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Largemouth Bass Poacher Ends Up In Ontario Jail

In July of 2013 Conservation Officers and OPP conducted a joint investigation into a complaint of a male keeping an overlimit of bass. The investigation revealed an overlimit of largemouth bass from Wesport Pond Fish Sanctuary.

It was determined that the male had an aerated tank in the trunk of his car which included an overlimit of bass. It was further determined that the male was currently serving probation from previous convictions in the past from enforcement efforts with Conservation Officers from the MNR.

The male was fined $1000 per bass over his limit which was a total of $3000 in fines and 30 days in jail for breaching his conditions of his probation order on April 16th, 2014 in Perth, Ontario.

He was convicted in trial for unlawfully transporting live fish, possessing an overlimit of largemouthbass and had his fishing license suspended for life.

OCOA reminds anglers that transporting live fish over land requires an authorisation from the crown.

Limits for catch and possession are created through regulations for sportfish of Ontario to ensure a sustainable resource and conservation of the species.

If you make observations of an offense please call the MNR TIPS LINE at 1-877-TIPS-MNR or Crimestoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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Lake Sturgeon Poachers Caught

Illegal Caviar from Ontario Lake Sturgeon and meat lead 2 men from Richmond Hill to $20,750 in fines and probation orders.

Three men were stopped coming out of the Mississagi River in the town of Blind River, Ontario claiming they had salmon in their vehicle when stopped by Conservation Officers.

Upon inspection the Conservation Officers located 27 pounds of Lake Sturgeon Eggs and 4 pounds of meat.

The Lake Sturgeon is listed as a Threatened Species under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act.

OCOA reminds the public that it is illegal to possess flora and fauna listed as Threatened under this legislation.

OCOA thanks our Conservation Officers for intercepting these individuals in an attempt to prevent crimes involving native fish in Ontario.

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Fishing Overlimits Always Catch Up To You

Two men from Markham, Ontario fined a total of $4,000 for a 45 black crappie overlimit from Lake Scugog.

The anglers were checked while returning to shore on May 14th, 2014 after a one day fishing trip in the Kawartha Lakes Region.

Inspection of the live holding tank revealed 105 Black Crappie when the anglers licences only allowed them to keep 60.

OCOA reminds anglers to review the Sportfishing Regulation Summaries to ensure you follow the limits and seasons depending on the licence you possess.

It is an offence to transport live fish overland. Limits are set in place so that anglers and other resource users may enjoy a sustainable fishery.

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Cisco Poacher Attempts to Dodge Conservation Officers

Lake Simcoe angler from Mississauga was in possession of 95 Cisco and only produced 2 to Conservation Officers on March 8th, 2014.

Officers discovered a bag full of cisco behind the ice hut following the inspection.

The individual was also charged for fishing without a license, catching and retaining cisco during closed season, obstructing a conservation officer and unlawfully using another persons license.

A previous conviction for angling without a license was considered in sentencing.

The male was fined $3,700 dollars and will be prohibited to fish for the next 5 years.

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Fisherman Learns 52 Lessons

Trout Record Flap

Caught — and released to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Rob Scott, Crane Lake, Minn., is an angler who caught a potential 52lb world-record lake trout in February 2014 fishing a lake near the US/Canada border. The fish was 45 inches long with a 32-inch girth, Rob said.

Worried he may lose his Candian fishing license, and possibly access to fish Canadaian water again, Rob got lucky with a hefty fine plus court costs, The angler won’t get to keep the fish or enter it as a world record catch. The current record is 29 pounds, 6 ounces. so he would have won by a considerable margin. The fisherman did not contest the charges.

But because Rob’s lake trout limit was one fish and he had already kept a 4-pounder earlier in the day, he was over his limit when he kept the big lake trout. He later gave the 4-pound trout to his nephew, he said, but according to Ontario law, he had possessed both fish. “He killed two fish. You’re only allowed to kill one,” the MNR’s Elliott said.

A prime example of why to respect your local regulations and catch limits.

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Working Together

Here is a letter I received from the MNR:

Hello Al,

Your Fall-Winter 2012 Journal was sent to me because of its enforcement content, but of course I couldn’t stop there – a very interesting and informative read.

My first comment is to thank you for your support of MNR’s field Conservation Officers. It’s the public’s participation through our TIPS-MNR violation reporting line that keeps our officers effective. Given Ontario Steelheaders obvious support for our enforcement work I would like to connect your group with another Ontario volunteer organization that provides tremendous support to us by focusing attention on specific illegal activity and then sharing the resulting information with us – information that leads to many successful convictions. The network of Crime Stoppers programs in Ontario has been an active supporter of MNR enforcement since 1991.

You will no doubt have noticed their “Unlawful sale of trout and salmon roe” ad in the 2012 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. That ad, which was collaboration between Crime Stoppers and Trout Unlimited Canada, placed a spotlight on an important issue of concern to all law abiding anglers – the illegal sale of our fishery resource.

As the MNR Enforcement Branch representative to the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers I would be happy to put you in contact with a member of the OACS executive to discuss running the ad in you next Journal edition – the timing couldn’t be better!

Regards, Mark Robbins Provincial Enforcement Specialist Enforcement Branch Ministry of Natural Resources