SPOKANE, Wash.-- A Silver Bow Fly Shop guide discovered 13 native redband trout dead and discarded in the Spokane River on Tuesday.
The new poaching case is going viral online and causing concern for many locals.
Redband trout are native to the Spokane River and they've been swimming in the area for thousands of years. Today, the fish are threatened by habitat degradation. The rule is, if you catch them, you have to release them.
According to The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the fish had been there for a few days and the department is still looking into the case.
They said this is an unusual case. There are patrols who monitor the river a few times a week. The number of patrols depends on how much activity there is on the river and how many officers are available.
Owner of Silver Bow Fly Shop, Sean Visintainer, who posted the photo of the discarded redband trout said he hopes it will help people learn the rules of the river.
"All the dead redbands there is definitely disturbing and very frustrating and it's a very fragile resource. We wanted to put the photo out there and the information just to let people know that this is not acceptable. People need to follow the rules," said Visintainer.
Fish and Wildlife officials said the most important lesson to learn from this situation is to say something when you see something.
If you see any illegal poaching, contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1-877-933-9847.