Fisherman Charged After K-9 Sniffs Out Illegal Striped Bass Hidden In Stratford: Police

STRATFORD, CT — A fisherman was charged after a K-9 found several illegal striped bass hidden along the Housatonic River in Stratford, according to the Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police.

An EnCon Police officer was conducting surveillance on an angler fishing the Housatonic River in Stratford on April 15, according to officials.

Officials said the officer saw the “catch, retain, and conceal two striped bass that were clearly below legal length.”

“The fish were hidden in a large area of thick marsh reeds, making their exact location unknown,” officials wrote in a post on Facebook.

The officer requested the assistance of K-9 Scup, an Environmental Conservation Police fish and wildlife detection K-9 trained to locate multiple species — including striped bass, according to officials.

“K9 Scup was deployed in the area where the angler was last seen with the fish,” officials wrote. “She alerted to a large, downed tree in the marsh. Upon investigation, her handler located 6 striped bass buried beneath the tree, partially submerged in marsh mud and covered in reeds. The fish measured approximately 20", 21", 21", 22", 22", and 22.5" — well below the legal slot length of 28" to 31".”

The angler was charged with multiple striped bass violations, according to officials.

“The fish were seized and donated to a local non-profit wildlife rehabilitator to be used as food for injured and sick birds of prey in their care,” officials wrote.