FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY REPORT September 14-20, 2012

FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

WEEKLY REPORT

September 14-20, 2012        

 

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

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

After attending a meeting in the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Major Bruce Cooper was on patrol working in the north end of the county in the management area when he observed two dogs chasing a doe and a fawn. Major Cooper caught one of the dogs, obtained the owner’s information from the collar, and turned the information over to Officer Royce Johnson. Officer Johnson located the dog owner’s residence and hunting camp and inspected one of several dog pens at the camp. There was evidence in one enclosure where a dog may have pushed its way through the wire pen. A camp member told Officer Johnson one of the dogs routinely stays in the yard and will not leave unless another dog gets out and “gets on a deer.” The member said he had been spreading dirt in and around the dog pens, but was not aware the dogs had escaped. Officer Johnson issued a written warning to the dog owner for allowing dogs to pursue game during closed season.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officers James and Pete Rockwell were on water patrol in Boggy Bayou when they observed a fishing vessel returning to the boat ramp. The officers conducted a stop to check the safety equipment and verified the vessel occupants had been recreationally fishing. A fisheries inspection revealed the subjects in possession of six undersized spotted sea trout. Officer Pete Rockwell asked the captain if he knew the size limit for the fish. He replied, “14 inches.” Both subjects were cited for possession of undersized spotted sea trout. The legal length for spotted sea trout is 15–20 inches with one fish over 20 inches allowed per fisherman.

 

BAY COUNTY

 

Officers Dennis Palmer and Nick Price conducted a fisheries inspection on two individuals wade fishing in St. Andrew Bay. When asked if they had caught anything, they replied that they caught some mangrove snapper that were too small to keep. The individuals could not produce a valid fishing license and remarked that they didn’t think they needed one since they were wade fishing. The officers explained the change in the law that took place several years ago and that they still needed the free license to wade fish. The officers noticed a red bait bucket and a white five gallon bucket on the shore, which belonged to the subjects. They retrieved the buckets, so the officers could conduct an inspection. The red bait bucket contained bait and the white bucket contained 15 blue crabs, ten of which were egg-bearing females. One of the subjects took responsibility for the egg-bearing crabs. The two subjects were issued warnings for no shoreline fishing licenses and one citation for possession of egg-bearing blue crabs.

 

Officer David Brady worked a boating accident off Callaway Bayou involving a vessel carrying two people who had been alligator hunting. Their vessel collided with a navigational marker. The vessel was totaled, and one subject was transported to a local hospital with severe injuries to his leg.

 

FRANKLIN/WAKULLA COUNTIES

 

Officers Jason Carroll, Blake Hoelscher, and Steven Cook concentrated their efforts this week on working complaints involving individuals harvesting shellfish at night in closed waters. Their efforts resulted in 12 arrests for harvesting shellfish in closed and conditionally closed waters.

 

GADSDEN COUNTY

 

Officer Ben Johnson observed two individuals using a cast net to catch freshwater fish. Officer Johnson kept the individuals under observation for approximately one hour. During this time, he saw the subjects catch and keep several game fish, which included undersized striped bass. Officer Johnson then approached the individuals and seized the fish and cast net. Both men were cited for taking freshwater game fish by illegal method and possession of undersized striped bass.

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