U.S. man stung with $6,000 fine for over fishing

MNR Media Release

An Indiana resident has been found guilty and has been fined a total of $6,100 for fishing violations.

Mark Bugni was fined $5,100 for having 17 fish over the daily possession limit allowed under his non-resident conservation fishing licence. He was also fined $1,000 for having fish which could not be readily identified or measured.

The court heard that on August 11, 2015, conservation officers on routine patrol contacted Bugni as he fished with two other individuals on Lac Seul near Dryden. All three had a non-resident conservation fishing licence which allowed each to keep two walleye. Officers found a total of 23 walleye, and some of the fish in their possession could not be measured or identified.

Justice of the Peace Edith Baas heard the case on December 3, 2015, in the Ontario Court of Justice, Dryden.  Bugni was tried in absentia.
The public is reminded that harvested fish must be kept in a state that allows them to be counted, measured and identified.

For more information on fishing regulations, please consult the Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/fishing.

To report a natural resource violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).