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A Mossyrock fisherman made his first appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday on charges that he went fishing in June despite a lifetime ban.
James A. Wood, 68, was charged Tuesday with violating a first-degree state Department of Fish and Wildlife suspension. He was granted $5,000 unsecured bail. His next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11.
On June 21, a WDFW officer contacted Wood among a group of people fishing at the Mossyrock Dam. Wood provided a two-day license that was expired, according to court documents.
The officer did not initially plan to cite Wood, but looked up his name and realized the fisherman had his fishing rights permanently suspended by the agency.
Wood reportedly told the officer he knew about the ban but started fishing again because he “didn’t have anything better to do.”
