Is This the Worst Place a New York Poacher Has Hidden Fish?

Taking a fish illegally is one thing... getting away with it is an entirely different matter.

Striped bass season in New York state began back on April 15th, but some anglers didn't want to let something like environmental protection laws to get in the way of their fun, and decided to cast their lines early... too bad they couldn't think of a better place to hide their illegal catches.

Over several days in April, ECOs in Long Island, NY confiscated nearly 30 striped bass that were taken before the season began (NYSDEC)

Striped Bass Poaching in New York State

Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) have recently busted some very creative law-breakers. In April, Long Island was the epicenter for several poaching cases that all revolved around one type of fish.

A special K9 was used by ECOs to help find fish hidden by alleged poachers in Long Island, NY (NYSDEC)

Illegal Fishing on Long Island, NY

On three separate nights in April, ECOs in Nassau and Suffolk counties in Long Island, NY observed what they believed to be illegal fishing. In one case, it took the assistance of a scent-detecting K9 to help find multiple striped bass that were hidden in brush piles and buried on the sandy beach (above). That effort pales in comparison, however, to what happened the very next night.

Striped Bass Hidden in Traffic Cones in Bayville, NY

"On April 7, ECO Pabes responded to a report of three anglers keeping out-of-season striped bass from atop the Bayville Bridge in Bayville", began a report from the NYSDEC. With no sandy holes to dig or brush piles to rearrange, the anglers allegedly hid their catch with the only materials available to them: traffic cones.

An ECO in Bayville, NY found striped bass hidden in traffic cones on the Bayville Bridge in Long Island, NY (NYSDEC)

Striped Bass Confiscated by ECOs in Long Island, NY

In all, seven striped bass were recovered from traffic cones on the Bayville Bridge. A total of ten people were ticketed for taking fish out of season... but what happens to the fish after they're confiscated by ECOs? The answer ranges from obvious to awesome.

New York zoos and wildlife sanctuaries are often the beneficiary of illegally-harvested animals that have been confiscated by the NYSDEC (NYSDEC)

What Happens to Confiscated Fish in New York State?

In instances where the fish are still alive, like the recent case of the flopping bag in Queens, NY, the finned-fellas are returned to the water. When that option isn't possible, officers often donate the confiscated catches to organizations ranging from food pantries to zoos and animal sanctuaries (above).

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ECOs are hard at work every day ensuring that environmental laws are followed and New York's animals are protected. From scheming poachers that go to nearly any length to skirt state laws to supermarkets selling illegal food, there's unfortunately no shortage of work. Check out how the NYSDEC helps New York humans below.