Three non-resident anglers were recently fined $1,300 each for taking more than their legal limit of perch from Lake Winnibigoshish.
The anglers, David S. Lape, 54, of Van Wert, Ohio, Dennis J. Lape, 48, and Julie A. Kleinknight, 47, both of East Lake, Mich., were caught with 249 perch in their possession on March 5. That is 129 perch over their legal limit. Perch possession limit is 20 daily and 40 in possession.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Larry Francis, Remer, received a call March 4 that two men and a woman were overheard at a resort bragging about the fish they had caught in the northeastern Minnesota lake.
The next day, Francis and Conservation Officer Gary Sommers, Walker, stopped the suspects’ vehicle after it left the resort. The bed of the truck contained 26 bags with 249 perch.
“After doing the math,” Dennis Lape stated to Francis, “we must have miscounted.”
Each person received a citation for being 43 perch over the limit and had their licenses seized under the state’s gross over limits law. Each citation carries of a fine amount of $960 and a restitution amount of $430 for a total penalty of $1,390 per violator. Upon conviction, the individuals also face a three-year revocation of their fishing privileges.
“This is another example of how the Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline and concerned Minnesota sportsmen and women can assist state conservation officers in protecting our natural resources,” Sommers said.
Established in 1981, the TIP program allows Minnesotans to call a toll-free number from anywhere in the state to report natural resource violations. Calls regarding violations can be placed anonymously at 1-800-652-9093, cash rewards are given for tips.
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