Jack C. Colbourne, owner of Colbourne Seafood Inc. in Secretary, was again charged with illegal fishing as the officials have seized huge amount of fish from its trawler and charged a Dorchester County seafood processor with illegal commercial fishing in Maryland waters. It was the second time in less than a week that officers had charged the company.
According to the officers they had got the tip to inspect the Mount Vernon after watching the 80-foot vessel drag a net about two miles off the Ocean City inlet all day Sunday, according to Sgt. Ken Turner. A police spokesman revealed that officers issued citations to Colbourne, 69, Mark H. Bryan, 53, and Bayard Lewis Taylor III, 64, all of East New Market, for fishing between 6 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday, when the season is closed.
It is told that they are to appear Feb. 22 in Worcester County District Court. The maximum fine is $250 if they plead guilty before their court date and $500 if found guilty by a judge. It is informed that the boat is owned by Mount Vernon LLC in Cape May, N.J. The catch was sold and the money is being held in escrow until the cases are settled.
Turner opined that the U.S. government has banned striped bass fishing from three miles to 200 miles off the East Coast. The authority has prohibited commercial striped bass fishing; Maryland allows recreational and commercial fishing.
