213 Stripers Seized, 24 Cited, in Md. Poaching Crackdown

Suspected Striped Bass Poachers Busted: Maryland wildlife officers have been busy cracking down on striped bass poachers in recent weeks, busting 24 suspected poachers and seizing 213 illegally caught fish.

According to a April 21 news release issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, enforcement has continued at Fishing Creek Bridge in Dorchester County and the Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park in Talbot County.

Here's a look at the cases:

> Four men were charged when officers stopped a vehicle after midnight on April 16 as it was leaving Fishing Creek Bridge. Officers seized 83 striped bass.

Charged with possessing undersized striped bass, striped bass in a prohibited area, fish over the limit and striped bass outside the legal time were Julio Mauricio Baquedano Moran, 22, of Greensboro, N.C.; Luis Galeano Baquedano,18, of Silver Spring; Samuel Nolasco Pacheco, 33, of Lanham; and Javier Reyes, 33, of Mount Ranier. Each charge carries a maximum fine of $1,500.

> About the same time, another vehicle was stopped leaving the bridge, resulting in charges for three people: Ivan Alexis Interiano Gladamez, 21, of Germantown, and Natividad Interiano Gladamez, 44 and Hermilo Sanchez Bentra, 24, both of Gaithersburg. Officers seized 12 striped bass from the vehicle. All three were charged with three fishing violations each.

> A day later, also in the early morning hours, officers faced the following, according to the news release:

---

On Monday [April 17] at about 3:30 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle leaving the bridge and found numerous fish in a cooler. The driver was instructed to pull off at a safer area so that citations could be written. As the vehicle drove to the area, someone began throwing fish from the passenger-side window.

Cited were Manuel Barahona Cruz, 33, of Temple Hill and Angie Campos Avila, 31, of Alexandria, Virginia, who all face charges of possessing undersized striped bass, striped bass in a prohibited area, and fish over the legal limit. Cruz also was charged with possessing striped bass outside the legal hours.

> Twenty-three striped bass were seized from a second vehicle, resulting in charges for Moises DeJesus Majano Canales, 36, and Maria Yohana Barahona Cruz, 34, both of Oxon Hill. Canales received four citations for illegal fishing and Cruz received three.

> Officers say around the same time, 62 striped bass were seized and five men were charged as they left the bridge. Daniel Escobar Alvarado, 33, Ana Cuellar Jimenez, 42, Genesis Ivania Cuellar, 22, and Jose Roberto Medrano, 20, and John Bradak Medrano Canales, 27, of Temple Hill, each received four citations.

> On April 15, just before midnight, officers stopped a vehicle with five Silver Spring passengers and found 26 illegal striped bass inside. Hector Samuel Martenez Carpio, 37, Esvin Leonel Najera Bueco, 22, Edinson Leonel Bueco Luch, 22, Ferdy Misael Bueco Luch, 24, and Raul Antonio Bueco Berganza, 28, each received three citations for illegal fishing.

All 21 defendants listed above are scheduled to appear in Dorchester County District Court July 19. The maximum fine for each charge is $1,500.

> Also late Sunday night, April 16, officers charged two men for fishing on suspended recreational licenses. Lenin Gonzalez Fuentes, 35, and Edgar Fuentes DeMata, both of Washington, D.C., must appear in Dorchester County District Court June 28. The maximum fine is $1,000.

> At the Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park at 2 a.m. Saturday, April 15, officers issued citations to Fernando Geov Vasquez Bautista, 38, of Hyattsville, for having six undersized striped bass, catching striped bass in a designated spawning river and possessing striped bass outside legal hours.

Bautista must appear in Talbot County District Court June 19. The maximum fine for each violation is $1,500.