This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
NORTHWEST REGION
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Lt. Dan Hahr was on patrol within the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area at The Pipes when he observed suspicious activity around a parked truck. The lieutenant approached and observed what appeared to be a part of a revolver. He questioned the driver of the truck who stated that it was just a grinder and opened it revealing ground cannabis. A subsequent search of the truck revealed more drug paraphernalia. The subject was cited for possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer David Jernigan received information from a local sheriff’s deputy regarding a subject in possession of an illegal redfish. When Officer Jernigan arrived on scene, he observed the suspect pick up his bucket and head toward the water. Officer Jernigan stopped the subject and observed a 12‑inch redfish in the bucket. Officer Jernigan cited the fisherman for possession of undersized redfish.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Lt. Keith Clark and Okaloosa County Deputy Daryl Culberson were on vessel patrol conducting state fisheries inspections in the Gulf of Mexico near Destin Pass. They observed a 19‑foot vessel underway with one individual onboard fishing with a rod and reel. The officers approached and Lieutenant Clark asked the individual if he had caught any fish. The subject stated, “Amberjack.” When asked about the size of the amberjack, the individual stated, “28 inches.” The fisheries inspection revealed the fish as a greater amberjack measuring 26¾ inches. The legal size for greater amberjack is 30 inches or greater. The operator provided a 2004 Florida saltwater regulations booklet that stated the length for greater amberjack was 28 inches. The officers provided a copy of the current saltwater regulations and cited him for possession of an undersized greater amberjack.
Officer Ken White stopped a vessel in Destin Pass to conduct a boating safety inspection and observed dive and spearfishing equipment onboard. The officer inquired about fish and the vessel captain directed him to a cooler which contained three undersized triggerfish. The vessel captain was cited for the fish violation.
Lt. Keith Clark and Officers Ken White and Matt Webb responded to a complaint regarding two subjects spearfishing under the Destin Pass Bridge. The officers located the subjects and observed both of them snorkeling and spearfishing without a dive flag displayed. Both subjects were cited for spearfishing in a prohibited area and issued warnings for not displaying a dive flag or possessing fishing licenses.
Officers Matt Webb and Ken White and Lt. Keith Clark were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections near Destin Pass when they observed a 20‑foot vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During the safety equipment inspection, Officer Webb determined the boat was returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed two undersized red snapper. The season for red snapper is closed and the minimum size limit is 16 inches total length. The operator identified the fish as a cubera snapper. He was educated on proper fish identification and cited for possession of red snapper during the closed season and possession of undersized red snapper.
During the annual Poker Run event, Lt. Keith Clark and Officers Matt Webb and Ken White were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections in Choctawhatchee Bay when they responded to a report of a boating accident. The single vessel accident occurred in Santa Rosa Sound just west of Liza Jackson Park on Fort Walton Beach. A 30‑foot Spectra powered by two 250 hp Mercury outboards was eastbound approaching a large cabin-style vessel, also eastbound, which was creating a two-to-three-foot wake. A witness from another vessel estimated the speed of the Spectra between 50 and 60 miles per hour. When the Spectra crossed the large boat wake at the high rate of speed, it went airborne and landed on the portside, ejecting both occupants. The Spectra operator and passenger were not injured. The operator was cited for navigational rule violations of unsafe speed and improper lookout. The estimated damage to the vessel is $50,000.
Officers Matt Webb and Ken White and Lt. Keith Clark were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections near Destin Pass when they observed a 37‑foot boat returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During the initial stop, Officer Ken White determined the vessel was a charter for a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed several undersized gray triggerfish. The legal size is 14 inches or greater. Officer White confirmed with the deckhand that the charter vessel’s measuring device was accurate when compared to Officer White’s measuring device. The charter vessel operator was cited for possession of undersized gray triggerfish.
Officers Matt Webb and Ken White and Lt. Keith Clark were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections near the Destin Pass when they observed a 37‑foot commercial vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico. Officer Webb confirmed with dispatch that the commercial vessel captain had failed to call in the required landing time and location of the landing while in possession of harvested red snapper and grouper species. The fisheries inspection revealed four harvested red snapper and a red grouper. The commercial fishing vessel had not received any allocation, Individual Fishing Quota, to harvest or possess red snapper or red grouper. The operator stated the fish were deep hooked and died as the reason for keeping them. The operator stated the fish were for personal use and they were not planning on selling the fish. The operator was cited recreationally for possession of red snapper during the closed season and possession of an undersized red grouper.
Officers Matt Webb and Ken White were dispatched to a single vessel accident on the northeast corner of Crab Island. A rented personal watercraft (PWC) was traveling at approximately 25 miles per hour when an unexpected wake caused the female passenger to fall off. The victim struck her forehead on the gunwale, but remained conscious. She was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where she received several stitches to a laceration. No further action was taken.
Officer Alan Kirchinger stopped a vessel near Crab Island after observing it on a full plane within the No Wake/Idle Speed zone. While speaking with the operator, Officer Kirchinger noticed signs of impairment. Field sobriety tasks conducted at the Destin Coast Guard Station confirmed the subject was impaired. The subject was placed under arrest and refused to provide a breath sample to determine his breath alcohol content. He was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail and charged with operating a vessel while impaired. A warning was issued for violation of the No Wake/Idle Speed zone.
Officer Alan Kirchinger stopped a PWC in Destin Pass for a No Wake/Idle Speed zone violation. The operator displayed signs of impairment. He was transported to Destin Coast Guard Station where field sobriety tasks were conducted and confirmed the subject was impaired. The subject was placed under arrest and agreed to provide a breath sample, which registered .235. The subject was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail and charged with BUI. A warning was issued for violation of the No Wake/Idle Speed zone.
Officer Matt Webb was on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections near the Destin Pass when he observed a 20‑foot Wellcraft returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During the boating safety equipment inspection, Officer Webb determined the boat was returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed an undersized greater amberjack measuring 26 inches. The legal size for greater amberjack is 30 inches or greater. The operator admitted he had no regulation information on the boat and did not know the size limit for greater amberjack. Officer Webb cited the operator for possession of an undersized greater amberjack. He provided the operator with the current saltwater regulations and educated him on identifying greater amberjack.
JACKSON COUNTY
K-9 Officers Mike Guy and Ros Welborn were working an alligator hunt on Lake Seminole. At approximately 11 p.m., they observed a vessel working a spotlight on the Georgia side of the lake. After some time, the vessel moved to the Florida side and continued down a canal while the occupants continued to work the spotlight on the water. The officers moved to within 20 yards of the vessel and observed three occupants dipping up floating catfish. The officers made their presence known and seized a device used to shock the fish and bring them to the surface. The appropriate citations were issued to all three subjects. Ten catfish were released alive back into the lake.
BAY COUNTY
Officer David Erdman was on patrol in St. Andrews Bay near Spanish Shanty Cove when he observed a vessel anchored and displaying a dive flag. He approached to conduct an inspection and observed a dive bag attached to the stern of the vessel. The vessel occupants were in possession of scallops and Officer Erdman advised that the taking of scallops was prohibited west of the Mexico Beach canal. One of the divers took responsibility for the scallops and was cited for the violation. The scallops were released.
Officer David Erdman received a disposition recently regarding a BUI arrest. The defendant pled no contest and was fined $1,140 and placed on probation for 12 months. In addition, he must serve 50 hours of community service, complete a substance abuse awareness course, complete a boating safety course, and have his vehicle immobilized for ten days.
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