An Indiana man finds himself in deep water after being cited for allegedly cheating at a Chicago bass fishing tourney. Illinois Conservation Police have caught David Moore, 49, on multiple charges which include attempting to commit theft and possession over the daily limit of smallmouth bass.
Seen throwing fishing wire on the bank waters, Moore of St. John's, Indiana was busted by officers on May 10 while seemingly stashing fish on the Calumet River for a tournament the next day. A sting operation resulted in Moore being caught red-handed with four smallmouth bass, meant to give him an unfair lead in the Cal-Sag Bass Anglers competition, despite the prohibition of fishing in that area on the day he was caught.
The fishy business continued into the day of the tourney. Conservation police observed Moore place the stashed fish into his boat’s live well before tossing the string on the shore and taking off. According to the official press release, police later confirmed with the tournament's weight master that Moore was registered for the event.
Hatching a plan that would have netted him a cool $1,300 for the first-place prize, Moore was found to have a total of 19.5 pounds of fish -- a haul that would've had him win the tournament by a margin of over 4 pounds. Yet the investigation revealed that the deceitful angler had caught the smallmouth bass a day earlier in Lake Michigan near Hammond, Indiana, and illegally imported them into Illinois without a required VHS permit.
Moore's charges include two Class A misdemeanors, four Class B misdemeanors, and a petty offense. His court date has been scheduled in Cook County, where he will face justice for his alleged actions. As stated in the press release, "the charges and statements made herein are based upon probable cause, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty."
Calls for conservation and protection against such violations are supported by regulations allowing the public to report poaching and illegal activities. Citizens can complete the Target Illinois Poachers (TIP) incident reporting form or call 877-2DNRLAW to report such incidents and aid in the conservation of Illinois's natural resources.
