The owner of a Maryland seafood company has been charged with illegal fishing for the second time in less than a week.
The state’s Natural Resources Police say they boarded the 80-foot trawler Mount Vernon on Sunday after watching it drag a net about 2 miles from Ocean City, Md. Officials seized nearly 3 tons of striped bass, or rockfish. Those charged included Jack Colbourne, 69, owner of Colbourne Seafood in Secretary, Md.
Colbourne, Mark Bryan and Byard Lewis Taylor III, all of East New Market, Md., were cited for fishing between 6 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday, when fishing is off limits. Colbourne was cited last week for exceeding his seasonal 1,900-pound allocation for striped bass by 138 pounds.
Police say the catch was sold and the money is being held in escrow until the cases are settled. The maximum fine is $250 if they plead guilty before their court date and $500 if found guilty by a judge.
