Anglers fined thousands for 'over bagging' on trophy carp river

Three men were ordered to pay fines totaling more than $4,200 for glaring fishing violations that occurred this past weekend on the Connecticut River.

According to the Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police, an officer responding to a tip out of Cromwell found the men to be in possession of gross over limits.

Additionally, the men did not possess valid fishing licenses and exceeded the number of rods and reels allowed by law.

A photo released by the agency shows 32 carp laid out on a lawn. The Connecticut River is a designated “trophy carp body of water.” The daily creel limit is one carp per angler, measuring less than 26 inches.

In a news release issued Monday via social media, the CSECP stated that the officer was acting on a report of three males were “over bagging on carp.”

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“Upon arrival our Officer observed a large carp hanging out of a cooler in the area of the 3 men fishing,” the agency explained. “Upon further inspection another cooler was checked which was filled to capacity.”

The dead carp were donated to a nearby rehabilitation center for injured mammals and birds of prey.