| 31 July 2010
BREVARD COUNTY
Officers Philip Glover and Curtis Suggs conducted surveillance on fishermen at Sebastian Inlet. Around 3 a.m., they watched as one of the fishermen caught a 37-inch snook and hid it in his vehicle. The officers found the snook still alive and were able to release it. The man was charged with possession of snook out of season and oversize snook.
BROWARD COUNTY
Officers Naujoks and Weis were patrolling near the Hillsboro Inlet late at night when they observed individuals walking off the jetty with fishing gear. Officers conducted a marine fisheries inspection and discovered two snook harvested out of season. Officers issued the individuals notices to appear for the violation and seized the fish as evidence.
Lieutenant Laubenberger and Officer Naujoks observed individuals fishing in the Hillsboro Inlet during Operation Dry Water. Upon inspection of coolers and the individuals catch, the officers discovered two small snook and several small snapper. Officers issued notice to appear citations for possession of snook out of season, undersize snook, undersize mangrove and mutton snapper. The fish were seized and entered as evidence.
LEE COUNTY
Officer Brian Cazalot was on foot patrol at New Pass when he observed several groups of people fishing with cast nets. He approached one of the groups and conducted a fisheries inspection and found the angler in possession of a 14 ½ inch snook. As other groups began to leave the area in vehicles, Officer Cazalot was able to stop one vehicle to conduct a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, two snook were located inside the trunk of the vehicle. The operator was also driving without a driver’s license. In all, Officer Cazalot issued a total of ten misdemeanors for various violations.
Officers James Suttles and Daniel Cantu were on water patrol on the Caloosahatchee River, when they observed a vessel displaying a registration decal that expired in September, 2009. The officers conducted a boating safety and fisheries inspection and located five snook. The vessel operator was issued two warnings and four citations for various violations. The fish were returned to the water.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Officer Albert received a call that two subjects were spearfishing at Haulover Inlet jetty. FWC Officers Mayberg and Sullivan were also notified. Officer Mayberg then enlisted the help of nearby Bal Harbour Police Department Officer Alvarez. The two subjects were spotted walking away from the jetty with their dive gear and a large black bag in hand. Arriving law enforcement units detained the two subjects. The black bag, located alongside the subjects’ vehicle, contained seven speared snook and one speared parrotfish. The subjects were arrested and jailed for numerous violations.
MONROE COUNTY
Officer David Robison observed several subjects exit the water with spear guns at Toms Harbor Channel and summoned a land based officer to conduct a fisheries inspection. Citations were issued for spearing snook, possession out of season and undersize snook.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Officer Young was on water patrol near Jupiter Inlet and the U.S. Highway 1 Bridge when Palm Beach Sheriff’s Deputies reported two individuals snorkeling under the U.S. Highway 1 Bridge without a dive flag. When Officer Young arrived on scene, deputies advised that one of the snorkelers came up to the surface with a small snook on the tip of the spear shaft. The snorkeler dropped the spear gun after he noticed law enforcement. Both individuals were cited for not having a dive flag and one snorkeler for harvesting snook by illegal method, spear fishing within 100 yards of a public fishing pier, possession of undersize snook, possession of snook during closed season and no saltwater fishing license. Officer Young seized the spear gun as evidence.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Investigator Dieter Iten observed three subjects with spear guns enter the water at Blind Pass jetties. One of the individuals returned to the vehicle and drove away from the area. Investigator Iten followed the individual to Upham Beach and requested assistance from Officer Randy Hart. At Upham Beach, the other two individuals emerged from the jetties and began running toward the vehicle. They were carrying a large black trash bag which was determined to contain three, speared, oversize snook. Officer Hart issued several notice to appear citations for taking snook out of season, possession of oversize snook, and harvest of snook by illegal method.
