MyFlorida.com MyFWC.com Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
MyFWC.com Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision
 


News Release

 

(Click on photo for larger image.)

(All photos credit: FWC)

Seized snook (FWC photo)
FWC officers arrested a fisherman in the Keys for catching these snook during the closed season.

Seized lobster tails (FWC photo)
FWC officers arrested a man in the Keys May 24 for 3 lobster-related violations. Of the 29 lobster tails officers found, 20 of them were undersized.

 

FWC officers arrest 2 for snook, lobster violations

May 28, 2008
Contact:  Gabriella Ferraro, 772-215-9459

Two Miami-Dade County men face a total of seven charges following a routine inspection May 24 in the Florida Bay near the Channel 5 Bridge in Monroe County.

FWC Officer Liz Riesz found 33-year old Adel A. Fontes of Miami-Dade County scaling a snook and observed another snook already scaled and chopped up in a pot next to him.  Riesz charged Fontes with four misdemeanors: possession of snook during closed season; possession of undersized snook; failure to maintain fish in whole condition; and exceeding the bag limit. 

Fontes was part of a group camping in the area.  After receiving consent from another man to search his vehicle, Officer Riesz and Investigator David Roudebush found wet spearguns in the man’s possession.   The man, 33-year old Eduardo Lopez, later admitted to spearing 29 lobster, which he said he hid in a bag concealed under a pile of leaves under a tree next to the campsite.  Officer Tom Hill and K-9 Jasmine arrived and located the contraband under the tree as described. 

There were 29 tails, 20 of which were undersized.  Lopez was taken to jail and charged with possession of crawfish during closed season, possession of undersized crawfish and possession of speared crawfish – all misdemeanors.     

 

Top of page

 

Our mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

Fishing Capital of the World