FWC Report

During the week of April 12 through 18, Officer J. Will, Regional Bear Biologist C. Spencer and Northwest Regional Director J. Creamer represented the FWC at the Franklin County “Cops and Kids” event. They spoke about the duties of biologists and law enforcement officers and answered questions about wildlife. They interacted with approximately 600 students and staff at the event.

During the week of April 26 through May 2, Officers Nelson, Hartzog, L. McLeod, Johnson II, and Allen observed a commercial vessel trawling while they were on night patrol on Apalachicola Bay in Franklin County. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and turtle excluder device (TED) inspection, during which the commercial anglers were observed to be trawling with nets over 500 square feet and their TEDs not correctly placed in the nets. The violations were cited accordingly, and the nets seized as evidence.

Officers Hartzog and Johnson II were patrolling John Gorrie Bridge and observed two individuals fishing on the causeway under the bridge. They observed one of the subjects harvest a red drum and place it in a nearby cooler. The officers asked to conduct a resource inspection, which revealed the subject was over his daily bag limit of red drum and in possession of multiple undersized red drum. The violations were cited accordingly.

Officers Hartzog and Johnson II were patrolling on Bay Avenue in Apalachicola and observed a commercial fishing vessel with three individuals on board returning to the Ten Foot Hole boat ramp. The officers observed gear consistent with offshore fishing and stopped the vessel to conduct a resource inspection, during which the subjects were observed to be in possession of commercial quantities of kingfish harvested in federal waters with an expired federal permit. The officers documented the violations and forwarded details of the violation to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

While on patrol in federal waters south of Franklin County, Officers Hartzog, Nelson, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Enforcement Officer M. Robb observed a recreational fishing vessel with two individuals on board fishing. As the officers initiated their emergency lights and pulled alongside, one of the subjects discarded a red snapper over the side of the vessel. A resource and boating safety inspection found the subjects in possession of out-of-season red snapper, over their daily bag limit of red grouper, and undersized red grouper. Officers also inspected another cooler with a large plastic bag containing out-of-season red snapper and out-of-season greater amberjack filets. The officers documented the violations and forwarded details of the violation to NOAA.

During the week of May 3 through 9, Officer Hartzog was on patrol at John Gorrie Bridge in Franklin County when he observed an individual flounder gigging on the Cat Point area of Apalachicola Bay. He observed the subject gig an undersized flounder, place it on his fish stringer, and continue searching for more fish. The officer’s resource inspection found the subject in possession of undersized flounder. The violations were cited accordingly. 

Hartzog was on patrol at Island Drive and observed an individual flounder gigging on the East Hole area of Apalachicola Bay. The officer observed the subject gig multiple flounder and place them in a bag. The officer’s resource inspection revealed the subject in possession of undersized flounder. The violations were cited accordingly.

Hartzog was on patrol at Apalachicola Bay when he observed two individuals fishing on the causeway under the John Gorrie bridge. As the officer pulled his patrol vessel up to the causeway the subjects began packing their gear and walking away. Hartzog’s resource inspection revealed the subject to be over his daily bag limit of red drum and in possession of several undersized red drum. The violations were cited accordingly.

During the week of May 10 through 16, Master Officer M. Webb was checking vessels returning from fishing at a local ramp in Gulf County when he observed a vessel with two people on board. A resource inspection revealed the captain in possession of two red drum, one of which was oversized. A citation was issued for the violation.

Master Officer M. Webb responded to a complaint regarding a subject harvesting an oversized red drum. When he arrived on scene, Webb found the subject possessed a single over slot black drum and two undersized flounder. The individual was cited for the undersized flounder.