Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation arrested a Miami man who was reportedly found with more than 60 out-of-season spiny lobster tails, of which 32 were undersized.
Randy Sanchez Tapia, 30, was arrested and charged with a number of misdemeanors for grabbing undersized lobster tails and catching all of them out of season.
The incident took place across from FWC’s Whale Harbor station on June 12 around 6 p.m. Officer Liam Rodriguez was on routine water patrol in Whale Harbor Channel when he stopped a man who was snorkeling along the shoreline without a dive-flag. The officer proceeded to conduct a resource inspection when he found the man, later identified as Sanchez Tapia, to be in possession of 62 spiny lobster tails and 32 undersized tails.
Jason Rafter, public information officer with FWC, said the man was located right across the channel from FWC’s station at Whale Harbor.
“We’re always looking over there,” he said.
Rodriguez placed Sanchez Tapia under arrest. He was booked in the Plantation Key Jail.
