Post by Woody Williams on May 2, 2008 17:31:45 GMT -5
A long time established Charter Captain ,his crew and customers have been arrested in the largest poaching scam in recent history.
Since these fish were taken in Federal waters and transported into State waters,Federal charges will be forthcoming when the State finishes indictments with the group.
It's truely a shameful event no matter where this may happen. The poachers have effectively committed theft from all of us.
Houma Courier
JOHN DeSANTIS
Acting City Editor
Published: Friday, May 2, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 2, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.
Joe Arnaud/LDWF Senior agent Ted Dewitt and Cadet Kerry Gaylord of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, aboard the charter vessel Captain Charlie at Fourchon Bayou Monday night, check red snapper officers allege was caught illegally.
FOURCHON -- State wildlife officials say it could be one of the biggest illegal fish seizures on record and definitely is according to their personal recollections.
More than 900 red snapper -- normally limited at two per person -- were seized from a recreational charter boat Tuesday morning after it returned with a party of 18 guests.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents wrote more than 100 fishing citations to 20 men -- including the boat’s captain and deckhand -- on Bayou Fourchon in Lafourche Parish.
Agents stopped the charter boat, "Captain Charlie" for a license check. Upon receiving consent from the captain of the boat, David Harrelson of Lockport, agents found 27 -150 quart ice chests with 909 red snapper
Agents counted and measured every fish and found that of the 909 red snapper, 287 were under the minimum 16-inch size requirement.
Agents also discovered that none of the 18 passengers -- all from out of state -- possessed the required non-resident basic and saltwater fishing licenses.
Agents seized the 909 red snapper, which weighed a combined 2,459 pounds and were sold for a total of $9,221.25. The money goes to the state.
"I’ve been here 26 years, and that’s a once-in-a-career case," said Capt. Sammy Martin, commander of Region 9 of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division, which includes Lafourche Parish. "Even if the season was open, they could have only had 40 fish legally."
Harrelson, a charter captain who has taken people out on fishing trips since 1974, said state laws concerning licenses place operators like himself in a difficult position.
If passengers do not have the required licenses, then the boat loses a charter, he said. If it goes out and it is later discovered that passengers are not properly licensed, it must return.
Asked if he believes such abuses are routine, Martin said he is certain more goes on than officers are aware of.
"I am sure along the coast there are these things going on, and you’re not going to catch everybody," Martin said. "There’s already only so many of us. I’ve got 20 men covering seven parishes and Grand Isle."
Martin said captains should check for passengers’ fishing licenses before setting out on charters, noting that they are easily obtained at or near every charter dock. Licenses can also be purchased online or by telephone, and as long as the license number is presented, an angler is covered.
But problems stemming from the Captain Charlie’s Monday trip transcended issues of licensing, Martin noted.
Harrelson said he plans to plead not guilty to the charges, which will be heard in U.S. District Court.
Agents cited the 52-year-old Harrelson, along with his deckhand, 45-year-old Donald R. Humphrey of Golden Meadow.
Citations written for all passengers and the captain and deckhand included angling without a non-resident basic and saltwater fishing license, federal charges for possessing undersize and over-the-limit red snapper, and taking red snapper during a closed season. The red snapper season is closed until June 1.
The passengers were:
Artesza Portee, 35, Autell, Ga.
Glover Jefferson Jr., 69, Atlanta, Ga.
Walter Bailey Jr., 61, Atlanta.
Robert Kemp, 72, Atlanta.
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.
Since these fish were taken in Federal waters and transported into State waters,Federal charges will be forthcoming when the State finishes indictments with the group.
It's truely a shameful event no matter where this may happen. The poachers have effectively committed theft from all of us.
Houma Courier
JOHN DeSANTIS
Acting City Editor
Published: Friday, May 2, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 2, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.
Joe Arnaud/LDWF Senior agent Ted Dewitt and Cadet Kerry Gaylord of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, aboard the charter vessel Captain Charlie at Fourchon Bayou Monday night, check red snapper officers allege was caught illegally.
FOURCHON -- State wildlife officials say it could be one of the biggest illegal fish seizures on record and definitely is according to their personal recollections.
More than 900 red snapper -- normally limited at two per person -- were seized from a recreational charter boat Tuesday morning after it returned with a party of 18 guests.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents wrote more than 100 fishing citations to 20 men -- including the boat’s captain and deckhand -- on Bayou Fourchon in Lafourche Parish.
Agents stopped the charter boat, "Captain Charlie" for a license check. Upon receiving consent from the captain of the boat, David Harrelson of Lockport, agents found 27 -150 quart ice chests with 909 red snapper
Agents counted and measured every fish and found that of the 909 red snapper, 287 were under the minimum 16-inch size requirement.
Agents also discovered that none of the 18 passengers -- all from out of state -- possessed the required non-resident basic and saltwater fishing licenses.
Agents seized the 909 red snapper, which weighed a combined 2,459 pounds and were sold for a total of $9,221.25. The money goes to the state.
"I’ve been here 26 years, and that’s a once-in-a-career case," said Capt. Sammy Martin, commander of Region 9 of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division, which includes Lafourche Parish. "Even if the season was open, they could have only had 40 fish legally."
Harrelson, a charter captain who has taken people out on fishing trips since 1974, said state laws concerning licenses place operators like himself in a difficult position.
If passengers do not have the required licenses, then the boat loses a charter, he said. If it goes out and it is later discovered that passengers are not properly licensed, it must return.
Asked if he believes such abuses are routine, Martin said he is certain more goes on than officers are aware of.
"I am sure along the coast there are these things going on, and you’re not going to catch everybody," Martin said. "There’s already only so many of us. I’ve got 20 men covering seven parishes and Grand Isle."
Martin said captains should check for passengers’ fishing licenses before setting out on charters, noting that they are easily obtained at or near every charter dock. Licenses can also be purchased online or by telephone, and as long as the license number is presented, an angler is covered.
But problems stemming from the Captain Charlie’s Monday trip transcended issues of licensing, Martin noted.
Harrelson said he plans to plead not guilty to the charges, which will be heard in U.S. District Court.
Agents cited the 52-year-old Harrelson, along with his deckhand, 45-year-old Donald R. Humphrey of Golden Meadow.
Citations written for all passengers and the captain and deckhand included angling without a non-resident basic and saltwater fishing license, federal charges for possessing undersize and over-the-limit red snapper, and taking red snapper during a closed season. The red snapper season is closed until June 1.
The passengers were:
Artesza Portee, 35, Autell, Ga.
Glover Jefferson Jr., 69, Atlanta, Ga.
Walter Bailey Jr., 61, Atlanta.
Robert Kemp, 72, Atlanta.
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.
