FWC Report

During the week of March 8 through 14, Officers Hartzog and T. Nelson observed a recreational vessel in Franklin County with two individuals on board leaving from the bank of the East River with gear consistent with wild hog hunting. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection. During the inspection the officers observed the vessel displayed registration indicating it was a homemade vessel, but a contradicting hull identification number was attached to the stern along with a manufacturer’s decal on the side. Through further investigation, it was determined the vessel was recently purchased and the previous owner forged a vessel builder’s statement and committed title fraud. The violations were cited accordingly. 

Officers Hartzog and Forbes observed a recreational vessel on the Carrabelle River with two individuals who were fishing. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection, during which the officers observed the individuals in possession of undersized red drum and one of the individuals to be over his daily bag limit. The violations were cited accordingly. 

Officers Hartzog and Forbes were conducting a night water patrol on Apalachicola Bay and observed a commercial vessel with one individual on board who was flounder gigging. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection. The individual was identified as a commercial angler with an extensive history of resource violations. During the inspection, the subject was observed to be in possession of multiple undersized flounder. The violations were cited accordingly. 

During the week of March 15 through 21, Officer Sizemore conducted a resource inspection on a vessel with four individuals coming into the boat ramp on St. George Island. The officer located three undersized black drum and two undersized redfish, and Sizemore issued citations accordingly.

Master Officer M. Webb and Lieutenant Guy responded to a search and rescue on St. Joe Bay involving two individuals on kayaks. Strong winds and seas had swept the two out, and they were unable to make their way back. The officers located the individuals and brought them on board the patrol vessel, including their watercraft. The individuals were unharmed from the experience and didn’t need medical attention. During the week of March 29 through April 4, Officers Lipford and Gerber were on patrol in Gulf County and checking wild turkey hunters when they observed one individual hunting within 100 yards of a game feeding station with bait present. The individual was issued the appropriate citation.