After conducting a series of compliance checks on Long Island, several officers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Law Enforcement Division discovered something quite suspicious.
According to the New York State Department of Justice, striped bass fishing season in the Maritimes and Delaware River doesn’t start until April 15, but some avid fishermen decided to illegally get a head start, and conservation officers (EOC) acted quickly.
DEC reported in a recent press release that by late in the evening on April 6, Ecological Management Chair Brent McCarthy observed multiple people fishing for striped bass, and anglers He said he witnessed people storing out-of-season fish without returning them to the water.
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With no moonlight that night, McCarthy had trouble finding where the angler in question had hidden his illegal catch, so he called in ECO Christopher DeRose and his K-9 Kramer for assistance. .
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was busy tracking down a series of striped bass that had been caught and raised before the season’s official April 15 start date. (New York State Department of Environmental Protection)
During the mission, K-9s recovered a total of 16 striped bass, ranging in length from 25 to 35 inches, that were buried under sand and hidden under various logs and brush, according to a DEC report.
After the discovery, McCarthy and DeRose ticketed seven people “for taking striped bass during the closed season.”
The reports didn’t end there, and poachers went further to hide their illegal captures.
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The next day, another ECO, Lawrence Paves, responded to a report of three anglers hiding striped bass on Bayville Bridge in Mill Neck ahead of the April 15 season opener.
Three anglers tried to hide out-of-season fish in a traffic cone on the Bayville Bridge in Mill Neck, Long Island, New York. (New York State Department of Environmental Protection)
The DEC countered that Paves worked with Brookville police to confront the individuals who denied possessing the fish.
I looked around and found seven striped bass hiding in traffic cones on the bridge.
According to a DEC report, the three individuals were issued tickets for “illegal possession of fish during the closed fishing season and violation of the obligation to carry a marine registry.”
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On the following evenings of April 8 and April 9, three EOCs on duty received and responded to multiple complaints as the number of individuals suspected of catching and storing illegal fish increased in Suffolk and Nassau counties. did.
Conservation Police Officer Day helped catch 10 fish on April 8th and April 9th. (New York State Department of Environmental Protection)
Ten more striped bass were seized both nights and seven people were ticketed for possessing out-of-season striped bass. The DEC continued that three more people were ticketed for not having a marine registry.
“Conservation officers and investigators in DEC’s Law Enforcement Division protect natural resources and the public while holding poachers and polluters accountable,” DEC Interim Secretary Sean Maher said in a statement posted online. “We are working tirelessly across the state to ensure safety.”
“DEC looks forward to continuing to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure compliance with New York State’s strict environmental protection laws and promote safe and responsible outdoor enjoyment. ”
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Striped bass season is now officially underway, and DEC has made recent announcements about the fish just in time for the start of the season.
The New York State DEC has announced new regulations for striped bass caught in the Hudson River and other rivers north of the George Washington Bridge, saying only fish between 23 inches and 28 inches in length can be stocked. (St. Petersburg)
Striped bass caught in the Hudson River, where fishing season began April 1, and other rivers north of the George Washington Bridge can only be kept if they are between 23 inches and 28 inches long, the DEC announced.
The updated regulations will come into effect immediately.
Since its founding in 1970, the New York State DEC has been dedicated to the protection and conservation of the state’s fish and wildlife.
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“In 2023, the Bureau of Law Enforcement responded to more than 101,500 calls; as a result, Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) and investigators across the state responded to more than 30,932 complaints; “We worked on nearly 6,900 violations that resulted in tickets and arrests, from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations,” the DEC website states. ing.
Conservation workers on Long Island have been busy catching poachers who have reeled in out-of-season striped bass and hidden them in various locations, including traffic cones. (New York State Department of Environmental Protection)
The officers involved in issuing the ticket had no further comment.
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