After a 10-month multi-agency investigation, game wardens with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources have identified 25 individuals to be charged with a range of violations in connection with the illegal commercial harvest and sale of catfish from public waters, as well as the unlawful operation of pay lakes across Kentucky.
Dubbed Operation River Raid, the extensive enforcement effort spans from Paducah to Ashland and represents one of the most significant cases of illegal wildlife harvesting and distribution in recent state history.
"This case reflects our commitment to safeguarding Kentucky's natural resources," said Col. Jeremy McQueary, director of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division. "Illegal commercialization of wildlife — especially through the exploitation of native fish populations — undermines conservation efforts and lawful recreation. We will not tolerate it."
Following the Department posting on Facebook, individuals have commented on the investigation, writing, "As a non-resident that has spent thousands of dollars in the past years fishing Kentucky waters chasing catfish to only see it depleted over the last 15 years, this is great news. Awesome job to fish and wildlife management team."
The investigation is anticipated to result in more than 700 criminal charges across six counties: Livingston, Marshall, Boyd, Bath, Lawrence, and Powell. Wardens plan to present more than 100 felony counts to local grand juries, seeking indictments. Charges remain pending as investigators continue reviewing evidence and case materials. Authorities allege that the defendants failed to report the harvest of a total of more than 300,000 pounds of catfish, a clear violation of Kentucky law.
"A critical piece of information to properly manage any fishery is accurate harvest rates," said Dave Dreves, director of the Fisheries Division. "That is why commercial fishers are required to report their harvest each month. This egregious underreporting undermines our ability to properly monitor catfish populations, especially trophy catfish."
Officials believe the illegal activity involved harvesting catfish from public waterways and transporting them for sale to unregulated or illegally operated pay lakes. This practice not only violates state law but also harms fish populations and lawful businesses, and it threatens the long-term sustainability of Kentucky's natural resources.
The success of Operation River Raid is the result of coordinated efforts by multiple agencies, including Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Game Wardens and Fisheries Division employees from across the state, as well as district and circuit courts from numerous counties. Investigators utilized surveillance, intelligence sharing, and field inspections across multiple counties to disrupt these illegal activities.
Due to the active nature of the case, specific names and details are being withheld until court proceedings are underway. Updates will be provided as they become available.
"This case sends a strong message," added Maj. David Marques, assistant director for the Law Enforcement Division. "If you profit from poaching or operate outside the law, we will find you, and you will be held accountable."
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has pursued enforcement actions against other illegal commercial catfish activity in recent years, including a separate, unrelated 2024 case involving unlawful harvests from waters close to commercial fishing and the sale of those fish to a privately operated pay lake. In an earlier investigation, officials documented repeated illegal removals of catfish, unlicensed sellers, and failures to report required transactions, indicating longstanding regulatory concerns about unreported harvests and the impact of unregulated pay-lake operations on catfish populations and lawful businesses.
The public is encouraged to report suspected poaching activity to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife by calling 800-25-ALERT, texting “KFWLAW” and your message to tip411 (847411), or by contacting their local Kentucky Game Warden.
