Florida Fish and Wildlife Division of Law Enforcement Busts Poachers, BUI Violators in Brevard County

By  //  March 23, 2023

FWC OFFICERS NAIL FISH POACHERS, Boater under the influence and arrested

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

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Officer Specialist Marroquin was conducting state water patrol at the Christenson’s Landing Boat Ramp when he observed a vessel with a large group having difficulty docking their vessel.

Officer Marroquin made contact with the operator to conduct a vessel safety inspection. During the inspection, the operator showed several signs of impairment. The operator agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tasks and was found to be under the influence and arrested. The operator refused to provide a breath sample under arrest. The operator was also issued a citation for insufficient PFDs.

Officer Specialist Balgo observed a vehicle parked along U.S. 1 near the Florida Power & Light plant.

Officer Balgo located three individuals on top of the discharge in the no entry zone. The individuals were identified and cited accordingly.

Officer Specialist Balgo observed a vessel fishing equipment near Port St. John and conducted a resource inspection.

Officer Balgo found the operator to be in possession of five spotted seatrout. Violations included over the bag limit of spotted seatrout, possession of undersized seatrout, and possession of over the limit of oversized spotted seatrout. The operator was cited accordingly.

Officers Nall, Hocker and Delano located several sites on private land that were consistent with attempting to take wild turkeys over bait.

On the opening morning of the Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend, the officers observed several groups of individuals enter the property. Come sunrise, the officers used agency equipment and experience to verify the individuals were within 100 yards of the baited sites. Upon investigation, two groups of hunters were found to be within 100 yards of cracked corn and bird seed, with one group at 7 yards and another at 55 yards. The guiding adults were cited accordingly.

After responding to a complaint at Sebastian Inlet State Park, Officer Marroquin noticed an angler carrying a bucket back to their vehicle.

He approached the subject to conduct a resource inspection. The inspection of the bucket revealed 18 sheepshead, all of which were undersized. In addition, the subject was 10 sheepshead over the state bag limit of 8. The subject was cited accordingly.

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