California Department of Fish and Game wardens on December 8 arrested 14 suspects during targeted raids on illegal striped bass poaching operations in the Bay-Delta Estuary, drawing praise from anglers and conservation groups leaders for cracking down on the poaching on striped bass during a period of declining fisheries.
The wardens served four search warrants in Sacramento and Elk Grove to make the arrests, interviewed 35 other people and seized five sport-fishing vessels, concluding a two-month poaching investigation
“It’s good for the fishery and good for all anglers,” said Johnny Tran, owner of the Freeport Bait Company. “In order to preserve our fisheries, it’s necessary that poaching be stopped, and this is a good step forward by the DFG.”
The arrests were made possible through anglers who called into the CalTIP hotline to report the violations, according to Patrick Foy, DFG public information officer. CalTIP, “Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters,” is DFG’s confidential witness program to encourage the public to provide information leading to the arrest of poachers and polluters.
Anglers and conservation groups have in the past been critical of the DFG for the slow response to CALTIP – and were encouraged by the arrests.
“They should have done this years ago,” said Barry Canevaro, captain of the Fish ‘n’ Fool IV and head of the striped bass committee of the California Striped Bass Association. “It’s about time. The poachers are taking as many stripers as the state and federal Delta pumps are taking. I’m definitely glad the DFG did this. They need to make the fines and punishment so stiff that people are deterred from poaching.”
More than 60 wardens – one third of the DFG’s total of 181 wardens in the field - divided into takedown teams and contacted suspects, including three husband-and-wife suspects, at their homes. Wardens also contacted employees of a supermarket, SF Market, and a restaurant in South Sacramento. Additional arrests may occur as the investigation continues, according to the DFG.
The latest bust was the first major anti-poaching operation since June 29, 2006, when the DFG arrested 17 people involved in three separate sturgeon and abalone cases throughout the state. That operation was conducted by 29 teams of wardens deployed in the Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Hayward, Fort Bragg and Mission Viejo areas.
Poaching is one of several problems that have led to the decline of striped bass and other species on the California Delta.
“This particular group of suspects were taking hundreds if not thousands of stripers per day at a time when the striped bass population is declining because of water diversions, pesticides and water quality problems,” said Foy. “When we went to the houses for the arrests, DFG officers were pulling out not just stripers, but nearly every species found on the Delta, including bluegill, redear sunfish and sturgeon. It was clear that they were keeping and selling these for profit.”
However, unlike the sturgeon and abalone busts conducted earlier in 2006, there were no real “kingpins” in the operations. “This is a network of many individuals taking the fish to the market on their own,” he stated. “The poachers all seemed to respect each other’s turf.”
The exact impact of poaching is unknown, but it is believed to be huge. “These cases represent the tip of a very large iceberg,” said Nancy Foley, DFG Chief of Enforcement. “Once wardens identified the magnitude of the illegal activity we were determined to shut it down. While we recognize others are involved in the commercialization of striped bass, the core groups are tenacious opportunists who chased after monetary gain and cared nothing for the natural resources they’ve impacted.”
The investigation was a joint effort between DFG’s Special Operations Unit and wardens with the Delta Bay Enhanced Enforcement Program, said Lt. Kathy Ponting, leader of the undercover unit. Ponting, whose investigators focus primarily on the poaching of California's natural resources, identified the takedowns by designated codenames.
Each suspect faces felony conspiracy charges as well as counts of illegal sales of sport-caught fish, and over limits of striped bass.
The arrests were timed for when the sturgeon begin ascending the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers for the spring spawn to send a message that the DFG means business. “We were very concerned that the same guys poaching the stripers will be poaching the sturgeon when the run goes upriver,” said Foy.
By seeking felony conspiracy charges, rather than just charging the poachers with misdemeanors, and highly publicizing the arrests on the TV, radio and newspapers, the DFG is hoping to deter other poachers in coming months and years.
“By seeking felony charges, we’re aiming to see punishments that make a difference in stopping poaching,” said Foy. “For example, when we arrested a suspect during the sturgeon poaching arrests in June, one of the guys we arrested hadn’t even finished going through the court system on a previous charge. We hope the felony aspect of the arrests will get them jail time. If the poachers go through the court and just have to pay $800 or $1000 fine for fish and game violation, then they consider paying fines just the cost of doing business.”
By seizing the boats, the Fish and Game also deterred the poaching from practicing their dirty work. The court will decide whether the property will be forfeited.
Bob Strickland, president of United Anglers of California, was pleased with the scope of the bust and the charges the DFG is seeking. “I hope the punishment the court metes out makes the DFG’s efforts worthwhile,” said Strickland. “The only way to stop poaching is to make it real hard for the poachers to operate by hitting them with jail time and in the pocketbook with big fines."
Ponting said the suspects processed the fish, delivered it to homes or businesses, and accepted cash in the transactions. At times, wardens watched as suspects set up a temporary shop in a parking lot, complete with fish scales.
“The only thing the suspects didn’t have was a cash register sitting on the tailgate; that’s how organized these operations were,” Ponting said.
Investigators saw that the suspects would stash the poached fish in hidden compartments aboard their fishing vessels. They also saw that while some of the suspects sold the fish daily, nine to 10 fish at a time, others would stockpile before making transactions. The suspects sold the fish for up to $2.50 per pound wholesale.
Wardens said the poaching price for striped bass in the Sacramento area fluctuated depending on the size and weight of the catch. In November, suspects sold 19 fish for $200. Another time they sold 10 fish for $300.
“DFG investigators have worked striped bass cases in the Bay-Delta before, but the thinning ranks of wardens and ongoing pressures against other wildlife resources have hampered enforcement efforts,” according to the DFG. “However, the magnitude of the four operations drew the attention of Delta-patrolling wardens and legitimate anglers.”
Because the violations occurred in the Delta and involves Delta species, DFG receives special funding available through the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority. Several calls came to DFG’s CalTIP hotline.
The population of legal-sized striped bass in the Sacramento-San Joaquin estuary decreased substantially during a 30-year period from the early 1960s to early 1990s, but had rebounded somewhat. However, population estimates for 2002 and 2003 show a clear decline from earlier years.
Meanwhile, striped bass juvenile production has reached record low levels over the past five years as part of the Delta Pelagic Organism Decline, believed to be caused by three main factors – changes in water exports, toxics and invasive species.
“I hope these recent arrests send a message to the public that the CalTIP Line does work,” said Foy. “The folks that reported the violations were fishing on the Delta and obeying the regulations when they saw the poachers stashing fish in the compartments of their boat. When they called, they had the boats’ CF numbers and license plate numbers written down.”
“The Fish and Game is short handed and we need to step up to give them a hand by reporting violations to preserve our fisheries,” emphasized Johnny Tran. “Make sure that you write down the boat registration numbers and/or car license plate numbers if you see people poaching so the DFG can track the poachers down. Leave those numbers on the message when you call the hotline.”
If you witness or know of a poaching or polluting incident, call the DFG’s toll free-free CalTIP poaching hotline, 1-888-DFG-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258).
Suspects in custody include:
- “Operation Farmer’s Market,” Kiem Van Nguyen, 50, and his wife Luyen Thi Nguyen, 45, both of Sacramento. Two additional suspects were arrested on unrelated drug charges;
- “Operation “Speedy Delivery,” Ly Van Nguyen, 49, and his wife Cuc Thi Nguyen, 48, both of Sacramento;
- “Operation Bass Master,” Luan Van Dao, 44, and his wife Mung Thi Bui, 42, both of Sacramento. Also taken into custody were Tuan Anh Dao, 22, Thuan Nguyen, 29, and Chichi Peng, 25, all of Sacramento, and Tung Van Nguyen, 80, of Elk Grove;
- “Operation Tailgate Party,” Dong Van Doan, 66, and Hop V. Doan, 29, both of Sacramento.
