From FWC

This report represents some events the FWC handled May 17 to 23 in the Northwest Region.

WAKULLA COUNTY

  • Officer Specialist S. Gray conducted a resource and boating and safety inspection on a vessel returning to a local boat ramp. The captain of the vessel showed Officer Gray a cooler containing an undersized spotted sea trout. Officer Gray gave the subject a notice to appear for the violation.
  • Officer D. Travis observed a vehicle in an area known for fishing at Mashes Sands Road and conducted a resource inspection. The officer observed a set of fishing rods and reels leaning against the guard rail at Tide Creek with a cooler close by. The officer located a subject fishing below the bridge. An inspection revealed an undersized redfish and the subject claimed responsibility for catching it. He was given a notice to appear for the violation.
  • Officer M. Fernbach was patrolling off Live Oak Island and observed a group of individuals fishing from a vessel. A boating and safety and resource inspection was conducted and it revealed a redfish over the 27-inch slot was in possession. The captain was issued a notice to appear.

CALHOUN COUNTY

  • Officers T. Scott and E. Meade received complaints this spring from lease holders along the Apalachicola River regarding subjects trespassing on private property from the water. One complainant provided the officers with game camera photos of a subject. Officers identified the subject and conducted an interview. The subject admitted to shooting two deer that were swimming in the river. The subject was charged accordingly for the violations.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

  • Officer S. Valdez and Officer C. Senst responded to a residence where an eastern diamondback rattlesnake was reportedly kept inside. The subject showed the officers where he was keeping the snake in an enclosure inside the residence. The subject did not have the proper permits issued by the FWC and the cage the snake was kept in did not meet requirements. The subject stated he captured the snake from the wild in 2023 and had been keeping it inside since that time. Officer Valdez issued the subject a citation for not having the proper permit and a warning for improper caging requirements.