FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report November 13, 2015 thru November 19, 2015

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC Division of Law Enforcement   Weekly Report November 13, 2015 thru November 19, 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 FRANKLIN COUNTY Over the past three weeks (11 harvest days), 42 officers from the Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Southwest and South B Regions have participated in the reintroduction of oyster monitoring stations within Apalachicola Bay. The oyster monitoring stations are being used as a resource management tool to assist in the recovery of oyster populations within the bay. The primary focus of the oyster monitoring stations is to inspect all commercially harvested oysters from public oyster bars within the bay for compliance of size tolerance. During the 11 harvest days, officers inspected 1,011 harvesters and over 2,500 bags of oysters. Twenty-four warnings were issued for size tolerance as well as 27 citations for size tolerance violations. Other violations cited were for non-compliance with Executive Order #15-18 as it pertained to bag limit for oysters, no saltwater products license, no Apalachicola Bay oyster harvest permit and boating safety equipment and vessel registration violations. LIBERTY COUNTY While on patrol in the Apalachicola National Forest, Officer Mims spotted a vehicle shining a spotlight after dark. Officer Mims approached the vehicle and observed a loaded 12‑gauge shotgun sitting in the bed of the pickup. After a brief investigation, it was determined the man was attempting to shoot deer. Officer Mims issued the man a citation for attempting to take deer at night with gun and light. Lieutenant Parker was on land patrol near Florida River Island. He observed two individuals hunting hogs with dogs in the area closed to the use of dogs. Both individuals were cited for the violation. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officers investigated the following fisheries violations:  (1) Officers Pifer and Corbin were on vessel patrol when they conducted a vessel stop under the Destin Marler Bridge. The vessel operator stated they had caught two mangrove snapper.  Upon inspecting the fish, the officers determined that the vessel operator was in possession of an undersized red snapper during closed season.  The vessel operator was issued a citation.  (2) Officer Bartlett was on vessel patrol conducting boating safety and state fishery inspections in Bayou Cinco.  He initiated a vessel stopped.  The inspection revealed the operator had insufficient number of life jackets.  During the inspection, Officer Bartlett determined the operator was returning from a fishing trip.  The fisheries inspection revealed the operator was in possession of eight spotted sea trout, all of which were undersized.  The operator was issued a citation for possession of undersized spotted sea trout, a warning for possession of over the bag limit, and a warning for insufficient number of personal flotation devices. SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Jones arrived at the Bob Sikes Fishing Pier at Pensacola Beach for the purpose of checking fishermen and their fish.  While on the pier, Officer Jones observed a female with a cooler walk to the opposite side of the pier from all of the other fishing activity and stop at the railing.  He also noticed that she was not carrying a fishing rod.  Suspecting that she may dump illegal fish, Officer Jones quickly moved towards her.  He observed her remove a large fish (red drum) from the cooler, at which point he shouted to her not to throw the fish.  She briefly looked at the officer and then threw the fish off the pier.  When Officer Jones approached her, she stated that it is too late. Officer Jones told her that it was not too late and charged her with obstructing an FWC officer in the performance of his duties. WALTON COUNTY Saturday was the opening day of small game season on the Choctawhatchee River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The officers patrolled by water, inspecting 35 vessels and checking 72 users. Minor boating registration violations were addressed. After receiving information regarding subjects possibly hunting illegally on East River Island in the Choctawhatchee River WMA, Officers Letcher, Tison and Yates worked the area and located three subjects.  The officers determined that one of the individuals had been illegally hunting with a crossbow and had a boating violation. The officers also determined that the subject matched the description from a theft case two days earlier.  Walton County Sheriff’s Office was notified and the subject was found to be in possession of two stolen generators.  The subject was issued resource and boating citations. The theft investigation was turned over to the Sheriff’s Office. COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING WALTON COUNTY Officers White and Maltais attended the angler’s meeting for the Marina Village Bass Tournament held at the South Walton High School. The officers addressed boating safety compliance and weather related concerns as the low temperature would be in the 40s overnight. There were 75 anglers, staff and volunteers for the fund raising event. Early on Saturday, the officers provided security for the start of the tournament at sunrise.

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