greenfrog Loc: Central NJ

Virginia fisherman sentenced for illegally harvesting $37K worth of striped bass
Marysa Tuttle

NORFOLK, Va. (WRIC) — A Virginia fisherman has been sentenced for illegally harvesting striped bass over the course of several years.

52-year-old commercial fisherman Keith J. Martin was sentenced to four months in prison on October 26. He was required to begin his sentence by noon December 12. It was recommended by the court to the Bureau of Prisons that Martin be incarcerated in a medical facility.

Upon his release, Martin was sentenced to three years of supervised release. On the condition of and for the duration of his supervised release, Martin will be prohibited from participating in any form of commercial fishing unless approved by the U.S. Probation Office and will be required to participate in an approved mental health treatment program.

In June, Martin pleaded guilty to violating Virginia state law and the Lacey Act by fishing striped bass above his quota, failing to report the amount and completing at least one sale of striped bass with a commercial purchaser without using a certified scale.

While Martin was licensed in Virginia to harvest striped bass, the Department of Justice said he illegally harvested and sold at least 12,600 pounds of striped bass between 2018 to 2020, which was valued at almost $37,000.

According to investigators, Martin sold over 6,000 pounds of striped bass to a Maryland seafood company in 2018 and more than 4,300 pounds in 2019. This goes above his legal quota of about 4,000 pounds of striped bass that he is allowed to fish and sell during those years.

The selling and transport of the overfished bass violated the Lacey Act — an act that combats the trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish and plants.

Martin was also required to pay a special assessment of $100 as a part of his October sentencing.
Link: https://news.yahoo.com/virginia-fisherman-sentenced-illegally-harvesting-175150388.html

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

It's bad enough that the commercial guys get a much bigger quota than the recreational guys, but to cheat on top of it is disgraceful. Glad he got some jail time. Thanks for sharing Frog.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

4 months in prison for $37,000 thief. Now that is what is disgraceful. "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time" It is much easier to do the time when it boils down to $9,250 a month income if you are one of the few caught.
It is no wonder that game wardens get tainted and become less than energetic. It is hard to justify a long hard investigation when the result is a slap on the hand by the court. It drives wardens to spend their time writing paper for 1/8 inch to long of fish or one fish over in a cooler with four or five 15 fish limits, or better yet, forgetting to sign across a duck stamp firmly attached to a duck license. At least their time is not waisted that way because most of those citations are not contested though many of those violations were unintentional. Oh well, it is what it is.

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

This makes my stomach turn.

greenfrog Loc: Central NJ

No jail time. Taxpayer's are footing the bill for the 4 month hospital stay.
He only had to pay $100.00 court fee.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Just makes the situation more pungent.

john1941 Loc: CA

So strange, at most California lakes there is no limit for stripers

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Those are planted Stripers, on the East coast it's all natural population.

john1941 Loc: CA

They are considered an invasive species just like carp its recommended to throw them onto shore

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

All the guys fishing your rivers have a minimum size and a 2 fish limit.

Michel Loc: King George VA

You apparently have never er eaten one!

john1941 Loc: CA

I fish lake Powell every year around May, not uncommon for two people to land 50 to 70 a day. Takes over an hour to filet them.