MANISTEE COUNTY (WWJ) – Six men from Colorado have pleaded guilty to coming to Michigan and illegally taking nearly 500 lbs. of fish last fall.
The men each owe more than $1,100 in restitution, fines and costs after using illegal methods to catch about 460 lbs. worth of salmon on the Manistee River in October.
Conservation officers with the Michigan DNR discovered the men were poaching thanks to a tip from another angler in the area.
The last of the six men was charged earlier this month in the 85th District Court in Manistee County, the DNR announced Thursday.
The following men were charged:
Agustin Barrera, 29, of Denver
David Cobaxin, 48, of Denver
Alfredo Hernandez, 56, of Denver
Gregorio Hernandez, 49, of Aurora
Leonel Lopez, 38, of Aurora
Raul Lopez, 37, of Aurora
One positive result from the group’s poaching, the DNR says, is that more than 460 lbs. of fresh fish was donated to Manistee County families in need.
DNR officials said last fall an angler spotted two DNR conservation officers along the Manistee River near Tippy Dam in Dickson County and told them about the group downriver that was using illegal methods and equipment to take the fish.
While the DNR has not disclosed what type of illegal methods the men were using, officials say several of them attempted to break off their fishing lines so the officers wouldn't see the illegal fishing gear they were using.
Officers initially discovered 17 salmon possessed by the men, who didn’t have valid fishing licenses. The group admitted to their illegal activity and led the officers back to their vehicles in the parking lot, where they had an additional 40-50 fish in coolers.
If the group of six had been properly licensed, they would have been allowed to legally possess 30 fish total.
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