- On April 13, ECOs Griffin and Ruffle responded to a complaint of anglers keeping multiple striped bass before the start of the season (April 15) at the Hempstead Shoreline Trail in Port Washington, Nassau County. Officers located the three anglers, found them in possession of nine striped bass, and ticketed each for taking fish out of season, returnable to Nassau County First District Court.
- On April 22, ECO Prentice checked a boat returning to the DEC Mud Lock boat launch on the north end of Cayuga Lake in Cayuga and observed 54 short crappie under 10 inches inside the boat. All three anglers on board admitted to catching the short fish and received tickets for taking undersized black crappie.
- On April 25, ECO Steffen conducted fishing compliance checks along the Hudson River in Rockland County and observed several anglers around 1 a.m., keeping striped bass outside allowable size limits. Officers issued 13 tickets after discovering eight illegally caught fish. The charges included taking fish contrary to DEC regulations, fishing without a license, and failure to carry marine registry. Striped bass have both a minimum and maximum size for possession. Only fish between 28 – 31 inches may be possessed in marine waters and striped bass caught north of the George Washington Bridge must be between 23 – 28 inches. For more information on recreational marine fishing regulations, visit the DEC website.
- On April 28, ECOs in Queens County ticketed anglers for taking striped bass outside the legal size limit. Officers Bieber and Toomey issued a total of five tickets to two anglers in the Far Rockaway for possessing eight striped bass outside the legal size limit, all returnable to Queens Criminal Court. Meanwhile, ECOs Baldwin and Nolan ticketed one angler in Littleneck Bay for taking undersized and over the possession limit of striped bass. Striped bass have both a minimum and maximum size for possession. Only fish between 28 – 31 inches may be possessed in marine waters and striped bass caught north of the George Washington Bridge must be between 23 – 28 inches. For more information on recreational marine fishing regulations, visit the DEC website.
