U.S. anglers fined $8K for violating Ontario fishing regulations

An undated image of skinned fish cut into pieces and packaged to be frozen. (File photo/Win9chun/Flickr)

Two American anglers have been fined a total of $8,125 and received multi-year fishing licence suspensions after pleading guilty to possessing unlawfully packaged fish from a northwestern Ontario lake.

James Shoemake and Michael Williams, both of St. Francisville, Louisiana, entered their pleas in the Ontario Court of Justice on May 22 for charges laid under the Ontario Fishery Regulations.

Justice of the Peace Jerry M. Woods heard that on June 7, 2024, conservation officers were conducting inspections at the Fort Frances border crossing of vehicles heading to the United States.

Fish seized for identification, counting difficulties

During the inspection, officers stopped a truck occupied by the two men, who were returning from a trip to Lake of the Woods.

“Officers inspected the truck of two individuals from Louisiana who were returning from Lake of the Woods and located four large bags of frozen, cut and skinned fish in a cooler,” said the Ministry of Natural Resources in a recent court bulletin.

The fish were seized.

“It was determined the bags contained 100 pieces of cut up fish flesh,” the MNR wrote, noting the size of the pieces and lack of skin made identification impossible without forensic analysis, a violation of packaging rules designed to allow for easy inspection.

Under the Ontario Fishery Regulations, all fish retained by anglers must be packaged in a way that allows conservation officers to count and identify them readily.

Significant fines and licence suspensions issued

For his guilty plea to possession of unlawfully packaged fish, Shoemake was fined $3,000 and received a five-year suspension of his fishing licence. Michael Williams, who pleaded guilty to the same charge, was fined $5,125 and received a one-year fishing licence suspension.

In its recent court bulletin, the MNR emphasized the importance of adhering to fishing regulations.

“The Ontario government is safeguarding fish populations by ensuring anglers follow the rules when retaining and packaging their caught fish,” the MNR said.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.

For more information about unsolved cases, click here.