Save The Sea Bass
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 4th, 2010
YouTube video could bring charges in black sea bass incident at Newport Beach
What initially appeared to be a case of a good Samaritan rescuing a huge black sea bass in Newport Beach could now result in criminal charges against the man for allegedly failing to help the animal, authorities said.
The controversy stems from a Jan. 3 incident during which a fisherman in a boat accidentally caught the fish, which is a protected species in California.
As the boat — sea bass in tow — pulled near shore, an unidentified man swam into the water and pulled the fish onto the sand. At the time, officials with the state Department of Fish and Game believed that the man had tried to rescue the floundering fish.
“They thought he made a reasonable effort to return the fish unharmed to the water,” department spokesman Harry Morse said Monday.
But a video posted on YouTube shows the man apparently pulling the fish onto the sand as a throng of people surround the animal, shouting and cheering.
After that video and others were posted on the Internet, Fish and Game officials reversed course and forwarded the case to the Orange County district attorney for possible prosecution.
“We’re reviewing it to determine what, if any, crime occurred,” said Farrah Emami, a district attorney’s spokeswoman.Robert J. Lopez
Los Angeles Times
Help Jon Apothaker Save the Giant Black Sea Bass!
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
Surely they won’t charge this man for accidentally catching this fish. It looks to be dead by the time he even gets it to shore. It is a shame, seeing how it is a protected species, but I don’t think it was intentional by any means.
I can see why the guy was confused. That fish looks exactly like a Black Grouper, which is very commonly caught and eaten in Florida. This was obviously a mistake.
I agree with that, B.U.M.P. Charging him for a mistake? And even if it turns that some malfeasance WAS done, wouldn’t a fine be better here? But jail time? I love animals but not THAT much. Sue me, I know. 🙂