So, we started to drop our nets and we were approached by the Harbor Fire Dept Vessel and advised that we were hoopping in a restricted area, we would need to pick up or nets and move them. We were asked to draw an imaginary line from certain points to another, anything within or outside of these lines was fair game. However, the Lobster Report Card identifed certain structures or areas inside these imaginary lines as hooping locations, it even had a code for them, we didn't think about this until after they left. Hell, one of the areas was acutally exposed to open water
Just before we were ready to call it a night we were tempted to drop the nets and if the officers returned we'd show them that the DFG has these areas as legal hooping locations. However, we already had 6 bugs between the two of us so we decided to avoid the drama. We also found it odd that the Fire Dept would be enforcing hooping locations.
Another weird thing about this was that they were pretty much telling us, you can drop your nets in an area where most of the boats enter/exit the harbor but you cant drop your nets in an area where its safer for you and the boaters.
I sent the DFG an email asking for clarification but I have not received a response, maybe it's because they're as confused as we were. Who has the last say on this? The enforcer or the patroller?