Brevard Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officers Bust Perps For Illegal Fishing, BUI

By  //  September 11, 2020

FWC Investigator Horst busts three subjects disturbing nesting sea turtles

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The following report highlights some cases the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission handled in Brevard County recently but does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following report highlights some cases the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission handled in Brevard County recently but does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.


BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Officer Balgo observed several individuals fishing near Marina Park Boat Ramp. A resource inspection located an individual in possession of a tarpon without a tarpon tag.

The individual also harvested the tarpon by illegal method with a cast net. The individual was cited accordingly.

Officers Balgo, Hallsten, and Kearney conducted high visibility patrols around Port Canaveral during the federal red snapper season.

They performed many resource and boating safety inspections, writing violations for expired flares as well as vessel registration violations. The officers wrote one federal case for over the bag limit of red snapper, two state citations for undersize cobia, and one charter boat license violation.

Officer Hallsten responded to a late-night disabled vessel near Haulover Canal that had a subject who was wet and experiencing hypothermia.

Officer Hallsten located the disabled vessel in the dark and transported the victim to Parrish Park boat ramp where he was evaluated by medical personnel.

While conducting vessel inspections, Lieutenant Davis and Officer Kearney met a pair of jet ski operators that had rented the jet skis.

They performed a livery inspection and found that the jet skis were missing documentation and safety equipment. The livery operator was contacted and came to the site. He was issued a misdemeanor citation for failing to provide safety equipment with a rented vessel and several warnings for failure to properly document the rental and safety training.

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Investigator Horst responded to a complaint of three subjects disturbing nesting sea turtles.

When Investigator Horst arrived in the area, he observed the subjects digging on the beach in the dark into a marked sea turtle nest. The subjects also were observed disturbing a sea turtle attempting to nest. The subjects were issued a notice to appear.

Officer J. Humphrey created a targeted enforcement action in reference to information about a man was taking snook out of season.

After watching the subject several times, Officers Humphrey, Mendelson, and Navarino observed the man catch an over the slot size snook, out of season, which he did not release. The subject was apprehended and a notice to appear was issued for the violations.

Lieutenant Lightsey observed a vessel in violation of a local manatee zone and conducted a vessel stop for a safety inspection and to address violation.

During the inspection, the operator displayed several signs of impairment. Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks were conducted, and the subject was arrested for boating under the influence (BUI) and issued a citation for the manatee zone violation.

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Captain Bonds and Officer Beck were on water patrol near Sebastian Inlet when the officers observed a vessel pass their patrol vessel.

As the vessel passed, the operator looked at the patrol vessel and immediately left the steering wheel and walked to the front of the vessel. Captain Bonds and Officer Beck conducted a vessel stop and observed signs of impairment from the operator. Seated Field Sobriety Tasks were administered, and the subject was arrested for boating under the influence (BUI).

Lieutenant Lightsey observed a vessel returning to a local boat ramp and approached to conduct a safety inspection.

The operator exhibited signs of impairment and after Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks were administered, he was arrested for boating under the influence (BUI).

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