While winds, rain, lightning, rough seas and limited visibility in milky water were less than ideal for bug hunters throughout both days of the Florida Keys’ 2023 mini-season, law enforcement officials enjoyed a relatively normal period during the normally hectic two-day scramble.
“Overall, the 2023 lobster mini-season was typical – though a bit slower in some areas perhaps due to weather – for the Sheriff’s Office,” an MCSO press release said. “Most people were in compliance and the number of vessel stops, notice-to-appear in court citations and arrest figures were normal compared to recent years.”
BY THE NUMBERS – MCSO
541 vessel stops/resource/safety inspections
0 physical arrests
2 mandatory notice to appear in court citations for wildlife violations
RAMSAY & GUERRA TO THE RESCUE
On the second day of mini-season Sheriff Rick Ramsay was driving down U.S. 1 in Marathon around 3 p.m. when he spotted five men aboard a sinking center console boat near the Old Seven Mile Bridge. Ramsay alerted the Sheriff’s Office 911 communications specialists, who relayed the information to marine deputy Willie Guerra. Arriving at the scene in minutes, Guerra was able to safely bring the men ashore in Marathon, where no life-threatening injuries were reported. FWC and the U.S. Coast Guard also responded to the scene, and FWC is investigating the cause of the vessel sinking.
YOU CAN’T DO THAT…
Although the Keys’ mini-season was relatively quiet, things were a little different in Broward County, where FWC officers on Wednesday reported three fishermen allegedly in possession of 138 lobsters – 102 over their legal limit, as hunters may keep 12 lobster per person per day outside of the Keys. According to an FWC press release, the officers saw a commercial vessel with a dive flag flying while the boat was underway. Stopping the vessel to speak to the operator about the incorrect use of the dive flag, they conducted a routine fisheries inspection, discovering the 138 lobsters.
While winds, rain, lightning, rough seas and limited visibility in milky water were less than ideal for bug hunters throughout both days of the Florida Keys’ 2023 mini-season, law enforcement officials enjoyed a relatively normal period during the normally hectic two-day scramble.
“Overall, the 2023 lobster mini-season was typical – though a bit slower in some areas perhaps due to weather – for the Sheriff’s Office,” an MCSO press release said. “Most people were in compliance and the number of vessel stops, notice-to-appear in court citations and arrest figures were normal compared to recent years.”
