Blackfish Poachers Caught in New York

On Oct. 13, ECOs Pabes and Kochanowski observed two anglers fishing under the Second Wantagh Bridge in Nassau County prior to the opening of tautog (blackfish) season on Oct. 15. During their surveillance, the Officers observed one of the anglers leave their fishing location to retrieve his vehicle from the Green Island parking lot, while the other angler stayed behind. ECO Pabes checked the first angler and found no fish in his possession while ECO Kochanowski observed the second angler walk a black duffle bag from under the bridge to hide it along the heavily vegetated bike path. Officers detained the anglers while they searched for the bag but released them after not initially finding it. Officers eventually located the bag when the individuals were approximately 150 feet away and called after the duo to stop. The anglers ignored those commands and took off running into some thick vegetation off the bike path as the ECOs followed. Officer Pabes located one subject hiding in the reeds and detained him. The black bag contained 19 tautog out of season and five undersized black sea bass.

ECOs ticketed the subject for possession of out of season tautog, possession of undersized black sea bass, failing to release fish without undue harm, and failure to comply with a lawful order from an Environmental Conservation Police Officer. The first angler failed to return to pick up his friend.

Illegal tautog (blackfish) seized near the Second Wantagh Bridge. *(Photo courtesy of NYSDEC)*

On Oct. 16, ECOs Dickson and Kochanowski observed two individuals fileting fish near a dock while patrolling Tanner Park in Babylon, Suffolk County. Officers interviewed the anglers who admitted to targeting blackfish and sea bass. When asked to present the carcasses, the individuals explained they threw them back into the water. The ECOs began counting the filets and observed more than the legal limit of four per person. The Officers then contacted the Babylon Town Harbor Master who brought a net to assist their efforts. Officer Kochanowski retrieved 12 blackfish carcasses and one sea bass carcass from the marine bottom. All the fish were under regulation size. ECOs issued tickets to the anglers for the undersized fish and educated them on New York’s fishing regulations.