MEP nabs poachers

[CharlieTuna]

this is just the tip of the iceberg, but I'm glad they nabbed them.
http://www.onthewater.com/massachuse...hermen-busted/

[surferman]

I hate the Massachusetts commercial fishermen most of all because it seems like there is so much abuse up there. About time somebody finally did something about it, thanks for sharing.

[lostatsea]

agreed. anyone with a boat can be a commercial fisherman in massachusetts. I don't know if this is true but last year a guy told me that the highest rate of poaching and selling illegal fish comes from massachusetts. fwiw.

[dogfish]

Recent bust

[albiealert]

Nice, finally some justice! Thanks for sharing. I was reading the report online, here it is.

"Massachusetts Environmental Police Dispatch can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-632-8075.
Violations can also be reported online at http://bit.ly/MEPReport.


On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, a Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer on patrol along the Cape Cod Canal seized eight striped bass in two separate incidents, along with fishing gear and a bicycle.
In the first incident, the officer observed an individual placing fish in the rear cabin of his truck. Upon further inspection, it was determined the individual had an additional striped bass under the cover of his truck bed. The fish were seized and a citation was issued.
In the second incident, the officer observed an individual placing a striped bass into a plastic bag and then into the rear cabin of his truck. Upon further inspection, it was determined that five additional striped bass were under the cover of his truck bed. The officer seized six fish, a bicycle, tackle, and two fishing rods and a criminal summons was issued.
Officers contacted several facilities on Cape Cod who were unable to utilize and/or process the seized catch; a total of 200 pounds of striped bass were subsequently donated to the Salvation Army of Brockton."

[williehookem]

another bust, w*t*f? I love the high fines tho.

Four Arrested in Bourne on Fisheries Violations - Vessel, Trailer, Vehicle Impounded and Gear Seized
UPDATE: Son Nguyen, Hai Nguyen, Lam Nguyen, and Raymond Ung, of the greater Springfield area, were each arraigned at Falmouth District Court today, September 25, 2017, and pleaded guilty. They were each fined $1000 and the fishing gear and coolers used in the commissions of the violations were forfeited to the Commonwealth.
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On Sunday, September 24, 2017, at approximately 2:19 pm, an Environmental Police Officer was conducting recreational marine fisheries inspections on vessels returning to Taylor Point Marina in Bourne, Massachusetts.
Upon approaching a vessel that had just hauled out, the Officer observed one of the four males on the vessel run up a hill towards the rail road tracks with a white bucket. The male then dumped a quantity of fish behind some bushes.
The Officer approached the male with the bucket and observed six small Black Sea Bass on the ground. The Officer placed the male party in handcuffs and recovered the fish. He escorted the male party back to the vessel and the three other occupants. The Officer asked all four individuals if there were any more Black Sea Bass in the vessel. They all responded no.
An Environmental Police Lieutenant arrived to assist and upon inspecting the vessel the Lieutenant located 17 more Black Sea Bass and 5 Scup hidden in the transom of the vessel. A closer inspection of all 23 Black Sea Bass and the 5 Scup found them all to be under the legal size limit.
All four occupants of the vessel were taken into custody and transported to the Bourne State Police Barracks. The vessel, trailer, and vehicle were impounded and all fishing gear was seized as evidence. At the Barracks they were booked on the following charges:
1. Failure to display catch upon demand;
2. Possession of 23 Black Sea Bass during the closed season for Black Sea Bass;
3. Possession of 23 Black Sea Bass less than the legal size;
4. Possession of 5 Scup less than the legal size.
Recreational Black Sea Bass season ended at midnight on August 29, 2017 and during the season Black Sea Bass must measure 15 inches to be legally possessed. Recreational Scup must measure 10 inches to be legally possessed and the possession limit is 30 fish per angler up to 150 per vessel.
All four will be arraigned at Falmouth District Court on Monday morning. Due to the storage, handling, and size of the seized catch, it was deemed not viable for human consumption and was returned to the sea.