A call to the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s CALTIP line led to the arrest of four men caught illegally spearfishing in the Big Sur area.
On March 19, witnesses called the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s CalTIP reporting program that people were spearfishing within Big Creek State Marine Reserve. The Reserve is a state marine protected area that is part of a network of MPAs designed to enhance and protect the integrity of marine ecosystems, and the take of any marine resource is strictly prohibited in the area.
Big Sur and the Pacific coast from Pacific Coast Highway—California State Route 1 (Hwy 1). Monterey County, California. (Creative Commons)
The witness confronted the poachers before they left. The poachers reportedly changed out of their wetsuits, packed up their equipment, and drove off in a truck. Based on the license plate number and vehicle description provided by the witness, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Warden Byron Jones found the truck and conducted an enforcement stop. 15 fish, including sheepshead, fish, lingcod, vermilion rockfish, cabezons, and blue rockfish were found inside the bed of the truck.
Dennis Marshall Lewis, 23; Darryl Lycurgus Lewis, 22; Daniel Gordon Gross, 22; and Nicholas Ta, 26, admitted to spearfishing and each pleaded no contest to taking fish within Big Creek State Marine Reserve, prosecutors said. Monterey County Judge Elisabeth Mineta sentenced each of the four men to 30 days in the county jail, three years of probation and a $1,000 fine.
Californians Turn In Poachers and Polluters is an anonymous tip program that helps the California Department of Fish and Wildlife protect the state’s fish and wildlife resources.
The public is encouraged to turn in poachers and polluters by calling 1-888-334-CalTIP.
More information about CalTIP is found here.