Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement agents cited five Mississippi men for alleged fishing violations on Oct. 12 in Plaquemines Parish.
Agents cited Davis Byrd, 62, Henry Cooper Jr., 45, and Hayden Bryant, 45, all of Star, Miss., Benton Moseley, 29, of Florence, Miss., and Steaven Hardaere, 29, of Harrisville, Miss., for taking double the daily limit of red drum.
Agents received a complaint about these men “double tripping” red drum near Venice. Double tripping fish is the act of catching a daily limit of fish and bringing them back to a launch or camp and then returning to catch an additional limit in the same day.
Agents observed the men in the morning bringing a limit of red drum to be cleaned and packed at a marina and then leave in their vessels again. Agents stopped the men on the second trip and found them with an additional limit of red drum.
Agents seized a total of 50 red drum from the men. The daily limit is five red drum per licensed fishermen putting the men double over the daily limit.
Taking double the daily limit of red drum brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. The men may also face revocation of any and all fishing licenses for the period for which they were issued. The men may also be prohibited from obtaining any new fishing license for one to three years.
The men will also be assessed civil restitution in the amount of $661 for the replacement value of the red drum.