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February 2, 2024 through February 8, 2024
This report represents some events the FWC handled over specified weeks;
however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
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 CASES
Franklin County
- Officer Hartzog was conducting patrol on Bay Ave. in Apalachicola and saw a recreational vessel with two individuals onboard returning to Ten Foot Hole Boat Ramp. Officer Hartzog observed offshore fishing gear and stopped the vessel for a resource inspection. During the inspection, the subjects were found to possess over their daily bag limit and out-of-season gray triggerfish. The violations were cited accordingly.
Gadsden County
- Officer H. Keels was patrolling at the Ochlockonee River and Highway 90 boat ramp when he observed two individuals dressed in camouflage loading two kayaks. He approached the two individuals to conduct a resource inspection. One hunter produced a pied-billed grebe and said he shot it. Appropriate citations were issued.
- Officer M. Fernbach received information that a subject killed an antlered deer during closed season. Officer Fernbach and Officer L. Glover drove to the subject’s residence to conduct an interview. The subject admitted to harvesting a an antlered deer and taking the antlers and deer hide to a taxidermist in Georgia. The violation was addressed accordingly and was direct filed through Gadsden County State Attorney’s Office.
Leon County
- Officer Hildebrand was patrolling Lake Iamonia when he observed two subjects in camouflage clothing and waders in a boat with duck hunting decoys out. He pulled alongside to perform a resource inspection on the vessel. The two individuals had two shotguns in the boat as well as five ring-necked ducks. In Leon County it is legal to take ducks only on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as holidays listed in the FWC hunting regulation guide. The two individuals were issued citations for taking ducks geese or coots in violation of listed seasons.
Santa Rosa County
- Officer R. Bower was on patrol and observed a spotlight coming from a vehicle. The vehicle then stopped for several seconds while shining a field. The officer conducted a vehicle stop and the driver admitted he was shining for deer. Officer Bower located two rifles that were easily accessible. After further investigation, it was determined an antlerless deer had been killed out of season. The subject was charged with night hunting and the illegal take of an antlerless deer.
 CASES
Brevard County
- Officers Crespi and Beck were on patrol at Kiwanis Park at Geiger Point when they observed a subject who was fishing place a large bag over a white bucket. Officer Crespi conducted a resource inspection and requested the subject to remove the bag, which revealed about 3.5 gallons of oysters. It is prohibited to harvest oysters in that area. Upon finding the oysters, the subject admitted to harvesting them and was cited accordingly.
Marion County
- Officers Velez and Laroche were on patrol around Forest Road 22 and Sellers Lake when they observed a subject fishing in a small boat near the shoreline. As they approached, the subject began throwing fish into the water from his boat. Officer Laroche retrieved the fish, which were identified as largemouth bass. Upon further inspection, the subject was found to be in possession of seven largemouth bass in addition to the two that were thrown into the water. The violations were addressed accordingly.
Orange County
- Officer Naules responded to a call from a county land manager about individuals trespassing on a restricted canal connecting to the Econlockhatchee River. Officer Naules observed four individuals throwing cast nets beyond a fenced and posted “No Trespassing” area. One of the subjects fled on foot and Officer Naules apprehended the subject. Officers Wild, Easterbrook, and Poley, along with Lieutenant Mendelson arrived on scene to assist. The fleeing subject was arrested and all subjects received citations for not having valid nonresident freshwater fishing licenses and were issued trespass notices.
- Officer Specialist Fahnestock received a call that an individual was in possession of a fox at his residence. Officer Fahnestock arrived at the location and identified an individual who was in possession of the fox. An investigation revealed the subject did not have a permit or any documentation/requirements to possess the fox at his residence. Officer Fahnestock addressed the following violations: no Class 3 permit, no documentation of acquisition, no dig barrier, unsanitary conditions and caging violations. The subject was issued a notice to appear, and the fox was turned over to a licensed rehabilitation center.
- Officer Specialist Fahnestock and Officer Navarino were patrolling a local wildlife management area during wild hog-dog season. The officers observed two subjects exiting the wood line with six hunting dogs, five of which were off leash. During a resource inspection, they found the subjects' dog collars did not have the required identifying information on them. One of the subjects was also found to be hunting on a revoked hunting license. Officer Navarino arrested the subject who was hunting with a revoked hunting license and Officer Fahnestock issued the second subject a notice to appear for having more than three free-running dogs and for not having the dog collars tagged properly.
- Officer Specialists Fahnestock and Pecko were patrolling a local wildlife management area during a quota only wild hog-dog season. The officers stopped a group of hunters to conduct a resource inspection. During the inspection, Officer Fahnestock identified dogs hunting without the required identifying information on them. Several other violations, including operating a vehicle off-road and all-terrain vehicles in closed areas, were also identified. The violations were addressed accordingly and a notice to appear was issued.
Seminole County
- Officer Wild was patrolling Lake Jesup and portions of the St. John’s River when he conducted a resource inspection of an individual on a vessel that was fishing for crappie. During the inspection, the subject admitted to possessing over the daily bag limit of black crappie. Officer Wild confirmed the subject was over his daily bag limit and issued the subject a notice to appear for the violation. Other boating registration, boating safety and navigational lights violations were addressed.
Volusia County
- Officer Specialist Vanas was on patrol in Tiger Bay Wildlife Management Area - Rima Ridge Unit, which was closed to hunting at that time. The officer saw an unoccupied vehicle parked on the side of the road with hunting gear and tracked the subject to his hunting location in the woods and conducted a resource inspection. The subject was charged with hunting in a management area posted as closed to hunting, fishing or trapping.
- Officer Quick was on patrol when he responded to a report of shots being fired near Tomoka State Park near Walter Boardman boat ramp. He observed a vessel returning to the boat ramp from duck hunting. Officer Quick conducted a resource inspection and found the subject had none of the required permits to hunt ducks (hunting license, federal migratory bird stamp, and state waterfowl permit) and was using lead shot. The subject also had no life jackets on board, no sound producing device, no registration, and no hull identification number on the vessel. Officer Quick addressed the violations with the appropriate citations and warnings.
- Officer Cornell was on night patrol at Lake George Wildlife Management Area when he observed a vehicle driving through the area slowly, displaying a light out the window and swerving in a manner to disclose the presence of wildlife with both the headlights and the handheld light. Officer Cornell stopped the vehicle, which was occupied by five subjects who had several loaded firearms commonly used for hunting in their possession. Officer Cornell called for backup, made the scene safe, then interviewed the subjects. He determined all five subjects were participating in illegal night hunting and the driver of the vehicle did not have a driver’s license. Officer Cornell issued citations and warnings appropriately for all offenses including illegal hunting with gun and light at night, driving without license, use of non-expandable ammunition, and open container.
- Officer Velez was on patrol near the railroad bridge off Turnbill Bay Road when he observed a subject who appeared to be harvesting oysters under the railroad bridge. Oysters are prohibited from being harvested in this area. Officer Velez contacted the subject and determined he was in possession of oysters that he had just harvested. Officer Velez addressed violation accordingly.
- Officer Velez was on patrol around High Bridge and Bulow Creek State Park when he conducted a resource inspection on a subject fishing from shore. The subject advised Officer Velez he had not caught any fish. An inspection of the cooler sitting next to the subject produced two undersized mangrove snapper, which the subject admitted to catching. The subject also did not have a valid saltwater shoreline license. The officer addressed the violations.
St. Johns County
- Officer Specialist Lawrence and Senior Officer Thomas were conducting fisheries patrols at Vilano Boat Ramp and inspected a vessel returning from fishing. Upon inspection it was revealed the subject was in possession of two undersized seatrout. Officer Lawrence issued a citation for the violation.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Orange County
- Officer Navarino and Officer Specialist Hallsten assisted the Range Drainage District with their 6th Annual Lake Davis Family Fishing Day in Wedge Field. There were about 40 families in attendance. The event was designed to get children out into nature and to get them excited about fishing. The event was a great success.
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 CASES
Hillsborough County
- While on land patrol, Officer Sutton observed a fishing vessel return to a boat ramp. Officer Sutton contacted the three individuals onboard and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Officer Sutton located an undersized redfish. One of the individuals onboard the vessel admitted to catching the redfish and was issued a citation for the fisheries violation.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officers Rigali and Bouras inspected a seafood vendor for quality and safety. Their inspection revealed the vendor/owner had a nonworking thermometer and improper invoices. Rigali issued the owner a notice to appear citation for the violations.
- Officer Giani stopped a vessel in Pompano Beach to conduct a resource inspection. The officer’s inspection revealed the subject was in possession of one out-of-season red grouper. Giani issued the subject a citation for the violation.
- Officer Moss responded to a report regarding anglers keeping undersized snapper at the Jensen Causeway. Moss conducted a resource inspection on an individual in possession of several fish in a bucket and discovered five undersized mutton snapper, one undersized lane snapper, and one undersized mangrove snapper. Moss issued the individual a notice to appear citation for the violations.
Palm Beach County
- While on water patrol in the Jupiter Inlet, Officers Morgan, Gilmore, and Whitty conducted a resource inspection on a large boat coming in from offshore. The operator had two undersized mutton snapper in his cooler. Further inspection revealed an undersized and out-of-season red grouper hidden under a cushion at the stern of the vessel. The captain was issued three citations for the resource violations and an infraction for not having a valid fishing license.
- Officer Michael Rea was on patrol at the L8 levee when he observed a subject attempting to conceal himself on the L8 reservoir hill. He approached the subjects and saw they were holding a bucket and a cast net. The one subject explained they had been cast netting in the reservoir and had caught tilapia. When asked why they hid when they saw him, they said they weren’t sure if they were allowed there. Inside the bucket with the tilapia were 13 bluegill. Bluegill are a game fish and cannot be caught using a cast net. The subjects were cited accordingly.
 CASES
Monroe County
- Internet Crimes Investigator Chris Mattson secured two warrants related to separate social media posts. One subject posted a video to his Tik Tok and Facebook accounts showing him catching a large parrotfish off one of the bridges near Duck Key and putting it in a cooler. He was charged with harvesting a parrotfish greater than 12 inches and using prohibited gear (hook and line) to catch the parrotfish. The second warrant involved a subject that posted pictures to Instagram of him spearfishing in the Islamorada area. One picture depicted him with a green moray eel that had been speared. He was charged with spearfishing in the Upper Keys, not landing marine life alive and harvesting with prohibited gear (spear).
- Investigator Chris Mattson was on water patrol when he observed a vessel moored to a white buoy with a “No Fishing” sign at Hens and Chickens Sanctuary Preservation Area. This area is a no take zone and no fishing is allowed. Investigator Mattson observed four subjects fishing and issued notice to appear citations to all four individuals.
Collier County
- Officer Specialist Mike Stearns conducted “Operation Livery Overhaul” to promote boating safety by conducting regulatory checks of livery operations. FWC officers and Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted spot checks of rental craft on the water, and regulatory inspections at mobile and brick and mortar livery operations. The operation identified 60 storefront and mobile liveries and 28 private liveries through apps such as “Boatsetter.” The officers conducted 47 livery inspections and 15 follow-up inspections resulting in one arrest, nine notice to appear citations, nine boating citations and 77 written warnings. The operation increased awareness of livery regulations and improved public safety.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Collier County
- Officers Keon Pierre-Louis, Tajahs Jackson, Jeremy Creel, and Daniel Delgado participated in the 20th Annual West Coast Muscle Car Club Benefit Car and Truck Show. The officers brought multiple trucks and an airboat used for patrolling. In addition, the officers provided information about the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement and their work to conserve and protect Florida’s fish and wildlife. This event had over 3,000 people in attendance.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Collier County
- Lieutenant Shea, K-9 Officer Wagner and K-9 Susan responded to an injured biker on a trail in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Officer Wagner and K-9 Susan, along with Collier County Fire Services personnel, found the injured party and transported the individual to EMS to receive aid for a broken ankle.
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