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
Officers assigned to the Pensacola and Destin areas participated in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide special enforcement detail targeting Boating Under the Influence (BUI). As a result, officers over the four‑county area conducted 735 vessel inspections, checked 2,475 users, issued 15 citations and 108 written warnings for boating violations, and made one BUI arrest.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Joe Murphy, Royce Johnson, and Christopher Pettey worked a special detail targeting state and federal fisheries violations in the Pensacola area. During the detail, the officers inspected several vessels, issued one boating citation and several warnings. One of the vessels checked contained oversized redfish. Both occupants onboard were issued notices to appear for the violations.
Officers Faris Livesay and Kenneth Manning were on water patrol near Pensacola Pass checking vessels returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During one inspection, the officers found the vessel operator in possession of over the bag limit of red snapper. Officer Manning issued a notice to appear citation for the violation.
Officers Faris Livesay and Kenneth Manning were on water patrol near Pensacola Pass checking vessels returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During a vessel inspection, Officer Livesay discovered that one of the vessel occupants kept over the bag limit of red snapper. The occupant attempted to conceal the fish by filleting it and storing the fillets with the bait. Officer Livesay issued a citation for the violations.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Andy Maltais and Lt. Keith Clark were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections and state fisheries inspections in the Destin area. While patrolling near Crab Island, Lieutenant Clark observed a 42‑foot vessel pulling anchor to leave. The vessel displayed no state registration. At the conclusion of the boating safety inspection, Lieutenant Clark observed several rigged saltwater fishing reels stored in rod holders and asked the operator if they had caught any fish. The operator replied, “We bagged out.” When the officers requested to inspect the harvested fish, the vessel operator stated, “I have to be honest with you; we are over the bag limit.” The operator then advised he just dropped off another individual who fished with them earlier in the day. Officer Maltais conducted the fisheries inspection which revealed 12 harvested red snapper. The bag limit for red snapper is two per person per day. Officer Maltais cited the operator for over the bag limit of red snapper and explained that individuals leaving the vessel must take their catch with them.
Officers Matt Webb and Ken White were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections, state fisheries inspections, and joint enforcement agreement duties in the Destin Pass area when they observed two vessels returning from the Gulf of Mexico. The first vessel stopped was a 23‑foot boat with five occupants. During the boating safety inspection, Officer White determined the boat was returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed 11 red snapper. The operator accepted responsibility for being over the bag limit and was cited for the violation. Next, a 26‑foot boat with three occupants was stopped. During the boating safety inspection, Officer Webb determined the boat was returning from a fishing trip. The operator stated they had harvested a gag grouper and a scamp. The operator stated he was a deckhand on a local charter boat. Officer Webb explained that gag grouper season is closed in state and federal waters. The operator stated it was his understanding that the closure applied only to vessels holding a valid federal reef fish permit. A measurement of the scamp revealed it was undersized. The operator was cited for the undersized scamp and issued a written warning for possession of gag grouper during the closed season.
Officers Matt Webb, Ken White and Lt. Keith Clark were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections in the Destin Pass area when they observed a boat on full plane at a high rate of speed traveling directly at their marked patrol vessel. Lieutenant Clark became concerned that the fast approaching vessel was not diverting its path of travel. Lieutenant Clark instructed Officer Webb to engage the vessel’s emergency lights and prepare to make an emergency maneuver out of the path of the oncoming vessel. At the last moment, the oncoming vessel veered, narrowly missing the patrol boat and creating large waves. When the boat went by, the operator waved with his hand. As the officers pursued the careless vessel, on two occasions the operator was instructed to move his vessel to calmer waters. He acknowledged that he understood, but failed to comply. Upon successfully stopping the vessel, Officer Webb asked the operator why he didn’t divert the boat earlier, his answer was, “I didn’t see you.” During the boating safety inspection, Officer Webb observed signs of impairment from the operator and conducted afloat and ashore field sobriety tasks. The operator displayed strong indicators of impairment and refused to provide a breath sample. He was charged with Boating Under the Influence, issued a citation for careless vessel operation, and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail. A computer check revealed this was the vessel operator’s third refusal.
Officer Matt Webb was on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections and state fisheries/joint enforcement agreement duties near the Destin Pass area when he observed a 27‑foot boat returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During the boating safety inspection, Officer Webb determined the boat was returning from a fishing trip. Officer Webb asked the operator what they had caught and the operator replied six red snapper and king fish. The fisheries inspection revealed seven red snapper onboard. The bag limit for red snapper is two per person per day. A computer check revealed the operator was issued a saltwater products license with a restricted species endorsement (commercial license). Officer Webb confirmed with the operator this was a recreational fishing trip. The operator was cited for over the bag limit of red snapper.
BAY COUNTY
Officer Ken Atkins was working in the Econfina Creek Wildlife Management Area when he observed a kayaker smoking cannabis. Citations for possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia were issued.
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