Family Caught Camping On Southold Beach, Keeping Undersized Fish: DEC

SOUTHOLD, NY — An off-duty New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer caught a family camping on a Southold beach and keeping everything they caught, including undersized illegal scup, or porgy, the DEC said.

According to the DEC, on Aug. 12, ECO Tom Gadomski observed illegal fishing activity on a Southold beach overlooking the Long Island Sound.

ECO Jeremy Eastwood was called and responded to find a large cooler full of fish; of the 125 fish he measured, 78 were undersized, the DEC said.

The individuals were issued tickets for the violation returnable to the Southold Town Justice Court.

"From Montauk Point to Mount Marcy, from Brooklyn to Buffalo, the ECOs patrolling our state are the first line of defense in protecting New York's environment and our natural resources, ensuring that they exist for future generations of New Yorkers," said NYS DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "They work long and arduous hours, both deep in our remote wildernesses and in the tight confines of our urban landscapes. Although they don't receive much public fanfare, the work of our ECOs is critical to achieving DEC's mission to protect and enhance our environment."

Patch courtesy photo.