Busted in NY waters

Andy · 06-30-2007, 06:17 AM

CT Party Boat Middlebank Busted In NY Waters with Short Fluke
DEC ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION RESULTS OF PARTY BOAT INSPECTION DETAIL

Connecticut Party Boat Caught Concealing Undersized Fluke in New York State Waters

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the results of an enforcement detail led by several Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) at approximately 11 a.m. on June 9th 2007. The investigation was organized in response to numerous complaints regarding Connecticut party boats allegedly taking undersized fluke in the Long Island Sound.

Lt. Dallas Bengel* accompanied by ECOs Chrisman Starczek and Matthew Blaising* boarded the Connecticut party boat MIDDLEBANK II* Captained by Timothy Griffin* by Buoy 10 on the Long Island Sound between the towns of Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson. ECOs inspected ship personnel for proper permits and checked coolers for fish size; all permits were present and fish within regulation size. Captain Griffin was asked if any other fish were on the boat and ECOs received a negative response.

ECOs requested to inspect the bait station and* following a quick search* found eight hidden undersized fluke. Every fluke was over 18" long* compliant with Connecticut regulations* but under 19.5"* below New York fishing regulations. If the party boat was able to return to Connecticut waters uninspected* no charges could be filed due to the shorter size regulations of Connecticut although the fish were caught in New York waters. The boat was boarded approximately two nautical miles off of Sound Harbor* approximately four nautical miles away from Connecticut waters.

The party boat was charged with possession of undersized fluke* and due to the its commercial status* can be charged up to $500 per undersized fish.

The party is to appear on July 23 in Suffolk County First District Court in Islip to face the charges. Individuals spotting illegal activities are encouraged to call DEC’s Environmental Conservation Officers at (631) 444-0250 during business hours* and 1-877-457-5680 at all other times to report suspected illegal activities.

For more information onfishing permits and regulations* please visit the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/regulations.htm

Bob & Mag · 06-30-2007, 07:34 AM

Andy, Thanks for posting this article.

Bryan A. · 06-30-2007, 08:59 AM

I'm not condoning taking small fish but this just emphasizes the case for regional limits instead of state limits. You are talking arbitrary lines drawn on a map that have nothing to do with where these fish live. Granted he should have been paying attention to NY limits then go back over and finish the day in CT but something needs to change. I can see both sides of the story and have sympathy for each, it started with the bad science that determined the regs.

Bob & Mag · 06-30-2007, 10:04 AM

Bryan,
When I attended the DEP meeting on fluke and regs, the consensus was not to have a regional set of regs this season. Mainly due to CT being able to maintain an 18" size limit as opposed to 19 1/2" in NY. Eventually I believe you're going to see a regional/multi-state limit. Examples were shown of what the limits would have been this year for 3 state combination(regional) limits. We made out much better without the regional this go round.
I've always thought of LIS as a region unto itself and think limits on one side should not differ from anywhere else in the sound.
This year I think we would have been paying for NY flukers sins and glad they didn't go for it.
A reverse example of this stuff is fall blackfishing when the NY boats are over here and they have a 10 fish vs. 4 fish limit....wonder how many leave CT with four fish?

Bryan A. · 06-30-2007, 11:14 AM

I agree with you Bob, we did make out better in that respect but NY is "paying" for a mistake that was made in the original goal of an arbitray bill that was set to numbers that may or may not have existed. One year of a few date changes or size limits only makes sense on sombodies desk when crunching numbers. The problem is those numbers are not necessarily correct. The system needs to be fixed and has to look at the big picture which includes the recreational and commercial aspects of the fishery as well as the regional economic impacts.

Quote:

A reverse example of this stuff is fall blackfishing when the NY boats are over here and they have a 10 fish vs. 4 fish limit....wonder how many leave CT with four fish?

Again another argument for a change in policy.

Good discussion. What do the rest of you fish mounters think?

Bob & Mag · 06-30-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

The system needs to be fixed and has to look at the big picture which includes the recreational and commercial aspects of the fishery as well as the regional economic impacts.

Agree completely. Arbitrary counts/quotas based on non-factual numbers.

fishon99 · 07-06-2007, 07:24 AM

This is a tough topic. In this particular case the fact that the fish were hidden and the captain told the officer (according to the report) no other fish were on board there seems to be deliberate deception. I believe last year or the year before there was a NY Head boat was arrested for having to many blackfish in CT waters. So it is happening. I think the non-reciprocity of laws affects the Comm and charter fleets alot more than the rec guys. Yeah we may be out there trying to fill our freezers but to the comm guys this is thier lively hood, they need to put thier fares onto fish.

Another question should laws be common for just LIS? I mean now you run into another problem fishing on the south side of LI. Should Regs be the same for the southside as in LIS? If not you are going to draw another one of these lines in the water, now a head boat fishing out of Montauk needs to live by to sets of regs depending on if he is fishing the southside or Northside.

Can you imagine the uproar if NY tried to lower their Tog creel limit to 4 fish from 10, or CT made Fluke 19.5 inches. I think having common laws is a great thing but we as fisherman (on both sides of the puddle)would really need to understand that it will be give and take. I mean it would be great to have one set of regs to follow instead of 2 or 3 or 4, much more cut and dry.

I will also say that there has been some movement towards this already. For Comm. Striped bass the state of CT has changed the law to allow a person holding a NY LISC to land fish in CT as long as they follow the NY laws for size etc. Which means a guy can show up on a CT dock with 20 striped bass and be leagal. This was only changed a couple of years ago.

Capt Neil Faulkner · 07-11-2007, 10:53 PM

Hi Guys,

Remember "STATES RIGHTS"!!! Each State does not want to be told what to do by other States.

There is so much wrong with all these plans that I think it will NEVER be set right. I am more worried by the types of groups trying to affect how these plans/regs are formulated and written. They have so much money at their disposal that we can never compete with them.

The best way to retaliate to a pb or charter boat is to not patronize them. Hit them in the pocket book. Give your hard earned money to a boat/crew that operates the way you would.

Capt Neil

06-30-2007, 06:17 AM	#1
Andy User Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 866	Busted in NY waters CT Party Boat Middlebank Busted In NY Waters with Short Fluke DEC ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION RESULTS OF PARTY BOAT INSPECTION DETAIL Connecticut Party Boat Caught Concealing Undersized Fluke in New York State Waters The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the results of an enforcement detail led by several Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) at approximately 11 a.m. on June 9th 2007. The investigation was organized in response to numerous complaints regarding Connecticut party boats allegedly taking undersized fluke in the Long Island Sound. Lt. Dallas Bengel* accompanied by ECOs Chrisman Starczek and Matthew Blaising* boarded the Connecticut party boat MIDDLEBANK II* Captained by Timothy Griffin* by Buoy 10 on the Long Island Sound between the towns of Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson. ECOs inspected ship personnel for proper permits and checked coolers for fish size; all permits were present and fish within regulation size. Captain Griffin was asked if any other fish were on the boat and ECOs received a negative response. ECOs requested to inspect the bait station and* following a quick search* found eight hidden undersized fluke. Every fluke was over 18" long* compliant with Connecticut regulations* but under 19.5"* below New York fishing regulations. If the party boat was able to return to Connecticut waters uninspected* no charges could be filed due to the shorter size regulations of Connecticut although the fish were caught in New York waters. The boat was boarded approximately two nautical miles off of Sound Harbor* approximately four nautical miles away from Connecticut waters. The party boat was charged with possession of undersized fluke* and due to the its commercial status* can be charged up to $500 per undersized fish. The party is to appear on July 23 in Suffolk County First District Court in Islip to face the charges. Individuals spotting illegal activities are encouraged to call DEC’s Environmental Conservation Officers at (631) 444-0250 during business hours* and 1-877-457-5680 at all other times to report suspected illegal activities. For more information onfishing permits and regulations* please visit the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/regulations.htm __________________ http://cthuntingnshooting.com/

06-30-2007, 07:34 AM	#2
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,679	Andy, Thanks for posting this article. __________________ Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. Smoke free 4 Months!

06-30-2007, 08:59 AM	#3
Bryan A. NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westbrook CT Posts: 1,269	I'm not condoning taking small fish but this just emphasizes the case for regional limits instead of state limits. You are talking arbitrary lines drawn on a map that have nothing to do with where these fish live. Granted he should have been paying attention to NY limits then go back over and finish the day in CT but something needs to change. I can see both sides of the story and have sympathy for each, it started with the bad science that determined the regs. __________________ And the sea will grant each man new hope..............Christopher Columbus 2003 Parker 2530 "DORYMATE".......click the pic 1973 Seacraft 20SF 1970 Glastron V153 70hp EvinrudeFOR SALE

06-30-2007, 10:04 AM	#4
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,679	Bryan, When I attended the DEP meeting on fluke and regs, the consensus was not to have a regional set of regs this season. Mainly due to CT being able to maintain an 18" size limit as opposed to 19 1/2" in NY. Eventually I believe you're going to see a regional/multi-state limit. Examples were shown of what the limits would have been this year for 3 state combination(regional) limits. We made out much better without the regional this go round. I've always thought of LIS as a region unto itself and think limits on one side should not differ from anywhere else in the sound. This year I think we would have been paying for NY flukers sins and glad they didn't go for it. A reverse example of this stuff is fall blackfishing when the NY boats are over here and they have a 10 fish vs. 4 fish limit....wonder how many leave CT with four fish? __________________ Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. Smoke free 4 Months!

07-11-2007, 10:53 PM	#8
Capt Neil Faulkner NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sayville, NY 11782 Posts: 200	Hi Guys, Remember "STATES RIGHTS"!!! Each State does not want to be told what to do by other States. There is so much wrong with all these plans that I think it will NEVER be set right. I am more worried by the types of groups trying to affect how these plans/regs are formulated and written. They have so much money at their disposal that we can never compete with them. The best way to retaliate to a pb or charter boat is to not patronize them. Hit them in the pocket book. Give your hard earned money to a boat/crew that operates the way you would. Capt Neil __________________ Custom Fishing Rods by Capt Neil Home of The Long Islander Series of rods Sayville, Long Island, New York (631) 567-8049

07-06-2007, 07:24 AM	#7
fishon99 NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 114	This is a tough topic. In this particular case the fact that the fish were hidden and the captain told the officer (according to the report) no other fish were on board there seems to be deliberate deception. I believe last year or the year before there was a NY Head boat was arrested for having to many blackfish in CT waters. So it is happening. I think the non-reciprocity of laws affects the Comm and charter fleets alot more than the rec guys. Yeah we may be out there trying to fill our freezers but to the comm guys this is thier lively hood, they need to put thier fares onto fish. Another question should laws be common for just LIS? I mean now you run into another problem fishing on the south side of LI. Should Regs be the same for the southside as in LIS? If not you are going to draw another one of these lines in the water, now a head boat fishing out of Montauk needs to live by to sets of regs depending on if he is fishing the southside or Northside. Can you imagine the uproar if NY tried to lower their Tog creel limit to 4 fish from 10, or CT made Fluke 19.5 inches. I think having common laws is a great thing but we as fisherman (on both sides of the puddle)would really need to understand that it will be give and take. I mean it would be great to have one set of regs to follow instead of 2 or 3 or 4, much more cut and dry. I will also say that there has been some movement towards this already. For Comm. Striped bass the state of CT has changed the law to allow a person holding a NY LISC to land fish in CT as long as they follow the NY laws for size etc. Which means a guy can show up on a CT dock with 20 striped bass and be leagal. This was only changed a couple of years ago.

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