Kenai fishing guide has court date over monster king
Originally published Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 10:40 a.m.
Updated Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.
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Stumble It!KENAI -- A fishing guide has admitted that he lied about where his client caught a monster king.
Jason McMurrian from Angler's Lodge in Sterling was the guide when Steve Paterson of New York City caught a 73.5-pound king salmon on the Kenai River.
As it turns out, it was an illegal fish.
McMurrian says he measured the fish at 55 3/4 inches both on the boat and back at Angler's Lodge. But Fish and Game's measurement of the king was 53.5 inches.
McMurrian also said the fish was caught near Honeymoon Cove, which is located downstream of the Sterling Highway bridge, when actually it was caught above the Sterling Highway bridge.
State fishing regulations say any fish between the lengths of 46 to 55 inches caught above the bridge between Jan. 1 and July 14 may not be retained.
The fish was caught July 10.
McMurrian said he was cited and fined $110. His court date is set for Aug. 15.
McMurrian admitted he lied about where the fish was caught.
"I lied about the location of the fish to keep other fishermen out of that area," he said.
Last year, after a story ran about another of McMurrian's clients landing a large fish, several boats showed up in the same hole the next day, McMurrian said.
When Paterson caught the big king, he gave credit to his guide.
"I had a good guide that took us right to where the fish were," he said.
Community Discussion
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it is amazing how the government will spend our money disputing the valitaty of where and how a FISH was caught on a stinking river. Simply amazing. I hope every person that reads this understands that the fish in question has cost tax payers several thousands of dollars between court fees and the time of a over zealous fish and game officer. Seems the fish and game officer needs to stop being so zealous over where when and how a single fish was caught when there are more pressing issues within the state of Alaska. I think that these State employees sometime forget where there paychecks come from. Hey officer Joe Shmo...its a stinking fish!
I would prefer guides that had some integrity; cheaper on government resources that way. The fish didn't cost anyone a thing. Fish can't read the regs either. The guide knew what he was doing.
That's right up there with getting a CDL out of a Crackerjack box. Look at all the guides who've gotten popped in the past with their out of state clients for fish AND game. They give the honest sport(wo)men out there a bad rap.
My plug and sinker.
flemm
you clearly haven't seen the TV commercial for Vote Yes on #4 - Vote 'Yes' for Fish!
The greenie mantra isnt only 'it's for the children' now, but also 'its for the fish!'
Fish are much more important than people - and these poor ADFG ppl wouldn't have jobs without substantial busts such as these!
I must be missing something... Guy catches fish, turns out fish is taken illegally, guide fess's up, guide is cited and fined. Why the need to go to court?
Help me out. There must be more to the story than what is written here.
Kudos for SOA F&G.....LEGAL guide operations are so tired of taking the rap for the illegal activities of other lodges and guides. Not only should the guide land in a court "net", but the lodge owners that he works for should be right next to him!!! ANY GUIDE that is worth their weight (and the $$$$ we charge for the King trips) knows where the "holes" are and there is no reason to remain "secret" about it. The guide lied. Plain and simple. The guide took a fish illegally to keep a client happy!!!! Thus, hoping for more dollars and tips!!!! Thank you SOA F&G for working so hard to protect a valuable resource for all of Alaska's fishing and tourism trades.
---A Fellow Guide/Lodge Operator that does it LEGALLY!!!
I'm glad the illegall guide was caught. It is people like this that make it so difficult for the rest of the hunter/fishers that do so legally. Kudos to the alert officer.
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