Fisherman charged over Guffin Bay scuffle

CHAUMONT — When two veteran fishermen crossed paths on the water in Guffin Bay late in August, angling reportedly turned to scuffling on one of their boats, netting a harassment charge for one of them Wednesday, according to state police.

Gerald S. Fitzgerald, 48, of 42145 Bailey Settlement Road, Alexandria Bay, an owner of Thousand Islands Fishery, is accused of landing a punch to the face of Harvey D. Vandewalker Sr., 50, owner of Harv's Fishery in Chaumont, police said. Mr. Fitzgerald is summoned to appear in town of Lyme Court.

Police said the former friends had an encounter the afternoon of Aug. 27 when their respective boats came too close.

"One of them was casting in the general direction of the other," a trooper said.

They exchanged words, with one of them eventually threatening to call police. Mr. Fitzgerald abandoned his vessel and boarded Mr. Vandewalker's craft, whereupon a small scuffle developed, the trooper said.

Mr. Vandewalker came out of it with a bruised eye, and he filed a complaint. No action was taken until this week, after the district attorney's office reviewed the issue to assess whether the confrontation amounted to assault or simple harassment, the trooper said.