Fish Poacher Busted in New Hampshire

New Hampshire conservation officers find trout in a pickup truck that were allegedly poached. NH Fish and Game Photo

A New Hampshire angler is in hot water after state conservation officers reportedly discovered he was poaching trout, taking well over the state limit.

On Monday, April 14, New Hampshire conservation officers received a tip from a concerned angler regarding a person taking an over-limit of trout from Lake Massabesic in Auburn.

The concerned angler told officers that he observed the hatchery stocking truck at the pond earlier in the day. Shortly after the truck left, a person showed up, began catching and placing trout in plastic shopping bags, and obviously kept more than the five-fish limit.

The reporting angler texted pictures of the violator and the vehicle he arrived in to conservation officers.

Upon arrival, officers found the violator with a bag of three fish. Officers then found another bag with 15 trout in it hidden nearby in the woods.

After interviewing the violator, he was issued a summons for taking an over-limit of trout and released.

But not satisfied the poacher was being truthful, conservation officers — with the assistance of an Auburn Police K-9 unit — conducted another search of the wooded area and found another bag containing six more trout.

Conservation officers then went to the violator’s residence and issued him a summons with the correct number of fish taken over the limit of five.

In total, 24 trout were taken, which was 19 trout over the limit.