Police Net 4 Cape Cod Fishermen For 'Illegal' Catch

BOURNE, MA — Four Cape Cod fishermen netted themselves a boatload of trouble Sunday after police said they caught dozens of protected fish then tried to avoid detection by dumping them behind some bushes. The incident happened in Bourne Sunday afternoon at Taylor Point Marina, according to Massachusetts Environmental Police. Police said the men caught undersize black sea bass and scup.

An environmental police officer on patrol noticed the men in a truck and approached them, authorities said. (Sign up for free daily newsletters and breaking news alerts from Massachusetts Patch sites.)

"The Officer observed one of the four males on the vessel run up a hill towards the rail road tracks with a white bucket," Massachusetts Environmental Police said in a statement. "The male then dumped a quantity of fish behind some bushes. The Officer approached the male with the bucket and observed six small Black Sea Bass on the ground. The Officer placed the male party in handcuffs and recovered the fish."

Police said they found 23 black sea bass and five scup, all under the legal size limits. Black sea bass fishing season on Cape Cod ended August 29; that type of caught fish must measure at least 15 inches during the season. Scup fishing season is in progress; that type of caught fish must measure at least 10 inches.

The identities of the four men were not released. They were charged with:

• Failure to display catch upon demand
• Possession of 23 black sea bass out of season
• Possession of 23 black sea bass under the legal size
• Possession of five scup under the legal size

The men's boat, truck, trailer and fishing gear were impounded.

"Due to the storage, handling, and size of the seized catch, it was deemed not viable for human consumption and was returned to the sea," police said.

Lead photo: A Massachusetts Environmental police Officer arrests four fishermen for an alleged illegal catch in Bourne September 24, 2017. (Credit: Massachusetts Environmental Police)