Fishing expeditions turned into a brush with the law for a dozen non-resident anglers in Plaquemines Parish, per a recent report from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division. On the dates of July 25 and 26, enforcement agents, cracked down on compliance, doling out citations to those, they found without their proper licenses.
Popular for its rich aquatic life, the Venice area saw charter vessels returning from voyages into the Gulf laden with the day’s catch. Upon these boats, LDWF agents discovered that a dozen individuals possessed neither the required non-resident basic nor the saltwater fishing licenses. The agents handed out citations for these lapses, with potential fines of up to $350 for each offense.
It wasn't just the anglers who faced the consequences; the agents seized 34 red snapper and one yellowfin tuna during the operation. These fish didn't go to waste, however,, as they were donated to a local charity, ensuring the catch could benefit those in need rather than sit as evidence in a storage locker.
LDWF took this opportunity to remind those 18 and over who might be considering charter fishing in Louisiana's waters, that they must certainly carry the appropriate licenses. Essentially these are the three-day charter guide license covering basic and saltwater licenses, or individual basic and saltwater licenses depending on the nature of the fishing activity. The issue at hand also holds the potential for civil restitution totaling $1,413 against the offending parties.
The agents leading the charge against illegal fishing practices included Sgt. Justin Sonnier, Sgt. Tobey Meyers, Sgt. Brody Roberts, and Corporal Dalton Herrington.
