A St. Amant man found himself in a pinch after Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents cited him for a shrimp haul that exceeded limits set for recreational fishing in Terrebonne Parish. The violation, which occurred on May 1 under the Dulac Swing Bridge, involved 34-year-old Maltez Wilfredo, who allegedly possessed 79 pounds of shrimp at a time when the ceiling for a proper catch sat at 50 pounds, due to the commercial season being closed.
According to an announcement by the Wildlife and Fisheries Department, the bust came after they received a tip about an individual collecting shrimp over the legal limit. Upon arrival, Senior Agent Austin Anderson, Corporal Richie Bean, and Senior Agent Cody Salpietra discovered Wilfredo with the oversize catch. The shrimp were seized and later donated to a local charity.
Regulations permit licensed recreational shrimpers to collect up to 100 pounds of shrimp during an open commercial season, a cap that doubles the limit during the closed season. The commercial shrimp season in Terrebonne Parish was strategically scheduled to open today, one week after Wilfredo’s violation, which resulted in his catch exceeding the limit in effect at that time. Wilfredo now faces a penalty that could range from a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for the violation.
