Galveston County, TX – Texas Game Wardens documented approximately 160 violations after an early-morning investigation into suspicious fishing activity at the Texas City Dike earlier this month.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, game wardens responded after receiving a report from a concerned citizen. Wardens hiked more than a mile and conducted surveillance from a concealed position, where they observed three individuals deploying and tending multiple nets and repeatedly placing aquatic resources into a cooler.
After the individuals removed several large nets from the water and returned to their vehicle, game wardens made contact.
Authorities reported finding:
• Four gill nets totaling more than 700 feet in length
• One oversized cast net
• 137 saltwater fish of various species
• Three stone crabs
• One sponge crab
Two of the three individuals also did not have valid fishing licenses.
Approximately 160 violations were documented, resulting in multiple citations and warnings. The nets and edible aquatic resources were seized.
Texas Parks and Wildlife notes that gill nets are illegal in Texas public waters because they indiscriminately kill marine life. Cast nets may only be used to take nongame fish and cannot exceed 14 feet in diameter. In saltwater, nongame fish taken with a cast net may only be used as bait.
How to Report a Violation
Anyone who witnesses a fishing, wildlife or boating violation in progress may anonymously contact Operation Game Thief:
Text “TXOGT” and the tip to 847411
1-800-792-GAME (4263)
Texas OGT app for iOS and Android
Rewards of up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to convictions.
