Montauk Fisherman Sentenced to 30 Months for Overfishing

Chris Winkler, 64, Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Overharvest Fluke and Black Sea Bass, Falsifying Records, and Selling Illegal Catch


A Montauk, N.Y., fisherman, Chris Winkler, 64, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Thursday for his involvement in a conspiracy to illegally harvest and sell fluke and black sea bass beyond legal limits. Winkler, the captain of the 45-foot trawler “New Age,” was convicted by a Long Island jury last October on federal charges including criminal conspiracy, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice.

Winkler was found guilty of hauling excessive fish and falsifying records to conceal his illegal activities, selling the over-quota catch to partners at Gosman’s Dock in Montauk and dealers at the Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx.

The sentencing, handed down by Judge Joan M. Azrack of the Eastern District of New York, emphasized the severity of Winkler’s crimes, which she stated undermined the integrity of fisheries management. Winkler’s case sheds light on the ongoing tensions between Long Island fishermen and federal regulators, with some local fishermen arguing that current quotas are outdated and unfair.

Winkler’s trial featured testimony from dock workers, fishermen, and officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The trial highlighted the federal government’s increasing use of criminal prosecution to enforce fishing regulations, marking Winkler’s case as one of several similar prosecutions in recent years.

Winkler, who expressed deep remorse for his actions, is scheduled to surrender in December.

Wow, maybe I am out of the loop, but I can't recall ever hearing about an actual prison sentence handed down for fishing violations. Heavy fines, loss of credentials, maybe confiscation of boats, gear etc. But never time behind bars.

Very nasty but if you break the law to this extent maybe it is a just punishment.

The "Codfather", Carlos Rafael, out of New Bedford makes this sentence look like a "Timeout". He got 4 years in the slammer, something like $3 million in fines, banned from fishing from life, and had to sell his fleet.

Of course, a al Al Capone, the brunt of his charges stemmed from tax evasion, but there was a ton of NOAA convictions too.

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Chris Winkler, 64, Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Overharvest Fluke and Black Sea Bass, Falsifying Records, and Selling Illegal Catch


A Montauk, N.Y., fisherman, Chris Winkler, 64, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Thursday for his involvement in a conspiracy to illegally harvest and sell fluke and black sea bass beyond legal limits. Winkler, the captain of the 45-foot trawler “New Age,” was convicted by a Long Island jury last October on federal charges including criminal conspiracy, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice.

Winkler was found guilty of hauling excessive fish and falsifying records to conceal his illegal activities, selling the over-quota catch to partners at Gosman’s Dock in Montauk and dealers at the Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx.

The sentencing, handed down by Judge Joan M. Azrack of the Eastern District of New York, emphasized the severity of Winkler’s crimes, which she stated undermined the integrity of fisheries management. Winkler’s case sheds light on the ongoing tensions between Long Island fishermen and federal regulators, with some local fishermen arguing that current quotas are outdated and unfair.

Winkler’s trial featured testimony from dock workers, fishermen, and officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The trial highlighted the federal government’s increasing use of criminal prosecution to enforce fishing regulations, marking Winkler’s case as one of several similar prosecutions in recent years.

Winkler, who expressed deep remorse for his actions, is scheduled to surrender in December.

This case with Chris Winkler really hits home for us local fishermen here on Long Island. It's tough seeing someone in our community getting caught up like this.