Coast Guard interdicts lancha with 300 red snapper

Courtesy Photo | A lancha, or Mexican fishing boat, was seized along with 300 red snapper, 3 shark and fishing gear, near the U.S./Mexico border after the Coast Guard caught four men aboard the boat illegally fishing in U.S. territorial waters Feb. 24, 2017. U.S. Coast Guard photo.  

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX, UNITED STATES

02.26.2017

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Kendrick 

U.S. Coast Guard District 8 PADET Houston

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Coast Guard law enforcement crews successfully detected and interdicted a Mexican lancha boat with four Mexican nationals illegally fishing in federal waters off southern Texas Friday.

Friday evening, Coast Guard crews stopped the lancha and four Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing. The lancha, 300 red snapper totaling 979 pounds, 3 shark and illegal fishing gear were seized. The Mexican fishermen were detained and transferred to border enforcement agents.

A lancha is a Mexican fishing boat that is approximately 20-30 feet long with a slender profile, has one outboard motor, is capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 30 mph, and is frequently used to fish illegally in the United States' Exclusive Economic Zone near the U.S./Mexico border.

• Date Taken: 02.26.2017
• Date Posted: 02.26.2017 16:37
• Story ID: 224919
• Location: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX, US