TPWD Game Wardens confiscate 37,000 ft. long-line

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ILLEGAL LONG LINES - HOU CHRON

 

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens located an illegal long-line over 37,000 feet long approximately seven miles north of the Mexico border and approximately four miles off Boca Chica Beach. The net and line are believed to have been set by commercial fisherman from Mexico.

Gillnets are illegal in Texas and long line is heavily regulated because it traps hundreds of fish that aren’t supposed to be caught. Game wardens found 43 large bull sharks, seven bull reds and one large stingray on the long line.

TPWD Capt. James Dunks said every fish illegally caught impacts Gulf waters. “Every little critter plays a role in the ecosystem. When you take one thing out, it affects something else. It’s important that we sustain everything that we have,” Dunks said. Game wardens worked for hours to free any live fish.

Photo: TPWD Game Wardens find illegal long-lines in both Gulf and inland Texas waters.

 

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