Striped Bass Busts – Nassau/Suffolk Counties
On the night of April 6, ECO McCarthy witnessed multiple people catching and keeping out-of-season striped bass near Caumsett State Park in Suffolk County ahead of the April 15 season opener. Officer McCarthy had difficulty finding the illegal catches due to the lack of moonlight and called in ECO DeRose and his K9 partner, Cramer, to assist. K9 Cramer alerted ECOs to multiple fish buried in the sand and hidden behind logs and brush piles. ECOs recovered a total of 16 striped bass, measuring from 25 to 35 inches, and ticketed seven subjects for taking striped bass during the closed season, returnable to Lloyd Harbor Village Court.
On April 7, ECO Pabes responded to a report of three anglers keeping out-of-season striped bass from atop the Bayville Bridge in Bayville. Striped bass season begins April 15. Officer Pabes arrived with Brookville Police and confronted the group who denied possessing any fish. ECO Pabes searched the area and located seven striped bass hidden inside traffic cones spanning the bridge. The ECO issued tickets to the subjects for illegal possession of fish during the closed season and failure to carry marine registry.
On the evenings of April 8 and 9, ECOs Cacciola, Hilton, and Day responded to several complaints in Suffolk and Nassau counties alleging individuals were keeping striped bass before the April 15 season opener. ECOs seized 10 striped bass over two nights, ticketed seven individuals for possession of out-of-season striped bass, and three for failing to possess a marine registry. Officers advised all subjects on season dates and possession limits for striped bass.
If you see something suspicious on the water, contact your local NYSDEC Conservation Officers: click here for a list of ECOs in Nassau & Suffolk Counties.
Just come to lake mead and kill them. We have too many killing off our other species.
So what happened to all those fish?
Courts will cut their fines to minimal amounts or even get dismissed.. these offenses need to have harsher up front penalties. Take gear, arrest people, suspended liecences. Cost of doing business for them and they’ll just learn to be better poachers.
Kudos to the officers for their diligence and also quick thinking in using the K9 to find the fish. It is ludicrous to think the poachers needed to be “reminded” of the season, size and bag limits. After all, they concealed the fish because they knew they were doing wrong. As another poster noted, the consequences, if any, will be very minor. We need legislative reform that recognizes the economic and cultural importance of our fisheries and the importance of protecting them.
It’s good to see the authorities cracking down on poaching, especially with something as iconic to our waters as striped bass. Fishing is such a big part of life here, and it’s frustrating when people don’t play by the rules. This is a big win for conservation efforts in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Does anyone know if there are plans for even stricter enforcement or better education for the public about fishing regulations? I think it’s important we keep our local waters healthy and sustainable for future generations. 🎣