| 30 May 2008
FWC on lookout for Snook Violations
MONROE COUNTY
On May 6, Officer Christopher Mattson arrested a diver for spearing two snook. The officer located the speared fish hidden between some rocks.
BREVARD COUNTY
On May 25, Officer William Suggs was on water patrol on Turkey Creek and noticed a Hispanic male cast netting fish on castaway point. At approximately 8:30 p.m., Officer Suggs was able to conduct a resource inspection on the man's catch. The man was found to be in possession of 22 undersize sheepshead ranging from 6 ¼ inches to 10 ½ inches, one undersize snook measuring 14 ½ inches, one undersize mangrove snapper and one undersize black drum. The only fishing apparatus the man possessed was a cast net. The man was issued misdemeanor citations for possession of undersize sheepshead and undersize snook. He also received five written warnings for possession of over the bag limit of sheepshead, illegal method of take for reef fish, illegal method of take for snook and possession of undersize black drum.
LEE COUNTY
On May 26, while Officers Jonathan Ruggiero and Brian Cazalot were watching four subjects using a cast net to catch snook, they were notified by Investigator Larry Jernstedt that he and Lieutenant Steve Mevers were watching the same group so the officers left the area. The investigators observed the group leave the area and then return to retrieve the fish they had hidden in the mangroves. Two of the four subjects were charged with possession of snook out of season, over the bag limit of snook, taking snook by illegal method and undersize snook.
LEE COUNTY
On May 27, Officer Brian Cazalot received a call from dispatch notifying him of a male subject who was in possession of two snook while fishing in a Jon boat just east of the Edison Bridge in the Caloosahatchee River. Officer Cazalot then notified Investigator Jernstedt for assistance. Investigator Jernstedt observed the individual load his boat in a truck that was occupied by another individual. Investigator Jernstedt conducted a traffic stop and discovered two undersize snook inside the Jon boat. The subjects were charged with possession of snook out of season.
MONROE COUNTY
Officer Elizabeth Riesz, Investigator David Roudebush and K-9 Officer Tom Hill arrested several subjects in a major violation case involving snook and for crimes involving multiple lobster violations. Officer Riesz encountered a fisherman at Channel Five Bridge scaling one snook while a second snook, cut into pieces, was lying next to a cooking pot. Investigative and K-9 resources were summoned. During the investigation, the group of six fishermen finally admitted they had speared lobster and concealed them beneath a tree. FWC K-9 Jasmine was put to task and she located 29 speared lobster tails of which 20 were undersized. The misdemeanor offenses included possession of snook during closed season, undersized snook, failure to remain in whole condition and over the bag limit. Lobster violations included possession of crawfish during closed season, undersized crawfish and spearing crawfish.
