Harbor Patrol Catches Illegal Fishing Activity

Four fisherman received citations Tuesday evening for alleged charges ranging from fishing without a license to fishing over the limit of the maximum quantity allowed after their boat was initially spotted operating without running lights by the Redondo Beach Fire Department Harbor Patrol.

According to the Redondo Beach Fire Department, officers found over 150 fish inside coolers on the vessel including rockfish, sculpin, sanddabs, and a four foot long smooth hound shark.

Of those fish, 87 on the boat were considered by Fish and Game officers to have allegedly been illegally caught including 73 rockfish, 13 sculpin, and the smooth hound shark.  In addition, of the four fishermen on board, only one held a valid fishing license.

According to the Redondo Beach Fire Department, the four fishermen have been identified as Yanghai Xiong of Libertyville, Ill., Zhen Yang of San Gabriel, Calif., Moreno Cenobio of Bakersfield, Calif., and Ling Quin Biao from New York. 

Although the majority of the fish that were allegedly considered illegally caught had perished, 11 of the 13 sculpin as well as the shark were found alive and were released back into the ocean.

In a release, the Redondo Beach Fire Department said the perished fish have been offered to a local food bank and will be donated to help feed the homeless.