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
BAY COUNTY
Officer Joe Chambers received official notification from the State of Colorado concerning a felon who was in possession of a firearm last hunting season. Officer Chambers checked the hunter during the hunting season and initiated an investigation to determine the felony disposition. An arrest warrant will be filed.
Officer Mike Nobles worked a boating accident involving two rented personal watercraft that collided. One of the operators sustained a broken femur. The investigation revealed both parties were at fault and both were issued citations.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Faris Livesay and Kenneth Manning checked a vessel in Pensacola Bay. They found the operator had five red snapper in the live well. The operator acknowledged the fish were red snapper and claimed he planned to use them for bait. Office Livesay issued the subject a citation and a warning for the violations.
Officer Kenneth Manning checked an individual fishing from a vessel in Pensacola Bay. The individual did not possess a current fishing license. A check with dispatch revealed that the subject’s fishing license was suspended by the court for failure to pay child support. Officer Manning is following up with the court and charges are pending.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Ken White observed a subject diving and spear fishing around the Destin Jetties. The jetties are a prohibited area for spear fishing and the subject was charged appropriately.
Officer Matt Webb was on water patrol conducting Deepwater Horizon reconnaissance and state fisheries inspections in the Destin Pass. He observed a boat returning from the Gulf of Mexico. While conducting a safety inspection, Officer Webb determined the boat was returning from a fishing trip. The inspection revealed an undersized gag grouper. The operator was cited.
In the same area, Officer Webb conducted another vessel inspection, revealing three undersize greater amberjack on board. The operator was cited.
Officer Matt Webb was dispatched to a boating accident in the Destin Harbor. A Louisiana family rented a pontoon boat out of Destin Harbor. During the operator’s first attempt to dock the boat, the port/bow struck a pole. On the operator’s second attempt, he hurried his approached to the dock by increasing the boat’s speed which caused the boat to lunge forward. The adult female passenger had her arm extended outside the boat in an attempt to stop the boat’s momentum. She grabbed a piling with her left hand. Because of the speed and the momentum of the boat, her elbow was pinned between the boat’s railing causing her elbow to hyper-extend, resulting in a compound fracture. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
WALTON COUNTY
Officer Darrell Johnson responded to a report of a large amount of turtle carcasses dumped in a wooded area. The carcasses were identified as gopher tortoises, which are listed as a threatened species. The investigation is currently on-going.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Lt. Kent Harvey was on water patrol in Apalachicola Bay in the area of East Hole oyster bar. He stopped a vessel engaged in harvesting shellfish. One of the occupants on the vessel did not have an Apalachicola Bay harvesting permit or a saltwater products license. Lieutenant Harvey checked with communications on the status of his license. The subject never possessed either license. The subject was warned and advised to have a license next time he returned to the oyster bar. The next day, Lieutenant Harvey encountered the same two subjects again harvesting shellfish. He stopped the vessel and cited the individual for harvesting shellfish without an Apalachicola Bay permit and no saltwater products license. In addition, the operator was cited for numerous boating safety violations, which he was warned for the prior day.
Officers Travis Huckeba and John Allen were working plain-clothes water patrol on Apalachicola Bay. They observed a vessel engaged in harvesting mullet with nets. Both officers set up surveillance on the vessel and occupants and determined that the individuals were fishing with illegal nets. After observing them for a period of time, the officers conducted a vessel stop. During the stop, they found the individuals to be in possession of two illegal entangling nets. The nets were seized and the subjects were cited for fishing nets with illegal mesh size, use of entangling nets, possession of entangling nets, and fishing nets over 500 square feet. Both subjects arrested are repeat offenders.
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