FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2024

November 29, 2024, through December 5, 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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View previous editions.

CASES

Franklin County

• Officer Forbes observed a vessel with fishing gear and eight occupants coming through East Pass from offshore. Officer Forbes stopped the vessel to conduct a resource inspection and found two out-of-season gag grouper and two over the bag limit of red snapper. The appropriate resource citations were issued. 
• Officer Hartzog conducted a resource inspection on an individual fishing on the pier adjacent to Cash Creek bridge. The subject was observed to be in possession of several undersized spotted seatrout. The violations were cited accordingly.  
• Officer Hartzog was on patrol in St. James Island Unit of Tates Hell Wildlife Management Area during a special quota period. The officer observed a vehicle with hunting equipment inside and a dog box parked and obstructing a service road. Officer Hartzog conducted surveillance on the vehicle and observed several individuals exiting the woods onto the service road with four unleashed hunting dogs with tracking collars and neck vests. Officer Hartzog conducted a resource inspection. The owner of the four unleashed hunting dogs was identified and advised they were pursuing wild hogs in the closed area without a quota permit. The owner was also identified to have an extensive history for hunting related violations. The violations were cited accordingly. 

Gulf County

• Officer Butts observed a subject driving his vehicle at an extremely slow speed, using the vehicle’s high beams to illuminate fields from the roadway. Upon conducting a traffic stop, the subject was found in possession of a hunting rifle. Officer Butts charged the subject with night hunting. 
• Master Officer M. Webb was at a local boat ramp checking vessels returning from fishing. He observed a vessel with four people on board with fishing equipment. A resource inspection was conducted and revealed the captain was in possession of an oversized red drum. The appropriate citation was issued. 

Jackson County

• Officer Carr responded to a night hunting complaint off Dipper Road. Once on scene he interviewed the subject and after investigating the area, he charged a subject with unlawful possession of an antlerless deer, taking deer after legal shooting hours, and no hunting license. Two warnings were also issued for no hunter safety course and failure to log the harvested deer. 
• Before the start of general gun season, Officer Forehand found an area in Econfina Creek Wildlife Management Area that had been baited with corn. On opening morning, Officer Forehand visited the bait site again and found a subject hunting from a stand over the baited area. The individual was issued a citation for placing grain in the WMA. 

Wakulla County

• Officer S. Gray was patrolling the St. Marks River and observed an individual fishing on the boat ramp dock at the old fort. Officer Gray proceeded to conduct a resource inspection on the individual. It was determined the individual did not have a valid fishing license and had a confirmed warrant out of Bay County. He was placed under arrest and booked into the Wakulla County Jail. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Officer Brett Dean assisted.  
• Officer M. Fernbach was patrolling around Apalachicola National Forest and observed a ladder stand attached to a tree and a cellular trail camera placed in front of it. Officer Fernbach observed a large quantity of whole kernel corn placed in front of the camera. The officer’s investigation led him to a subject who admitted to placing the bait on public land. The subject was subsequently cited.  
• Officer M. Fernbach was on patrol in the Apalachicola National Forest when he observed an area of forest that appeared to be brush hogged. While walking in the cut trails, Officer Fernbach observed a large amount of whole kernel corn scattered over the area. Officer M. Fernbach was able to locate the subject who cut the vegetation and dispersed corn in the area. The appropriate citations were issued to the individual. 
• While on joint enforcement agreement (federal JEA) vessel patrol, Officer Specialists Gray and Nelson conducted a stop on a vessel returning from offshore fishing. During the resource inspection, 15 undersized flounder, two undersized black seabass, two undersized triggerfish and a gag grouper (closed by executive order) were discovered. Appropriate notice to appear citations were issued. 

CASES

Dixie County

• Officers Reith and Wiggins were observing a group hunting ducks and one of the subjects shot at ducks after legal shooting hours. When the group returned to their vehicles, the subject admitted to shooting at ducks after sunset.  He was issued a citation for that violation and a warning for a license violation. 

Duval County

• Officer Martin observed several individuals trespassing and fishing on CSX property. Officer Martin addressed the violation and conducted a resource inspection on the subjects. One of the individuals explained he had caught all of the fish in their cooler. The officer located four undersized red drum and one undersized black drum and issued the subject a notice to appear for possession of over the bag limit of red drum, four counts of possession of undersized red drum, and possession of undersized black drum.  Both individuals were also issued warnings for trespassing. 

Lafayette County

• Officer Clark was patrolling Lafayette Forest when he heard three shots after legal shooting hours for waterfowl hunting. The officer located a vehicle on a closed road near a well-known waterfowl hunting pond.  A short time later, he encountered three subjects dressed in camouflage and in possession of waterfowl hunting gear. During questioning, the subjects admitted to shooting at wood ducks.  Appropriate charges will be filed for the violation. 

Levy County

• While patrolling the Goethe Wildlife Management Area’s deer-dog hunt, Lieutenant Ransom noticed several subjects in pickup trucks were circling a nearby area that is privately owned and not registered as deer-dog hunting property. Minutes later and within the nearby privately owned lands, Lieutenant Ransom spotted and caught a deer-dog with a collar equipped for GPS and owner information. As Lieutenant Ransom held the deer-dog within the privately owned property, an individual approached and stated he was responsible for the hunting dog that exited from the Goethe WMA. The individual said three additional deer-dogs were also in the area and they were soon caught. The subject confirmed all the dogs were equipped with collars that had active and working GPS tracking and corrective functions. Lieutenant Ransom issued a citation to the subject.  
• Officer Jones was patrolling the Gulf Hammock Wildlife Management Area when he observed deer-dog hunters attempting to catch hunting dogs from the wildlife management area’s still hunt only area.  When questioned, the subjects knew Gulf Hammock WMA contained a large area for deer-dog hunting and contained an area for still hunting only where hunting with dogs is prohibited. The subject confirmed all the dogs were equipped with collars that had active and working GPS tracking and corrective functions. Officer Jones issued a citation to the subject responsible for the violation.  
• Officer Jones conducted a resource inspection on an individual fishing around Cedar Key. The subject told the officer he had not caught any fish and opened an empty cooler. Officer Jones requested to inspect a second cooler, and the subject again stated he did not have any fish.  However, Officer Jones observed eight red drum in the second cooler, seven of which were undersized. Additionally, the subject was seven red drum over the daily bag limit. Officer Jones issued a citation for the violations.

Taylor County

• Officer Courtney Edwards responded to the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office request for assistance with a lost hunter in Tide Swamp Wildlife Management Area. Florida Highway Patrol drone operators and a Leon County helicopter also arrived to assist. The helicopter used its thermal camera and located a fire approximately 500 yards from the officers. The Florida Highway Patrol drone was launched and was able to clearly identify the fire and the missing hunter next to the fire. The drone then led the officers to the location of the missing hunter. After checking for injuries and the welfare of the subject, Officer Edwards and two Taylor County Sheriff’s deputies escorted the subject out of the woods. The subject was checked by Emergency Medical Services and cleared with no injuries.
• Officer Edwards responded to a report about two subjects on a four-wheeler in the marsh grass at Tide Swamp Wildlife Management Area. She found a truck with an empty trailer attached and observed one subject walking through the marsh and the other was operating a four-wheeler.  The officer cited the subject operating the four-wheeler for damage to public lands by motor vehicle, use of all-terrain vehicles in Tide Swamp, operating a motorized vehicle off named or numbered roads, and careless disregard of aquatic weeds and plants.
• Officer Edwards responded to a report from Econfina River State Park staff that they had a subject on camera dressed in camouflage with a rifle and a treestand on state park property.  The officer located a vehicle parked on the side of Highway 14 at the southern border of Snipe Island WMA and the northern border of Econfina River State Park and waited for the subject to return. The subject was advised he was on state park property and issued a citation for hunting in a state park. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

• Officers Austin and Russel conducted a safety briefing with 50 sailors at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, including their command staff. The officers discussed boating safety, boating under the influence, hunting safety, and safety around wildlife. There was fantastic engagement from the sailors and the officers were able to provide them with informative resources.  

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer Osborn observed a vehicle in an area closed to vehicles at T.M. Goodwin Public Small Game Hunting Area. The occupants of the vehicle were cast netting in a nearby canal. After conducting a resource inspection, Officer Osborn discovered 20 gamefish, including a Florida bass and various panfish that had been taken by an illegal method. The violations were addressed accordingly.

Flagler County

• While on federal water patrol, Senior Officer Thomas and Officer Specialist Lawrence stopped a vessel leaving Joe Husky Reef. When the occupants were asked what they had caught, they admitted to having red snapper on board and knew they were not supposed to harvest red snapper in federal waters. Officer Lawrence issued both subjects a federal citation for the violations

Orange County

• Officer Easterbrook was patrolling a local wildlife management area during a quota only hunt when he observed a vehicle parked in a location known for individuals attempting to illegally enter the WMA. Officer Easterbrook waited in a concealed location and observed an individual illegally exit the WMA through the barbed wire fence. He issued the subject a notice to appear for illegal entry/exit into the WMA.

Putnam County

• Officer Dykstra and Lieutenant Jones responded to information that violators had been placing bait within a wildlife management area during a quota hunt. Working closely with Clay County officers, it was determined the subjects lived in Putnam County and the violation was occurring in Clay County. After collecting evidence and interviewing the subjects involved, the violators were charged accordingly.

St. Johns County

• While on federal water patrol, Senior Officer Thomas and Officer Specialist Lawrence stopped a vessel that was fishing Dorthy Louise Reef. The operator stated he had two queen triggerfish on board. The operator identified the queen triggerfish using the fish rules application on his phone. However, he did not read the no harvest for food rule stated in the app. As the federal rule mirrors the state rule, Officer Thomas issued the operator one state violation for possession of marine life (queen triggerfish) for purposes of food harvest.

Sumter County

• Lieutenant Rice was patrolling Lake Panasoffkee Public Small Game Hunting Area when he observed two vehicles parked on the north boundary line. At the time, the management area was not open to hunting. The officer heard multiple shots come from within the management area and a short time later, observed two subjects exit the management area where the vehicles were parked. The subjects were dressed in camouflage waders and carrying shotguns. Lieutenant Rice contacted the subjects to conduct a license and resource inspection. The subjects admitted to hunting within the management area and harvested two wood ducks. During the inspection, one of the subjects did not possess a valid federal duck stamp, which is required when hunting waterfowl. Lieutenant Rice issued appropriate citations and warnings for the violations.
• Senior Officer Phillips received information about multiple shots being heard in an area closed to hunting in Croom Wildlife Management Area. The officer located two vehicles parked along the boundary of the closed area. A short time later, he heard someone talking and then observed a subject dressed in camouflage clothing, carrying a rifle, and dragging a deer. During an investigation, Officer Phillips located where the subject was sitting inside the closed area when they shot the deer with a rifle. The subject admitted to shooting the antlered deer. Officer Phillips issued the subject a notice to appear citation for hunting in a closed area.

Volusia County

• Senior Officer Bertolami was on patrol around the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange when he observed a subject known to be a commercial angler fishing from the east bank of the Intracoastal Waterway. Officer Bertolami contacted the subject, who was fishing from shore with a rod and reel, and verified they had a commercial fishing license. A fisheries inspection revealed the subject to be in possession of an undersized and out-of-season seatrout. Officer Bertolami addressed both violations.
• Officer Velez was on patrol around the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange when he observed a subject approaching the boat ramp in a kayak. Officer Velez observed a blue cooler, fishing rod, and a scraper (used to scrape bridge pilings) commonly used for catching sheepshead, on the kayak. Officer Velez contacted the subject and conducted a fisheries inspection. Nine sheepshead were in the cooler with the smallest under 12 inches. Officer Velez advised the subject the daily bag limit is eight sheepshead and the minimum size limit is 12 inches. Both violations were addressed by Officer Velez.
• Officers Stoker and Officer Drake were on water patrol when at they heard gunshots coming from the tree line in the Bulow Creek State Park. Officer Stoker navigated the patrol vessel to where he heard the shots coming from and observed three individuals dressed in camouflage shooting at migratory waterfowl from their concealed position. A subject was walking out from a concealed blind to gather waterfowl that had just been shot. The officers contacted the three subjects who were hunting out of the blind. They had five green teal they had harvested. It was determined the subjects had parked along a nearby canal and walked into Bulow Creek State Park. Officer Stoker was able to determine the three subjects were hunting in a closed area (park boundary) and addressed the violations. 

CASES

Broward County

• Officer Giani observed two vehicles in a closed area at Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. He stopped the vehicles to address the violation and before contacting the subjects, Giani saw them throwing fish back into the water. He observed the fish they had thrown back were floating on the surface and further investigation revealed the subjects were in possession of over the bag limit for Florida bass. Giani issued the subjects notice to appear citations for willful waste, obstruction of an FWC officer, trespassing, and over the bag possession of Florida bass.
• Officers Rigali and Bovee observed a vehicle parked off U.S. Highway 27 just north of Stormwater Treatment Area 2.  The officers conducted a resource inspection on two subjects and discovered they had used a cast net on freshwater fish. One of the subjects possessed a Florida bass, which is illegal to be taken by a cast net. Officer Rigali issued the subject a notice to appear citation for taking gamefish by illegal means and a payable infraction for no fishing license. 
• Officers Bovee, Rigali, and Beppel conducted vessel patrol in the Intracoastal Waterway near Port Everglades where they stopped a vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection. Their inspection revealed an undersized kingfish onboard the vessel. It was also discovered the subject had previously been warned for possession of undersized fish.  Bovee issued one subject a notice to appear citation for possession of undersized kingfish.
• Officer Beppel conducted a resource inspection at A-1 FEB during waterfowl hunting season. Beppel’s inspection revealed the subject did not have a valid federal duck stamp. The officer issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.  
• Officer Giani conducted a resource inspection on a subject during waterfowl season at Stormwater Treatment Area 2. The officer’s inspection revealed the subject did not have a valid federal duck stamp. Giani issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officer Comartin conducted a resource inspection on a subject at the Stormwater Treatment Area 2 during waterfowl hunting season. His inspection revealed harvested ducks in the vehicle and that the subject used an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three rounds in the chamber and magazine combined. Comartin issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection at Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4 during waterfowl season that revealed one of the subjects in the vehicle did not have a migratory bird permit. Willis issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
• Officer Giani conducted a resource inspection at Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4 during waterfowl hunting season. The officer’s inspection revealed the subject hunted with a shotgun that was unplugged. Giani issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officer Giani observed two vehicles in a closed portion of Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4 that posted by signage. The officer’s investigation revealed the subjects were trespassing during a quota waterfowl hunt. Giani issued the subjects notice to appear citations for trespassing on state land and escorted them off the property.

CASES

Collier County

• While on patrol in the Picayune Strand State Forest, Officer Pruett and Officer Specialist Osorio inspected a duck hunter at the Naomi pump station. He observed the individual carrying a mottled duck and another bird. Upon further inspection of the subject’s equipment and harvest, it was determined the other bird was a pied-billed grebe, which is illegal to harvest in the state. The individual was issued a citation for the violation and a warning for driving off trail in the state forest.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Collier County

• Officer Delgado and Lieutenant Knutson attended the 6^th annual Rookery Bay Car Show where they displayed an FWC vehicle used to access areas off public roads. They also answered questions and spoke with event goers about FWC’s mission.

Miami-Dade County

• Officer George Reynaud and Biologist John Cimbaro represented the FWC at the Doral Military Family Day. This event was held at Doral Glades Park lake, the South Region’s newest fish management area (FMA), and allowed FWC staff to engage with active military personnel, veterans and their families. The event featured activities such as kayaking and fishing and FWC staff provided information about fishing, answered questions and provided information about fishing opportunities at the FMA. One attendee was familiar with the FMA and shared a nice Florida bass photo from a previous visit! Several city council members also attended the event, which provided the FWC opportunity to thank them for their collaboration and support of fishing and conservation as well as recognize the military personnel and veterans for their service.