High Bond for Man Caught Illegally Fishing in Long Island Sound

On Nov 1 a man surrendered to Greenwich Police headquarters on an outstanding warrant for violating commercial fishing laws in jurisdictional waters of Greenwich in Long Island Sound.

Greenwich Police conduct routine vessel stop inspections and it was in that capacity on Oct 17 that Greenwich Marine Police encountered Lawrence McLoughlin, 61, of Stonlea Place in New Rochelle, who was operating a 24 foot center console fishing boat.

Police asked Mr. McLoughlin to pull up to a lock dock for a safety inspection, which is safer than stopping in choppy water.

While en-route McLoughlin was observed to leave the helm and throw several bags of fish over the side of the boat. Later McLoughlin said that he was throwing fishing bait overboard.

The safety inspection resulted in an infraction being issued to McLoughlin for an expired vessel registration.

After to the vessel stop, Marine Police searched the area where McLoughlin was spotted dumping the alleged bags of bait fish.

They recovered several bags contained at least 14 blackfish, which represents more fish than allowed by regulations (10 per day) and the fish were smaller than the allowed minimum length.

McLoughlin was charged with 14 counts of Violation Commercial Fishery Regs, 4 counts of Violation Regulations regarding Sporting/Commercial Fishing, Littering on Public Land/Water, Tampering with Evidence and Interfering with an Officer/Resisting.

Police inspect vessels year round, because while recreational boating is primarily in the warm months, there are year round commercial enterprises in Greenwich waters including commercial fishing, deliveries of oil and gas to marinas, and movement of merchandise.

The safety inspection resulted in an infraction being issued to McLoughlin for an expired vessel registration.

After the vessel stop Marine Police searched the area where McLoughlin was spotted dumping bags of alleged bait fish, and recovered several bags containing at least 14 blackfish. There were more fish than allowed by regulations (10 per day) and were smaller than the allowed minimum length.

An arrest warrant was then applied for and granted.

McLoughlin’s bond was set at $75,000, which he was unable to post.