FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 07/17 - 07/23/2015

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC Division of Law Enforcement   Weekly Report July 17, 2015 thru July 23, 2015 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. Patrol, Protect, Preserve NORTHWEST REGION BAY COUNTY Officers Gore and T. Basford were offshore on patrol when they conducted a resource inspection on a vessel fishing in federal waters.  The officers found an undersized greater amberjack and a red snapper. The season is closed for both species.  Two written warnings were issued for the possession of amberjack and red snapper during the closed season.  A citation was issued for the undersized amberjack.  Major Cooper joined some officers on patrol and while approaching a commercial vessel, the officers noticed a deckhand dumping a bucket of fish overboard.  After boarding the vessel, they found twelve undersized vermillion snapper (being cut up for bait), no saltwater products license onboard and the vessel registration to be expired.  The captain was cited for the license and registration issues and charged federally for using reef fish as bait and possession of undersized fish. Officer T. Basford responded to a disturbance call in St. Andrews State Park. Upon arriving at the location, the Officer found the door to a pop-up camper broken and its canvas top torn.  As Officer Basford began his investigation, it was obvious his suspect was intoxicated.  Further investigation found the suspect had been chasing his wife and daughter around the campsite, yelling vulgarities and breaking objects.  Written statements were taken from nearby campers and the suspect was arrested and booked into the Bay County Jail for disorderly conduct. Officer Price was on patrol in the gulf when he stopped a vessel that was actively trolling.  The vessel’s owner/captain said they had two red snapper (closed season) onboard because they were dead.  An inspection of the fish revealed the red snapper had been gaffed in the head.  Also located was an undersized red grouper and two triggerfish (closed season), one of which was undersized.  When asked why he was keeping all the fish, the captain said he was “taking his chances”.   Citations for possession of red snapper and triggerfish during the closed season and possession of undersized red grouper was issued and a written warning was issued for the undersized triggerfish.          ESCAMBIA COUNTY Officer Manning patrolled off shore in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend.  He performed fishery and safety checks on several vessels.  As a result, he issued four individuals citations for not having a saltwater license, one individual a criminal citation for possession of Gray Trigger Fish during closed season and one citation to a charter boat captain for not having a charter boat license. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officers Jarvis and P. Rockwell were on patrol at the Destin East Jetty when they noticed two men snorkeling in the Destin Pass. Officer Jarvis observed one of the men remove a flounder from a spear gun and put it in their kayak. The other man dropped his spear gun underwater when approached by Officer Rockwell. Both men were charged with spearfishing within 100 feet of a jetty and given warnings for no divers down flag. COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING Major Cooper and Officer Maltais attended a Division of Marine Fisheries meeting at the Destin Community Center.  They were available for questions and input on State fisheries management.  Several people were in attendance along with 14 public citizens.

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