FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report September 4, 2015 thru September 11, 2015

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC Division of Law Enforcement   Weekly Report September 4, 2015 thru September 11, 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 Officers Hughes, Robb and Raker issued several federal fisheries citations while on offshore patrol aboard the Gulf Sentry this past week. Violations included: Catching and filleting multiple red snapper, possession of red snapper in federal waters during closed season, possession of undersized lane snapper undersized black sea bass and undersized hogfish being used for bait, possession of grey triggerfish during closed season and possession of undersized gag grouper. During the Labor Day weekend Officers Stephens, Louque, Nelson and Pilot Able conducted 11 vessel inspections and checked 32 users in federal waters while doing offshore JEA enforcement during the red snapper season on state waters. Of the vessels inspected, four were found to be in possession of red snapper in federal waters, two vessels were found to be over the bag limit for red snapper and one vessel was in possession of a grey triggerfish. A total of four federal citations were issued. WAKULLA COUNTY Through joint enforcement efforts with NOAA, an inspection of a commercial fishing vessel was conducted by Officers Nelson, Stephens and Boutwell.  During the inspection, it was confirmed that the vessel captain had multiple active warrants for his arrest.  The captain was arrested and transported to Wakulla County Jail. SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Hutchinson and Reserve Officer Strong were on patrol at the Blackwater State Park when they observed an SUV parked in a Day Use area.  The SUV did not have a day use permit attached to the vehicle.  The officers approached the vehicle and made contact with the vehicle’s owners and confirmed that they had not paid the day use fees.  While speaking with a passenger of the vehicle, Officer Hutchinson determined that there was a bag containing cannabis in the vehicle.  The cannabis was seized and the passenger was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis. ESCAMBIA COUNTY Officers Clark and Pineda were on vessel patrol in Pensacola Bay when they observed a group of individuals snorkeling along the shoreline.  One of the individuals was found in possession of 15 Stone Crabs. Most of the crabs were undersized and they were in whole condition.  It is unlawful for a stone crab to be kept in whole condition and the claws are required to be at least 2 3/4 inches long. The season for harvesting Stone Crabs is currently closed. Officer Clark issued the individual notice to appear citations for the violations. Officers Manning and Barnard conducted off shore patrol in federal and state waters.  They cited two individuals for possession of red snapper during the closed season and issued a state citation to another individual for possession of grey triggerfish during the closed season. Additionally, they cited a charter boat captain for not having a federal reef fish permit. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officer Molnar observed a vessel in violation of an idle speed zone in Crab Island/Marler Bridge, nearly striking the stern of another vessel. The vessel was stopped was to address the violation and to conduct a boating safety inspection. Upon making contact, the operator was showing multiple signs of impairment. At the conclusion of field sobriety tasks, the subject was arrested for BUI and refused to provide a breath sample. Prior to stopping the vessel, multiple citizens called and reported the subject’s erratic driving pattern. The callers reported that the vessel nearly struck multiple vessels and swimmers near a popular beach access. The subject was transported to the Okaloosa County Jail charged with BUI and refusal to sign/accept citations and was also issued six infraction boating citations. In the course of the week, Officer Pifer made several saltwater resources cases as follows:  While on vehicle patrol conducting state fisheries/licenses inspections, he observed individuals on a vacant lot, which is fenced and posted and is a known spot for individuals to trespass and fish from.  Officer Pifer observed two individuals fishing from this location.  The fisheries inspection revealed 13 egg-bearing blue crabs.  One of the individuals took responsibility for harvesting the crabs and was issued a citation. Officer Pifer observed three individuals on the shoreline with fishing gear. As he approached the individuals, he observed one of the individuals pick up a bucket and head west along the shoreline behind a patch of reeds. Officer Pifer determined that the individual was attempting to hide an oversized red drum, which measured 32 ½ inches in total length.  The individual was issued a citation. Officers Pifer, Corbin, and P. Rockwell were on vessel patrol conducting state fisheries/license inspection on a live bait vessel outside the East Pass.  The inspection revealed that the vessel operator had an expired saltwater retail license as of June 30, 2015.  The operator was issued a citation. Officers Pifer and Corbin was on vessel patrol when they were dispatched to a complaint of a boat operator was in possession of an oversized red drum at Crab Island.  The officers located the vessel and conducted a fisheries inspection.  The inspection revealed that the vessel operator was in possession of an oversized red drum, measuring 36 ½ inches in total length. SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Land was on patrol at Ft. Pickens conducting fisheries inspections. He spoke to a fisherman on the beach that claimed to have a lane snapper in his cooler. Upon inspection, Officer Land located an undersized red snapper. It is currently illegal to possess red snapper in state or federal waters. The snapper was seized. The fisherman was issued a notice to appear for the violation. Officers Pineda and Clark received information about people were keeping undersized Spanish mackerel on the 3 Mile Fishing Bridge.  Upon further investigation, the officers located the suspects and found them in possession of two undersized Spanish mackerel. The subjects stated that they normally don’t keep them that short.  The subject was cited for possession of undersized Spanish mackerel. The FinCat was on patrol over the Labor Day weekend with Officers Land and Cushing patrolling both state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Several warnings were issued to recreational fishermen fishing in federal waters for red snapper just beyond the state line. A warning was also issued to an individual fishing from a PWC 12 miles offshore who had a live undersized cobia on a stringer. During another vessel boarding in federal waters, while Officer Land was completing paperwork, Officer Cushing observed a go fast commercial charter fishing vessel in federal waters heading north toward state waters. Using the radar, Officer Cushing acquired and tracked the vessel’s northern heading and radioed to Officers Manning and Livesay who were waiting in the Pensacola Pass. When Officer Land returned to the FinCat, they tracked the vessel’s continuous transit back to the pass. Officers Manning and Livesay stopped the vessel in the pass. Their inspection revealed six red snapper they claimed they caught in state waters. When the FinCatcrew arrived on scene a few minutes later, the subjects denied being in federal waters despite the officers’ observance of them and their vessel’s GPS track. The violation was documented and will be turned over to National Marine Fisheries Service. Overall, the crew issued five federal citations for red snapper in federal waters during the closed season. Pilots Fields and Tolbert also assisted with air support. Officer Tolbert was conducting a fisheries inspection at Brown’s Fish Camp. He made contact with an individual in a boat returning from a fishing trip. Before inspecting the cooler, the individual stated that he had caught some catfish and bream. The inspection also revealed that he had two redfish, one of which was undersized.  A citation was issued. GULF COUNTY During the Labor Day weekend, officers in Gulf County made five federal fisheries cases. Violations were for possession of grey triggerfish during federal closure, possession of undersized gray triggerfish, possession of red snapper in federal waters during federal closure, possession of undersized red snapper BAY COUNTY  Officer Goodwin was patrolling St. Andrews State Park and observed a vehicle with no tag displayed driving through the campground. He conducted a traffic stop and found a crumpled up temporary tag laying on the back window dash. The temporary tag came back belonging to another vehicle and the officer could see that the expiration date on the tag had been changed. The operator also had a suspended driver’s license. With the consent of the operator, Officer Goodwin searched the vehicle and found a prescription pill with no prescription. The passenger in the vehicle claimed possession of the pill. Officer Goodwin issued the operator citations for attaching tag not assigned and driving with license suspended. He took the passenger to jail for possession of a controlled substance. Officer Goodwin received a complaint of subjects taking oversized red drum at the DuPont Bridge. He arrived at the bridge and observed a bucket that contained egg-bearing blue crabs. He also saw egg bunions that had been removed from the crabs in and around the bucket. Three subjects near the bucket said that they all had caught the blue crabs. He issued all three subject citations for possession of egg-bearing blue crab. Two of the subjects were also issued citations for no fishing licenses. The officer observed no violation of the initial complaint regarding oversized red drum. Officers Basford, Brady and Burkhead worked federal waters and stopped an inbound charter boat 11 ½ miles offshore.  The charter boat was on a commercial charter and found to have 12 red snapper onboard and no reef fish permit.  Federal citations were issued.  Several written warnings were issued to other recreational vessels found in federal waters with amberjack and red snapper. Officers Goodwin, T. Basford, Burkhead and N. Basford were working a night detail at the DuPont Bridge. Officer Goodwin had received information the night before of subjects keeping oversized red drum at the DuPont Bridge. The officers arrested five subjects for harvesting oversized red drum and one for harvesting egg-bearing blue crabs. Four of the subjects were illegally in the United States and were booked into the Bay County Jail. The other two subjects were each issued a notice to appear.

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