FISH IN A BARREL

By Sr. Agent Charles Ward

 

In the early morning hours of April 14, 2001, Sr. Agents Charles Ward and Robbie Roberts received a complaint of subjects in a boat moving toward Black River Lake from a bayou where they had observed some hoop nets containing large amounts of crappie.  The agents proceeded to the end of the lake where they observed a boat coming down the middle of the lake.  The boat turned toward the bank and stopped at a pier next to the agents’ location.

The agents could hear objects being unloaded from the boat and soon observed two subjects walking up the bank with a half-barrel between them.  The agents turned on their flashlights and identified themselves to the subjects.  One subject grabbed the barrel, ran down the bank toward the water and then ran into the bushes near the lake.  The other subject was handcuffed and told to stay on the ground.  The handcuffed subject repeatedly jumped up and ran toward the agents as they were searching the bank with their flashlights.  Sr. Agent Ward had to stay with this subject while Sr. Agent Roberts continued to search for the other subject.  Approximately one minute after Sr. Agent Roberts radioed the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s office for help, the subject stood up and said, “Here I am.” 

After the subjects were read their Miranda rights, they were transported to the Sheriff’s office by a deputy.  The agents then discovered numerous crappie in the back of the subjects’ truck, two half-barrels of fish on the bank next to the boat and one half-barrel of fish still in the boat.  They also discovered approximately six hundred yards of 2” gill net tied to the pier going parallel with the lake bank.

After questioning, the subjects admitted to taking the game fish from the hoop nets and the illegal mesh nets.  The subjects were cited for taking game fish illegally, possession of over the limit fresh water game fish and issued civil restitution citations.  The subject who ran was also cited for resisting an officer.  The boat, motor and all equipment were seized.  The fish were donated to charity.