Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited six men for alleged gill net violations on March 19 in Assumption Parish.
Agents cited Roger Gros, 62, Brent Zeller, 57, Gary Cutchall, 54, William Shirah, 43, Ricky Daley, 48, and Randy Hebert, 43, all of Pierre Part, for leaving gill nets unattended. Agents also cited Gros for failing to have required markings on the gill nets.
Agents were on patrol on Lake Verrett in the morning of March 19 when they located several unattended shad gill nets. Agents then observed the subjects travel by vessel and begin tending to the nets.
While commercially fishing a shad gill net the fisherman must remain within two hundred feet of the net at all times. Each end of the shad gill net must also have a one gallon jug painted international orange having the fisherman’s name, commercial license number and “shad, gill net” written on the jug.
Leaving gill nets unattended and failing to have the required markings each brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each offense.
Agents involved in the case are Sgt. Winston Michel, Senior Agent Joey Thompson, and Senior Agent Jake Darden