News

California Poachers Cut Out Middleman, Steal Trout From Hatchery

By Tom Chandler 8/23/2011

Poachers aren't exactly strangers to California's fishing scene, but apparently one group of them decided to cut out the middleman and poach their trout directly from the hatchery (from the Silicon Valley Mercury News):

What's believed to be the first-ever large-scale theft from a fish hatchery in the state has wardens from the Department of Fish and Game scouring markets and roadside stands looking for thousands of pounds of trophy-sized trout.

Workers on Sunday arrived at the San Joaquin State Fish Hatchery to find the gate pried open, blood covering the floors and 70 dead trout left behind. Department spokesman Patrick Foy said as many as 1,000 trophy trout were stolen.

"If anyone smells anything fishy, they should give us a call," Foy said.

You heard the man, though I'd like to caution the hygiene-impaired Undergrounders to first make sure it's not their waders which smell like hell before calling Fish && Game.

AuthorPicture

Tom Chandler

As the author of the decade leading fly fishing blog Trout Underground, Tom believes that fishing is not about measuring the experience but instead of about having fun. As a staunch environmentalist, he brings to the Yobi Community thought leadership on environmental and access issues facing us today.

This story is missing something, Like: How come the Hatchery workers or the Game Warden that reside on Hatchery did not hear anything ? Futhermore, The Hatchery workers Dogs don't sit around and let you go by without barking. I Lived there in the Past. Unless no one lives there now ... Just leaves me questioning ....
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Quinn: That Patrick Foy quote sounds like it was made up. Did he think he was starring in a Naked Gun movie? We all have our secret lives...
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If your waders smell like fish you must be doing something right. That Patrick Foy quote sounds like it was made up. Did he think he was starring in a Naked Gun movie?
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