LDWF cites fisherman for illegal red snapper haul

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) cited six individuals for illegally catching 120 red snapper of which 97 were undersized which could bring thousands of dollars in fines.

Thirty-three-year-old Encarnacion Lopez of Chalmette along with 39-year-old Juan Lopez, 30-year-old Oscar Ofion, 45-year-old Armando Aguilar, 27-year-old Yony Martinez and 46-year-old Mario Castro were issued the citations. LDWF Captain Tim Fox says the six are all illegal immigrants.

“The agents were out working in the Venice area and they witnessed a boat coming upriver with four subjects in it.  So they stopped it to perform a boat and safety check and during conversation in that stop realized that the occupants had been fishing that day,” said Fox.

Fox says red snapper fishing is tightly regulated to ensure sustainable populations, and each angler is allowed to only catch four a day and must be over 16 inches.

“They had 120 red snapper and legally for that day they could have possessed 24 snapper,” he said.

The LDWF emphasizes the importance of following fishing rules to protect marine ecosystems and ensure the long-term viability of fish species.

“Louisiana Wildlife agents will enforce the laws in our fisheries and game for the citizens and visitors to the state alike,” said Fox.

The agents seized the fish and donated them to Second Harvest Food Bank on behalf of Hunters for the Hungry Louisiana.