| 28 June 2008
FWC on lookout for Snook Violations
COLLIER COUNTY
On June 4th, Officer Doyle Cook initiated three separate “snook cases” in a single week, resulting in the issuance of seven criminal citations. First, the officer arrested a subject for possession of snook out of season after finding the fish hidden behind a battery box. The following night, the officer observed a subject cast netting for snook from a private dock. When the officer approached, the subject ran away, jumped into the bay and swam away. The subject left his girlfriend and a bucket of snook behind on the dock. She told Officer Cook the subject’s name and with the help of Naples Police Department, Officer Cook discovered that the subject was on probation and had also been ordered to serve weekend incarceration. The officer met the subject when he reported to jail and cited him for possession of snook out of season, illegal method of harvest, interference without violence and trespassing. The third case occurred when the officer issued citations to several fishermen for harvesting snook out of season.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
On June 8, Officers Benjamin Westrope and Chase Yarborough responded to a complaint of a subject spearfishing snook near an Indian River Drive flood control structure in Fort Pierce. Officer Westrope observed a subject quickly close a white cooler. Further investigation revealed five snook and several zip lock bags containing snook filets. Three of the fish were determined to have been harvested with a speargun. The subject was jailed and charged with numerous resource violations and providing false information to a law enforcement officer.
VOLUSIA COUNTY
On June 24, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Officer Audrey Warren responded to a call at the North Causeway Bridge in New Smyrna Beach and observed two subjects cast netting. Upon inspection of their blue basket, Officer Warren found them to be in possession of a 231/2-inch snook, an 8-inch sheepshead and a 6-inch flounder. The two subjects were cited for possession of snook in a closed season and issued warnings for the undersized sheepshead and flounder.
LEE COUNTY
On June 21, Officer Jason Semeyn and Lieutenant Mike Frantz made contact with three divers in Boca Grande State Park, who had been at the park most of the night. As the officers approached the subjects, they observed spears and fishing poles. While inspecting the subject’s coolers, the officers discovered three undersize snook with punctures in the sides and two undersize sheephead in one cooler and eleven unopened beers on ice in the other. The three subjects were under the legal age to possess alcoholic beverages. Their parents were notified and six citations and fifteen warnings were issued.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
On June 26, Officer Chase Yarborough received information about a subject taking snook from the Belcher Canal spillway in Fort Pierce. Upon arrival, he observed the subject’s actions from a concealed location. The subject appeared to leave the area but returned to remove a large snook from in between some rocks. Officer Yarborough conducted a traffic stop and found the 38-inch snook in the bed of the truck. The subject was cited for several violations.
