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September 20, 2024, through September 26, 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
Indian River
Officer Marshall conducted a resource inspection on a vessel with people fishing near Wabasso Causeway. Two subjects onboard were displaying odd behavior during the inspection. One sat on top of a cooler and the other slid over and placed his foot on top of an object. Officer Marshall noticed this and asked the subjects if they had caught any fish on that day. One of the subjects pointed to one legal sized gray (mangrove) snapper in plain view on the boat deck. Officer Marshall’s inspection of the cooler revealed one undersized snook and several undersized gray (mangrove) snapper. Officer Marshall then asked the other subject what was under his foot, and this revealed another undersized gray (mangrove) snapper. Both subjects were cited accordingly.
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Marion County
- While patrolling a local wildlife management area, Officer Lambert was conducting surveillance on a parked truck believed to be associated with hunting out of season. Officers Constance and Flynn responded to the scene along with K-9 Officer Malicoat. While checking the area, officers located a subject with a bow and dressed in camouflage walking out of the woods. K-9 Officer Malicoat continued to search the area and located the subject's treestand along with an arrow with fresh blood on it. The subject admitted to shooting at an antlerless deer out of season. Appropriate citations were issued.
- While patrolling a local wildlife management area, Officer Lambert was conducting surveillance on a parked truck believed to be associated with hunting out of season. Officer Lambert located a subject dressed in camouflage and carrying a crossbow. After an interview, the subject admitted to hunting during closed season. Appropriate citations were issued.
Putnam County
- Officer Galvan was on patrol around Dunns Creek when he noticed a large pile of trash along the waterway and into the edge of Dunns Creek. Using investigative techniques, Officer Galvan identified a possible source of the trash and conducted follow up interviews. After speaking with the subject identified, Officer Galvan charged them with littering on a freshwater lake, river or canal.
St. Johns County
- Officer Specialist Lawrence and Senior Officer Thomas were conducting surveillance at Guana River Dam when they observed a subject catch an undersized red drum and undersized spotted seatrout and conceal them inside a truck. Upon inspection, the undersized red drum and undersized spotted seatrout were concealed in a plastic bag underneath the back seat. Officer Thomas charged the subject for possession of undersized red drum and possession of undersized spotted seatrout. The subject was also charged with various cast netting violations related to the specific rules on Lake Ponte Vedra.
- Officer Specialist Lawrence and Senior Officer Thomas were conducting surveillance at Guana River Dam when they observed a subject catch undersized gray (mangrove) snapper and an undersized spotted seatrout. The subject passed the undersized spotted seatrout to a friend who concealed it inside a van. Upon inspection of the first subject’s catch, Officer Thomas located four undersized gray (mangrove) snapper. Upon inspection of the second subject’s catch and the van, Officer Lawrence located the undersized spotted seatrout and an undersized black drum. Officer Lawrence issued appropriate citations for the violations.
- While conducting fisheries inspections at Matanzas Inlet Bridge, Officer Specialist Lawrence checked a subject who harvested an oversized red drum. He issued the subject a citation for possession of oversized red drum.
- While conducting fisheries inspections at Guana River Dam State, Senior Officer Thomas checked a subject who harvested an undersized red drum. She issued the subject a citation for possession of undersized red drum.
 CASES
Charlotte County
- Officers Salem and Devine were patrolling a wildlife management area during a quota hunt and conducted an inspection of a subject participating in the hunt and determined the area had been baited with corn. The subject admitted to placing the corn on the area and said he didn’t know it was a violation. The officers pointed out the rule to the subject and issued him a citation for the violation.
Lee County
- Senior Officer Bell and Officer Specialist Arbogast conducted panther zone speed enforcement for Florida panther conservation efforts on Corkscrew Road in Estero. Over the course of the weekend, the officers conducted 30 vehicle stops to address excessive speed violations and to educate the travelers about the importance of slowing down for the protection of Florida panthers. The officers issued 24 citations and seven warnings. The highest recorded speed was 90 mph in a 45 mph zone. Several subjects were issued a citation that required a mandatory court appearance.
 CASES
Broward County
- Lieutenant Laubenberger and Officers Rigali, Bovee and Comartin stopped a vessel to conduct a marine fisheries and boating safety inspection while on patrol in Ft. Lauderdale near the 17 St. Causeway bridge. Their inspection revealed the vessel had returned from the Bahamas and the subjects onboard illegally possessed wrung lobster tails and reef fish. Officers issued the subjects federal citations for violation of the Lacey Act, which included possession of over the limit of spiny lobster, possession of wrung (not in whole condition) lobster tails and possession of over the limit of reef fish.
- Officers Willis and Antonini stopped a vessel returning from the Bahamas to conduct a fisheries inspection while patrolling Port Everglades and the Intracoastal Waterway. During their inspection, the officers discovered 30 wrung spiny lobster tails onboard the vessel. Officers issued the operator two federal citations for over the bag limit lobster and possession of wrung tails.
- Lieutenant Laubenberger and Officers Rigali, Comartin and Bovee observed a personal watercraft on plane in a slow speed restricted area at the Port Everglades. They stopped the PWC to address the violation. Their investigation revealed the operator also had two active warrants for his arrest from Orange County. Officers arrested and transported the operator to the Broward County Jail without incident.
- Officer Hammad responded to the View at Colony West in Tamarac based on a report of a subject killing a raccoon in a cruel manner. Hammad’s investigation of the complaint resulted in the subject receiving a notice to appear citation for animal cruelty.
Palm Beach County
- Offshore Patrol Officers, Moss and Schroer conducted vessel patrol of the federal waters east of Palm Beach County shoreline. The officers observed subjects fishing from a vessel using a deep drop reel. Officers stopped the vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection. The inspection revealed the subjects possessed three golden tilefish, which are closed in federal waters. Officers issued the subjects federal citations for the violation.
- Officer Stone was patrolling Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West during the early teal waterfowl season when he observed a group illegally fishing in the area. He conducted a resource inspection of three individuals, one of whom was using a cast net, and discovered they were in possession of illegally harvested Florida bass. One individual exceeded the bag limit and illegally harvested the bass with a cast net, leading to three charges. The other two individuals were charged with illegally accessing South Florida Water Management District property.
- While patrolling the start of waterfowl season in Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West, Officer Specialist Norbrothen conducted a boating safety, resource and license inspection on three subjects exiting the water. When the officer asked to see the quota permit that allowed them to participate in the hunt, the subjects said the permit holder was home sick. All three subjects were issued citations for hunting without a quota.
- Officer Specialist Norbrothen was conducting resource and licensing inspections of duck hunters exiting Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West when a group of two individuals were asked to present all game harvested. The subjects brought three Florida mottled ducks out of their cooler and presented them to the officer. They were issued citations for harvesting the ducks out of season and educated on the identification of Florida mottled ducks and the laws regarding the early teal and wood duck season.
St. Lucie County
- Officer Hudson and Officer Simmons were patrolling during early teal season when they observed subjects duck hunting. They continued to watch the subject duck hunting until they shot at a flock black-bellied whistling ducks, killing one of them. The officers observed the hunters walk out to the duck and leave it in the water without collecting it. The officers contacted the subjects and at first they stated they only killed teal. After questioning the subjects, they admitted to killing a black-bellied whistling duck out of season. The subjects were issued notice to appear citations for taking ducks out of season, willful and wanton waste of ducks, and for not having a migratory bird permit.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Palm Beach County
- Lieutenant Laubenberger and Officers Stapleton, Trawinski, and Stone participated in the full honors funeral for West Palm Beach Police Officer Boykins, who died on duty last week. FWC officers participated in the Honor Guard cordon for the entrance and exit of the fallen officer’s casket.
 CASES
Collier County
- Officer Piekenbrock and Officer Sturgeon were on federal water patrol south of Bahia Honda in the offshore patrol vessel Interceptor. They conducted a boating safety and marine resource inspection on a fishing vessel in Atlantic federal waters. The captain of the vessel stated it was a fishing charter. They were fishing for yellowtail snapper and were observed catching some while the inspection was conducted. The captain of the vessel did not possess a valid South Atlantic charter/headboat permit. The case will be forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement.
- Officer Piekenbrock and Officer Sturgeon were on federal water patrol south of Big Pine Key in the offshore patrol vessel Interceptor when they observed a commercial yellowtail vessel with seven people fishing in Atlantic federal waters. The officers conducted a boating safety and marine resource inspection. The captain of the vessel was known from previous encounters and had been issued a federal citation recently for not possessing a valid South Atlantic charter/headboat permit. Upon inspection, the captain and vessel were hired as a fishing charter. There were multiple boating safety and registration issues that were addressed accordingly. The case will be forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement.
- Officer Piekenbrock and Officer Sturgeon were on state water patrol bay side of Bahia Honda Bridge when they observed an anchored personal watercraft with no person on board and no diver down flag displayed. They observed a subject with a mask, snorkel and spear gun in the water. A marine resource inspection was conducted and the subject was found to be in possession of one undersized, out-of-season, speared goliath grouper. The subject was issued a mandatory notice to appear for multiple resource violations.
- While patrolling federal waters on the offshore patrol vessel Gulf Ranger, Officer Specialist Yurewitch and Senior Officers Reams and Wagner conducted a fisheries inspection on a recreational vessel southwest of Marco Island. During the inspection, the officers located two out-of-season gag groupers and two undersized permit. The violations were documented accordingly and forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement.
Miami-Dade County
- Officers Sample and Presser assisted with a call regarding people petting and playing with a manatee by Haulover Inlet and they responded by water. Officer Ward responded by land and issued two citations to the subjects.
Statewide Summary of Boating Related Law Enforcement Activities
For September 1 - 30, 2024
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Number of boating under the influence citations issued
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30
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Number of uniform boating citations issued
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927
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Number of boating accidents
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103
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Number of search and rescue operations conducted
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88
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