Game wardens in Brazoria County investigated an Operation Game Thief crimestoppers call in July about people stockpiling king mackerel over the daily bag/possession limit.
The tipster said a group was stockpiling king mackerel in a boat storage facility in Freeport.
Armed with description of the suspects’ vehicles and boats, wardens began checking vessels near the Freeport Jetties and came across a boat that fit the description.
The occupants were in possession of king mackerel in excess of the daily limit, and while escorting them back to the boat ramp, the wardens made contact with the other culprits.
The suspects were brought to the commercial boat storage, where wardens gained access to a unit that contained 30 king mackerel stuffed into a freezer, in addition to the 16 king mackerel the five fisherman had on board both vessels.
Several citations were written to five individuals for exceeding their possession limit of king mackerel. The cases and civil restitution are pending.
Caught red-handed
Cameron County game wardens received a call from South Padre Police Department stating they had come across an ice chest full of red snapper during a traffic stop and believed the occupants to be over their possession limit.
The three individuals consented to inspection of the fish. They said they got the fish from friends, but could not produce any proof.
Although they had been out on a fishing trip all day with the unnamed sources, they had taken no photos of the others onboard.
A bag count showed the group was 16 red snapper over their daily bag limits, including two undersized fish. All three individuals received citations with restitution. The fish were donated to the public.
Can’t keep the bird
A McLennan County game warden responded to a call about a dead bald eagle in the road, by the time he arrived on scene the bird was gone. A subject interviewed said he took it to a friend’s house and left it on the seat of his riding lawnmower. The warden recovered the eagle carcass at the second location. Citations were issued to the individual for illegally possessing and transporting a bald eagle. The case is pending.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.