The Internet can be a fascinating place, but for one boastful angler it proved her undoing. The woman in question made the mistake of bragging about catching smaller-than-allowed striped bass from Assateague Island National Seashore.
Ranger Dave Rapp noticed the brag on a popular Internet discussion board used by anglers who visit the national seashore.
According to the National Park Service's Morning Report, Rapp "noticed one entry in which the author wrote that she had caught 22-inch and 24-inch stripers (rockfish) on Assateague Island - a violation, as Maryland state law establishes a minimum length of 28 inches for this species.
"The author also wrote that she was 'keeping this baby for dinner!' Included in the entry was a photograph showing the angler holding up the fish. Rapp noted that the entry was only a few minutes old and that the photograph appeared to have been taken inside of the park. He located, recognized, and contacted the angler, who was still on the beach within the park. She produced a 21-inch striper, and reported that she'd utilized a Wi-Fi Internet connection to post her entry from the park. A violation notice was issued for the undersized fish. "
Comments
by not knowing the law is stupid i think it is sad to brag about a fish that small. end of story
she knew where to post it so she know shomething about the fish she just got caught
WOW big striper cop worried about one undersized fish when the big boats and gill netters rape the bay and ocean's .what a joke!
She tried to blow it off on the site where she posted it. Later that day she posted that the fish "went back for a swim to grow up". Yeah after she got caught.
i bet she drove an orv. THose orv fishermen should be banned from the beach!
Granted she was wrong. The comment regarding the ORV and that those fisherman should be banned from the beach - that's just plain ignorant. Banned from the beach???? What is this world coming to?
The woman was ignorant for bragging, it never gets you anywhere. As for posting incriminating evidence, that was without a doubt stupid. Not knowing the law is no excuse. Banning ORV from the beach is not the answer. There should be more patrols by rangers to keep the fishermen in check and inspect their catch. To keep the traffic at a minimum they (rangers) should use ATVs or SideXsides (ie. Polaris Razor or Yamaha Rhino, and etc.) to transverse the seashore more efficiently.
Great work to a watchful eye in a world where the PC is the communication tool of the world. Keep up the good work.
I know this article was written eleven years ago. Law enforcement must be different now. There are All kinds of violations being posted on various social media sites, all occuring on Assateague Island National Seashore. You can send the links to the park and they do nothing. Just like they do nothing when visitors report violations, mostly relating to feeding, petting the horses, law enforcement does nothing. A visitor can be assaulted by another visitor and still law enforcement does nothing.