June 9, 2014 — A commercial fishing boat captain caught illegally spearfishing east of Little Gull Island last summer pleaded down to a misdemeanor charge recently, while agreeing to pay $15,000 in fines after spearing over 900 pounds of bass, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Environmental Conservation Officers were patrolling the waters from Shinnecock to Fishers Island last August when they spotted three divers with spear guns boarding a boat at Valiant Rock. Officials said Captain Christopher Miller’s vessel Sea Spearit had both tagged and untagged striped bass in coolers.
DEC officers seized the fish and found the group had illegally speared over $4,600 worth of fish.
Mr. Miller — originally charged with a felony for taking over $1,500 worth of fish illegally — pleaded guilty to illegal commercialization of fish, shellfish, crustaceans and wildlife, a misdemeanor. In addition to paying a fine, he has to complete 210 hours of community service in lieu of 45 days of incarceration.
Three others caught fishing were charged, two of whom have already pleaded guilty.
Erik Oberg of Montauk and Mica Marder of East Hampton both copped to violations of the Environmental Conservation Law for illegal commercialization of fish.
Read the full story at the Suffolk Times