Wildlife agent calls seizure 'once-in-a-career case'

FOURCHON, La. -- State wildlife authorities issued more than 100 fishing citations to 20 men, and seized more than 900 red snapper, after a recreational charter boat was stopped for a license check. Capt. Sammy Martin, a regional commander with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division, called it a "once-in-a-career case." "Even if the season was open," he said, "they could have only had 40 fish legally." Snapper are usually limited to two a person. The boat on Bayou Fourchon, in Lafourche Parish, carried 18 guests, a captain and a deckhand. The season is closed until June 1. Agents allegedly found ice chests with 909 snapper, 287 of which were under the minimum 16-inch size requirement. All the passenger guests were from out of state and lacked the required fishing licenses, according to authorities. The fish, which weighed a combined 2,459 pounds, were sold for $9,221.25 _ money that now goes to the state. ___ Information from: Daily Comet, http://www.dailycomet.com

From katc.com