The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police has seized 213 illegally harvest striped bass. 24 people have been charged after surveillance in Dorchester and Talbot counties. Heavy surveillance continues in other locations known for poaching activity.
Bust No. 1
Late Saturday night, 26 stripers were found in a vehicle with five individuals inside. Those individuals were Raul Antonio Bueco Berganza, Esvin Leonel Najera Bueco, Hector Samuel Martenez Carpio, Edinson Leonel Bueco Luch and Ferdy Misael Bueco Luch. They are scheduled to appear in court on July 19 and will face fines up to $1,500 for each charge.
Bust No. 2
After midnight early Sunday morning, officers discovered 83 stripers in a single vehicle. The individuals in the vehicle were Luis Galeano Baquedano, Julio Mauricio Baquedano Moran, Samuel Nolasco Pacheco and Javier Reyes. All men were charged with possessing undersized striped bass, possessing fish over the limit, possessing striped bass in a prohibited area and possessing striped bass outside of the legal time. They are scheduled to appear in court on July 19 and will face fines up to $1,500 for each charge.
Bust No. 3
Another vehicle was stopped shortly after with 12 striped bass. Hermilo Sanchez Bentra, Natividad Interiano Gladamez and Ivan Alexis Interiano Gladamez were charged with three violations per person. All individuals are scheduled to appear in court on July 19 and will face fines up to $1,500 for each charge.
Bust No. 4
Early Monday morning, officers stopped another vehicle with a cooler full of stripers. As the vehicle was pulling over, the officer reportedly witnessed a passenger throwing striped bass out of the window. Angie Campos Avila and Manuel Barahona Cruz where charged with three violations per person. All individuals are scheduled to appear in court on July 19 and will face fines up to $1,500 for each charge.
Bust No. 5
Shortly after the fifth bust, another vehicle was stopped. Moises DeJesus Majano Canales and Maria Yohana Barahona Cruz received illegal fishing citations. Both individuals are scheduled to appear in court on July 19 and will face fines up to $1,500 for each charge.
Bust No. 6
62 striped bass were also found between five individuals. Daniel Escobar Alvarado, John Bradak Medrano Canales, Genesis Ivania Cuellar, Ana Cuellar Jimenez and Jose Roberto Medrano were leaving the bridge at the same time and all received citations. All individuals are scheduled to appear in court on July 19 and will face fines up to $1,500 for each charge.
Bust No. 7
Police charged Fernando Geov Vasquez Bautista with possessing six undersized stripers, catching striped bass in a designated spawning river and possessing striped bass outside of legal hours. He is scheduled to appeat in court on June 19th and faces a $1,500 fine for each charge.
You can read the 2017 Maryland regulations here.
