Jail time for fishing offences

[minnkota]

A Mattawa man who pleaded guilty to a series of fishing violations has been sentenced to seven days in jail.

Shawn Miller pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing walleye over his legal limit and one count each of unlawfully transporting fish, possessing a commercial gill net and selling walleye.

Each count carries a seven day jail sentence. Miller will serve his sentences concurrently.

The court also issued an order prohibiting Miller from obtaining or possessing a fishing licence and engaging in any fishing-related activities for five years.

Court heard that during the spring and summer of 2013, the MNR received a tip that Miller was catching over-limits of walleye using a gill net and by angling in Tee, Red Pine and Papineau lakes and the Ottawa River.

On July 12 and August 27, 2013, conservation officers observed Miller catch and retain a large quantity of walleye.

Officers executed a search warrant at his residence on August 29, 2013.

Miller admitted to taking over-limits of walleye on a regular basis while fishing the Ottawa River and not adhering to the Ontario fishing regulations.

Miller further admitted that the fish he caught by netting were taken to his residence and sold in Mattawa.

Officers seized a gill net, walleye, fishing gear and a boat and motor. All seized items were forfeited, except for the boat and motor, which will be returned to the rightful owner.

[Fish4Dinner]

Hey... If you are going to do something illegal... Mine as well go all out! Gill net! WTF! Usually my fishing buddies joke about gill nets on bad days... For someone to actually gill net fish in ontario is crazy!

[GingerHut905]

Yeah thats disgusting. The natives on temagami net walleye during spawning. But they also have a right to there way of life. This guy is just a POS

[bluenote]

And was using someone else's boat. While returned to rightful owner - likely was held for some time by MNR and so not available for the rightful owner's use.

If I were the rightful owner at be p!@@#$ at him!

Or was the rightful owner aware of the operation and said nothing?

I'll bet the guy is back at it in a year or two . . .

[hotntot]

i no a guy in the 80s was doing weekends for dip netting pickerel from the thames river and i mean hundereds of them. we have enough offenders on the detroit river lake erie and stclair for 8 mnr officers to work i believe we only have two. guys sell fish rate at the dock i have seen this go on for years it makes me sick.