Otsego Man Caught with Hundreds of Fish Fined More than $2,000

An Otsego man who was in possession of more than 500 fish was sentenced earlier this month in Wright County District Court.

Chien Van Tran, 40, of Otsego, was sentenced on July 6 for Misdemeanor Hunting-Gross Overlimit of Wild Animals to 60 days jail, $300 fine; 60 days stayed for one year on conditions of probation.

Tran will pay a $300 fine plus surcharges, pay $1,755 in restitution, comply with DNR hunting and fishing requirements, complete 60 hours community service, have no same or similar violations within that year of probation.

The sharp eye of a conservation officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources netted Tran with 413 sunfish and 30 crappies over the legal limit.

State Conservation Officer Rick Reller of Buffalo watched as Tran placed a bag of fish in a locked compartment of his boat before leaving Pelican Lake near St. Michael on April 4.

“I asked how fishing was and if he had any fish onboard the boat,” said Reller. “He stated the fishing was ‘O.K.’ and he showed me a cooler with approximately a dozen panfish in it.”

Panfish is a term commonly used by anglers to refer to any small catch that will fit in a pan, but is large enough to be legal. This includes sunfish and crappies.

Asked several times if there were other fish on the boat Tran said, “No.” He eventually admitted that there were more fish on board, around 100. The total was 134 sunfish and 19 crappies. The state daily/possession limit is 20 sunfish and 10 crappies.

Reller asked Tran if he had any more fish at home. With Tran’s permission, a check of a freezer found 11 bags of fish containing 299 sunfish and 21 crappies bringing the total number to 413 sunfish and 30 crappies over the legal limit.

“I told Mr. Tran that I would be seizing all the fish,” Reller said. “I also advised him that I was seizing his boat, motors, trailer, and fishing license as part of a gross misdemeanor over limit of fish.”

Anyone witnessing a fishing or wildlife violation is encouraged to contact the nearest conservation officer, law enforcement agency or the toll-free Turn-In-Poacher (TIP) hotline at 800-652-9093. Also, #TIP is available to most cell phone users in Minnesota.

People should contact the Minnesota State Patrol or a DNR regional or area office for the name and phone number of a conservation officer in their area.