| 30 September 2011
A summary of trout, redfish and snook citations for the first half of September.
Snook
Lee County
On Sanibel Island, Officer Demian McColgin was on land patrol when he observed three
individuals fishing underneath Blind Pass Bridge. One of the individuals caught a snook
and redfish in a cast net. As the three subjects began to leave the area, Officer McColgin
conducted a marine fisheries inspection and determined the individuals were in possession
of an undersized snook and over the bag limit of redfish. Citations were issued for
possession of undersized snook, possession of snook during closed season, possession of
oversized redfish, and over the bag limit of redfish.
Redfish
Volusia County
Officer Steve LaRoche was patrolling the north jetty at Ponce De Leon Inlet when he
checked a cooler being carried from the rocks. An adult female was subsequently arrested
for possession of five redfish over the bag limit and possession of one redfish under the
legal size limit. The possession of more than three redfish over the daily bag limit is
considered a major violation.
Collier County
RPU Officer Thomas Van Trees’ activities this week resulted in twenty misdemeanor
citations. In one incident, he conducted surveillance on two subjects fishing beneath a
bridge. One fisherman caught and kept two small redfish and was cited for possession
of undersized and over the bag limit of redfish. During another surveillance effort on the
beach, Officer Van Trees observed several subjects actively fishing with an entangling
net stretched between them. As the subjects began to leave, the officer conducted an
inspection and found undersized sheepshead and undersized mangrove snapper in their
possession.
Pinellas County
Officer Louis Hinds conducted a fisheries inspection on an individual underneath the Gandy
Bridge, after he had observed the fisherman attempting to carry a large trash bag to his
car. During the inspection, Officer Hinds determined the trash bag contained three redfish,
including one that was 29 inches in length. The subject was charged with possession of
over the bag limit of redfish and possession of oversized redfish.
Lee County
Officer Lonnie Sushil was on land patrol when he observed a vehicle parked in a secluded
area along a canal. Officer Sushil remained in the area near the vehicle and subsequently
observed an individual return from the canal bank carrying a bucket and fishing equipment.
As the individual began loading his fishing equipment into the vehicle, Officer Sushil made
contact and conducted a resource inspection, which revealed an undersized redfish and a
number of undersized sheepshead. The subject was issued a notice to appear in court for
the violations.
*See also; Snook - Lee County for redfish citation
Trout
Pinellas County
RPU Officer Bill Holcomb conducted a fisheries inspection on a group of individuals at
the Pinellas Bayway Bridge and determined the subjects were in possession of several
undersized spotted seatrout. One of the subjects admitted to catching all of the fish and
was charged accordingly.
Officers Tom Enos and Craig Baker were conducting fisheries inspections near John’s
Pass when they cited two shoreline fishermen for possession of several undersized spotted
seatrout.
