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Cheater Caught at the US OPEN at Mead

ANNED FOR LIFE AFTER U.S. OPEN INCIDENT

A Southern California angler has been banned from all Western Outdoor News tournaments for life after he was caught bringing “salted” bass to the scales of the 2010 U.S. Open at Lake Mead, Nevada.

Mike Hart of Winnetka, California, was one of a handful of pros who had three dead fish to their name after the second day of competition. All were under suspicion the third day because when the dead fish were cleaned in order to be donated to charity, lead weights commonly known as ring or torpedo sinkers rigged with a single hook to keep them in place were found in the bellies of three dead bass.

Hart was the only one on the list who had moved into the money and when he brought his fish to the scales today (Wednesday, July 21) tournament directors John Cassidy and Billy Egan felt what seemed to indicate weights. Hart’s fish were taken immediately to be inspected in front of law enforcement and Nevada Fish and Wildlife officials and lead weights were found in all of the fish Hart presented. When confronted, Hart immediately left the scene at Callville Bay.

“Mike Hart is banned for life for presenting fish to the scales that had unnatural objects in their stomachs,” said WON BASS Tournament Director. “We plan on pressing charges against Mr. Hart and we will void any victories he has had in any past WON BASS events.”

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Byrne on July 22, 2010 at 7:15am

JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by Dave Massey on July 22, 2010 at 8:04am

BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:

JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by Harry Hardy on July 22, 2010 at 8:50am

Not only should he do jail time he should also loose his boat and all his gear. If you get caught poaching a game animal they take everything, it should be no differant in this case.

Dave Massey said:

BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:
JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by Chris Lambert on July 22, 2010 at 9:05am

The story said that it could be a Federal offense since Lake Mead covers both Arizona and Nevada.

Dave Massey said:

BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:
JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by Josh Potter on July 22, 2010 at 9:27am

Does Lake Mead allow for the retention of bass?If the Lake allows a daily limit on bass then how could this be considered poaching? I'm certainly not defending the guy. He sounds like a dirt bag but I don't know that the citizens of Nevada really need to pay taxes to jail a guy who killed three fish and cheated in a bass contest. Does anyone know the annual cost of housing an inmate in prison. It is around the sum of 75-80k per year. If he does 3 months it will cost the people around $20,000 for killing a few bass. Obviously he should be banned from contest fishing. I would like to see him do hard time in habitat restoration for a number of years so the people get payment rather than having to pay.

Harry Hardy said:

Not only should he do jail time he should also loose his boat and all his gear. If you get caught poaching a game animal they take everything, it should be no differant in this case.

Dave Massey said:
BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:
JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by S Hwang on July 22, 2010 at 9:48am

Sounds like them cali boys are in shock about this one. He's won a lot of $ over the years...

Permalink Reply by Dave Massey on July 22, 2010 at 10:32am

Good point. I still think he should be banned for life on obtaining a hunting or fishing license is a good idea. I do like your point on sentencing him to habitat restoration projects.

Josh Potter said:

Does Lake Mead allow for the retention of bass?If the Lake allows a daily limit on bass then how could this be considered poaching? I'm certainly not defending the guy. He sounds like a dirt bag but I don't know that the citizens of Nevada really need to pay taxes to jail a guy who killed three fish and cheated in a bass contest. Does anyone know the annual cost of housing an inmate in prison. It is around the sum of 75-80k per year. If he does 3 months it will cost the people around $20,000 for killing a few bass. Obviously he should be banned from contest fishing. I would like to see him do hard time in habitat restoration for a number of years so the people get payment rather than having to pay.

Harry Hardy said:
Not only should he do jail time he should also loose his boat and all his gear. If you get caught poaching a game animal they take everything, it should be no differant in this case.

Dave Massey said:
BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:
JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by Zackery Shaff on July 22, 2010 at 11:19am

By cheating in a competition for money, he is stealing, and therefore SHOULD go to jail.

Dave Massey said:

Good point. I still think he should be banned for life on obtaining a hunting or fishing license is a good idea. I do like your point on sentencing him to habitat restoration projects.

Josh Potter said:
Does Lake Mead allow for the retention of bass?If the Lake allows a daily limit on bass then how could this be considered poaching? I'm certainly not defending the guy. He sounds like a dirt bag but I don't know that the citizens of Nevada really need to pay taxes to jail a guy who killed three fish and cheated in a bass contest. Does anyone know the annual cost of housing an inmate in prison. It is around the sum of 75-80k per year. If he does 3 months it will cost the people around $20,000 for killing a few bass. Obviously he should be banned from contest fishing. I would like to see him do hard time in habitat restoration for a number of years so the people get payment rather than having to pay.

Harry Hardy said:
Not only should he do jail time he should also loose his boat and all his gear. If you get caught poaching a game animal they take everything, it should be no differant in this case.

Dave Massey said:
BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:
JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by Josh Potter on July 22, 2010 at 11:51am

Lots of people SHOULD go to jail but we can only afford to pay for SOME and so we prioiritize criminals. Call me crazy but if I am forced to pick between locking up a people killer or a bass killer/cheater....I'm going with the people killer.

Zackery Shaff said:

By cheating in a competition for money, he is stealing, and therefore SHOULD go to jail.

Dave Massey said:
Good point. I still think he should be banned for life on obtaining a hunting or fishing license is a good idea. I do like your point on sentencing him to habitat restoration projects.

Josh Potter said:
Does Lake Mead allow for the retention of bass?If the Lake allows a daily limit on bass then how could this be considered poaching? I'm certainly not defending the guy. He sounds like a dirt bag but I don't know that the citizens of Nevada really need to pay taxes to jail a guy who killed three fish and cheated in a bass contest. Does anyone know the annual cost of housing an inmate in prison. It is around the sum of 75-80k per year. If he does 3 months it will cost the people around $20,000 for killing a few bass. Obviously he should be banned from contest fishing. I would like to see him do hard time in habitat restoration for a number of years so the people get payment rather than having to pay.

Harry Hardy said:
Not only should he do jail time he should also loose his boat and all his gear. If you get caught poaching a game animal they take everything, it should be no differant in this case.

Dave Massey said:
BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:
JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by Aaron Christel on July 22, 2010 at 11:56am

I could argue against that point. No bass ever did anything to deserve death, but there are lots of people out there that don't deserve to live.

(bring on the angry replies from those with no sense of humor)

Josh Potter said:

Lots of people SHOULD go to jail but we can only afford to pay for SOME and so we prioiritize criminals. Call me crazy but if I am forced to pick between locking up a people killer or a bass killer/cheater....I'm going with the people killer.

Zackery Shaff said:
By cheating in a competition for money, he is stealing, and therefore SHOULD go to jail.

Dave Massey said:
Good point. I still think he should be banned for life on obtaining a hunting or fishing license is a good idea. I do like your point on sentencing him to habitat restoration projects.

Josh Potter said:
Does Lake Mead allow for the retention of bass?If the Lake allows a daily limit on bass then how could this be considered poaching? I'm certainly not defending the guy. He sounds like a dirt bag but I don't know that the citizens of Nevada really need to pay taxes to jail a guy who killed three fish and cheated in a bass contest. Does anyone know the annual cost of housing an inmate in prison. It is around the sum of 75-80k per year. If he does 3 months it will cost the people around $20,000 for killing a few bass. Obviously he should be banned from contest fishing. I would like to see him do hard time in habitat restoration for a number of years so the people get payment rather than having to pay.

Harry Hardy said:
Not only should he do jail time he should also loose his boat and all his gear. If you get caught poaching a game animal they take everything, it should be no differant in this case.

Dave Massey said:
BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:
JAIL TIME?

Permalink Reply by Daniel on July 22, 2010 at 12:16pm

Remember Robby Rose? A guy from texas trails that won lots and lots of boats, ton and tons of money and finally got caught. He got sentenced earlier this year for a tournament last year he got caught it.

http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/robby-rose-man-goes-jail-cheating-f...

Permalink Reply by Harry Hardy on July 22, 2010 at 1:02pm

I didn't say he was poching I just used the big game thing as an exsample.

Dave Massey said:

Good point. I still think he should be banned for life on obtaining a hunting or fishing license is a good idea. I do like your point on sentencing him to habitat restoration projects.

Josh Potter said:
Does Lake Mead allow for the retention of bass?If the Lake allows a daily limit on bass then how could this be considered poaching? I'm certainly not defending the guy. He sounds like a dirt bag but I don't know that the citizens of Nevada really need to pay taxes to jail a guy who killed three fish and cheated in a bass contest. Does anyone know the annual cost of housing an inmate in prison. It is around the sum of 75-80k per year. If he does 3 months it will cost the people around $20,000 for killing a few bass. Obviously he should be banned from contest fishing. I would like to see him do hard time in habitat restoration for a number of years so the people get payment rather than having to pay.

Harry Hardy said:
Not only should he do jail time he should also loose his boat and all his gear. If you get caught poaching a game animal they take everything, it should be no differant in this case.

Dave Massey said:
BEAT DOWN?

Not only did he cheat but he killed the fish in the process. That guy definately needs jail time as well as banned for life from being able to obtain a fishing or hunting license. Wouldn't this be a federal offense?

Mark Byrne said:
JAIL TIME?

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