FWC Law Enforcement Report: Social Media Post Lands Man In Trouble

May 1, 2019

The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending April 18 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

Officer Allgood received information that an individual posted a picture on social media of him holding two gag grouper in front of his home. Officer Allgood contacted the individual who still had parts of the fish in his possession. The individual was cited for possession of gag grouper during closed season.

Officer McHenry received information from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) that they saw an individual catching and keeping red snapper in Pensacola Bay near the USCG station. When he arrived on scene, the subjects had left the area, but the vessel’s registration number was obtained from the USCG. Officer McHenry proceeded to the registered owner’s home and located the vessel there. The individual admitted to catching the red snapper and was in possession of two freshly caught red snapper. Charges were filed for possession of red snapper out of season.

Officer Allgood was checking subjects at the Navy Point Boat Ramp when he noticed two divers returning to the ramp. They claimed they did not catch or spear any fish. During the fisheries inspection he found a red snapper on board the vessel. The individual who speared the fish was cited for possession of red snapper during a closed season.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

No report received from Santa Rosa County.

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. Information provided by FWC.

NorthEscambia.com photo.

Comments

19 Responses to “FWC Law Enforcement Report: Social Media Post Lands Man In Trouble”

  1. don on May 2nd, 2019 4:06 pm

    Walter Morgan economist,

    Don’t break the law and you won’t have to worry about losing your right to vote.

    It’s not that complicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Walter Morgan on May 2nd, 2019 8:28 am

    So the authorities to be wants to stripp a person of their voting privileges just for catching some fish out of season when democrat politicians wants to give voting privileges to convicted crime felons in prison along with illegal immigrants coming across our borders every day?! Something is definitely WRONG with this analogy don’t you think???

  3. don on May 1st, 2019 11:27 pm

    economist,

    What does “VOTING” have to do with illegal fishing ???????

  4. economist on May 1st, 2019 8:14 pm

    …and yet, people think individuals who get arrested for these such things, should have to forfeit their right to vote even after all the fines and debt to society has been paid in full…

  5. Lars on May 1st, 2019 1:20 pm

    This whole conversation is backwards. Its commercial fishing that wrecks a species, not individuals fishing for personal consumption. A species under pressure should not be allowed to be commercially fished. That’s right no red snapper on the menu at the resturants but like they say, there are plenty other fish in the sea.

    BTW before anyone tries to “educate” me I know that commercial fishermen have limits as well.

  6. Florida logger on May 1st, 2019 1:04 pm

    What is the world would someone have them busybody fwc on there social media Facebook ,Twitter ,Instagram ect.

  7. Randy Webb on May 1st, 2019 11:12 am

    Hey Get Ready…news flash. If you cant afford to feed your family in conventional fashion, why would you poach fish from a boat? You can buy a lot of food for the price of fuel. The FWC officer isnt taking food off anybody’s table…sounds like to Me that FWC needs to be watching Your activities.

  8. Adam on May 1st, 2019 10:29 am

    Get Ready, for the price of gas for their fishing outing, they could buy more amounts of food than those fish provided.

  9. Erica on May 1st, 2019 10:16 am

    Don’t take fish out of season and there won’t any Issues. There are PLENTY of in season fish to catch and cook up!

  10. Stephanie on May 1st, 2019 9:57 am

    Really? That type of thinking ruins fishing for others. if someone needs to survive, they need to follow the regulations like everyone else. Maybe even learn how to catch fish that are in season. Hell, they were on a boat, not cheap to maintain so I doubt they were struggling. Ignorance is bliss.

  11. Bobby on May 1st, 2019 9:49 am

    Thats a terrible excuse to use as for keeping fish out of season they had enough money to get gas to go out and fish and have the luxury of owning a boat so clearly they are not struggling to survive so you’re point is clearly a invalid one try again

  12. Really on May 1st, 2019 9:11 am

    Survival? Dont think they are starving big difference in fishing illegally and fishing for survival plenty in season to catch

  13. MICHAEL O. on May 1st, 2019 8:18 am

    @Get ready: If they can afford to go out on a boat, with dive gear, they can afford to eat. Breaking the law has nothing to due with survival, in this case. This was not two homeless people with a boat and dive gear. Lets be real, not ready.

  14. Bewildered on May 1st, 2019 8:14 am

    I agree “get ready” if we ever see times like this again. Right now, however, I doubt anyone able to afford a huge boat (and the gas it takes to run it) and goes out for a recreational dive is starving and looking for food. They simply want to brag and prove they are above the law.

  15. Don Neese on May 1st, 2019 8:03 am

    @get ready

    But, “times aren’t rough”.
    At least for the folks with diving gear and $30,000 boats. Some folks may be having hard times. But the lines are still long at walmart, two cars are in most driveways, people can still buy cigarettes and afford new tattoos. Most houses have air conditioning….you get the picture. We live in a very pampered society compared to the rest of the world. It’s probably why everyone else wants across the border.
    Me? I’m just thankful to be on this side. Where the red snapper
    Exist :)

  16. Janet on May 1st, 2019 7:45 am

    @Get Ready. Not all poachers steal to put food on table for starving families; some are just greedy!

  17. Stephen on May 1st, 2019 7:17 am

    So, were you advocating for harming FWC officers? It’s those people who made them have these laws to begin with thus ruining it for everyone else.

  18. William on May 1st, 2019 7:10 am

    ‘Get ready’ – Survival? Really? Sell the boat. That will buy more food than you can catch. Then you can use the gas money needed to operate the boat to buy more food. Plus all the money you save on bail bonds and legal fees will buy more food than you and your family can eat.

    Better than survival, obey the laws. Respect those that enforce them. You’ll live a longer, more peaceful life.

  19. Get ready on May 1st, 2019 2:41 am

    When times get rough people are going to survive one way or another and I would hate to be a fwc officer in those times trying to take food off of the table. Legal or not, survival is survival and the human nature is to do just that.