Sudbury men fined $7,605 for spearfishing walleye at night, out of season

An American man has been fined $3,000 after he pled guilty to possessing more than his provincial possession limit of walleye and possessing fish that was skinned to prevent identification of the species. (File)

Three men from Greater Sudbury have been fined for spearfishing walleye at night and out of season.

The trio also abandoned fish injured by their barbs and tried to hide evidence by throwing it in the water.

Three men were fined a total of $7,605 for spearing walleye, obstructing a fisheries officer, abandoning fish, possessing walleye out of season and possessing a spear at night within 30 metres of the water’s edge.

Two of the men were also suspended from fishing and had equipment forfeited to the Crown.

Found guilty were Patrick Moroso of Sudbury, Aiden Joly of Val Caron and Jack Horsfall of Garson.

The court heard that on April 29, 2023, conservation officers were conducting surveillance near Azilda in response to public complaints of individuals spearing spawning walleye during the closed season.

“In the early hours that morning, officers observed Patrick Moroso and Aiden Joly in the water in possession of spears, spearing large walleye during the spawn,” the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said in a news release Friday.

“All walleye successfully speared were observed to be brought onto shore to Jack Horsfall, who was aiding in spotlighting the speared walleye.”

Walleye that had been injured during the spearing and managed to “release themselves from the spear barbs floated down river and no attempt to recover them was made,” the MNRF said.

“When officers contacted the individuals, Aiden Joly obstructed the officers by throwing evidence into the river and fleeing the scene.”

Justice of the Peace Lori-Ann Toulouse heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury on Sept. 11, 2023.

Moroso pleaded guilty to possessing fish caught in contravention of Ontario Fishery Regulations under the Fisheries Act, abandoning fish suitable for food, fishing by means other than angling and possessing a spear for fishing.

He was fined a total of $2,469, suspended from fishing for a total of two years and the fish and spear were forfeited to the Crown.

Joly pleaded guilty to possessing fish caught in contravention of Ontario Fishery Regulations under the Fisheries Act, obstructing a fisheries officer, fishing by means other than angling and possessing a spear for fishing.

He was fined a total of $2,469, suspended from fishing for two years and the fish and spear were forfeited to the Crown.

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Horsfall pleaded guilty to possessing fish caught in contravention of the Ontario Fishery Regulations under the Fisheries Act, fishing by means other than angling and unlawfully using artificial light to attract fish.

He was fined a total of $2,667 and the fish were forfeited to the Crown.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, click here.