Considered one of the premier trophy fish in this region, the Great Lakes muskie is a very rare catch. Elizabeth Kresse shows off her prize catch, a Great Lakes muskie quickly released after this photograph was taken. (Photo by Mike Durkalec)
Wildlife officers checking walleye anglers while out on Lake Erie on Tuesday, March 31 were shocked when a trio of commercial fishermen from Szuch Fishery, Inc. pulled their trap net off Anchor Point Marina in Lucas County and wantonly killed a trophy Great Lakes muskie and a number of longnose gar caught in the net.
“This type of behavior is unexpected and unacceptable,” said Matt Leibengood, Lake Erie Law Enforcement Supervisor for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “I am proud of our investigators and officers working to protect Ohio’s natural resources.”
Szuch Fishery Inc. owners, Michael and Holly Such, his wife, and Joseph Imre Jr. were observed and recorded by wildlife officers intentionally injuring the rare trophy-sized muskie after it was removed from their commercial fishing net. The trio also were observed removing numbers longnose gar from the net, a native fish important to the Lake Erie ecosystem. The netters broke the gar’s spines before tossing their carcasses into the lake.
A fisheries official with the Ohio Division of Wildlife checks a longnose gar, a Lake Erie fish that spawns in the marshes, wetlands and shallow water in early spring. (Ohio Division of Wildlife)
They were charged with one count of causing intentional injury to a non-commercial fish species, 10 counts of stream littering and 10 counts of disposing of dead fish.
“After seeing this activity by the Szuch crew, we decided to initiate surveillance on all of the Ohio commercial fishing boats that were out on Lake Erie,” said Leibengood. “Our officers managed to locate all but one commercial fishing boat, and saw no similar activity.”
The Ohio commercial fishing season for yellow perch does not begin until May 1 for the 18 licensed netters, and walleye are not allowed to be commercially caught in Ohio waters. At this time of year, netters are allowed to catch white perch and rough fish, such as carp and sheepshead.
Scheduled to appear in Oregon Municipal Court on Monday, May 4, Szuch Fishery Inc., of Curtice, Ohio, faces maximum penalties of $55,000 and a 30-day suspension of its commercial fishing license, as well as handling commercial fishing gear or other fish at wholesale. The Szuchs and Imre each faces a maximum penalty of $750 and 90 days in jail.
Leibengood emphasized that anyone can and should report a wildlife violation through the Turn-In-A-Poacher (TIP) program by telephone or text at 1-800-POACHER.
Thank you to the w
Wildlife and Conservation officers for taking care of our ecosystem. I am a teacher with a second in Science and recognize the importance of ecosystems and how fragile they are.
Make them serve the 90 days!!
As a fisherman living in Lakeside, it was so sad to hear of this incident . I am thankful for the good work of the wildlife division and their due diligence in taking care of this horrible situation.
Very glad they were caught good work to the DNR
Atrocious actions. Should spend the time in jail
This is not a correct action, but remember how many sturgeon were killed up in piles on the beach just to be burned, so as not to destroy the fishermen’s nets which are used for their livelihood. Times have changed and life of all species seem to be more precious even more than our own human children. Maybe abortion will be outlawed again, someday.