Obtaining a fishing licence in the United States is a relatively simple task that could come back to haunt you if you don’t have one.
However, while people who regularly go fishing are likely to already know this and have their licences to avoid fines and penalties, some everyday people who have never gone fishing in their lives can suffer major penalties for their conduct on beaches or near lakes that have fish within them.
This was the case for Charlotte Russ, a mother from California who took her children to a beach known for its bountiful clam population. Her children, thinking the clams were seashells, collected 72 clams and brought them to their mother’s truck. This, unbeknownst to them, was against state regulations and landed their mother in some very hot water.
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Russ then found out the hard way what the rules were for collecting clams on the beach, as she received an $88,000 fine for her kids’ actions.
Beyond their not having a fishing licence, the type of clams they collected was also a part of the issue, as under-grown clams are not to be collected even if you have the proper paperwork.
Lieutenant Matthew Gil spoke with ABC 7 on behalf of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to explain why, whether maliciously done or not, it’s illegal to collect clams without a license–especially if they’re not fully grown.
“The reason we got it we have these regulations is because we have to let them get to 4 and a half inches,” Gil explained, “So they can have they can have offspring every year.”
“They had juvenile clams.”
When speaking about the $88,000 ticket she received, Charlotte Russ said that it really killed the vibe of her family’s trip.
“It made me really sad and depressed, and it kind of ruined our trip," Russ explained.
She also made mention of what that day’s events taught her and her family, saying: “They know now at the beach don't touch anything, but they know now what a clam is, compared to what a seashell is now, I've had to explain that to them."
Lt. Gil also explained how to tell the difference between a clam and a seashell – if you cannot easily take a presumed seashell apart, it is likely a clam.
Luckily for Russ, after going to court regarding her case and explaining the situation to a judge, her $88,000 ticket was reduced to $500, making the situation far less traumatic for the Fresno resident.
Dylan Murray