Huntley might fine anglers who keep fish

It soon could become a crime in Huntley to keep the fish you catch from certain village ponds.

On Thursday night, the village board discussed adding a new law to the books that would punish anglers who don’t throw back what they’ve caught from one of four retention ponds.

After an initial warning, they would receive a $250 fine for violating the catch-and-release policy. A subsequent offense would cost $500, according to the proposed ordinance.

While Trustee Pam Fender says the fine is way too high, Trustee Niko Kanakaris says a steep penalty is necessary to protect the fish for future generations.

“I think if you have it any lower, then people might just take the fish and jeopardize the fish in the ponds,” Kanakaris said. “The higher it is, the better.”

The discussion comes a week after a homeowner in the Southwind subdivision off Reed and Haligus roads brought the issue to the board.

He complained about confronting a neighbor who was reeling in fish at one of the ponds in the subdivision — and keeping them.

The new ordinance would bar people from keeping fish inside buckets, a net, a cage or any other apparatus meant to keep the fish alive and captive.

“Any fish caught in any pond owned by the Village of Huntley shall be returned to the pond immediately after being unhooked,” the draft ordinance reads. “The party catching and releasing any such fish shall at all times act in a manner reasonably designed to minimize and prevent physical injury to such fish.”

Developers added bluegills and bass to four retention ponds in the Southwind and Wing Pointe subdivisions for a reason.

The fish are meant to eat mosquitoes and other unwanted bugs and to keep the pond healthy, Fender said.

“One guy can destroy the whole ecosystem, so that can become a problem real fast,” Fender said. “Government doesn’t always work that quickly, so that’s pretty good.”

The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed ordinance next week.

If approved, authorities will publicize the new law by putting up at least one sign in a prominent location and others near the ponds in question and other common areas.

The ordinance would only apply to the retention ponds within the Southwind and Wing Pointe subdivisions.