Mel Guidry, 37, of Montegut, turned himself into Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Offices on outstanding warrants for using butterfly nets during a closed season; taking commercial fish without a commercial license, commercial gear license and commercial vessel license; failing to tag butterfly nets while unattended; improper running lights; misrepresentation during issuance of a misdemeanor; flight from an officer; and failing to complete trip tickets by a fishermen.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents responded to a complaint of a subject using a butterfly net during the closed shrimp season in Lafourche Parish on July 20. Agents observed Guidry around 8:30 p.m. that night place the net in the water to catch shrimp and leave the net unattended. At approximately 11:30 p.m. agents observed Guidry approach the net with improper running lights and begin removing the net from the water.
Agents made contact with Guidry whom subsequently gave the agents a false name. Guidry then jumped from the agents patrol vessel into the marsh and swam away. The agents then seized the net and vessel that Guidry was using with approximately 30 pounds of shrimp. During the investigation agents learned that Guidry was not licensed to fish the net and the net was not properly tagged to be left unattended.
Agents also learned that Guidry was selling his catch to Point Aux Chene Kayak Rentals in Terrebonne Parish owned by Lisa Mullen, 56, of Montegut. Agents further found that Mullen was not keeping records of the catch and not reporting the proper paperwork to LDWF. Mullen admitted to buying shrimp from Guidry to sell to her customers as bait shrimp. Agents cited Mullen for buying commercial fish from an unlicensed fisherman, failing to maintain records and failing to report monthly fish data.
Guidry already had two outstanding warrants in Terrebonne Parish for failure to pay child support. Agents contacted the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO) and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) and made them aware of Guidry's additional warrants.
On July 25, the LPSO made contact with Guidry and once again he fled and escaped. On July 27, Guidry contacted the LPSO and a patrol unit picked him up and booked him into the Lafourche Parish Jail for his outstanding warrants.
Using butterfly nets in a closed season carries up to a $950 fine and 120 days in jail plus forfeiture of anything seized. In addition for the first conviction of shrimping during the closed season, the court may revoke or suspend the violator's trawl, skimmer, or butterfly gear licenses for one year from the date of the conviction. During such revocation or suspension, the violator may be present on a vessel harvesting or possessing shrimp or possessing a trawl, skimmer, or butterfly net only if the vessel is equipped with and employs an operating vessel monitoring system which is accessible to LDWF. The violator may also have to perform 40 hours of community service.
Taking commercial fish without a commercial license, gear license and vessel license each brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Failing to tag nets left unattended and failing to complete trip tickets each carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Improper running lights brings up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail.
Flight from an officer brings a $150 to $500 fine and up to six months in jail. Misrepresentation during the issuance of a misdemeanor carries up to a $500 fine and six months in jail.
Buying commercial fish from an unlicensed fisherman brings a $350 to $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Failing to report monthly fish data and maintain records each carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
LDWF agents involved in the case are Lt. Joseph Arnaud, Sgt. Richard Purvis, Sgt. Bryan Marie, Corporal Dean Aucoin and Senior Agent Michael Williams.