Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

I saw this on the Maine Department of Marine Resources news page today.

Quote:

Massachusetts Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Elvers
May 8, 2017 - Joseph Starratt, 51, of Middleborough, Massachusetts, was arrested Friday, April 28, 2017, and charged with possession of elvers without a license. The Class D crime carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Marine Patrol received a tip through the Operation Game Thief (OGT) confidential tip line that an unlicensed individual was in possession of elvers.

Based on information from the OGT tip line, Starratt was located in Scarborough by Marine Patrol Officers Alex Hebert, and Matthew Sinclair, and Sergeants Rob Beal and Wesley Dean. He was arrested by Officer Hebert and transported to Cumberland County Jail.

Starratt was in possession of 16.5 pounds of elvers at the time of his arrest.

“Elvers are, pound for pound, by far the most valuable marine resource in Maine,” said Operation Game Thief Board Chairman Greg Sirpis. “Maine has done a great job of managing this resource and minimizing illegal activity in the fishery. But this case shows that the big bucks associated with this fishery will still tempt some to violate the law. We’re glad the Operation Game Thief tip line provided another tool to bring violators to justice.”

“Our partnership with Operation Game Thief is a critically important component of our enforcement efforts,” said Maine Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish “We’re grateful for the support the OGT program has provided our officers as they work to manage and sustain Maine’s valuable marine resources.”

Operation Game Thief is a private, non-profit organization that works with the Maine Maine Marine Patrol and other agencies to support investigations of poaching and other resource violations in Maine through a confidential tip line. Violations can be reported anonymously online at http://www.maineogt.org/report.php or by phone at 1-800-253-7887.