Big shoutout to all the awesome anglers and law enforcement who teamed up for an epic bust!
According to a press release by NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief, Lately, the Striped Bass action has been off the charts thanks to all the bait fish. Yesterday, around 3 pm, NH Fish and Game started getting flooded with tips about a boat from Massachusetts catching and keeping oversized Striped Bass near New Castle and Rye. Despite being warned, the boat took off when people shouted they were calling NH Fish and Game.
The chase was on! Officers, along with Maine Marine Patrol, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and local cops, spread the word to be on the lookout. Portsmouth PD found the guy trying to ditch 14 oversized Stripers (37-47 inches) after loading his boat on a trailer. NH only allows one Striped Bass per day between 28 and 31 inches. Busted! He admitted he planned to sell them in Massachusetts.
Kudos to everyone who reported the poacher and to the law enforcement crew who jumped into action.