New York ECO's Seize 19 Illegally Taken Striped Bass on Long Island

I have always thought that Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) on Long Island have it tough. We law-abiding anglers expect them to be on the scene for every report of illegal fishing, shellfishing, or trapping across four counties between the East River and the Forks. That’s a lot of ground to cover—1,401 square miles, to be exact. Still, New York’s ECOs do their absolute best to respond to every call or complaint and enforce state laws and fishing regulations to preserve the resources for those who adhere to the rules.

One of New York’s most valuable—and currently threatened—marine resources is the Atlantic striped bass, and unfortunately, they are often the target of illegal fishing practices. So, when ECOs catch striped bass poachers red-handed, conservation-minded anglers are especially content to see justice served.

A recent press release from the New York State DEC detailed an encounter between ECOs Franz and Pabes and a group of anglers in Nassau County who were observed illegally catching and retaining striped bass outside the slot size, among several other ticketable offenses. Read the report below:

Striped Bass Citations – Nassau County

ECOs Franz and Pabes recently responded to reports of anglers taking over their legal limit of striped bass at a popular fishing location in the Town of North Hempstead. The Officers removed 19 illegally taken fish and issued 13 tickets to six anglers. Offenses included exceeding the daily bag limit, taking fish out of slot size, using j-hooks while targeting striped bass with bait, and failure to carry a Recreational Marine Fishing Registry. The legal recreational limit for striped bass in Nassau County marine waters is one fish per person per day, with a slot size of 28 to 31 inches in length. This regulation is intended to protect breeding stocks and applies to all marine waters south of George Washington Bridge.

Let’s recap the offenses mentioned.

19 Illegally Taken Striped Bass: Over the Daily Limit & Out of Slot Size

• Six anglers were involved. If each of them had a saltwater fishing license (which they did not), they each would be entitled to one striped bass that measured between the 28- to 31-inch slot. That equates to 6 fish taken in accordance with the daily limit. They took triple the daily bag limit for a group of 6, in addition to taking fish out of the slot size.

Failure to Carry a Recreational Marine Fishing Registry

• This one is unforgivable. In New York, it is free to register as a recreational saltwater angler (not counting the whopping $1 printing fee at a Dicks Sporting Goods). There is no excuse to be unlicensed unless you’ve been barred from registering due to previous citations for illegal fishing practices.

Using J-Hooks While Targeting Striped Bass with Bait

• It has been over five years since the ASMFC implemented a coastwide mandate requiring recreational anglers to use non-offset (inline) circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with natural bait, dead or alive. When used properly, inline circle hooks significantly reduce the likelihood of gut hooking striped bass, which contributes to lowering release mortality in fish that are under or above the slot size.

If there’s a silver lining to this story, it’s that those illegally taken striped bass will not go to waste. Fish seized by the NYSDEC typically are donated to local wildlife rehabilitation centers to feed fish-eating animals, like eagles and ospreys.

» Enroll in NY’s Recreational Marine Fishing Registry

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