No matter what the outcome, this is just a damn shame. I cna only hopt that the person responsible is jailed.

CAPE COD TIMES
November 22, 2005

National Marine Fisheries officers and 1st District Coast Guardsmen from Boston assisted Massachusetts Environmental Police during a search yesterday of two vans containing 60 cod measuring less than 22 inches - the length required by fishery regulations.

The 10 or so fishermen in the vans were stopped at Christy's convenience store on Ocean Street where they were buying ice for fish they caught yesterday on the Helen H, a charter boat out of Hyannis, according to Coast Guard Lt. Paul Rooney. Coincidentally Coast Guard personnel were present at the store and called environmental police when they spotted short fish in one of the vans.

The 100-foot Helen H makes regular trips to Georges Bank for charter cod fishing. The fish were confiscated and the men were allowed to leave after the owner of the boat had been contacted. It was unclear what regulations would apply.

Aside from that issue, the investigation will also focus on who is responsible, the fishermen or boat owner Joseph Huckemeyer, according to Environmental Police Officer Matthew Bass.

The captain of the Helen H should received some type of penalty also. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

66 fish, how many immature cod were floating belly up in the bycatch thread we had here?
Mr. Huckmeyer is a good guy and unfortunately not finding many cod these days. I was out on the boat for 2 days last march and didn't catch a fish.
The pool was won by a 21 lb wolf fish. One of 5 fish caught on the trip

I know Joe Huckermeyer and he's a good guy. I can't belive that he had a hand in this. I think the fact that the fish were in the round indicates that the crew were not involved, since they would have fileted them.

I'd a thought the mates would have seen what was going on, don't you think ?

Environmental Police Officer Matthew Bass
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I'd a thought the mates would have seen what was going on, don't you think ?

YES !!!

If it turns out the fish did come off the Hellen H they should :hang:

I think that they could say they got them anywhere
and if fishing for Cod should be aware what the regs.
are? don't you? Also if you are in possession of under
sized fish you should take all the blame. just because
you are on a charter means all the blame goes to the
captain? I don't think it should.