I got boarded today by MA EPO out of Gloucester

[BillD]

Pulling the lobster traps this morning. Beautiful day. I had 4 traps on board and some family/friends/kids. Teaching the kids what ya can keep, what not, zero tolerance female notch rule etc., and this boat approaches.

Looks like a USCG inflatable but the color scheme is all wrong.. silvergreen/black !!

Yup, MA Enviromental Poilice boat 2 guys out of Gloucester Ma. My traps are off Plum Island beach.

Nice guys, had a chat about them being short staffed etc. All and all a good experience and the kids on board got a chance to learn ALL the lobstering rules.

I had quite the crew !!!!

 

[Hooper]

My local DNR got one of these boats recently. Hey they needed it, lots of Jet Skis around these days...

Truly amazing, the US is 16 trillion in debt and they are giving these away to any organization that can fill out an application. We are doomed.

Sorry to hijack your thread, looks like they were good guys anyways, that's always a plus and the kids had a blast I am sure!

 

[JimRP31]

But, did you catch any keepers?

 

[MDI45]

Truly amazing, the US is 16 trillion in debt and they are giving these away to any organization that can fill out an application. We are doomed.
They do the same thing here on Long island...The only one that dont have them are the Town of Hempstead Bay constable....they are stuck with Boston whaler

 

[duxbait]

The only one that dont have them are the Town of Hempstead Bay constable....they are stuck with Boston whaler

yea duxbury is a small harbor that used to be like that, then they got a 26 steiger craft a few years back. then what happens... a homeland security grant for the small port of duxbury and we have 3 new fords and a new RIB!

 

[Raider Ronnie]

Wish those EPOs would actually do their job, like making the sein boat in Hull Ma. follow the rules put in place for him to fish instead of sneaking in & out in the day making sets taking most of our bait !

 

[Hammer Slammer]

Plymouth just got 3 of them, harbor master, police dept, and fire dept, 2 more then we needed.

 

[MDI45]

plymouth just got 3 of them, harbor master, police dept, and fire dept, 2 more then we needed.

a waste of freakin money

 

[Hammer Slammer]

Don't worry it's only "grant money". It's free! 7-275 hp engines don't burn much....

 

[BillD]

Wish those EPOs would actually do their job, like making the sein boat in Hull Ma. follow the rules put in place for him to fish instead of sneaking in & out in the day making sets taking most of our bait !

I can't say what the EPO priorities are? I'm figuring with 2 women and 4 kids on board and a 10 trap rec license I'm low on the risk of being a big lobster poacher and generating BIG fines.

The officer driving the boat did say the state has 40 EPOs for the whole state including inland water.

Big area to cover I guess.

Anyway, both EPOs were professional and courteous.

 

[duxbait]

Plymouth just got 3 of them, harbor master, police dept, and fire dept, 2 more then we needed.

You can't lie... watching that sweet new fire rig tool around in the bay and shoot thier water cannon is pretty cool. They were pinning channel markers down in kingston with it the other day. They got them to lay perfectly parallel to the surface!