Gill Net Charges Levied

[NCangler]

MOREHEAD CITY – N.C. Marine Patrol acted quickly Wednesday to cite the owners of a gill net left in the mud at low tide in the Newport River.

A N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries biologist received a call Wednesday morning informing him that someone had posted a video on YouTube that showed a large mesh gill net left in the mud at low tide with several species of fish, including red drum, black drum, bluefish and flounder.

The biologist told Marine Patrol officers, who investigated and found the net had been removed. But they were able to use the video to trace the net and charge the owner Wednesday afternoon.

Marine Patrol officer Mitch Stone cited Virginia Dare Fulcher Oglesby, of 740 Mill Point Lane, Morehead City with using a gill net without proper buoys or identification. The buoys on the net were not the right color and they were marked by outdated registration numbers.

Oglesby was also charged with leaving a gill net in coastal fishing waters when such devices contained edible species of fish unfit for human consumption.

The charges carry a fine of $35 and court costs of $110. Oglesby was scheduled for trial in Carteret County District Court Aug. 27.