K9 Finn Sniffs Out Oversized Striped Bass At Local NY Fishing Spot

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) K9 Finn helps to solve 2 cases of anglers trying to get away with illegal amounts bass all in one night.

On Thursday April 16th, according to a DEC press release, Environmental Conservation Officers (ECO) Franz and Pabes responded to reports of anglers keeping over their legal limit of striped bass at Hempstead Harbor on Long Island.

Get our free mobile app

This investigation was taking place after sunset so the Officers called in ECO DeRose and K9 Finn to assist with the investigation. ECOs Franz and Pabes checked the large group of anglers while Officer DeRose and K9 Finn searched the thickly wooded area near their fishing location.

K9 Finn detected an oversized striped bass hidden nearby and alerted ECO DeRose. An angler in the group admitted to catching the oversized striped bass and received a ticket. The legal size limit for recreational striped bass in Nassau County is 28 to 31 inches.

The ECOs escorted the group back to a nearby parking lot and were preparing to leave the area when they observed a black pickup truck parked strangely off to the side in the lot, almost hidden.

Read more; New York Woman Caught With Illegal Pet Spider Monkey

They investigated and discovered the driver of the pickup truck was the same individual ticketed for the oversized fish found hidden in the woods. The subject was in possession of four striped bass, which is over the daily limit of one fish per person. ECOs issued a second ticket to the angler for possessing more than the daily limit of striped bass.