July 14, 2005

Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division cited five people for violating red snapper regulations and possessing red drum in federal waters on July 19.
Agents cited Tuyen V. Nguyen, 35, and Danny T.Nguyen, 37, both of New Orleans; and Quang T. Bui, 30, of Avondale, Alex Cuong Nguyen, 31, of Harvey, and Ho Van Le, 34, of Houma for allegedly possessing more than the recreational limit of red snapper, having undersized red snapper and possessing red drum in the prohibited Federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Agents inspected the five people while they were recreationally fishing near an oil platform and found them in possession of 47 red snapper, of which 39 were under the minimum length of 16 inches. They also had six red drum over 27 inches in length, of which only one red drum in a legal daily limit of five may exceed 27 inches in length. The possession limit for red snapper is four per person.

The maximum penalties for possessing more than the legal limit of red snapper and possessing undersized red snapper are fines of $350, or jail time for 60 days, or both plus court costs. The maximum penalty for possessing red drum in the EEZ is a fine of $950, or jail time for 120 days, or both plus court costs. All five people will be assessed civil restitution for the replacement value of the red drum. All of the fish were seized and donated to local charities.

The citations were made while agents were patrolling offshore Louisiana waters in the Federal EEZ under a Joint Enforcement Agreement in cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents Adam Young and Jason Gernados.

For more information, contact Lt. Col. Keith Lacaze at 225-765-2987 or klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov.