MNR News Release
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A Sturgeon Falls man has been fined $1,050 for having too many walleye.
Richard Mayotte pleaded guilty to exceeding the legal limit of walleye. He was ordered to pay $175 per fish over quota, for a total of $1,050. The seized fish were forfeited to the Crown.
Court heard that on January 27, 2013, conservation officers, including a canine officer, checked Mayotte’s catch limit while patrolling Lake Nipissing on snowmobile.
Mayotte initially produced a legal quota of two whole walleye, but the canine officer and his detector dog found an additional 12 walleye fillets hidden in a compartment on Mayotte’s snowmobile.
Justice of the Peace Lauren Scully heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, North Bay, on December 16, 2013.
The Ministry of Natural Resources reminds the public that, effective January 1, 2013, walleye catch limits for Lake Nipissing have changed.
Anglers with sport licences can keep two walleye per day rather than four. Anglers with conservation licences can keep one walleye instead of two. Walleye between 40 and 60 centimetres must be released to protect spawning-sized walleye.
For further information on fishing regulations, please consult the 2014 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/fishing.
To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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