FWC Report

During the week of Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, Officer Hartzog was patrolling Timber Island in Franklin County and observed a group of individuals fishing from the bridge over Postum Bayou. Hartzog conducted a resource inspection and observed the subjects to be in possession of multiple undersized spotted seatrout. Also, none of the individuals possessed a valid fishing license. 

Officer L. McLeod arrived on scene to assist and the officers asked for identification from the individuals to address the violations. One of the individuals fled the area on foot and it was discovered that the subject had an active warrant. McLeod and Lt. Cook located the subject walking down U.S. 98. He was arrested for providing a false name to law enforcement, interference of an FWC officer and resisting without violence. All additional resource and license violations were addressed accordingly.

During the week of Feb. 2 through 8, Officer Hartzog was conducting patrol on Bay Avenue in Apalachicola and saw a recreational vessel with two individuals onboard returning to the Ten Foot Hole boat ramp. Hartzog observed offshore fishing gear and stopped the vessel for a resource inspection, during which the subjects were found to possess over their daily bag limit and out-of-season gray triggerfish. The violations were cited accordingly. 

During the week of Feb. 16 through 22, Officer Hartzog observed a vessel with two individuals on board throwing a cast net outside of Eastpoint Channel in Franklin County. A short time later, the two individuals began motoring back to the shore and Hartzog stopped them to conduct a resource inspection. One of the individuals advised they did not possess any fish. Hartzog observed oyster shells scattered on the bow of the vessel. An inspection of coolers onboard revealed a large quantity of wild oysters. Hartzog interviewed the subjects and they advised the oysters were harvested from the Eastpoint Channel and Cat Point area of the Apalachicola Bay system, which is currently closed to recreational and commercial oyster harvest. Also, a large percentage of the oysters harvested were undersized. Violations were cited accordingly.

Officers Gerber and Butts were on patrol near the Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area in Gulf County when they heard dogs barking in an area where hunting dogs are not permitted. They located the dogs and the two individuals responsible. The appropriate enforcement action was taken.