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MAY 2008 NEWS |
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L.D.W.F. AGENTS CATCH FISHERMEN WITH 909 RED SNAPPER
LOUISIANA “NO LICENSE REQUIRED” FISHING WEEKEND SET FOR JUNE 7-8 THREE MEN CITED FOR OYSTER HEALTH CODE VIOLATIONS IN ST. BERNARD PARISH SIX CITED FOR RED SNAPPER VIOLATIONS IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH CLOSED SEASON FROG HUNTERS CITED LINCOLN PARISH MAN CITED FOR TURKEY HUNTING VIOLATIONS COMPLAINT LEADS AGENTS TO ILLEGAL HARVEST NEAR HALF MOON ISLAND
L.D.W.F.
ENFORCEMENT AGENTS RESCUE THREE PEOPLE ON LAKE D’ARBONNE
L.D.W.F. AGENTS CATCH FISHERMEN WITH 909 RED SNAPPER Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents wrote over 100 fishing citations to 20 men on Bayou Fourchon located in Lafourche Parish on Monday, April 28. Agents stopped the charter boat, "The Captain Charlie", which was occupied by 18 paid fishermen, the captain and one deck hand. Agents boarded the vessel to conduct a creel and license check of the fish and persons aboard. Upon receiving consent from the captain of the vessel, agents allegedly found 27 ice chests holding 909 red snapper. Agents counted and measured every fish aboard the vessel and found that of the 909 red snapper aboard the vessel, 287 of them were under the minimum 16-inch size requirement. The recreational limit for red snapper is two per fisherman, and the captain and deckhands are not allowed to possess a limit. Agents also discovered that none of the 18 fishermen were Louisiana residents nor did they possess valid Louisiana non-resident basic and saltwater fishing licenses. The 18 subjects that chartered the vessel, along with the captain and deckhand of the vessel were cited for 106 alleged violations. The citations included angling without a non-resident basic and saltwater fishing license, federal charges for possessing undersized and over the limit of red snapper, and taking red snapper during a closed season. The red snapper season is closed until June 1, 2008. The following fishermen were charged: David Harrelson, 52,
Lockport, La., (Captain) Agents seized the 909 red snapper, which weighed 2459 pounds, and were sold for a total of $9221.25. LOUISIANA “NO LICENSE REQUIRED” FISHING WEEKEND SET FOR JUNE 7-8 The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission officially proclaimed June 7 and 8 “No License Required” fishing days for Louisiana citizens and visitors during their May 1 meeting. The promotional fishing dates are provided for novices and non-anglers as an opportunity to experience recreational fishing. The program provides the public with an open access fishing opportunity in an effort to attract more people into the ranks of licensed fishermen. Those license fees support LDWF’s conservation efforts including habitat management. Recreational fishing licenses for the 2008-09 fishing year will go on sale starting June 1 and will remain current until June 30, 2009. “LDWF is encouraging licensed recreational fishermen to introduce someone to fishing on the weekend of June 7-8,” said John Sturgis, LDWF education manager. “It’s an activity anyone of any age can enjoy, even without a boat. Louisiana offers some of the best bank and pier fishing opportunities in the south.” “No License Required” fishing weekend is a part of Fishing Week in Louisiana that runs from June 2 to June 8. The event was created to help reverse the trend of declining participation in outdoor activities across America. According to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children spend 44 hours a week watching TV, playing videogames and on the computer. Research data, compiled by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, shows that outdoor activities can also get kids interested in nature and help with family communication. THREE MEN CITED FOR OYSTER HEALTH CODE VIOLATIONS IN ST. BERNARD PARISH Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited three men for alleged violations of the state sanitary code specific to oysters. On the morning of April 16, agents assigned to the Oyster Strike Force responded to complaints in Oyster Growing Area 3 of oystermen holding oysters overnight on vessels without proper refrigeration. In Karako Bay, agents located two vessels, “Master Trey” and “Mule.” The captains were identified as David Will, 32, and Bobby Kieff, 33, both from St. Bernard. Agents revealed the oysters were harvested the previous day and were designated for shucking by a certified dealer. State Sanitary Code requires that oysters harvested for shucking by a certified dealer shall be placed under mechanical refrigeration at an air temperature not to exceed 45 degrees no later than midnight each day. A total of 157 sacks of oysters were seized and returned to the water. A third vessel, “Lexi Ryan”, was located in an area known as Drum Bay. The captain was identified as Preston Kieff, 35, also from St. Bernard. Investigation revealed 14 sacks of oysters on the vessel were designated for raw consumption and harvested the previous day. State Sanitation Code requires in the month of April that oysters harvested for raw consumption are required to be refrigerated within 14 hours from the time harvest begins. The 14 sacks of oysters were seized and returned to the water. In addition to the refrigeration violations, all three subjects were cited for not having the required information documented on their harvester log sheets. The penalty for violating the sanitary code is a fine of $25 and loss of the oysters. Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Bryan Marie, Senior Agent Mike Garrity and Agent Doug Dana. SIX CITED FOR RED SNAPPER VIOLATIONS IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited six men for alleged red snapper, red drum and license violations on April 21. Agents received an anonymous complaint that Thomas Pham, 45, of Yukon, Okla., Thien Trinh, 39, Het Nguyen, 33, Minh Le, 36, all from Oklahoma City, Okla., Kiet Nguyen, 37, of Metairie, and Giang Nguyen, 29, of Westwego, were in possession of red snapper during the currently closed recreational snapper season. Agents were informed that the six men left the Delta Marina located in Empire. A truck and boat matching the description given to agents was then seen in Buras. When the vessel was inspected, agents recovered 94 red snapper, most of which were under the legal size limit of 16 inches. Three red drum, all over 27 inches, two triggerfish, five sheepshead, five Spanish mackerel and two lane snapper were also found. At the time of the stop, the recreational red snapper season was closed and not set to open until June 1, 2008. The limit for red snapper is two fish per person with a minimum size limit of 16 inches placing them 82 red snapper over their legal limit. All six men were cited for taking or possessing red snapper during a closed season, taking or possessing undersized red snapper and taking or possessing red snapper over the legal limit. Pham, Trinh, and Het Nguyen, and Le were also cited for possessing fish without a non-resident basic fishing license and a non-resident saltwater license. Kiet Nguyen received an additional citation for taking over the limit of red drum in excess of 27 inches. Taking red snapper during a closed season, taking over the limit of red snapper, taking undersized red snapper and taking over the limit of red drum in excess of 27 inches each carry a fine up to $350 per offense, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs. The state also accessed a total civil penalty of $1,100.11 for the illegal fish. Another $379.75 was accessed to Kiet Nguyen for the red drum violation. Agents seized all of the fish. Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Adam Young, Senior Agents Villere Reggio, Roy Pier, Robert Cosse Jr., and Agent Brett Nabors. CLOSED SEASON FROG HUNTERS CITED Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited two men on April 12 at Woolen Lake in Richland Parish for allegedly taking frogs in a closed season. Agents acting on a citizen complaint spotted Daniel W. Jones, 22, and Joseph D. Lizenby, 23, both of Columbia, shining a spotlight from a boat, and found the men in possession of 11 bull frogs. Lizenby was also charged with operating a motorboat with no running lights and taking frogs without the required basic fishing license. Taking frogs is prohibited during the months of April and May. The bullfrogs were photographed and returned to the water live. The penalty for taking frogs during a closed season is a fine between $250 and $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs. The penalty for no running lights and no basic fishing license is a fine of $50 each. Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Scott Mathews, Senior Agent Josh Estis and Senior Agent Patrick Coleman. LINCOLN PARISH MAN CITED FOR TURKEY HUNTING VIOLATIONS Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Lincoln Parish man on April 10 for multiple turkey hunting violations that allegedly occurred on April 3 in Union Parish. James S. Mabry, 32, of Dubach was cited after agents received a complaint that he stopped along Hwy. 2 between Bernice and the Shiloh community and shot two turkeys in a pasture. Agents obtained a search warrant for the Mabry residence and located suspected turkey feathers in the back of Mabry’s truck and in his yard. Mabry told agents that he drove along Hwy. 2 and saw the turkeys in a pasture, stopped his truck, walked to the fence and shot both gobblers. Mabry was cited for hunting from a public road, hunting from a moving vehicle, taking over the daily limit of turkeys and hunting without the required wild turkey hunting license. Mabry will also be responsible for two civil restitution amounts of $802.50 for each of the illegally taken turkeys. The penalty for hunting from a moving vehicle is a fine between $250 and $500 or, jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs. The penalty for hunting from a public road is a fine between $100 and $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs. The penalty for taking over the limit of turkeys is a fine between $250 and $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs. The penalty for hunting without a turkey license is a fine of $50, or jail time up to 15 days or both. Agents participating in the case were Lt. Mike Rockett, and Sgts. Thomas Risser, Lane Kincaid and Duane Taylor. COMPLAINT LEADS AGENTS TO ILLEGAL HARVEST NEAR HALF MOON ISLAND Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents assigned to LDWF's Oyster Strike Force cited two men for alleged oyster violations in St. Bernard Parish on Tuesday, April 1. Agents responded to complaints of illegal oyster harvesting on the unapproved (polluted) area located near Half Moon Island. During the early morning hours, agents spotted the vessel, Strictly Business, being used to harvest oysters in the polluted area. Robert L. Campo, 39, and Claude Norton, 42, both from St. Bernard, were cited for taking oysters from an unapproved area. Agents seized and returned two sacks of oysters to the water. The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from an unapproved area is a fine between $450 and $750, imprisonment for not more than 120 days, or both, plus courts costs. In addition, the oyster harvester's license or licenses under which the violation occurred will be revoked for the period for which it or they were issued. For the first offense, the license or licenses shall not be reinstated for one year. For the second and subsequent offenses, the license or licenses shall not be reinstated for three years. Any person convicted of any these violations can only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for one year. Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF. For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall notify the department as to which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters. Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Bryan Marie and Senior Agent Mike Garrity.
L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT AGENTS RESCUE THREE PEOPLE ON LAKE
D’ARBONNE Mike Polk Jr., of Choudrant, his two-year-old-son and his friend Michelle Elliot were in a boat when a storm with high winds created hazardous boating conditions. While trying to make it back to the boat ramp, waves started filling the boat with water and it eventually capsized. The three boaters went into the water and drifted for nearly two hours along side their fishing boat. Before going into the water, Elliot was able to call 911 and report their sinking boat. Agents, along with Union Parish Sheriff's Office deputies, responded to the 911 call. Agents launched a rescue boat and located the three victims, still wearing life jackets, on a nearby island and returned them safely to a boat launch.
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