Striped Bass Poacher Bust in CT

[tlapinski]

The following was posted today on the CT State Environmental Conservation Police's Facebook page.

On 4/23/17 Officers assigned to the Western Marine Sector were conducting an evening fisheries enforcement patrol along the Housatonic River in Stratford and Milford. While on patrol Officers encountered five fishermen actively fishing and were found to be in possession of 42 undersized striped bass (estimated at 90lbs). The five fisherman were cited for numerous fishing violations including Possession of Striped Bass less than Legal Minimum Length, Possession of Striped Bass Over the Daily Creel Limit, and Fishing without a License.

Our Officers are out patrolling, however if you see any hunting or fishing violations please contact our 24 hour dispatch center at 860-424-3333 or toll-free 800-842-4537. Please remember that our social media sites are NOT continuously monitored and should not be used to report criminal activity.

[tlapinski]

Hopefully this time they do not get cleared on the same "possession loophole" as the guys last spring.

[JohnR]

Good job CT DEP (thread borrowed from CT Surfcasters )

[FishermanTim]

They were cited, not incarcerated?
Cited means they got a ticket/fine, and will be able to plead some lame-arse "I'm a poor man just trying to feed my family" excuse to a judge.

They should have been arrested and all their gear / vehicles confiscated.


But I do agree...Great Job for the CT DEP!

[Raven]

should have taken everything

i agree

[Cool Beans]

My brother got caught fishing in Idaho without a license, and the Game Warden did impound his pick up truck and all of his fishing gear.

Of course he did lie to the warden, after throwing down his pole, trying to hide it and pretending he was walking the river "collecting rocks". He even made up a huge story about tumbling the rocks with his uncle and how they make small jewelry with them.... Trouble was the warden watched him fish, saw where he had his string "full" of trout (over limit), but let him go on and on telling this grand story, before finally telling him he was full of crap and took all of his stuff and gave him a ride home, while his truck got towed to the impound lot.

He did get the truck back though (thanks to Dad), but never saw the fishing pole again. he ended up getting close to 200 hours of community service since he couldn't pay the fine.

Good rule of thumb to fish by is: If you "just saw" the DEM agent, he didn't "just see" you. Chances are he "saw" you a while ago and knows exactly what's going on.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

The have binoculars for a reason. I have seem them many times glassing in RI in their trucks.

[Nebe]

Why don't we hear about RI DEM making busts like this?
Do they? Or do they keep it quiet?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Why don't we hear about RI DEM making busts like this?
Do they? Or do they keep it quiet?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I wish I knew the answer to this. I am STILL waiting to find out what happened in that EEZ bust that took place in 2015.

[tlapinski]

I received the following from the NY DEC today.

On April 10 at around 11 p.m., ECO Lucas Palmateer was contacted by a complainant who had witnessed two males catching and keeping striped bass at Little Neck Bay, although the season for striped bass was not yet open. The complainant said that the fishermen were hiding fish in a car approximately 500 yards from their fishing spot. ECOs Palmateer and Zach Brown responded and watched the suspects fishing. One of the fishermen caught a striped bass, placed it in a black garbage bag, and began to walk to his car. The ECOs approached the man and spotted another striped bass in a bag in the trunk. The ECOs seized both fish and returned the live fish to the water. The ECOs issued the subject summonses for possession of striped bass out of season and failure to release caught fish during the closed season without harm.

While leaving the scene, the ECOs noticed three more males fishing at a popular fishing spot in Fort Totten Park. These fishermen were in possession of four additional striped bass. The subjects had also cut the heads off two of the fish, which is illegal in New York as it makes it impossible to determine the true length of the fish. ECOs Palmateer and Brown seized the fish as evidence and issued the three subjects summonses for possession of striped bass out of season. One of the subjects was also issued a summons for possession of mutilated striped bass carcasses. All tickets are returnable to Queens County Court on June 6.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Why don't we hear about RI DEM making busts like this?
Do they? Or do they keep it quiet?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Very small force. I do see EPOs in Warwick frequently enough

Originally Posted by tlapinski

I wish I knew the answer to this. I am STILL waiting to find out what happened in that EEZ bust that took place in 2015.

Yes. Waiting.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

I wish I knew the answer to this. I am STILL waiting to find out what happened in that EEZ bust that took place in 2015.

Probably this...

[bobber]

I feel for the EPO cops who do this job- they are really trying to enforce fish and game laws that seemingly only get thrown out or minimal fines when they get to the court room. its gotta be frustrating as hell