Fishing Forum

Two Anglers Facing Charges Accused Of Taking Too Many Stripers
December 5, 2005
Associated Press Two Connecticut men who environmental authorities say caught more than the legal limit of striped bass and then tried to sell them were arrested Sunday on a variety of charges.

John Zacks, 78, of East Haven, and Benjamin Rapuano, 51, of New Haven, were charged with conspiracy to sell striped bass, 29 counts of possession of striped bass over the limit, commercial fishing without a license and other charges.

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The arrest capped an investigation that began Aug. 16, when Zacks, Rapuano and an unidentified third person allegedly caught more than 800 pounds of striped bass off the coast of Clinton and transported the fish to a seafood dealer in New Bedford, Mass.

Massachusetts officers arrested Zacks and Rapuano at the seafood dealer.

Both men surrendered Sunday to DEP conservation officers at the state police barracks in Westbrook. They were released on promises to appear in court on Dec. 20.

The DEP said an arrest warrant is pending for a third person.
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well I dont know what theise guys situation is, but it is safe to say that with our progress we have put limits on our fredoms.

any other third world country what they did would not be a crime. but here we need to protect our fisheries, I would have a hard time pressing charges if he were taking them home to feed his family, but selling them is a bit much, Not that it is imoral I understand the strain on todays workforce placed on laborers across the nation by stock holders demanding higher profits whom have pushed for golbalization.

I wish them the best, I am sure they will loose their regular fishing license and pay a fine. we will have to come up with better incentives to keep jobs in the US, make it profitable and desierable to make and do business.

I do go out to fish a couple extra days a year to put fish on the table of those I know who could use them and dont buy fish, but I do it with out pay, or retobution of any kind other than the thanks and the fealing that I have done a good thing. I even do it with out going over my limits.

I am a big fan of the sportsman against hunger program.
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Thirty years ago I caught my first striper and it was a rare thing to do back then. There were just too few of them. It's the slot limits and creel limit that have brought these fish back so they are more abundant than I can ever remember. If a man is down in out and needs to feed his family and he kept them for his table, we probably wouldn't read about this. But he did drive 2 hrs to sell them. [He lives in my town] So I think he was only in it for the money. That I can't excuse.
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