black crappies

Wisconsin Poacher Caught with an Insane Number of Panfish Faces Tough Penalties

Wisconsin illegal angler has been charged with numerous violations for poaching more than 2,500 panfish and now faces huge fines and a 12-year ban.

Stanley Paalksnis, an Onalaska resident, is looking at losing his fishing privileges for 12 years and fines of $24,683 along with having his fishing boat seized for illegally poaching more than 2,500 panfish. The sentencing is to occur in the near future.

Mr. Paalksnis, aged 74 had his boat and home recently searched by Wisconsin DNR in November 2015 and the wardens seized over 2,500 panfish. The mixed bag included bluegills, crappies and perch putting the man well over the possession limits for each type. Paalksnis also confessed to the illegal sale of fish in Chicago, where he was selling bags for 5 dollars over a 20 year period.

The man had also been charged in fishing violations in 1989 and 2011, twice losing his angling privileges.

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With a looming 12 year fishing ban and steep fines Mr. Paalksnis will not been seen on the water for a very long time after showing he is no friend of conservation.

NEXT: THIS IS A MULTI-SEASON TOUR DE FORCE OF FLY FISHING IN COLORADO