Louisiana Department Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited four people for alleged recreational shrimping violations on May 21 in Terrebonne Parish.
Agents cited Tony Bella, 28, of Bourg, Percy Michel, 28, of Thibodaux, Necole Hello, 32, of Thibodaux, and Courtney Boquet, 26, of Bourg, for possessing over the legal limit of shrimp and intentional concealment of fish.
After receiving complaints about potential over the limit of shrimping taking place in the Robinson Canal area, agents found the four subjects catching over their limit and removing the catch from the fishing grounds to a nearby residence.
Agents obtained information that Bella and Michel were casting netting for shrimp at Robinson Canal in lower Terrebonne Parish. The agents also discovered that Hello and Boquet would remove shrimp from the fishing area for Bella and Michel and bring the shrimp to a nearby residence so they would not have over their allotted limit.
Agents made contact with the female subjects at the residence in Montegut and found they had 328 pounds of shrimp. Agents with the assistance of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) were able to stop Bella and Michel from cast netting at Robinson Canal.
The recreational limit for shrimp on May 21 was 50 pounds a day per vessel or vehicle.
Agents seized the shrimp and sold them for market value. Possession of recreational over the limit of shrimp brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Intentional concealment of fish carries a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.
Agents participating in the case are Senior Agent Dean Aucoin and Thomas Wolf along with the assistance from the TPSO.