Two men were found guilty for strike net violations in the 25th Judicial District Court in Plaquemines Parish on Aug. 8.
The Honorable Judge Kevin Conner sentenced Clayton M. Buras, 37, of Franklinton, and Joseph Neal, 39, of Boothville to each pay a $900 fine and court costs for taking mullet with a strike net during illegal hours.
The men were also ordered to forfeit their strike net and the $1,044 in mullet that were sold in connection to the case to the state. Both men also lost their mullet strike net privileges for 2019 and 2020.
The guilty verdict stems from when Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents found Buras and Neal on Dec. 4, 2017 using a strike net to harvest mullet during illegal hours on the Pass A Loutre Wildlife Management Area.
LDWF enforcement agents and fisheries biologists testified during the court case. Assistant District Attorney Jerry Lobrano prosecuted the case for the state.