The N.C. Marine Patrol arrested two fishermen after they were found with more than 16 times the legal possession limit of red drum.
Marine Patrol Sgt. Garland Yopp and Adam Carter found the catch when they stopped a truck towing a boat in the 7000 block of Market Street in Wilmington on Monday afternoon, according to Patricia Smith, spokeswoman for the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.
“When the Marine Patrol officers inspected the contents of the truck, they found 113 red drum weighing 657 pounds, including 14 fish that were greater than the legal size limit and weighed 106 pounds,” Smith said. “They also found 100 pounds of striped mullet, 101 pounds of spotted sea trout, 6 pounds of black drum and 2 pounds of flounder.”
Officers also seized fishing equipment, including the boat and trailer, Smith said.
Commercial fishermen are not allowed to target red drum in North Carolina, but are allowed to retain seven red drum caught incidentally when targeting other species as long as the weight of the striped mullet, bluefish or black drum on board exceeds the weight of the red drum, Smith said.
The legal size limit for red drum is a minimum of 18 inches and the maximum of 27 inches, she added.
The officers seized the catch and sold the legal-sized red drum, the striped mullet, spotted sea trout, black drum and flounder to Atlantic Seafood for just under $1,480, which was the highest of three bids, Smith said. The money will be held, pending a court decision in the case.
The 106 pounds of oversized red drum was donated to the First Fruits Ministries in Wilmington, Smith said.
Officers charged commercial fisherman Jason Scott Sadler, 38, of Stumpy Point, with possession of more than the commercial limit of red drum, possession of oversized red drum, failure to display a commercial fishing vessel registration and transportation of illicit fish.
Sadler’s mate, 33-year-old Ian Andrew Stit, also of Stumpy Point, was charged with possession of oversized red drum and possessing over the commercial limit of red drum.
They were taken to the New Hanover County Jail and each placed $600 secured bond.
“The crimes constitute a Class A1 misdemeanor. Any fines or other penalties assessed are at the discretion of the judge,” Smith said.
