ECOs (Environmental Conservation Officers) from across the state conducted a series of fishing compliance checks over the past several weeks.
- On May 2, ECOs Pabes and DeRose, along with K9 Cramer, conducted a two-day striped bass detail at various bridges throughout Nassau County. The Officers seized 27 illegally caught fish during the detail and issued tickets to anglers for taking and possessing undersized and excess striped bass, failure to obtain marine fishing registries, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, all returnable to Nassau Fire District Court.
- On May 7, while conducting fishing compliance checks on several vessels at a boat launch in the town of Southold, Suffolk County, ECO Zullo ticketed the captain of one boat for possessing over-the-limit weakfish and a black sea bass, which is currently out of season in New York State. Officer Zullo seized the fish and donated them to the Quogue Wildlife Refuge to help feed animals being rehabilitated at the facility.
- On May 15, ECOs Vencak, Curinga, Fettermen, Bohling, and Lieutenant Terrell conducted fishing compliance checks along the Hudson River. The Officers observed an angler catch a striped bass and quickly leave the area. When Officers approached, the subject took off on a bicycle and refused commands to stop. The ECOs chased the subject on foot and eventually caught up to the angler. The Officers issued two tickets to the fisherman for possessing a striped bass over the legal slot size and disobeying the lawful order of a Conservation Officer. The team also checked three boats and wrote similar tickets for striped bass over the slot size on board.
