Ragas accused of allegedly catching and keeping undersized redfish
Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries arrested a Port Sulphur man for alleged recreational fishing violations on Sunday in Plaquemines Parish, according to a press release.
Jonathan K. Ragas, 54, was cited for intentional concealment of fish and taking undersized red drum and was booked into the Plaquemines Parish Jail, the release states.
When agents approached Ragas near Azalea Drive, he allegedly picked up a 5-gallon bucket containing an unknown amount of redfish and threw them into the water. The agents grabbed the bucket and found it still contained two reds under the legal limit of 16 inches, according to the release.
Agents also found that Ragas is currently on five years of probation after he pleaded guilty in 2014 to his sixth count of harvesting oysters from a polluted area and public intimidation of an LDWF agent, the release states.
Intentional concealment of fish carries a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Taking undersized red drum brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Ragas may also be assessed civil restitution charges totaling $52.94 for the replacement value of the two red drum, according to the release.
