Warren Man Cited For Catching Too Many Fish

NARRAGANSETT – Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) Officers cited a man from Warren yesterday catching and keeping 13 striped bass, 12 over the limit.

After watching a boat for some time, DLE Officers Jeff Mercer and Anthony Esposito boarded a vessel as the Warren man was coming into Point Judith Monday morning.

Officials from the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) said two striped bass were in plain sight on the boat. The other 11 fish were hidden in a compartment.

"It's a shame that a few people are greedy and have no respect for our fisheries," said Steve Medeiros, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Anglers Association. "We need stricter penalties along with judges who are willing to treat fisheries violations with the severity they deserve."

The current striper limit for recreational fishing is one fish measuring at least 28 inches long per person per day. The man was also accused of failing to remove pectoral fins from the fish.

Rhode Island marine fisheries regulations require those fishing recreationally to remove the right pectoral fin of a striped bass that's at least 34 inches long when caught. According to DEM, This means that the fish was caught recreationally and prevents recreational anglers from selling what they catch, which is illegal.

DLE seized the 13 stripers and donated them to Amos House, the Providence-based social services agency that runs the state's largest soup kitchen.

Image credit: Matt Cardy / Stringer