FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: June 21-27

June 21, 2024 through June 27, 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.

View this as a web page.

View previous editions.

CASES

Franklin County

• Officers Hartzog and Forbes were conducting patrol on Apalachicola River near Abercrombie Boat Ramp and observed a vessel with fishing gear returning to the boat ramp. The officers stopped the vessel and conducted a resource inspection revealing a large amount of flathead catfish on the deck and in coolers. Officer Hartzog found several indicators the fish were not harvested using rod and reel. Officer Hartzog searched the vessel and discovered a device capable of producing electrical shock in a stern compartment. The officer cited the violations appropriately for harvesting freshwater fish using an illegal method. 

Gulf County

• Officer Hartzog observed a vessel with fishing gear on the Chipola River that was moored in Douglas Slough with two occupants on board. The officer stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection. As the officer approached, the occupants began moving around in an abnormal manner attempting to conceal something. Upon inspection of the vessel, Officer Hartzog discovered a device on board capable of producing electric current sufficient to stun or shock freshwater fish. The officer interviewed the individuals and they admitted they were attempting to shock freshwater catfish. The officer cited the violations appropriately for possession of a device capable of producing electrical shock on the waters of the state. 

Santa Rosa County

• Officer Brown observed a vessel with fishing equipment returning to the boat ramp. Officer Brown made a vessel stop to conduct a resource inspection and located an undersized red snapper. One of the subjects on the vessel took ownership of catching and keeping the undersized red snapper. The subject was cited appropriately. 
• Officers Wilkenson and Burkhead in coordination with Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, conducted an enforcement effort at Marques Bayou Boat Ramp. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the FWC have been receiving a high number of complaints regarding illegal activities at the boat ramp. Over the course of a day officers arrested two individuals and cited several other individuals for a variety of illegal activities including boating safety violations, fishing violations, and vessel registration violations. Arrests included driving while license revoked and a felony warrant for grand thief and criminal mischief. 

OFFSHORE PATROL

• While conducting offshore patrol south of Gulf County, Officers Hartzog and Nelson conducted a resource inspection of a federally permitted charter vessel. During the inspection the officers located undersized triggerfish not in whole condition on the vessel’s bait table. At the time of this inspection, the harvest of gray triggerfish was closed recreationally in the Gulf of Mexico. The officers also discovered undersized vermilion snapper in the vessel’s bait well. The officers addressed the violations appropriately. 
• Officers Matechik and Rockwell were on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico when they observed a fishing vessel 12 miles from shore. Upon boarding the vessel Officer Matechik determined it was a charter vessel with clients on board. While inspecting the cooler he located multiple reef fish including red snapper. When he asked the vessel captain for his federal reef fish permit the captain stated he did not have one. The incident was documented, and the captain was issued a federal citation for not possessing a federal reef fish permit. 
• Officers Matechik and Rockwell were patrolling south of Walton County when they observed a vessel with two subjects fishing. Upon approaching the vessel, Officer Matechik was told they had amberjack on board. During his inspection Officer Matechik located three greater amberjack. Greater amberjack is currently close to harvest. Additionally, all three fish were under the legal minimum size of 34 inches. The captain was cited for the violation.  
• While on patrol, Officers Matechik and Rockwell stopped a fishing vessel south of Destin Pass. During his inspection Officer Matechik located one gray triggerfish. The fish was undersized and the season for triggerfish was closed. The captain was issued a citation and a warning for the violations.  
• While patrolling the Gulf of Mexico with Officer Rockwell, Officer Matechik boarded a charter fishing vessel. Upon inspection of the fish box, he located a plastic bag with red snapper throats and collars. While underway all reef fish must be in whole condition. The vessel captain was issued a citation for possessing reef fish not in whole condition. 
• Officers Matechik and Rockwell were patrolling the Gulf of Mexico from Panama City when they observed a fishing vessel with two subjects on board. When Officer Matechik boarded the vessel, he located one out-of-season gray triggerfish. The captain of the vessel was cited accordingly.

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer Specialists Johnson and Stelzer observed a personal watercraft violating the manatee slow speed zone in the Banana River. A subsequent vessel stop revealed violations pertaining to the illegal rental of the PWC. The owner of the PWC was located and the violations were addressed.
• While Officer Rivard was on patrol, she received a report about a subject at Sebastian Inlet State Park who had harvested a snook out of season. Furthermore, the person reporting stated the subject was hiding the snook in the trunk of his vehicle. Officer Rivard arrived on scene and was quickly able to identify the subject and his vehicle. A resource inspection was conducted that revealed possession of an out-of-season snook. The subjected was cited for the violation.
• While on late night patrol, Lieutenant Lightsey observed a blacked-out vessel in a large freshwater canal with two subjects gigging fish. A resource inspection was conducted and the subjects were found to be in possession of gamefish (largemouth bass) along with prohibited gear (spear/gig). A notice to appear and warnings were issued for the violations.

St. Johns County

• Senior Officer Thomas conducted a fisheries inspection on a subject fishing at the U.S. 1 bridge. She located an undersized black drum and three undersized mangrove snapper in a cooler. The subject stated he did not measure any of his fish. She issued the subject citations for the violations.
• Senior Officer Thomas observed a subject returning to Vilano Beach Boat Ramp from offshore fishing. She conducted a resource inspection and located an undersized cobia. The subject had a prior citation for undersized cobia. Officer Thomas issued the subject a citation for the violation.
• Senior Officer Thomas conducted a resource inspection on a subject fishing at Matanzas Inlet Bridge and found the subject possessed an oversized red drum. She issued the subject a citation for the violation.
• While conducting fisheries inspections at Matanzas Inlet Bridge, Officer Specialist Lawrence located a subject in possession of an undersized black drum. Officer Lawrence issued the subject a citation for the violation.

Volusia County

• Officers Cornell and Drake responded to a report about a recently killed deer. The officers found a subject to be in possession of a deer killed out of season. The subject claimed the deer was road hit but after a thorough investigation, the officers determined the deer was illegally harvested. The subject was charged with illegal take of deer out of season.

DIRECTED CONSERVATION PATROLS

Brevard County

• Officer Osborn conducted numerous investigations into disturbed gopher tortoise burrows on area properties. She worked with area biologists to educate property owners and developers concerning burrow violations.

CASES

Hillsborough County

• Officer Specialist Rorer observed an individual return to a parked vehicle carrying a cast net and a bucket and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, she found the individual possessed three undersized snook. Officer Specialist Rorer issued the individual a citation for possession of snook during closed season and warnings for harvesting undersized snook and harvesting snook by illegal method. 

Manatee County

• Officer Specialist Miller and Officer Wesche observed a group of four individuals leave a fishing area along the South Skyway Fishing Pier carrying a black bag and multiple spear guns. The individuals entered two vehicles and began to leave the area. The officers conducted a traffic stop on both vehicles to perform a resource inspection. During the inspection, it was discovered the black bag contained multiple speared, undersized, and out-of-season snook. Also, neither driver of the vehicles had a valid driver license. All four will have to appear in Manatee County Court for their violations.

Sarasota County

• Officer Specialist Morrow coordinated a detail with Sarasota Police Department focusing on illegal personal watercraft rentals and PWC safety around Lido Key. Officers addressed 15 safety violations and two illegal PWC liveries. The owners of both liveries will have to appear in Sarasota County Court for their violations.

CASES

Broward County

• Officers Giani and Favrot conducted a resource inspection on a vessel near 15^th Street. Their inspection revealed one subject onboard harvested a billfish that had the tail and jaw removed. Billfish are required to be landed in whole condition. Officers issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of billfish not landed in whole condition.
• Officer Willis investigated a possible at-risk vessel at Deerfield Beach. The officer examined several vessel owner transactions until he located the current owner. Officer Willis issued the current owner a notice to appear citation for failure to register a vessel within 90 days. The owner also received a civil infraction for not properly transferring the title of the vessel. 
• Officer Giani conducted a resource inspection on a subject at Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. The officer’s inspection revealed the subject harvested three bass with a cast net. Bass are a gamefish and may be caught with hook and line only. Officer Giani issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officer Favrot observed four subjects fishing in a closed area at the Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. Officer Favrot also noticed the subjects left trash on the ground when they left. Officer Favrot contacted the subjects and issued them notice to appear citations for fishing in a closed area and civil citations for littering. 

Hendry County

• Officer Curbelo was patrolling at night and observed a vehicle driving slowly on a rural roadway. The driver and passenger were shining lights from the vehicle into the pastures and wooded areas off the road, in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer. Officer Curbelo conducted a vehicle stop and found a shotgun within arm’s reach of the passenger and driver. Both occupants were questioned and admitted to shining the lights to find animals to shoot. Both subjects were charged with displaying a light in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer while in possession of a weapon commonly used to take deer.

CASES 

Monroe County

• Officer Givens patrolling the area of Spanish Harbor Bridge and encountered a subject in possession of two goliath groupers he took from another individual who was going to throw them back. Officer Givens arrested the individual and was assisted by Officer Alexander Allen and Officer Venus. The subject was booked in the Stock Island Jail.

Statewide Summary of Boating Related Law Enforcement Activities

For June 1 - 30, 2024