Fishing compliance checks in the New York City area and Long Island in recent weeks resulted in several anglers ticketed for illegally taking undersized fish:
- On Sept. 29, ECO Day checked several vessels near a boat ramp in Port Jefferson on the north shore of Long Island to ensure anglers fishing from those vessels were complying with New York State’s fishing regulations. Officer Day encountered two boats during the patrol that had undersized porgy, black sea bass, and tautog on board. ECO Day ticketed multiple anglers for charges including possession of undersized fish, possession of tautog out of season, and failure to have a valid New York Marine Registry. The fish were confiscated and donated to Sweetbriar Nature Center where they were used to feed animals being cared for at the facility.
- On Oct. 3, ECO Day checked a pair of anglers returning to the parking area at Fisherman’s Beach in the town of Huntington, Suffolk County, at approximately 11:30 p.m. The pair claimed to only have three porgy in their possession and showed the fish to Officer Day in a bucket. ECO Day checked a cooler the anglers were placing in their vehicle and discovered three undersized black sea bass and an undersized striped bass hidden under snacks and fishing gear. Both anglers received tickets for possession of undersized black sea bass and one of the subjects received an additional ticket for the out-of-slot striped bass.
- On Oct. 6, ECOs Ableson, Baldwin, and Toomey checked anglers fishing recreationally on Orchard Beach in Bronx County. The day’s unusually warm weather drew several anglers to the area. The Officers issued five tickets and one written warning over the course of the afternoon for anglers possessing blackfish out of season and fishing without a Marine Registry.
