Couple Charged With Poaching Hundreds Of Crappies

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A tip to a poachers hotline has resulted in charges against a southern Minnesota couple who investigators say were found with nearly 300 crappies after fishing on Fairmont's Lake Sisseton.

The state Department of Natural Resources says the possession limit for crappies in the state is 10.

The Star Tribune reports that 70-year-old Isouvahn Xayachack, and his wife, 60-year-old Chanhthone Phongsim, are charged with possession of fish over the limit. They face possible fines and orders for restitution that could total up to $3,000 if they're found guilty.

Minnesota Conservation Officer Dustin Miller says the case is an example of how anonymous informants under the Turn In Poachers, or TIP, program can assist in protecting state resources. He says the anonymous tip was strong because it was immediate and included solid information.

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