AUGUSTA – A New Vineyard man was among eight people summoned by Maine wildlife wardens for illegally taking smelts from a Penobscot County lake and selling them.

Wilfrod Dagget Jr., 25, was charged with one count of illegal angling.

Others caught this winter during an investigation at Lake Wassookeag in Dexter include:

• Dale Doucette, 49, of Albion, on a charge of one count of illegal angling.

• Troy Dyer, 33, of Dexter, on one charge of buying smelts from an unlicensed dealer, one count of selling smelts without a license, and three counts of illegal angling (smelting with more than one hook on a line).

• Scott Knowlton, 40, of Parkman, on a charge of buying smelts from an unlicensed smelt dealer.

• Perry McKenny II, 31, of Dexter, on a count of illegal angling.

• Jeff Richards, 44, of Dexter, on three counts of buying smelts from an unlicensed smelt dealer.

• Joyce Richards, 50, of Dexter, on a charge of buying smelts from an unlicensed smelt dealer.

• Michael Tripp, 40, of Fayette, on a charge of illegal angling.

All are scheduled to appear on April 7 in Maine District Court in Newport.

Maine Warden spokesman Mark Latti said Friday that the investigation revealed there were several individuals who deal in smelts commercially, who were reportedly buying smelts illegally from unlicensed fishermen.

Charges against the eight were decided following consultation with the Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office.

Recreational and commercial fishermen can catch up to two quarts of smelt daily on Lake Wassookeag, Latti said. Bait dealers – the commercial fishermen who sell their catch – must have a smelt wholesaler’s license to catch, sell and buy smelts.

Public complaints to wardens sparked the investigation.

“Smelts are an important recreational sport fish, and are vital as forage to many highly desirable sport fish such as salmon and trout,” Latti added.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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