On August 3rd, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited five men in Plaquemines Parish for alleged recreational fishing violations. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Agents cited these men with being over the daily limit of catfish for Louisiana:
- Timothy Jones (60) McComb, Mississippi
- Ellis R. Martin (57) Summit, Mississippi
- Thomas Firth (56) Tylertown, Mississippi
- Steven Riley (59) Gulfport, Mississippi
The agents also cited Clifton Clark (44) from Gulfport, Mississippi as well as the aforementioned Riley and Jones for not having a Non-Resident Louisiana Basic Fishing License. The agents had been on patrol while responding to a different complaint when they came upon the five men on the Mississippi River levee. They were just south of the Empire Locks actively fishing with rods and reels. The agents found the five men to be in possession of 665 blue catfish in multiple ice chests.
After further investigation of the men’s catch, agents determined that Riley, Jones, Martin, and Firth caught well over the daily limit of catfish per angler. The agents also found that Riley, Jones, and Clark had also failed to purchase a Non-Resident Louisiana Basic Fishing License.
The agents then seized the 665 blue catfish and then donated them to the “Hunters for the Hungry” charity. In the state of Louisiana, the daily limit of catfish is 100 fish: an aggregate of blue, channel, and flathead catfish.
A citation for taking over the daily limit of catfish carries a fine of $250 – $500 and up to 90 days in jail. A citation for not having a Non-Resident Louisiana Basic Fishing License has a fine of up to $350. The men may also face a civil restitution charge for the replacement value of the catfish totaling $493.73.
The Agents participating in this case are Lt. Adam Young and Senior Agent Austin Landry. To see the press release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries see here
