Haulin' Bass - Nassau County
In the early morning hours of April 21, ECO Pabes responded to a report of multiple anglers keeping excess and undersized striped bass in the village of Great Neck. The caller claimed they observed the fishermen placing bags of fish into the back of a vehicle. When confronted by other anglers about these illegal fish, the fishermen left the scene and went to a nearby gas station on foot. ECO Pabes met the caller and the suspects at the gas station where they denied any wrong-doing and had no fish in their possession. ECO Pabes noticed that one of the suspects had car keys on the table next to him, but claimed to be getting a taxi home. Suspicious, the Officer waited next to the vehicle reported by the caller. Within minutes, another vehicle dropped the two suspects off at the SUV, where they quickly jumped into the vehicle and sped away. ECO Pabes hopped into his patrol vehicle and followed, catching up to the SUV at a red light. The suspects began to drive erratically, speeding down a side street and blowing through a stop sign. ECO Pabes eventually stopped the SUV and the driver immediately confessed to having striped bass in the vehicle and driving without a license. The Officer issued four tickets for undersized and excess striped bass, failure to stop at a stop sign, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, returnable to Nassau First District Court. The five undersized striped bass were seized and donated to a wildlife rehabilitator.
Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind for K9 Cramer - Suffolk County
On April 25, while patrolling Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, ECO DeRose observed a fishing party from a distance. Officer DeRose and his partner K9 Cramer moved to search the area before approaching three anglers. The men claimed they only caught porgy and turned over their cooler for the Officer to search. ECO DeRose, suspecting there was more to the story, deployed K9 Cramer to take a closer look. K9 Cramer showed a lot of interest in an area thick with vegetation. Officer DeRose discovered three undersized striped bass in a black plastic bag, partially buried in the sand under the vegetation. The ECO escorted the three fishermen from the beach and issued eight tickets for violations including possessing undersized striped bass and taking striped bass unlawfully using J-hooks, which make it easier to catch fish.
Three striped bass discovered by K9 Cramer
K9 Cramer near plastic bag where illegally caught striped bass were hidden
Striped Bass Violations - Nassau County
On April 27, ECO Simmons surveilled Hempstead Harbor where night-time fishing activity at high tide was active. Fishermen were targeting striped bass, which is in season, but it didn't take long for the Officers to discover violations. ECOs Pabes and Cacciola arrived at around 7:15 p.m., and immediately spotted two anglers trying to leave the area with undersized striped bass. The Officers continued their patrol and until 1 a.m., netting more violators. They seized 26 fish and issued several tickets for both over-the-limit and undersized fish.
