FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: April 19-25

April 19, 2024 through April 25, 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

Escambia County

• Officers Cushing and Waters conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel in Bayou Chico that was returning from a fishing trip. Officer Waters discovered one red snapper in the cooler. The owner of the vessel stated he didn’t know how it got in there. He was issued a citation for the violation. 

Jackson County

• Officer E. Meade received information about a deer illegally killed a year ago. Officer Meade conducted an interview with a subject who admitted to killing an antlered deer prior to hunting season. Officer Meade charged the subject with taking deer during the closed season.  

Santa Rosa County

• Officers Land and Mullins received information about a litter complaint in Yellow River Wildlife Management Area. A large television and multiple contractor bags of discarded painting supplies had been illegally dumped in the area. The officers identified potential subjects and interviewed them and they admitted to dumping items in the area. Each subject was issued a notice to appear. The subjects returned to the dump site to clean up the area and dispose of the items properly. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Gadsden County

• Officers Keels and Hildebrand and field trainee B. Johnson II conducted a field day for students at the Greensboro Elementary School where they displayed an alligator and FWC patrol vessel to approximately 300 students and teachers.

Walton County

• Officers R. Brooks, H. Rockwell and Lieutenant Tison attended the Bent Rod Fishing Club spring meeting and fish fry at the Walton County Life Enrichment Center. The officers provided information to the more than 35 members in attendance about fishing and boating regulations as well as general fishing and hunting information.

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer Hopkins conducted a resource inspection with an angler on a remote beach area. The subject was found to be in possession of 16 bluefish, 13 over the legal bag limit. The subject was cited accordingly.

Orange County

• Officer Specialists Fahnestock and Pecko observed several individuals on the bank of the St. Johns River using a cast net and harvesting freshwater fish. The officers conducted a resource and license inspection and found one individual harvested a black bass using the cast net. Other individuals who were observed fishing did not have freshwater fishing licenses. Officer Specialist Fahnestock issued a notice to appear to the subject who harvested the black bass for taking freshwater gamefish by illegal method. Citations were issued to all subjects who did not have a valid freshwater fishing license.
• Officers Hawks and Navarino responded to a complaint of an individual electroshocking fish on Lake Sawyer. The officers located and conducted a resource, license and boating safety inspection on the subject and did not observe any gear or evidence of electroshocking equipment. The inspection did reveal the subject had three black bass over 16 inches and had released one of them prior to the officers inspecting the fish. The officers were able to measure the other two black bass, and they were over 16 inches. The subject also did not have a valid freshwater fishing license. Officer Hawks issued the subject a notice to appear for possessing over the limit of black bass 16-inches or greater. He also issued a citation for no valid freshwater fishing license, interference with an FWC officer during a resource inspection, and numerous boating safety and registration violations were also addressed.
• Officers Naules and Wild were on patrol when Officer Naules observed a vehicle tucked in the woods of private property with three subjects standing around it. When the officers contacted the subjects, they attempted to get in the car and leave the area they were trespassing on. The subjects complied with the officers’ request to conduct an inspection and were found to be in possession of several firearms and ammunition and had been target shooting on the property. One of the subjects was found to be a convicted felon and thus not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. The subject was placed under arrest for the violation and booked into the Orange County Jail.

Volusia County

• Senior Officer Bertolami responded to a minor boating accident involving two personal watercrafts. During the investigation it was determined both PWCs involved in the accident were rented from a local livery. A follow-up investigation with the livery revealed several violations including no livery permit, no insurance, and failure to provide pre-rental or pre-ride instruction. Additionally, it was determined the rental PWCs involved were not in compliance with registration guidelines. Officer Bertolami addressed each of the violations with the business owner and informed him what actions needed to be taken to comply with livery regulations.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Orange County

• FWC officers and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office participated in a 2024 Earth Day event that was coordinated by Nautique Boat Company. The team picked up trash along the St. Johns River, removing approximately 750 pounds of waste.

CASES

Hardee County

• Officer Brooks responded to a call from a landowner who had observed a subject trespassing on their property carrying a recently killed wild turkey. The subject admitted to shooting across the fence line at the wild turkey from inside his vehicle. The wild turkey was killed the day after spring turkey season ended. The subject was cited for the violations.

Hillsborough County

• While on land patrol, Officer Sutton observed a fishing vessel return to a boat ramp at night. Officer Sutton contacted the individuals onboard the vessel and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Officer Sutton located five undersized seatrout. Two of the individuals onboard admitted to catching the seatrout and both were issued a citation for the fisheries violation. 

Lee County

• Officer Hardgrove encountered two subjects after they pulled their recreational fishing boat from the water. He asked if they had caught/kept anything and was told they had redfish onboard. He measured each of the redfish and determined two were undersized. Neither subject could identify which fish they had caught and kept. Both subjects were issued citations and charged with possession of redfish over the bag limit and possession of undersized redfish. 
• Officers Lejarzar and Hardgrove observed two subjects commercially fishing within a lock area clearly posted as “no fishing” by county ordinance. The subjects were observed catching fish in the lock area and dumping them on the deck of the boat. When approached, the subjects did not have the fish on ice, which is a public health concern as the fish could potentially be sold for human consumption. A check determined the subjects had received a trespass warning at the location a little more than a year prior and the trespass warning had just expired. Both subjects were issued a citation for fishing within the lock area, issued warnings for the quality control and advised the fish could only be sold as bait since they were not fit for human consumption. The subjects were also issued a new trespass warning from the sheriff’s department.
• Officer Hardgrove observed two commercial anglers cast netting and keeping fish within a lock area that is clearly posted as “no fishing” by county ordinance. Officer Hardgrove observed the subjects catch and keep fish within the area. When he approached to address the violation and conduct a fisheries inspection, he found the subjects were in possession of several hundred pounds of fish, none of which were on ice or protected from the environment, which is a public health concern as the anglers could sell the fish for human consumption. Records check revealed both subjects had been issued a trespass warning for fishing in the locks a year earlier and the warning had expired a few days prior to this encounter. The subjects also had prior history for quality control issues involving saltwater fish. Both subjects were issued citations for quality control violations and not protecting the quality of the fish. They were advised the fish were not fit for human consumption and could only be sold as bait due to the violation. The subjects were also issued lifetime trespass warnings for fishing withing the lock area. 
• Officers Chambers and Arbogast observed an individual cast netting a canal along the roadway and decided to conduct a resource inspection. The subject stated he was only catching bait fish until the officers located four undersized snook inside a cooler next to the subject’s vehicle. These fish were determined to be caught illegally with a cast net. The subject also possessed an expired fishing license. The subject was charged accordingly for these violations.

Manatee County

• While on water patrol at Anna Marie Island, Officer Specialist Miller and Officer Wesche saw three individuals wading in the water carrying cast nets and floating a large cooler. The officers stopped the individuals and conducted a resource inspection. The inspection revealed the individuals were in possession of 231 mullets, 81 over their daily limit. All three individuals were cited for being over the bag limit and will have to appear in Manatee County Court. 

Pinellas County

• While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau observed a large fishing vessel with multiple individuals return to a boat ramp. He contacted the individuals and conducted a fisheries inspection.  At the conclusion of the inspection, Lieutenant Bibeau located eight undersized and out-of-season red snapper and one undersized and out-of-season greater amberjack. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the operator of the vessel a citation and warnings for the fisheries violations.

Polk County

• Officer Stephens and Smith were on foot patrol when they observed two individuals calling wild turkeys from a pop-up blind. The officers also observed a feeder 18 yards from the blind. They contacted the individuals for a resource inspection. The subjects were cited for attempting to take turkey within 100 yards of a bait station.

CASES

Broward County

• Officer Olivera conducted a vessel safety and resource inspection on a vessel with a person fishing east of Lighthouse Point. The inspection revealed the subject was in possession of three graysby grouper, one hogfish, and one dead scrawled filefish, which is marine life and required to be kept alive in a circulating live well. Olivera issued the subject notice to appear citations for possession of out-of-season graysby grouper, possession of undersized hogfish, and possession of dead marine life.
• Officer Olivera conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel at the Hillsboro Inlet and Intracoastal waterway. The inspection revealed a cooler containing one red grouper, one mutton snapper, and one yellowtail snapper. Olivera issued one subject a notice to appear citation for possession of out-of-season red grouper.  He issued two other subjects notice to appear citations for possession of undersized mutton snapper and undersized yellowtail snapper. 
• Officers Rigali and Davis conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel at the Port Everglades Inlet. Their inspection revealed graysby grouper onboard the vessel. Officer Rigali issued the subject a notice to appear for the out-of-season graysby grouper violation. 
• Officer Bouras conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel at Hillsboro Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway. The inspection revealed undersized mutton snapper and the officer issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
• Officer Moss and Investigator Howell were patrolling federal waters near the St. Lucie Humps. They observed a vessel with occupants fishing inside a marine protected area, which was closed to bottom fishing for snapper and grouper. The officers conducted an inspection, which revealed several snapper on the vessel. Officers issued subjects notice to appear citations for possession of snapper in a closed area. 
• Officer Moss and Investigator Howell were patrolling federal waters near the St. Lucie Humps. They observed a vessel with occupants fishing inside of a marine protected area, which was closed to bottom fishing for snapper and grouper. Officers conducted a fisheries inspection, which revealed several snapper on the vessel. Officers issued subjects notice to appear citations for possession of snapper in a closed area. 
• Officer Specialist Perez participated in the advanced conservation academy and he and other officers from around the state, led by the South Region Alpha offshore patrol vessel unit, focused on potential resource violations associated with vessels returning from the Bahamas.
• Captive Wildlife Investigator Fernandez and Lieutenant Garzaniti responded to the report of a black and white ruffed lemur that had escaped from its enclosure.  The lemur was unable to be located after multiple searches of the area where the sightings were reported. A citation was issued to the owner of the lemur for the escape and warnings were issued for a caging violation and an expired license to possess the animal.

Martin County

• Officers Spirito and Landers responded to Twin Rivers Park in response to a call regarding four subjects shooting a slingshot at gopher tortoises. The officers located the four subjects with a slingshot and rocks in a secluded area of the park. Footprints matching the subjects’ footwear was located around nearby gopher tortoise burrows. The individuals admitted to shooting at tortoises and iguanas. All four subjects were charged appropriately.

Okeechobee County

• While conducting surveillance on closed South Florida Water Management District property, Lieutenant Davis received a call from the nuisance wild hog contractor about two subjects with dogs on the opposite side of the property.  With the aid of night vision, Lieutenant Davis observed two individuals walking with dogs back to a vehicle hidden on the property and confirmed they were hog hunting on SFWMD closed property.  Citations were issued to both subjects. 

Palm Beach County

• Officers Michael Rea and Patrick Defeo, Lieutenant James Brodbeck and Investigator Dave Fowler responded to a call regarding subjects using a long net to catch fish in the Intracoastal Waterway on an island north of the Southern Boulevard Bridge. The officers observed each of the three subjects wading out and checking a long gill net stretched between the island and a mangrove tree. The officers contacted the three subjects and conducted a fisheries inspection that revealed multiple different types of fish and a sack containing a rolled-up monofilament gill net/entangling net. The stretched out net measured 155 feet long and was found to be over 1,200 square feet. In Florida, it is illegal to use a monofilament gill net to entangle fish and to take or harvest fish with a net greater than 500 square feet. The three subjects were placed under arrest and cited accordingly.
• Officer Michael Rea responded to a call regarding a subject on the Lake Worth Pier keeping an undersized snook. He located the subject in possession of an undersized snook and the subject said he did not know the rules or regulations regarding snook. The subject was cited accordingly. The caller was entered to receive an award through the Wildlife Alert Program for contacting us about the undersized snook. 

St. Lucie County

• Officer Castle was on patrol late one evening when she observed a vehicle at a local park. There, she observed an individual standing on an observation tower using a spotlight shining it into the water below. Further observation revealed an individual swimming in the water with a mask, flashlight and speargun. Once the subject exited the water, a license and resource inspection were conducted and the subject was found to have multiple resource violations including seven undersized speared lobster, one undersized speared snook, 11 undersized sheepshead, three undersized mangrove snapper, and one sheepshead not in whole condition. Several of the harvested species were also over the possession bag limit. The subject was transported and booked into jail, where it was discovered he had provided a false name. An additional charge of providing a false name to law enforcement was filed. 
• Officer Castle observed an individual selling shrimp and stone crab claws at a local boat ramp. While conducting a quality control inspection, it was determined the subject did not have any records showing where the products for sale came from. Retail dealers are required to make and preserve such records, which shall always be open to inspection by members of the commission. The subject was cited for the violation.

Monroe County

• Lieutenants Sapp and Garrison received a call from the U.S. Marshalls Service regarding a warrant for a subject who was recently cited on a sailboat in Marathon. After verifying the information and developing a plan, Lieutenants Garrison and Sapp boarded the vessel on the starboard side along with Officer Garcia and the U.S. Coast Guard who boarded on the port side. The subject was arrested without incident.
• Officer Specialist Michael Alvarez concluded a boating accident investigation in Key West that involved a family of four riding personal watercraft as part of a tour conducted by a livery operation. An 18-year-old subject was operating a PWC and suddenly changed speed while exiting the channel. An adult subject on another PWC could not react in time and ramped up the stern of the first PWC. The 18-year-old was airlifted to a hospital where he was later released with minor injuries. Officer Alvarez discovered several violations pertaining to the livery operation. These included operating without a livery permit, not having boating safety information displayed at the livery and discrepancies in their written agreement with the renter. The employee who rented the PWCs to the family was given notices to appear for these violations. In addition, Officer Alvarez provided the livery employee and the CEO of the livery operation resources to further explain the requirements associated with liveries.

Statewide Summary of Boating Related Law Enforcement Activities

For April 1 - 30, 2024