A series of fishing compliance checks in Suffolk County resulted in anglers ticketed for taking far more porgy than legally allowed, striped bass too small to keep, and a filet fib that resulted in charges.
- On May 24, while on patrol in the village of Greenport, ECO Zullo observed a vessel in Greenport Harbor with two individuals on board and seagulls diving in the water behind it. The seagull activity signaled to Officer Zullo that the anglers were fileting fish. When he approached and boarded the vessel, the ECO observed a plastic bag full of fish filets. Despite the captain’s claims the fish were porgy, Officer Zullo determined they were weakfish. He seized the filets and ticketed both anglers with possession of over-the-limit of weakfish, possessing undersized weakfish, and failure to carry a marine registry, returnable to Southold Town Court.
- On May 26, while on overnight patrol, ECO Vandenbos observed multiple anglers fishing from the Ponquogue Bridge in the hamlet of Hampton Bays. Before long, he spotted two anglers go down to the water with a blue bag and return without it. The Officer approached the anglers and observed the bag hidden behind a guard rail. Inside, ECO Vandenbos discovered a striped bass measuring less than 28 inches and issued a ticket for possession of undersized striped bass. He then ticketed another angler for possessing five striped bass, all outside the legal slot limit. All tickets issued were returnable to Southampton Town Justice Court.
- On May 29, while on patrol in the town of Southold, ECO Zullo observed a vessel with three anglers on board returning to dock at a boat launch. Officer Zullo approached the boat and immediately observed a bucket full of porgy. The captain of the vessel advised coolers on board also contained fish. ECO Zullo counted 143 porgy, well over the New York State limit of 30 per person, per day. He seized 53 fish as evidence and issued tickets to the subjects for possession of over the limit porgy, as well as one summons for failure to carry a marine registry, returnable to Southold Town Court.
