lake last Monday. I got skunked out AND lost an expensive spinner. That's the nature of fishing, you lose far more than you win. But then you have jackasses like these people going in and essentially stealing fish from me. Taking beautiful males and females in spawning season no less. Fishing in California is hard enough as it is, and now we've lost at least three fish, taken illegally by people that probably have no license. It's almost like my 50 dollar yearly license is paying for those shitheads to steal my fish. That just boils my blood. I understand, Bass is damn tasty. Fried up and served with white rice. One of my favorite dinners. But I don't over fish them, I don't take them while they're spawning. I throw back far more than I keep. But to snag them purposely, and then just dump them when caught? That's just wrong. No better than people who gill net creeks.

Thanx for the video Chris! Glad they got caught .. hope they learned that lesson but when people are set in there ways ... they are well .. you know set.. they just adjust and try not to get caught again .... I know it makes some people nervous to see the boys in brown or green (wardens) but as long as you are not breaking any laws don't worry they are keeping our outdoors in check!!

I appreciate this video especially when I'm working to become a game warden