Crime & Safety

$700 Fine For Fisherman Caught With Fillets In Middletown, More Charges Coming: Cops

They denied having any fish aboard, police said

MIDDLETOWN, RI — Fishermen caught with 140 fillets were fined $700 and additional charges are "forthcoming," police said.

Patrolling officers made contact with the fisherman as they returned to shore in Middletown Sunday, the Rhode Island Environmental Police Officers Association said in a social media post.

"The operator of the vessel initially denied having any fish on board," the post said, but a "subsequent check" turned up 140 fillets, "90 of which were suspected to be black sea bass and 50 of which were suspected to be tautog."

Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The fishermen were fined $700 "for boating safety violations" and additional charges "for the fisheries violations are forthcoming, according to the post.

See also:

Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.