A man from Massachusetts is being arrested for improperly catching and keeping 14 large striped bass.
The Portsmouth Herald claimed that the police knew the fisherman wasn’t releasing the fish he caught from his boat while he fished off the coast of New Hampshire, near New Castle and Rye.
“NH Fish and Game officers conducted a thorough investigation and lengthy interview with the individual that resulted in a ‘caught red-handed’ confession!” The New Hampshire Fish Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief (OGT) put up a post on Facebook.
“His intent was to sell his catch under his Commercial Striped Bass Permit in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” the post said.
After a group of anglers yelled at him and said they would call the Fish and Game Agency, the guy ran away.
“As our officers searched, they included Maine Marine Patrol, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and local police to BOLO (be on the lookout) for the suspect vessel and operator,” the OGT’s message said.
“Portsmouth Police Department successfully located him after he had loaded his boat onto a trailer and was in the act of ditching the fish.”
Fish and Game Colonel Kevin Jordan told the Portsmouth Herald that if the guy pleads guilty, he will lose his New Hampshire fishing license and be fined for each of the 14 illegal fish he caught.
“If the fisherman pleads not guilty, he could go to trial in Portsmouth District Court, facing Fish and Game prosecutors,” Jordan went on.
The illegal fish are being kept in freezers until the hunter is found guilty. After that, the fish could be used as proof.
“They’ll freeze them in the meantime and they could be provided to a food bank or a donation center so they don’t go to waste,” he said.
The OGT thanked the fishermen for their hard work in reporting the problem. Additionally, the agency thanked the local police for acting quickly “to stop this abuse of natural resources.”