What is poaching, and why is it bad?
Poaching is the illegal taking of fish and wildlife, either intentionally or through ignorance of the law. It may be taking deer out of season; it may be catching and keeping an overlimit of trout; it may be keeping a short halibut. The living resources of the state belong to the citizens of California, and the Department of Fish and Game manages those resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public. Sport fishing regulations exist to provide for a rewarding recreational experience for anglers and at the same time to ensure the continued existence of the resource upon which anglers depend. An individual that knowingly or unknowingly violates those regulations is jeopardizing the health of the resource and doing a disservice to us all. Poaching is an insult to the vast majority of hunters and anglers who obey the rules. Because poaching is a crime of secrecy and stealth, its full impact in California is imposs
