Jefferson Parish men had more than four times the legal number of red drum in boat, LDWF says.
Three Jefferson Parish men were cited Friday (Sept. 21) for allegedly keeping more than four times their legal four-man limit of redfish during a Lafitte fishing trip, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries said.
The three men were cited with possessing 62 redfish, the LDWF said.LDWF agents cited 57-year-old Rickie Thomas of Westwego, 56-year-old Leon Firven of Avondale and 80-year-old Willie Langford of Avondale for taking or possessing over the limit of red drum and possessing undersized red drum, the agency said.
Additionally Firven was cited for fishing without basic and saltwater fishing licenses, the LDWF reported.
The citations came after agents received a complaint about people catching over the limit of red drum in The Pen just east of Lafitte, the LDWF said.
The agents stopped the men in their vessel as they were leaving the area and allegedly found them in possession of 62 red drum, with some of those fish being undersized.
Regulations allow each angler to possess five redfish per day, with a 16 inch minimum length. Only one red drum in a man’s limit may be over 27 inches long.
Due to the men being 47 red drum over the legal limit, taking or possessing over the limit red drum is elevated to a Class Four violation that carries a penalty of $400 to $950 in fines and up to 120 days in jail or both plus court cost and revocation of fishing licenses.
Taking or possessing undersized red drum carries a penalty of $100 to $350 in fines and up to 60 days in jail or both plus court costs. Angling without a basic license and saltwater license both bring penalties of $50 in fines and up to 15 days in jail or both plus court costs.
In addition to the fines, the men will be charged a civil restitution for the value of the illegally taken fish in the amount of $1,315.60, the LDWF said.
