Men found with hundreds of illegal fish, including state symbol

Jefferson County game wardens seized 109 flounder, 2 over-sized redfish and 19 lightning whelks from two Port Arthur men on Saturday, according to Texas Game Wardens. Click through to see the biggest fish caught in Texas waters. less Jefferson County game wardens seized 109 flounder, 2 over-sized redfish and 19 lightning whelks from two Port Arthur men on Saturday, according to Texas Game Wardens. Click through to see the biggest fish ... more Image 1 of / 37 Caption Close Men found with hundreds of illegal fish, including state symbol 1 / 37 Back to Gallery

Game Warden Clinton Caywood was driving on Texas 73 on Saturday when he spotted turquoise-colored shrimping bags sticking out of the bed of an unmarked truck.

Caywood signaled for the truck to pull over on the Port Arthur highway and "it snowballed from there," he said.

Authorities found 109 illegally-caught flounder, 59 of which were undersized, Caywood said. Two oversized red drum fish and 19 lightning whelk snails were also seized in what Caywood thought would just be a traffic stop.

"You typically don't see that amount of flounder in one place," said Caywood.

During the month of November, fishers can only keep two flounder, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the fish must be at least 14 inches long.

The case will be filed with a Justice of the Peace Court shortly, Caywood said. Fines for the two Port Arthur men ranges anywhere from $25 to $500 per charge. Civil restitution is also pending, according to a Texas Game Wardens Facebook post.

The charges include undersized flounder, exceeding the catch limit, untagged redfish and illegal possession of lightning whelks, the official state shell of Texas.

Texas Parks and Wildlife calls for a tag for red drum fish over 28 inches. The two caught on Saturday were about 35 inches, Caywood said.

The fish "are not going to waste," according to Caywood, who said the fish have since been donated to members of the public through word of mouth.

The department has no guidelines on how to give seized products away, he said.

"As long as they don't get wasted, we don't really worry about who gets it," Caywood said.