COMPLAINTS REALLY WORK

 By Sgt. Ray Champagne

            Agents rarely get complaints that pan out for them as well as this one did, but on this occasion, the agents were not expecting what they were going to find. After receiving a complaint of two shrimping vessels using oversized trawls in state offshore waters, Sr. Agent Robert Cosse and I, Sergeant Ray Champagne responded onboard the patrol vessel, Riptide, a 65 ft. patrol vessel that patrols the Louisiana coast from Miss. to Texas. When we arrived at the location, approximately 25 miles southeast of Venice, we observed two shrimping vessels with trawls in the water fitting the description the complainant had given. We stopped the two vessels and requested the required licenses. Neither captain was able to produce the licenses. So far, so good! The captains were then asked what size each of the four trawls being used were. One captain advised 45 ft. each, 180 ft. total the other captain advised 50 ft., each 200-ft. total. The state trawl size requirement for offshore waters is 130 ft. total. Getting better! The boats were then escorted to Venice so the shrimp and trawls could be off-loaded. Once in Venice, we began to off-load the first boat. After off-loading the first boat, we began off-loading the second boat, and the agents observed fish hidden under the sacks of shrimp. Jackpot! After all the shrimp was off-loaded, a total count of the fish was conducted. 39 Cravell Jack, 24 Red Drum, all over 27 inches, 18 Red Snapper, all undersized, 6 Lane Snapper, 9 Little Tunny (Bonido) and 4 Cobia. Due to the captain and crew not possessing any commercial or recreational license, all the shrimp and fish were seized. Some of the fish were sold, some were donated to charity and some were donated to the Aquarium of the America in New Orleans. All the shrimp was sold. Due to the compliant, a total of 30 citations were issued; 2 no commercial license, 2 no gear license, 2 no vessel license, 6 use oversized trawls in state waters, 3 over the limit of Red Drum over 27 inches, 3 over the limit of Red Snapper, 3 posses undersized Red Snapper, 3 angling without license nonresident, 3 angling without saltwater license nonresident, and 3 posses Red Drum in Federal waters.