Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency wildlife officers arrested two individuals for illegal take of undersized and over-limit Largemouth Bass at Nickajack Lake, near Running Water Creek. Coronado Lopez Vail and Manuel Baltazar Apolonio, both from Hamilton County, were charged with violation of size limit and violation of creel limit. Both paid a cash bond of $900 in Marion County.
Wildlife Officer Russell Vandergriff received a phone call from a concerned fisherman last Wednesday. His partner, Wildlife Officer Marty Griffith responded and before reaching the water’s edge, he could see the men casting a net, a means of illegal take. Officer Griffith looked into a bucket sitting with the men’s gear and discovered 72 fish. 71 fish were largemouth bass, all under the 15” minimum length limit. There was also one crappie, also under size limit. “If the men were keeping legal size limit fish, they still would have been 56 fish over their limit,” said Officer Griffith.
“We’ve worked hard to bring Nickajack Lake to a new standard of fishing,” Officer Griffith said. “We’re glad to put a stop to this behavior.” Wildlife officers had received an earlier call about illegal netting. “We tell citizens all the time to call us,” said Officer Vandergriff. “If it hadn’t been for a concerned sportsman’s call, we wouldn’t have caught them. We’re grateful and encourage people to keep calling should they see anything unusual.”
For information regarding Regional TWRA offices visit: tnwildlife.org.