On April 15, 2026, Connecticut Conservation Officer McGinn was conducting surveillance on an angler fishing the Housatonic River in Stratford. She observed the angler catch, retain, and conceal two striped bass that were clearly below legal length. The fish were hidden in a large area of thick marsh reeds, making their exact location unknown.
Officer McGinn requested the assistance of K9 Scup, an Environmental Conservation Police fish and wildlife detection K9 trained to locate multiple species including striped bass.
K9 Scup was deployed in the area where the angler was last seen with the fish. She alerted to a large, downed tree in the marsh. Upon investigation, her handler located six striped bass buried beneath the tree, partially submerged in marsh mud and covered in reeds. The fish measured approximately 20″, 21″, 21″, 22″, 22″, and 22.5″ — well below the legal slot length of 28″ to 31″.
The angler was charged with multiple striped bass violations. The fish were seized and donated to a local non-profit wildlife rehabilitator to be used as food for injured and sick birds of prey in their care.