Recently, while patrolling near Robert Moses State Park, ECOs Perkins and Dickson checked a small fishing access site under the Captree Island Bridge and observed three individuals fishing along the rocky jetties using green crabs, a common bait for tautog/blackfish.
During the ECOs’ inspection, which included a check of fishing licenses, the Officers found three blackfish in a bucket next to the anglers and another nine fish tucked away in bags hidden between the rocks. The ECOs released four living fish; the rest perished in the bags. The Officers issued six tickets to the group for possessing out-of-season tautog and failure to release without undue harm.
A few days later near Robert Moses State Park, ECO Dickson observed a different group of anglers catching blackfish out of season. In Great South Bay, the ECO observed three individuals fishing off a small inflatable boat. As the Officer approached the trio with members of the U.S. Coast Guard Fire Island, the anglers dumped the contents of a small cooler onto the deck of the boat and covered the contents with the lid of the cooler. ECO Dickson found the blackfish under the lid and issued tickets to the group for catching the fish out of season and fishing without a valid marine fishing license.
During his days-long marine fishing inspections in the area, Officer Dickson issued additional citations for similar charges related to out-of-season fishing. In addition to issuing tickets, the ECO educated anglers about the importance of following New York’s fishing regulations.