Texas authorities want information on illegal border fishing

Written by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Illegal fishing along the border has been a problem for years.

Gill nets, long lines, small boats running back across international borders and difficulty prosecuting cases has made it tough for law enforcement to stop the illegal fishing.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Law Enforcement Division and the U.S. Coast Guard are distributing a wanted poster seeking any information related to illegal fishing activities along the Texas-Mexico border.

Both agencies are currently investigating multiple cases of Texas and federal conservation law violations, including illegal long lining, gill netting, crabbing, hoop netting, shrimping and other offenses.

“The Gulf of Mexico, Rio Grande, Falcon Lake and Amistad Lake are included in the affected areas,” said Grahame Jones, chief of Special Operations. “These acts of illegal and unreported fishing adversely impact both the recreational and commercial fishing industries.”

Anyone seeing illegal fishing equipment in the Gulf or other border water bodies, or who has any information about individuals involved in this activity, is urged to contact TPWD’s Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-792 GAME (4263) or via email at www.ogttx.com Tips also may be sent by text message to 847411. Include the letters TPWD in the text. The U.S. Coast Guard may be contacted at (361) 939-6393.

For more information on TPWD’s ongoing efforts to confront illegal fishing practices along the border, seehttp://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2014/oct/ed_3_poachers/index.phtml

Printable Wanted Poster (PDF)