Fish, Wildlife and Parks is again asking the person responsible for putting plastic Zip Ties into the jaws of Missouri River walleye to stop.
The illegal practice first came to light a year ago when FWP game wardens found two walleyes with Zip Ties in their jaws.
This year, during the first week of May, FWP fisheries biologists discovered two more walleyes with Zip Ties in their jaws, including one that had caused an open sore in the fish’s jaw. The walleye were found in the Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig section of the Missouri.
“We don’t put jaw tags in fish anymore because it causes damage,” said Jason Mullen, FWP Region 4 fisheries biologist.
“Whoever is doing it should stop,” he said. “It confuses the public, making people think FWP is putting the plastic jaw tags out. We are not. But some anglers might catch and keep a fish they normally wouldn’t, because they think we want the information or there is a reward or something.”
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