An Alaska State Trooper responded to a call from a concerned citizen in reference to a male reportedly seen keeping a wild king salmon from the Ninilchik River. The caller advised dispatch that the suspect was wearing chest waders, a black jacket, and a black hat. >> Hey, good morning. Hey, I'm Trooper McDonald. Hey, can I see your fishing license? All right. All right, and can I see your two kings? >> Yeah. >> When did you get your kings? >> Um I don't know. My buddy just took me here. This is my first time coming out here. >> Um so, we caught it >> Who Who's your buddy? >> Uh James. >> James? Where's James at? >> Um I don't know. He said he was going to >> Okay, I'll go talk to James next. So, have you fished yet this morning? >> No. >> No? All right, but you did record two yesterday, right? >> Correct. >> And they're back here in the cooler? All right. All right, and these are yours? >> Yes, sir. Right. >> Okay. There's one. 10-4, start a second wild life violation. Mention that he's a suspect. Keep him wild caught salmon. Okay, so sir, do you see this adipose fin here? >> Um, yeah. >> That indicates that it's a wild wild caught salmon. >> Oh, really? >> King salmon. So, you have this one, beautiful fish. >> Okay. >> And you see how it doesn't have it and it has a little scar right here? See how um it's been healed over, but this one has it. So, this is a hatchery king salmon. This is a wild king salmon. >> Okay. >> And that you can't have that. >> Oh, I didn't know that. >> Well, uh so, I'm going to have to catch you a citation on that. I'm seizing your fish. Also, what's your last fish you have in here? >> This is a little jack. >> Just a little jack? >> Yeah. >> All right, I'm not too concerned about the little jack. Um >> Yeah. >> But, uh that one right there is you can't have that. So, um yeah, your driver's license. All right. And these are your fish, correct, sir? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Oh, all right. Um, any other fish? >> No other fish. >> No other fish? >> This is it. >> Okay. And that cooler's empty now? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Uh Be back with you in just a moment with some paperwork. Just uh I also want to talk to your buddy down here at the river, all right? And it's James, right? Down here? All right. I'll be back with you. >> Yeah. That was the black jacket. >> Okay. Go. Thanks. James? Hey, James. How's it going? >> All right. It's going >> Pretty good. Hey, did you catch any fish here this morning? >> Yeah, I I caught a jack. >> Okay. >> Um and a and a king here. >> Okay, cool. Uh you got it on a stringer or something? >> Uh no, I put it in the in a cooler. >> Okay. So, come and come show me which fish is yours, if you could. Cuz I just talked to your buddy up the way and I got a problem. One of them is wild and one of them is a hatchery fish. So, what who's who caught what fish is what I'm trying to figure out. >> Um you know, so >> All right, James. So, what I'm trying to figure out is who caught this fish. Right here. >> I caught all of >> You did? >> Yeah. >> Have you got any fish yet this morning? >> Just the jack. >> Just the jack? Okay, why would I get a call that you've been retaining wild salmon? That's what drew me out all the way from Soldotna this morning. >> Really? >> Yeah. And you're telling me this is all the fish you guys have? >> And that's it. >> Okay. All right. Well, so the EO's are very very exact and also the regs that that you can't have uh the wild salmon. So, I've already talked to you about it. We just got to figure out any other There's no other fish whatsoever. >> No other fish. >> No other fish. Okay. So, the two salmon you recorded yesterday >> Yeah. >> are which two? >> These two. >> Those two? What fish did you catch catch this morning then? One of these little jacks? >> Yeah. >> Oh, there's more in there. Okay. All right. I'm just trying to figure out why somebody would call your truck in particular for keeping large king salmon. >> No. I mean I've only been fishing here for like, you know, an hour. >> Okay. >> Um but there was a guy here who's fishing next to me. Um he cut his fishing line when you know, he cut his line off. Um kind of like this setup here but with no string or no yarn. >> Okay. All right. Well, um I already told him I'm going to cut him some paperwork. And so, we'll just get on with it. But, can you guys understand >> Just grab it. >> like how bad this is when you have people that live right here and watch this river all the time. So, all right. Uh let me check your fishing license real quick and get you back in the water. And then I'll cut him in a citation. And you know what in the fin that we're talking about? The fin in question? >> The adipose fin? Adipose fin. >> Yep. So, you can see right here, this is a wild naturally produced salmon. But then this is a hatchery one, even though it's a hog, but you see the adipose fin's been removed there. And there's a scar right there. That's how you can tell the difference. All right, James. And you got your king stamp and everything's fine. All right, cool. I'll get you going here in a bit and I'll take that fish. All right, guys. So, there's obviously a delay and so there's an emergency order that's in effect on this river as well. And so I'm going to I'm seeking clarification to make sure charging you appropriately. Not overcharging you, but not undercharging. That is the right right thing. Um because one one could be significantly more more than the other. So, uh >> And we didn't know the order you're talking about. >> Um that's effective um 23rd. Is that the one you're talking about? >> There was one that just expired, which I don't think comes into play, but that's I'm waiting for some callbacks. Um but I don't think that's in play right now. And uh so the the overall reg is no retention of wild salmon. And so that if that's what is being charged under, it's just a strict liability. But if there's an emergency order in play, there might be some other charge. And that's what I'm I'm trying to figure out if there is anything else. Otherwise, what I'm looking at charging you is a strict liability for possession of the wild salmon. So, it it'd be like a speeding ticket. >> Okay. >> Not not mandatory court, but that's what I have to figure out if if I do have to give you a mandatory court date. >> Okay. Thanks. >> All right. So, I'll be only taking the one fish, the the one that you legally caught that does That's the hatchery king. >> Okay. >> You get to retain that one. >> Okay. >> Uh Well, I got that call back. There is no strict or there is no mandatory court appearance on this citation. Uh here's your ID back. Uh this is two copies, one for your records and one if you need to send a check or money order into the courts, so you can do so. But, uh it's a $250 fine with uh $20 surcharge for a total of $270. It's all payable at the Homer courts within the next 30 days uh at 3670 Lake Street, Homer, or you can go to courts.alaska.gov to pay it. Uh or you can like I said, you can send a check or money order and one copy's for your records and one copy is for the court record. >> Okay. >> All right. Do you have any questions for me on how to pay that? >> No, sir. >> If you want to contest the ticket, you have to notify the courts and we'll set a court date and uh within the next 30 days. >> Will do. >> All right. Let me uh snag that fish from you and and uh you guys can be on your way. All right, guys. I'm just running it right up the hill to the old folk home. And All right, guys. That's a good-looking fish, by the way. >> Thank you. >> All right. Have a good day. >> In the end, the suspect was charged with possessing a king salmon 20 in or greater in length. This case did not have a mandatory court date and there are no public court records showing he contested the citation. Based on that, it's likely he paid the $270 fine. If you like this video and want to see more, like and subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for watching. >> [music] [music]