New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Saturday, October 2, 2021, Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers in New Bedford received information regarding a vessel that may have been involved in the poaching of fish. Officers subsequently conducted a marine fisheries inspection of the vessel upon its return to port.
The inspection found 220 tautog, 196 of which were undersized and 70 black sea bass, 44 of which were undersized. The owner of the vessel was placed under arrest and the two passengers aboard were issued criminal summonses.
All three suspects were charged with possession of 211 tautog over the legal limit, possession of undersized tautog, possession of black sea bass out of season, and possession of undersized black sea bass.
The daily recreational limit for tautog is 3 per person or a maximum of 10 per vessel, with a minimum length of 16 inches. Black sea bass are currently closed for recreational fishing.
as a recreational fisherman i find this behavior totally unacceptable. i hope the state prosecutes these thieves to the full extent of the law including boat and vehicle forfeiture
Good reporting on this story.
It’s always great news when poachers get busted. Hopefully they will get the maximum punishment allowed. Is there any way to determine who the suspects are? This story also appeared on a recreational fishing website and there was a disgustingly ignorant, racist comment made about illegal immigrants being responsible for this and that they should all be reported to MAGA. Are the names and nationalities of the suspects publicly available? Some stupid immoral morons pen their mouths with out facts to back up their allegations , and some even continue their rant even when the facts contradict them.