MECHANICS WANTED
Queen Anne’s Fishing Pier Poachers:
Results of citations for poaching Rockfish for Hyattsville residents; court records fail to disclose any fines but always post fine amounts for watermen
KENT NARROWS, MD. – Maryland Natural Resources Police reported that NRP Officer Junta was on foot patrol at Kent Narrows on Sept. 24, 2017, when he observed violations and charged two men with illegal fishing for striped bass.
Hugo Leonel Gomez Rosales, 44, of 8708 Barron Street, Apt. 2, Takoma Park, Md., and Mario Rivas, 31, of 7606 West Park Drive, Hyattsville, Md., each was charged with keeping undersized fish, exceeding the catch limit by two fish and possessing striped bass between midnight and 5 a.m.
In Queen Anne’s County District Court on Oct. 5, 2017, Gomez Rosales entered a guilty plea in a plea deal with the Queen Anne’s County States Attorney Lance Richardson.
Court records omitted any mention of the amount of the fine, apparently in an attempt to prevent the public from learning
of the consequences of the plea deal.
NRP Police noted at the time of the arrest that both men if found guilty, could be fined as much as $3,000. Court records omitted any mention of the amount of the fine, apparently in an attempt to prevent the public from learning of the consequences of the plea deal. Online records for commercial watermen found guilty of poaching routinely include information as to the amount of fines.
Rivas failed to appear in court in Queen Anne’s County or prepay his fine and an arrest warrant was issued for him on Dec. 7, 2017.
THE CRAB AND FISH KINGS of MATAPEAKE PIER – poaching pals had but one legal fish and dozens of poached crabs
STEVENSVILLE, MD. – Perhaps they might want to stick to poached eggs, it would be cheaper. But police reported that four men instead of having poached eggs had poached fish and crabs.
Maryland Natural Resources Police reported that four men from the Washington area were charged with poaching crabs and striped bass during a surveillance operation at the Matapeake public pier and launch ramp in September.
NRP Officer Paul McMannis saw a vehicle towing a boat commit a traffic violation as it left the parking lot and stopped the driver. The officer inspected their coolers and found 21 striped bass, 20 of which were undersized, and 50 female crabs.
Manfredo Gonzales, 43, and Jose A. Viera Torres, 59, of 4103 Quintana Street, Hyattsville, Md., Jubaldo Acosta, 42, of 3320 Chauncey Place, Apt. 101, Mount Rainier, Md., and Luis Umanzor Ramos, 41, of 5000 Fort Totten Drive, NE Apt 108, Washington, D.C., were each charged with possessing undersized striped bass, exceeding the daily catch limit for striped bass, and recreational possession of female crabs.
The violations required their appearance in Queen Anne’s County District Court. Police said that if found guilty, the men could be fined up to $3,000. The crabs were returned to the water and the fish were donated to a local food bank. The court system didn’t reveal how much, if any, any of the men were fined. Court records routinely post the amount of fines assessed to watermen.
Viera Torres entered into a plea deal with the Queen Anne’s County States Attorney Lance Richardson on Nov. 16, 2017. THE DEAL: Viera Torres was given a verdict of Probation Before Judgement. The court records fail to reveal if he paid any fine of any amount as part of the plea deal. Court records routinely disclose the amount of fines, if any, assessed to commercial watermen when they are found guilty or arrange a plea deal.
The same outcome for Viera Torres was given Acosta by Richardson. Acosta pleaded guilty to possession of 20 undersized striped bass with any fine concealed from the public. A separate charge of fishing without a license ended with a guilty plea and no evidence in court records of any fine.
Umanzor Ramos wound up with the same outcome from his deal with Prosecutor Richardson.
Gonzales appears to be a ghost or NRP officials have the wrong name or spelled it wrong, as no record exists of the citation or any outcome in court.
Rules and Fees for Boat Ramp and Parking:
Q.A. Co Public Landing Permit Required or a $10 Daily entrance fee receipt from the Pay & Display Machine displayed on dashboard
For Fishing Pier, Picnic Area & Parking:
$10 Daily entrance fee receipt from the Pay & Display Machine displayed on dashboard
Matapeake and Romancoke piers use the pay and display system in which the on-site machine accepts cash or credit cards and produces a receipt which must be displayed face-up on your vehicle’s dashboard. The entrance fee at Matapeake and Romancoke piers is $10 per vehicle for 24 hours. Additionally, the receipt entitles patrons to park at both piers during the 24-hour period which is date and time stamped on the receipt. You may select a receipt time frame of 24 or 48 hours. The general Queen Anne’s County Public Landing Permit is also valid at these two sites for the launching of a boat at Matapeake and for the launching of a canoe or kayak at Romancoke. All other visitors who use a parking space for any reason must pay for a parking receipt. Failure to pay and display will result in a $50 citation.
The lighted piers are open 24 hours daily, although the adjoining picnic areas are open from sunrise to sunset.
Matapeake Pier & Boat Ramp
Matapeake Pier is located on Route 8, just 3 miles south of Rt. 50 on the right. Highlighting this facility are the 650-foot lighted fishing pier and the 25-foot-wide boat ramp. The ramp and pier are open 24 hours a day year-round giving the avid fisherman ample opportunity to catch the tide, fish at night, first light or all-day long. The 3-acre park and facility have restrooms and a picnic area with grills. The picnic area is open from sunrise to sunset; pier and ramp are open 24 hours. Pets are not allowed. Directions: Rt. 50/301 to South Rt. 8, turn right to Marine Academy Drive, turn left into parking area. The entrance fee is $10 per vehicle for 24 hours.
14-foot boat had 228 undersize rockfish; poaching recreational fisherman fined only $2,000 – got to keep his boat!
Recreational Angler Busted with 32 Undersized Rockfish; Chinese Market busted with live eels; Kill your Snakehead fish and platter it!
Judge lays down hefty fines on DC area recreational fishermen; fines deferred for waterman convicted of poaching
