(WWJ) A Macomb County man is headed to jail after officials say he broke the law by fishing without a license on Lake St. Clair, on top of previous conservation law violations.
Derek Dermyer, 37, of Washington Township, was sentenced March 10 in St. Clair County’s 72nd District Court to serve 30 to 180 days in jail, after a jury found him guilty of fishing without a license and fishing while his licenses were revoked.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the investigation began in December of 2025 when a DNR conservation officer approached Dermyer while he was ice fishing.
At the time, the DNR said Dermyer was ineligible to fish because his privileges had been revoked through the start of the new year.
While the DNR offered a plea deal to drop one of the charges, Dermyer declined the offer. Instead, he proceeded to a jury trial in February where he was convicted on both counts.
Because of his extensive history with the DNR over the last five years, Dermyer’s penalty was increased to that of a habitual offender.
His prior record includes possessing an overlimit of perch, taking deer without a license, and multiple violations regarding the failure to properly tag or validate deer kills, the DNR said.
On top of the jail time, the court ordered Dermyer to pay $2,980 in costs and fines, plus a $20 reimbursement for state conservation fees.
His fishing privileges were also revoked for an additional seven years.
“Habitual offenders are not only stealing resources, but they also create a bad name for the law-abiding majority of hunters and anglers,” said Chief Brandon Kieft, DNR Law Enforcement Division, in a statement. “The DNR appreciates the support from the St. Clair County court system in recognizing Mr. Dermyer’s repeated history of DNR offenses.”
In Michigan, anyone age 17 or older who wants to fish must have a fishing license.
Michigan’s new fishing license and regulation season begins Wednesday, April 1. The 2026 fishing licenses are available for purchase now and are valid through March 31, 2027. Get more information about licenses, regulations, and fishing locations at Michigan.gov/Fishing.
Related
