Kudos to FWC
Posted: January 21st, 2011, 12:38 pm
This is why we should appreciate the services of the FWC in my opinion. How many tournament fish were harvested in this one incident. 
FRANKLIN COUNTY RPU Officers were working Alligator Harbor in Franklin County when they observed a vessel engaged in commercial fishing for mullet. Closer surveillance was put on the boat and individuals and it was determined that the individuals on board were fishing by illegal method in the way they were taking the fish. RPU officers requested assistance from uniform patrol to help with conducting surveillance and conducting a stop. The individuals were watched for a period of time, and subsequently were stopped just east of the FSU Marine Lab in Alligator Harbor. Upon stopping the individuals, they were found to be fishing with a net in excess of 500 square feet and were also fishing two nets that were tied together. The rough measurement of the net contained 1450 square feet of mesh. The net they had on the boat still had spotted sea trout, red drum and mullet still caught up in the net. After the fish were removed from the net they were escorted to the boat ramp where the fisheries inspection continued. While at the ramp, one of the fisherman made verbal threats towards one of the officers on scene and had previously disregarded and lawful order given by the officer escorting them to the boat ramp. The fisherman was arrested for assault and interfering with an FWC Officer and transported to the Franklin County Jail. The inspection continued and when the fish were offloaded out of the fish box from the vessel the fisherman were found to be in possession of 34 spotted sea trout in which 15 of the trout were over 20 inches. The fisherman also had over 1600 pounds of mullet. The fish were seized, and the fisherman were cited for numerous violations for use of illegal nets, and violations pertaining to possessing the spotted sea trout. The three fisherman combined have 167 prior resource related arrest, which the majority of the arrest are net fishing violations.
FRANKLIN COUNTY RPU Officers were working Alligator Harbor in Franklin County when they observed a vessel engaged in commercial fishing for mullet. Closer surveillance was put on the boat and individuals and it was determined that the individuals on board were fishing by illegal method in the way they were taking the fish. RPU officers requested assistance from uniform patrol to help with conducting surveillance and conducting a stop. The individuals were watched for a period of time, and subsequently were stopped just east of the FSU Marine Lab in Alligator Harbor. Upon stopping the individuals, they were found to be fishing with a net in excess of 500 square feet and were also fishing two nets that were tied together. The rough measurement of the net contained 1450 square feet of mesh. The net they had on the boat still had spotted sea trout, red drum and mullet still caught up in the net. After the fish were removed from the net they were escorted to the boat ramp where the fisheries inspection continued. While at the ramp, one of the fisherman made verbal threats towards one of the officers on scene and had previously disregarded and lawful order given by the officer escorting them to the boat ramp. The fisherman was arrested for assault and interfering with an FWC Officer and transported to the Franklin County Jail. The inspection continued and when the fish were offloaded out of the fish box from the vessel the fisherman were found to be in possession of 34 spotted sea trout in which 15 of the trout were over 20 inches. The fisherman also had over 1600 pounds of mullet. The fish were seized, and the fisherman were cited for numerous violations for use of illegal nets, and violations pertaining to possessing the spotted sea trout. The three fisherman combined have 167 prior resource related arrest, which the majority of the arrest are net fishing violations.
