Jye Stephen Wrightson: Stalled dirt bike foils Marangaroo man’s marron theft from Perth’s Victoria Reservoir

A man’s plan to take an illegal haul of marron from a Perth dam was foiled when his dirt bike stalled as he tried to escape authorities.

Jye Stephen Wrightson was stopped in his tracks by Water Corp rangers as he tried to smuggle — in his backpack — 42 live marron from the Victoria Reservoir dam, in the Perth Hills, on February 27.

Fishing and catching marron is prohibited in the area at all times.

Rangers spotted the 35-year-old Marangaroo man riding, alongside another man, on a dirt bike through the area that night before asking the pair to stop.

Wrightson’s dirt bike stalled as they tried to flee, leading to his quick apprehension by the rangers.

He has now been ordered to pay nearly $4000 for the illegal haul by an Armadale magistrate.

Wrightson admitted to snorkelling in the dam to capture the marron with the second rider in the Armadale Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, but denied knowing the identity of his accomplice.

Fisheries’ compliance Director Todd A’Vard is warning illegal marron catches, such as Wrightson’s haul, would be met with hefty fines.

“Out of season marron fishing is something our compliance officers close... check on throughout the year,” Mr A’Vard said.

“We work closely with WA Police in regional areas to detect illegal marron fishing and in this case Water Corporation Catchment rangers looking after our drinking water dams, who have legal status as Honorary Fisheries Officers if they come across people fishing illegally.

“Sharing information and resources has benefited both departments, to help us to better manage freshwater and marron fishing activities. You can help too, by reporting suspected illegal marron catching to FishWatch on 1800 815 507.”