FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: June 28-July 4

June 28, 2024 through July 4, 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

Brevard County

• Officer Crespi responded to a call regarding possible disturbance of gopher tortoise burrows on private property. Although construction had started, no disturbance was observed. Officer Crespi educated the landowner about the rules for gopher tortoises.

Lake County

• Officer Specialist McConnell was conducting resource inspections at Emeralda Marsh Public Small Game Hunting Area when he observed multiple subjects walking along the shoreline carrying bows used for bow fishing. Officer McConnell observed the subjects shooting into the water and retrieving their line and arrow. He also observed a pickup truck nearby with a cooler in the bed of the truck. The officer contacted the subjects and learned they did not have valid freshwater fishing licenses. The subjects stated they had fish in the cooler and allowed the officer to inspect the fish. Officer McConnell observed several tilapia and one black bass that showed indications they were shot by an arrow. Officer McConnell informed the subjects the black bass was taken illegally due to gamefish only being allowed to be taken by hook and line or rod and reel. The subjects were cited accordingly for fishing without a fishing license and taking gamefish by illegal method.

Marion County

• Officers Constance and Aultman were patrolling a local wildlife management area when they encountered two subjects with hunting dogs. Upon initial questioning, one subject claimed their hunting dog had gotten loose from their property nearby and they were trying to catch him. Further investigation revealed the dog had a GPS tracking collar affixed and after further questioning both subjects admitted training the hunting dog to run deer, which is prohibited at this WMA during this time of year. Appropriate citations were issued.

Orange County

• Officer Naules observed individuals fishing with cast nets at a local boat ramp. He conducted a resource inspection and found the subjects possessed several gamefish that were harvested by the cast net. Gamefish may only be taken by rod and reel or hook and line. Officer Naules also observed the vehicle the anglers were using had a registration that was not assigned to that vehicle. The driver and individual fishing with a cast net were issued notice to appear citations for illegal method of take of freshwater gamefish and for registration tag not assigned.

Osceola County

• While on late night patrol of a wildlife management area, Lieutenant Lightsey observed a truck stopped in the roadway. Two subjects were on the back of the truck shining a light while armed with a rifle and handguns. A resource inspection and interview confirmed the subjects were hunting wild hogs during a closed season and hunting from the roadway. A notice to appear was issued for the violations.
• While on late night patrol of a rural area, Lieutenant Lightsey observed a vehicle slow rolling down the road. One subject was in the back of the truck and was shining a light. Lieutenant Lightsey conducted a stop to investigate. The subject in the back of the truck possessed a light and a rifle with a mounted light. A notice to appear was issued for the violations.

Putnam County

• Officers Dickson, Galvan and Carroll received information about two vessels blocking navigation in Dunn’s Creek. Upon making contact, it was discovered the two vessels were rafted together and a large sheen was surrounding them. Upon further investigation, it was determined to be diesel fuel and the owner admitted to having a spill. The Department of Environmental Protection was contacted for the spill and the owner was cited accordingly.

St. Johns County

• Officer Dodd responded to information regarding a St. Johns County Service Aid that was nearby with a person who had a gopher tortoise in their vehicle. Officer Dodd spoke with the driver of the vehicle who admitted to picking up the gopher tortoise from the shoulder of the road in Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve. The driver said she planned to return the tortoise after going to the beach. The driver was cited for taking a threatened species and the gopher tortoise was returned to the capture site unharmed.

Volusia County

• Officer Robinson and Officer Specialist Thornton conducted surveillance on three individuals fishing with cast nets and fishing rods. A resource inspection revealed they possessed one out-of-season and undersized snook, two undersized black drum, seven undersized sheepshead, two undersized gray snapper, and oysters harvested from an unclassified area. The subjects admitted to taking the snook with a cast net. The three subjects were cited accordingly.
• While on patrol, Officer Specialist Sapp and Officer Drake conducted surveillance on several individuals fishing with cast nets. Officer Sapp observed a subject taking oysters and putting them in a cooler. The officers made contact and Officer Robinson responded to the scene to assist. Citations were issued for harvesting oysters in an unclassified area.

CASES 

Broward County

• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection on vessel at Port Everglades and the Intracoastal Waterway that was returning from the Bahamas. The officer’s inspection revealed a subject onboard possessed 24 wrung spiny lobster tails and four bags of skinless fish fillets. Willis issued the subject three federal citations, Lacy Act violation for possession of skinless fillets, possession of tuna not in whole condition and lobster not in whole condition. 
• Officer Specialist Bruder and Officer Lopez conducted a resource inspection on vessel at Port Everglades and the Intracoastal Waterway that was returning from the Bahamas. Their inspection revealed the vessel operator was in possession of 26 snapper and 37 bags of skinless fillets. The officers issued the operator federal citations for Lacy Act violations.
• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection on vessel at Port Everglades and the Intracoastal Waterway that was returning from the Bahamas. The inspection revealed one subject was in possession of stone crab claws. Willis issued the subject two federal citations and Lacy Act violations for undersized and out-of-season stone crab.
• Officers Rigali and Bovee conducted a resource inspection on a vessel anchored about 1 ½ miles offshore of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. Their inspection revealed two subjects onboard the vessel possessed undersized dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) and undersized red grouper. Rigali issued both subjects notice to appear citations for the violations.
• Officer Willis conducted land patrol at a closed portion of A-1 FEB. The officer contacted a subject trespassing and fishing in the closed area. A resource inspection revealed the subject possessed more than one black bass over 16 inches. Black bass are limited to five fish per day, only one of which may be greater than 16 inches. Willis issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation and a warning for trespassing.
• Officers Beppel and Bouras conducted a resource inspection on vessel at Port Everglades and the Intracoastal Waterway. Their inspection revealed a subject possessed an undersized mutton snapper. The officers issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officer Hammad responded to a call from the South Florida Water Management District about a dirt bike near the water at the bottom of a levee. Dirt bikes are not allowed in that area. The officer located and questioned a subject regarding ownership of the dirt bike in his possession. The subject became uncooperative. The officer eventually detained the subject, who later admitted the dirt bike did not belong to him and that he was trying to steal it.  The subject was charged with resisting without violence and booked into Broward County jail.
• Officer Gilmore encountered two adult subjects and a juvenile fishing around Port Everglades. An inspection of a bucket possessed by one of the subjects revealed multiple unregulated species. However, Officer Gilmore noticed a black garbage bag under the fish that was tied shut. Officer Gilmore located two undersized out-of-season snook inside the bag. The subject was cited accordingly.  
• Lieutenant McDonald responded to a report of a vehicle blocking a South Florida Water Management District gate. It was also reported subjects from the vehicle were fishing in a closed area. The officer responded to the area and observed a vehicle blocking the entrance to A-1 FEB and subjects fishing in the closed area. Lieutenant McDonald contacted the subjects to conduct a freshwater fishery inspection and found they possessed six black bass, four of which were greater than 16 inches long. McDonald issued the subjects notice to appear citations for entering SFWMD property when the area was closed and possession of more than one black bass 16 inches or greater.  The driver was also issued a notice to appear citation for blocking the SFWMD gate, which was impeding construction activities. 
• Captive Wildlife Investigator Wright responded to the report of a marmoset monkey that got out of its enclosure. The owner self-reported the escape and was able to capture it the following day. A citation was issued for the escape and a warning was issued for an unrelated caging violation. 

Martin County

• Officers Klein and Rea were on patrol near the St. Lucie Inlet when they inspected a vessel returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed an undersized dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) and the captain of the vessel was cited accordingly.  

Palm Beach County

• Officers Klein and Harris responded to a call regarding an individual trespassing on the water control structure at the Boynton Beach spillway. Officers found the individual had ignored the “No Trespassing” signs and was fishing from the closed area of the structure. The subject was charged with trespassing and issued a warning for fishing without a license. 
• Officers Klein and Harris observed a vessel returning to Palm Beach inlet from a fishing trip after dark with no navigational light on. They stopped the vessel to address the safety violation and conduct a fisheries inspection. The safety inspection revealed the captain did not possess any of the required safety gear.  When asked about the fish on board the subjects stated they only had a few grunts. Officers found an undersized mutton snapper and two undersized dolphinfish (mahi-mahi).  The subjects were cited accordingly.
• Officers Morgan and Riggs observed several individuals fishing from a vessel near Palm Beach inlet. A fisheries inspection revealed an undersized mutton snapper. The vessel owner was cited accordingly.  

St. Lucie County

• Officers Barghouty and Castle were monitoring fishing activities at the Belcher Canal spillway, when they observed a subject harvest a snook. The snook appeared to be over sized and harvest is currently closed.  Officer Barghouty approached the subject, who took off running with the snook. The snook was discarded and the subject hid in the bushes. Officer Barghouty located the snook and Officer Castle located the subject and issued a citation for harvest of snook out of season. Several warnings were also issued. 

CASES

Collier County

• Officer Jackson and Investigator Conroy observed a vessel with fishing rods coming to the Bayview Boat Ramp. Officer Jackson stopped the vessel to perform a resource inspection and located two out-of-season red grouper with one of them not of legal size. Officer Jackson issued the captain of the vessel a notice to appear for the violations. 
• While on patrol at the 951 Boat Ramp in Marco Island, Officers Parlapiano, Goff, and Investigator Conroy observed a personal watercraft coming into dock with fishing rods and a spear gun. Officer Parlapiano conducted a safety and resource inspection and located a goliath grouper hidden in the bottom of a cooler on the back of the PWC. The subject stated he did not know what kind of fish it was and that it was illegal to possess. Officer Parlapiano issued the subject a notice to appear for the violation and a warning for not having a certificate of registration aboard the vessel. 
• Officers Sturgeon, Piekenbrock, and Alvarez observed a subject diving without a dive flag within 100 yards of the Spanish Harbor Bridge. As soon as the subject saw the officers’ patrol vessel he dove underwater. The officers observed a spear gun on the bottom where he dove underwater. Officer Alvarez located a speared out-of-season snook laying on the seawall next to the subject’s gear. Officers Sturgeon and Piekenbrock located a stringer with two goliath grouper (speared) and five parrotfish (speared). All parrotfish were over 12 inches and one goliath grouper was over the slot size limit. Officer Esilva assisted in transporting the subject to Stock Island Jail.
• Officer Adam Reams was conducting saltwater resource inspections near the Goodland Bridge and observed several subjects with cast nets under the bridge and several five-gallon buckets on the shoreline. During the resource inspection, Officer Reams located an undersized, out-of-season snook harvested via illegal method. Officer Reams was able to determine the subject in possession of the bucket where the illegal snook was found. The subject was cited accordingly. 
• FWC’s offshore patrol vessel Trident conducted an inspection on a commercial fishing vessel in South Atlantic, federal waters, south of Big Pine Key. The officers learned the subjects onboard had paid to go fishing on the commercial vessel. The vessel did not have the required National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or FWC licensing for charter vessels and the operator was not a licensed captain. The vessel did not have the required turtle excluder devices or descending device as required by NOAA. The federal violations were documented and will be forwarded to NOAA and U.S. Coast Guard. The operator was cited for the state violations.

Miami-Dade County

• Officers Gutierrez and Tuckfield conducted a resource inspection on four individuals who had parked their vehicle on South Florida Water Management District land. The officers’ inspection revealed four undersized schoolmaster snapper and three undersized gray snapper. The subjects were each cited for possessing undersized gray snapper and undersized schoolmaster snapper and operating a motor vehicle on SFWMD property. 
• While driving along Old Cutler Road, Officer Presser observed a subject carrying a bucket just over the Snapper Creek Canal. A fisheries inspection revealed the subject was in possession of one bonefish, three undersized schoolmaster snapper and one undersized gray snapper. The subject was arrested due to a previous failure to appear. He was charged with possession of undersized schoolmaster snapper, undersized gray snapper, and possession of bonefish.
• Lieutenant Dominguez and Officer Presser conducted a resource inspection on a 9-foot vessel with two people on board. The officers discovered the subjects were in possession of several bluefish and 20 gray snapper. Each subject was cited for over the bag limit of gray snapper.
• Lieutenant Dominguez responded to assist a North Bay Village officer who had detained a subject in possession of undersized fish. Lieutenant Dominguez conducted a fisheries inspection that revealed the subject possessed 24 undersized spotted seatrout, an undersized snook, and six gray snapper, five of which were undersized. The subject was cited for possession of out-of-season and undersized snook, possession of undersized and over the bag limit of gray snapper, possession of undersized and over the bag limit of spotted seatrout. Due to the subject being in possession of more than three in excess of the bag limit of seatrout, the subject was also cited for the major violation statute.
• Officer Gutierrez conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel at Crandon Marina. The inspection revealed the three subjects possessed a variety of fish species including two barracudas over 36 inches and a queen triggerfish (marine life) was not kept alive. The violations were addressed appropriately.
• Officer Williams and Negron conducted a vessel stop on a personal watercraft that had been rented. The officers found several violations. The officers issued citations for the livery violations. 
• Officers Martinez and Presser stopped a vessel two miles offshore of the Diamond Towers. The captain stated he had porgys only located in a front compartment on the vessel. Officers found an undersized red grouper in the livewell in the stern of the vessel. The captain was unable to provide the required descending device, he could not produce one. The captain was cited for undersized red grouper, interference and no descending device. 
• Captive Wildlife Investigator Fernandez responded to the report of a free roaming coatimundi. The investigator located the animal on a back porch and captured it with a net. A records search of license holders in the area was unsuccessful in identifying an owner. The animal was placed at a licensed facility. 

Monroe County

• Officer Alexander Allen conducted a resource inspection on four individuals fishing at White St. Pier. The inspection revealed two of the individuals in possession of 40 gray snappers. The two subjects were issued notice to appear citations for possession of over the bag limit of gray snapper.
• Investigator Chris Mattson was on federal water patrol around Turtle Reef, which is part of the Key Largo Existing Management Area where spearfishing is prohibited. Investigator Mattson observed two free divers in the water with spearguns. After a resource inspection was conducted, the subjects were issued federal citations for spearfishing in the closed area and also two written warnings. 
• Investigator Chris Mattson was on federal water patrol around Carysfort Sanctuary Preservation Area, which is closed to all types of fishing, when he observed through binoculars a vessel trolling by the Carysfort lighthouse. Investigator Mattson contacted the vessel and the individuals on board tried to bring in their lines and said they were not fishing. One of the subjects had prior violations in Carysfort SPA. Both subjects were federally cited for fishing in the SPA.
• Officer Venus Garcia was conducting water patrol on an unmarked patrol vessel in Newfound Harbor Channel and observed a vessel with fishing rods coming from the Atlantic. Officer Garcia conducted a boating safety and resource inspection, which revealed the individuals on board possessed five undersized dolphinfish (mahi-mahi). All three individuals who were fishing were cited accordingly and the captain was additionally cited for having an insufficient number of life jackets on board the vessel.