On Tuesday December 17, 2024 two EnCon officers and K9 Luna were patrolling the Housatonic River for striped bass poaching activity. Officers located a group of six anglers fishing. As the officers watched, they observed an angler climb the riverbank, climb over the guard rail, run across the road, and enter a steep wooded hill side on the opposite side of the road, disappearing into the woods. The angler appeared to be carrying something heavy. After a few minutes the angler returned to the riverbank empty handed and continued to fish. Contact was made with the anglers, two had no fishing license. They claimed to have caught and retained no striped bass. K9 Luna was deployed on leash along the roadside and requested to search the wooded hill side. She located four separate bags of striped bass each buried in the ground and covered with leaves, the bags spanned a 75 yard long stretch of roadside. In total there were 34 striped bass, all ranging from 12.5” to 25” in length, in violation of the striped bass slot limit which is 28” to 31”. The anglers had 64 striped bass violations and two license violations. They were issued fines totaling $4,974.00. All fish were seized and donated to a non-profit wildlife rehabber.
Wonder what the citizenship of these poacher are and if the fines will ever be paid…
Big deal. The fine is a pittance compared to the damage done. Fines should be $1000/fish and gear should be confiscated. Until penalties are big enough to hurt, the poaching will keep on happening.
Don’t be scared to answer this question- were the poachers Hispanic?
Si Senior
It doesn’t matter what their ethnicity is. What matters is they poached and detracted from the public resource.
Poachers come in all colors shapes and sizes. If you expand the scope of your scrutiny, you’ll be surprised to see how many guys are out there poaching. If you’re being suspect of Hispanics only, then the Asian guy, or the Russian guy, or the toothless White good ol boy you’re fishing next to may have a trunk full of fish and you’re too stupid and preoccupied staring down the Hispanic guy across the river to see what’s really going on.
what does ethnicity have to do with poaching?
Majority of poachers are hispanic, everytime i see hispanics making it a family affair they are burying stripers.
Not necessarily, but probably. They were definitely poor and knew it was illegal – obviously. Don’t be scared to answer this question: what did more damage to the long term outlook of the fishery – these guys, or a single commercial haul of 20x 36″ and over breeder bass
Do you guys go after the commercial boats? How many tickets were issued to commercial captians? I would really like to know
Definitely taking the commercial haul of 20×36 breeder stock does a million times more damage.
Don’t be afraid to answer this….Where do you fish? So I can meet you and hear you say some racist shit like that in front of me in person you low IQ cretin
All fishermen that care should have the DEC hot line in their phone. They’re all great guys and appreciate the help. I’ve called many times..Blue claw crab sizes at docks. Guys at docks with loaded buckets of snappers. Short fluke. Non slot bass. The more eyes the better. It does make a difference.
I agree with you.
It is good that they were caught. You have to remember that these illegal aliens, (if they are illegal aliens), in Democrat states will get free passes, they will not show up in court and just go somewhere else and fish. They just don’t care. The next time they are caught, arrest and let ICE detain them in preparation for deportation. They have already committed two crimes why wait until it escalates. As for the commercial side, don’t get me started.
Kudos to EnCon Officers and K9 Luna! Your efforts in catching the fish poachers are commendable. Please continue to patrol the Housatonic River frequently, especially during the winter season. The Housatonic has become a popular fishing spot, with numerous boats and shore-side fishermen year after year. Regular patrolling will greatly benefit the dedicated anglers who respect the rules and cherish this beautiful river.