Calgary Anglers Caught Using Prohibited Bait, Two Arrested and One Ticketed

Calgary Anglers Caught Using Prohibited Bait, Two Arrested and One Ticketed

Two individuals were apprehended and another was ticketed by Fish and Wildlife officers near Calgary for utilizing prohibited bait in a recent fishing incident. The officers were conducting routine angler compliance checks on the Bow River at the Bearspaw Dam area when they stumbled upon a fisher employing a set line, a technique often associated with the use of banned bait.

Upon closer inspection, the fisherman was found to be using worms, a type of bait strictly prohibited under local regulations. Upon further investigation, the individual was discovered to have three outstanding warrants related to prior fishing offenses, including exceeding the catch limit and using unlawful bait. Consequently, he was taken into custody and all his fishing equipment was confiscated as evidence.

Shortly thereafter, officers encountered two additional anglers further upstream, who attempted to discard their catch as the officers approached. The search yielded three brown trout, and it was revealed that these individuals were also in violation of the bait restrictions.

Both offenders received citations for their fisheries infractions. One was also apprehended on an unrelated outstanding warrant.

Fish and Wildlife urges the public to report any suspicious or illegal fishing or poaching activities through the 24-hour Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800 or online at alberta.ca/report-poacher. Callers can maintain anonymity and may be entitled to a reward for their information.

This incident underscores the persistent challenge authorities face in enforcing fishing laws and the need for stricter measures to deter such behavior. It also raises questions about the efficacy of current penalties in altering the mindsets of repeat offenders.

#FishingViolations #FishingRegulations #BowRiver #BearspawDam #ProtectWildlife