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FWC Law Enforcement Report

Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekend ending May 8

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

While patrolling the Escambia River, Officer Pettey checked two individuals fishing from a vessel.  A fisheries inspection revealed they were in possession of 115 bream.  The daily bag limit for bream is 50 per person.  Notice to appear citations were issued to the individuals for the violations.

While patrolling the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Lieutenant Lambert observed a group of people swimming at a nearby landing.  As he approached the group, he noticed one individual quickly attempt to conceal an item near their coolers.  While talking to the group, Lieutenant Lambert noticed a small bag of marijuana laying in the bushes just a couple of feet away from the group’s coolers.  After interviews, an additional small amount of marijuana was found on two subjects.  Notice to appear citations were issued for possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Additionally, one of the subjects had a warrant for their arrest for custodial kidnapping.  Lieutenant Lambert transported that subject to the Santa Rosa County Jail for processing.

Officer Cushing and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Officer Demesillo were conducting federal fisheries enforcement in the Gulf of Mexico.  While approaching a vessel, they observed a red snapper being thrown overboard.  Once alongside the vessel, the operator of the vessel was asked if he had any fish on board.  He admitted to having “fish I am not supposed to have.” The subject was issued a federal notice of violation for being in possession of red snapper during the closed season.

On a two-day event, the crew of the Fin Cat conducted offshore patrols targeting both state and federal fishery violations.  During these two days, 19 vessels were inspected and approximately 80 users checked by NOAA and FWC officers.  Several violations were documented and/or citations issued for possession of gray triggerfish during closed season, over the bag limit of gray triggerfish and vermillion snapper, using reef fish as bait and running a charter without a charter permit.

Officers Manning and Hoomes observed a known commercial fisherman bring a cobia he recently caught to a local restaurant.  An inspection of the restaurant revealed the cobia, 46 black drum fillets, 20 pompano fillets, 2 king mackerel fillets, 15 whole pompano and two whole white trout.  The owner of the restaurant could not provide documentation of where he got the fish and claimed they were given to him.  The fish were seized and a notice to appear citation was issued to the restaurant owner for not having a wholesale license.  The commercial fisherman admitted he received money for selling the fish and was issued a notice to appear citation for selling to an unlicensed wholesaler.

This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.