| 20 November 2009
BREVARD COUNTY
On November 5, Officers Justin Morgan and Patrick Corley were
on land patrol on the north side of Sebastian Inlet and observed a man
leaving the catwalk headed towards his vehicle. The officers stopped
the man and asked if he had caught anything. The man stated he had not
caught any fish. However, the officers noticed a cooler in the bed of
the man’s truck and asked to check the cooler. The man gave them
permission and inside the cooler was a snook that appeared to be under
size. A measurement of the fish revealed it to be 27 ½ inches, which
was ½ of an inch shorter than the minimum size of 28 inches. The man
instantly became defensive and stated the men on the catwalk said it
looked legal. The man in violation did not have a measuring device and
was estimating the length of the fish. He was issued a misdemeanor
citation and the snook was seized and photographed.
On November 9, Officer Kris Culver was on land patrol on the
north side of Sebastian Inlet and saw an individual run by him and
place an oversized snook into his vehicle. The individual was issued a
citation for possession of oversized snook.
COLLIER COUNTY
Officer Marc Shea observed a vessel reach the shore and one occupant hide two plastic bags inside a tree line. Although both subjects denied having any fish inside the bags, they started to apologize as the officer’s inspection revealed an undersize sheepshead. The subjects then denied having any fish in the boat, but as the officer approached the boat they admitted to having some jacks. An inspection revealed a cooler full of fish. Officer Doyle Cook and Lieutenant Wayne Maahs assisted with the investigation, resulting in the arrest of both subjects for possession of undersize snook, redfish, sheepshead, and mullet in excess of the bag limit, as well as illegal method of harvest of snook.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Officers Curtis Suggs and Damon Saunders worked with local FWC investigators at the Sebastian Inlet State Park in reference to numerous fishery violations. Between midnight and 6 a.m., Officer Suggs observed a subject trespass on the fender system and harvest two snook. The snook were taken to a fish cleaning station and cleaned. The subject returned and harvested two more snook. Officer Suggs made contact, to which the subject admitted to catching four snook and provided a written sworn statement. The subject was issued a mandatory notice to appear and given a warning for trespassing on the fenders. Two 32-inch snook and two bags of snook fillets were seized and donated.
At approximately 6:30 that same morning Officer Culver conducted a fisheries inspection of a man who was loading up his fishing gear into the bed of his truck. The officer noticed blood and large scales on the man's metal fishing cart. The subject insisted that he had no fish in his vehicle and allowed the officer to search his entire vehicle. A closer examination of the defendant's cart revealed a false bottom. When the defendant was asked about the compartment he insisted it was welded shut and it could not be opened. The defendant was repeatedly asked to open the compartment, but he refused. With the help of local investigators, Officer Culver was able to unscrew a portion of the cart to gain access to the hidden compartment. A 34.25 inch snook was found inside of the hidden compartment. The cart and two fishing poles were seized. The subject was issued a notice to appear for this violation.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Officers Dieter Iten and Bryan Beeler were on land patrol in Snell Isle when they conducted a marine fisheries inspection on two individuals who had been fishing. After the individuals stated they didn’t have any fish, Officer Beeler located a box in nearby bushes that contained two undersize snook. After the individuals admitted to catching the fish and hiding them in the bushes, they were issued citations for possession of undersize snook.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Lieutenant Douglas Rogerson assisted Fort Pierce Police Department during an early morning rollover crash investigation where two undersize snook were found at the scene. The vehicle operator was the only occupant and was transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries. Charges are pending until conclusion of the investigation.
