The California Department of Fish and Game wardens today arrested 14 suspects during targeted raids on illegal striped bass poaching operations in the Bay-Delta region. Concluding a two-month poaching investigation, wardens served four search warrants in Sacramento and Elk Grove to make the arrests, interviewed 35 other people and seized five sport-fishing vessels.
"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."
Early today, more than 60 wardens divided into takedown teams and contacted suspects, including three husband-and-wife suspects, at their homes. Wardens also contacted employees of a supermarket and a restaurant in South Sacramento. Additional arrests may occur as the investigation continues.
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, including "Operation Farmer's Market," "Operation Bass Master" and "Operation Tailgate Party."
All suspects face felony conspiracy charges as well as counts of illegal sales of sport-caught fish, and over limits of striped bass.
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.
