FWC Report

During the week of Sept. 6 through 12, Officer Stallings observed a vessel returning to Franklin County from offshore and conducted a resource inspection, during which he discovered multiple undersized, out-of-season red grouper. The operator was charged for the violations and issued the appropriate citations.

During the week of Sept. 13 through 19, Officer Hartzog observed a commercial angler throwing a cast net along the water’s edge at night on East Bay in Franklin County. He observed him harvest a large quantity of wild shrimp in the prohibited area of all waters north of the John Gorrie Bridge. The next evening Hartzog and Officer Mcleod returned to the location and observed the same subject from the night before, along with another subject, throwing cast nets from a vessel. The officers conducted surveillance and observed them harvest more shrimp from the prohibited area. As the commercial anglers headed back to the boat ramp, they came under power and operated without navigational lights. 

The officers initiated a vessel stop but the commercial anglers failed to stop. As the officers came alongside the vessel one of the subjects discarded the contents from a large bucket on board. The officers gave loud verbal commands for the subjects to stop the vessel, and they complied. 

During a resource and boating safety inspection, the subjects admitted the contents of the bucket were wild shrimp. Hartzog advised the subjects he observed one of them harvest several buckets of wild shrimp the night before and they admitted to doing so. The violations of interference of an FWC officer and harvest of wild shrimp from a prohibited area were cited accordingly.

While conducting a night patrol on East Bay, Hartzog observed two individuals throwing cast nets along the water’s edge, and observed them harvesting wild shrimp from the prohibited area of all waters north of the John Gorrie Bridge. During a resource inspection of the individuals’ catch, the officer observed the individuals to be in possession of a bucket containing wild shrimp. The violation was cited accordingly. 

Officers Forbes, Hartzog, and T. Nelson were patrolling on Apalachicola Bay and observed a vessel returning from offshore displaying fishing gear. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a resource inspection, which revealed the subjects possessed multiple undersized and out-of-season red grouper. The violations were cited accordingly. 

Officers T. Nelson, Hartzog, and Forbes were patrolling on Apalachicola Bay and observed a vessel under power displaying fishing gear. The officers conducted a resource inspection that revealed the subjects possessed undersized red drum and over his daily bag limit. The violations were cited accordingly. 

Officers Hartzog, T. Nelson, and Forbes were patrolling on Apalachicola Bay and observed a vessel returning from offshore displaying fishing gear. The officers conducted a resource inspection that revealed the subjects possessed undersized cobia. The violation was cited accordingly.