Paying poachers.

[tsubaki]

L.D.W.F. AGENTS CATCH FISHERMEN WITH 909 RED SNAPPER

Release Date: 05/01/2008
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents wrote over 100 fishing citations to 20 men on Bayou Fourchon located in Lafourche Parish on Monday, April 28.
Agents stopped the charter boat, "The Captain Charlie", which was occupied by 18 paid fishermen, the captain and one deck hand. Agents boarded the vessel to conduct a creel and license check of the fish and persons aboard. Upon receiving consent from the captain of the vessel, agents allegedly found 27 ice chests holding 909 red snapper.
Agents counted and measured every fish aboard the vessel and found that of the 909 red snapper aboard the vessel, 287 of them were under the minimum 16-inch size requirement.
The recreational limit for red snapper is two per fisherman, and the captain and deckhands are not allowed to possess a limit. Agents also discovered that none of the 18 fishermen were Louisiana residents nor did they possess valid Louisiana non-resident basic and saltwater fishing licenses.
The 18 subjects that chartered the vessel, along with the captain and deckhand of the vessel were cited for 106 alleged violations. The citations included angling without a non-resident basic and saltwater fishing license, federal charges for possessing undersized and over the limit of red snapper, and taking red snapper during a closed season. The red snapper season is closed until June 1, 2008.
The following fishermen were charged:
David Harrelson, 52, Lockport, La., (Captain)
Donald R. Humphrey, 45, Golden Meadow, La., (Deckhand)
Artesza Portee, 35, Autell, Ga.
Glover Jefferson Jr., 69, Atlanta, Ga.
Walter Bailey Jr., 61, Atlanta, Ga.
Robert Kemp, 72, Atlanta, Ga.
James E. Williams, 65, Callaway, Fla.
Clyde E. Raiford, 68, Fayetteville, Ga.
Baxter R. Maddox, 67, Atlanta, Ga.
Leslie H. Durham, 45, Douglasville, Ga.
Cleveland B. Kemp Jr., 56, Conyers, Ga.
Harry Crosland, 67, Decatur, Ga.
Willie T. Epps, 72, College Park, Ga.
Lawrence Kendrick, 60, Atlanta, Ga.
Walter L. Gibson Jr., 38, Union City, Ga.
Warren R. Brownlee, 36, Palmetto, Ga.
Andrew R. Smith, 70, Decatur, Ga.
Kym D. Haywood, 44, Hapeville, Ga.
Charlie W. Patrick 68, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Earnest Sessoms, 79, Atlanta, Ga.
Agents seized the 909 red snapper, which weighed 2459 pounds, and were sold for a total of $9221.25.
http://www.wlf.state.la.us/news/?id=957

[cterrebonne]

that is some messed up stuff right there....i know that charter boat, i fish out of that pass 60% of the time when im going offshore. very sad it makes everyone look bad.

[tsubaki]

$80,000 for Captain Charlie's owner/operator, David T. Harrelson of Lockport, LA, plus a 210 day suspension of his permit allowing him to operate a for-hire recreational fishing vessel in federal waters. $45,450 for the 18 anglers on the vessel.
Plus the cost of their respective attorneys.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Yeah, they got off pretty cheap if you ask me. I know the ARS regs are RIDICULOUS!, but 909 is beyond any reasoneable amount they should have had.

[BigDaddy]

I wonder how LONG they were fishing. 909 fish between 18 people is 50 fish an hour, for 8 hours-with a rod and reel. Were they using nets? Was it a weekend?LOL I'd like to hear how this turns out.

[THEFERMANATOR]

The RED SNAPPER are a nuisance in alot of the GULF right now. Many people say they catch them 2 at a time with just a shiny hook.

[tsubaki]

All the info I've read to this point is accurate so far.
$45k seems like an extreme amount, but that comes to just over $2500 each.
They got off light!!
The first year Georgia imposed the redfish lengths and limits, the DNR waited almost a year to enforce it.
In order to make an example, 2 guys that had undersized and over the limit of fish by about 125. To the tune of $150 for the first fish each and then $50 each additional fish. That came to over $3000 each, however many years ago that was!!

[BigDaddy]

OK...if the fishing is good thats one thing, if the fishing is THAT good...wheres your manners? Didnt mamma tell you not to take more than you can eat? 3 large sounds very light for a FINE to me. They should recind thier abilities to EVER have a fishing license again.

[tsubaki]

Georgia is considering a revocation of future license privileges due to a hunting or fishing offense. South Carolina on the other hand has been doing it for years, as have certain federal recreational facilities.