New York ECO’s Catch Striped Bass Poachers in Westchester and Rockland Counties
Westchester County
On March 21, ECO Tompkins observed an angler near Crawbuckie Park in the town of Ossining, Westchester County, catch and keep at least four striped bass in less than 10 minutes, a week and a half before the April 1 season opener. Officer Tompkins quickly moved in after witnessing the illegal activity from a distance and discovered a large black garbage bag filled with 23 out-of-season striped bass. The ECO worked quickly to release fish likely to survive back into the water and issued six tickets to the angler, including one for 23 counts of possessing fish during the closed season, targeting fish during the closed season, failure to use non-offset circle hooks for striped bass, fishing without a license, failure to carry a marine registry, and the illegal take/possession of fish. The fish that did not survive were donated.
Rockland County
On March 29, ECOs Falkengren and Steffen received a tip from a concerned resident in the town of Haverstraw, Rockland County, regarding an individual stashing fish in a vehicle near the Hudson River. Officer Falkengren responded to the location and identified a vehicle and anglers matching the complainant’s description. A brief investigation and interviews led the ECO to confiscate two illegally caught striped bass and issue tickets to an angler for the illegal take of striped bass out of season, unlawful possession of fish out of season, unlawful intentional angling for fish species during the closed season, taking of fish contrary to DEC regulations, and failure to use a non-offset circle hook for striped bass.
Read the Full Press Release on the NYDEC Website: Click here
What can be done about poaching?
If you witness poaching occurring, contact your local DEC Environmental Conservation Officer: click here for the full ECO roster by region and county.
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