FLORIDA — When officers said they spotted his unusual underwater activities, a man observed diving and spearfishing found himself in hot water with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
While on patrol near a bridge, the vigilant officers noticed a man swimming in the water while clutching a spiny lobster. Concerned about potential violations, they beckoned the diver to their patrol boat.
To their amazement, as he swam towards them, officers said they could see him shaking fish out of his shirt! Realizing something fishy was going on, one of the officers sprang into action, diving into the water to recover a trove of scuttled speared snapper that the diver had seemingly attempted to conceal, the FWC said.
Upon safely returning to shore with the apprehended diver, officers said they conducted a thorough search, revealing an astonishing discovery: five undersized lobster tails concealed in the culprit’s pants.
The final tally: a haul of seven spiny lobsters and 12 mangrove snappers, two falling below the legal size limit. In Florida, the bag limit for spiny lobster is six; mangrove snapper has a bag limit of five.
If you ever witness someone attempting to smuggle more fish than allowed, whether it’s hidden in their clothing or elsewhere, don’t hesitate to report the violation to the Wildlife Alert program. You can do so anonymously by calling 888-404-3922, texting 847411 (Tip411) with the keyword “FWC,” followed by the location and tip information, or by submitting a report online here. Plus, you might even be eligible for a reward.
