| 31 October 2011
Snook
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Officers Brian Norris and Jason Cooke were conducting fisheries inspections at the El Jo Bean Pier when they observed several people leaving the pier with fishing gear in a stroller. One of the individuals observed the officers and quickly transferred the fishing gear into some nearby bushes. When the officers stopped the individuals, the subject who had concealed the fishing gear admitted he hid the gear because he did not have a fishing license. Among the fishing gear stashed in the bushes, the officers located several snook fillets and issued the appropriate citations. While attempting to identify the subject, he provided the officers with a false name. The officers determined the man’s true identity and realized the individual had been cited at the same location a few weeks prior for the possession of an approximately 300 pound goliath grouper.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Officer James Payne received information about subjects illegally castnetting snook. The officer observed a female subject walk off the catwalk with what appeared to be a fish wrapped in a shirt. When confronted, the subject revealed an undersized snook. An accomplice recognized Officer Payne to be an FWC officer and attempted to conceal an undersized snook on the ground with his bait bucket and cast net. The subject had no other fishing gear with him. Both subjects were cited for possession of undersized snook and one subject was cited for harvest by illegal method.
COLLIER COUNTY
Officer Michael Bibeau issued several misdemeanor citations during a traffic stop for possession of snook during the closed season and possession of undersized snook. The officer initiated the stop on County Road 951 due to an obscured license plate. During the stop, the officer observed fishing gear in the vehicle and the operator admitted he had been fishing and gave consent to search.
Redfish
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Officer James Payne was conducting license and resource inspections at the Black Pearl Boat Ramp in Fort Pierce. He observed an individual carrying fishing poles and a bucket walking off the catwalk. Officer Payne asked the subject if he had caught anything and the subject replied that he had caught a redfish. The officer asked him how big it was and the subject replied “like 27 inches”. Officer Payne measured the fish and it was 29 inches in total length. The subject also had an expired fishing license. The defendant was issued a citation for the oversized redfish and a verbal warning for the license violation. Fishermen are allowed one redfish no less than 18 inches and no greater than 27 inches.
