ONE LONG LINE

By Sgt. Ray Champagne

One clear day in January 2003, Lt. Pete Bordes with the Saltwater Enforcement Patrol Div. (S.W.E.P.) along with Sgt. Ray Champagne, Robert Cosse also with S.W.E.P. and Sr. Agent Mike Etheridge with the State Strike force on board the Riptide, The La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries offshore patrol vessel were on patrol south of Venice. The weather conditions were perfect for a patrol in the Gulf of Mexico.

Just out of South Pass of the Mississippi River past the boat graveyard a boat was spotted by Lt. Bordes about 5 miles away. We the agents proceeded to the boat. As we approached the boat it was determined that two subjects aboard the boat were retrieving a long line from the water. As we continued to approach the captain of the boat contacted us on VHF radio and asked if he was in state water. Lt. Bordes with quick glance at the G.P.S. plotter advised he was in state waters and that he should continue to retrieve the long line. In 2002 a state law went into affect outlawing long lines in state waters. The agents continued to document as they followed the subjects as they retrieved the line.

After about two hours of following and documenting the position of the line the subjects finally had the line out of the water. The agents boarded the boat and advised the subjects that 3.5 nautical miles of the 6-mile line was in state waters. The captain of the boat stated that he had begun putting the line out in federal waters and did not realize he had gone into state waters with the line. That is one long line.