Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer Nails Suspects Poaching Undersize Mangrove Snappers

By  //  July 14, 2016

close to 50 undersized fish seized

The contents of the bag seized by Officer Wagner revealed 36 mangrove snapper, six schoolmaster snapper, grunts and pinfish. (FWC image)
The contents of the bag seized by Officer Wagner revealed 36 mangrove snapper, six schoolmaster snapper, grunts and pinfish. (FWC image)

While patrolling on a recent evening, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer noticed two figures standing by a culvert.

As Officer Wagner got closer to them, it became apparent that one of them was scaling a mangrove snapper next to a large mesh bag full of fish, while the other was fishing next to him.

A look into the contents of the bag revealed 36 mangrove snapper, six schoolmaster snapper, grunts and pinfish.

All but five of the mangrove snapper and every single schoolmaster snapper were undersized (under 10 inches). The fishing violators were issued citations.

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