Tales from Texas Game Wardens about “hunters” gone bad and “anglers” with a few too many fish in the bag are all too common — but never the same. Each one has its own wrinkles and its own unique bit of stupidity or ignorance.
STOLEN VEHICLE DUMPED DOWN BOAT RAMP
Bowie County game wardens responded to a call regarding a submerged vehicle in the Sulfur River. The Bowie County Dive Team coordinated with wardens to recover the empty vehicle from the water. With an investigation underway, game wardens and the local sheriff’s office have determined the vehicle was stolen in Hempstead County, Arkansas. After making the trip to Texas, it was likely disposed of down the boat ramp when the river crested. Once the water receded, locals found the sunken vehicle just a couple of hundred feet down river from the boat ramp.
LARGE SNAPPER CAME FROM FED WATERS
Jefferson County game wardens stopped a fishing boat as it returned to port at Sabine Pass. The wardens found the five fishermen aboard the vessel to be in possession of 15 very large red snapper. Evidence found on board suggested that the fish were caught in federal waters, which were closed to the recreational harvest of red snapper at the time. A brief interview with the captain of the vessel confirmed the wardens’ suspicions. State citations were issued to the fishermen for catching and keeping the red snapper. The fish were seized and donated.
BIG BUSTS OFFSHORE NETS 1,250 POUNDS OF RED SNAPPER
Texas game wardens, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations intercepted four lancha crews and seized about 1,250 pounds of illegally caught red snapper from the Gulf of Mexico on March 5. Boat crews from Coast Guard Station-South Padre Island, CBP Air and Marine Operations and TPWD, in coordination with Coast Guard Air Station-Corpus Christi aircrews, located and stopped a total of 19 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing aboard lanchas north of the U.S. boundary. After interdicting the lanchas, Coast Guard personnel seized 220 pounds of red snapper in addition to fishing gear and high flyers on board the vessels. Coast Guard crews detained the Mexican fishermen, brought them ashore and transferred the crews to CBP personnel for further processing. “Texas Game Wardens are proud of the partnerships we have with agencies like the USCG and CBP Air and Marine Operations,” said Texas Game Warden Captain Chris Dowdy.
LARGEST LONGVIEW KID FISH EVER
Gregg County Game Warden Todd Long, along with Harrison County wardens Matt Childress and Scott Robertson assisted the City of Longview with the Ricky Borden Memorial Kid Fish Derby at Teague Park. A close friend of local wardens, Ricky Borden believed all kids deserved access to fishing opportunities, he mentored and sponsored the Longview Kid Fish for many years. This year, more than 500 kids and their families participated. Ahead of the event, the Inland Fisheries Marshall District stocked the lake with 2,000 trout and supplied about 65 fishing rods and reels to loan to kids during the event.
Updated: 4/5/2024
