Two Tampa men were caught with illegally speared fish and drugs at Coquina Beach under the Longboat Pass Bridge in Bradenton Beach.
One man allegedly speared snook illegally and the other was arrested for possessing marijuana.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers were dispatched at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 19 to a call from Longboat Key police about illegal fishing activity.
Angel Joel Lozada Rivera, 20, was issued two notices to appear in court — one for possessing undersized snook, possessing over the bag limit and snook harvesting with a spear and a second ticket for fishing without a license. He was not arrested.
When the FWC arrived on the scene, officers reported the fishers had a cooler containing four speared snook. Rivera allegedly admitted to spearing the fish.
According to FWC Officer James Boogaerts, snook is a regulated species and violations are punishable by $500 in fines and up to 60 days in jail.
The law provides snook cannot be harvested without a snook permit and fishing license. The closed seasons are Dec. 1 to the end of February and May 1-Aug. 31. Possession of snook less than 28 inches or greater than 33 inches long; and by spearing or any method other than hook and line is illegal.
Anthony Perez, 19, was arrested for possessing a jar of more than 20 grams of cannabis.
The FWC officers reported finding the marijuana in plain view in the front of Perez’s vehicle.
Perez was transported to the Manatee County jail. He was booked and released on $1,500 bond.
Perez’s arraignment in 12th Circuit Court is set for 9 a.m., Friday, Dec. 30, while Rivera was ordered to appear in court at 8:25 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20.
Court proceedings are conducted at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.