Florida Marine Patrol

[Landshark]

Apparently they have some newbies in my area that are complete schmucks.  I was out on the water today because Red Snapper season began yesterday.  I had three other people on my boat all with licenses, so that means we could snag a total of eight which we did.  And I still got a citation stating that Red Snapper is prohibited. 

I can't wait to face these imbeciles in court.

[Brian Fein]

Where were you fishing?  Got pics?

[Landshark]

Where were you fishing?  Got pics?

About 20 miles off PCB and unfortunately I didn't take any pics this time.  There's some rich fishing grounds that I have marked off on my GPS

[Landshark]

Update.  I walked into my lawyer friend's office this morning and placed the citation and a calendar of the fishing seasons on his desk.  I explained what happened on Saturday and he said he'd take care of it.  I just got a call from him.  Turns out my gut feeling was correct.  The marine patrol officers who stopped me were newbies who don't know their heads from their asses. They have been placed on administrative leave.  Anyone who received a citation will have it dismissed and will be reimbursed up to $200 depending on how many fish were confiscated.

Score one for the taxpayers.

[Brian Fein]

They placed him on administrative leave for that?  I don't buy it.

And what kind of people go out fishing, catch 8 red snappers and no one took a single picture?  No one had a camera phone?  Really?

[Landshark]

They placed him on administrative leave for that?  I don't buy it.

And what kind of people go out fishing, catch 8 red snappers and no one took a single picture?  No one had a camera phone?  Really?

It's simple.  They didn't know the Red Snapper season had started, so they issued a bunch of citations to boaters that had no merit and confiscated fish that was perfectly legal to catch.  They caused a lot of unnecessary hardships on boaters and now the state has to make restitution in order to avoid legal ramifications.  I'm just going by what my lawyer friend told me as he's handling this and has connections with judges that I don't.

As for the pics, me and my buddies go out all the time and we rarely take pics.

[masterfins]

Hmmm, starting to sound a bit sketchy.  The Gov't reimbursing money? I don't see that happening.  It happening to multiple fisherman??  I would think even a "newbie" would radio to verify if several crafts had the same story about the season starting.  I call bull$hit.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

The redsnappers aren't the only thing that smells fishy in this thread. 

[SportsChick]

Where is the like button when you want it?

[Brian Fein]

And when do they let "newbies" out on a marine patrol boat without a seasoned vet on board?

Nothing makes sense.

[fyo]

This thread has achieved liftoff.

[MaineDolFan]

Update.  I walked into my lawyer friend's office this morning and placed the citation and a calendar of the fishing seasons on his desk.  I explained what happened on Saturday and he said he'd take care of it.  I just got a call from him.  Turns out my gut feeling was correct.  The marine patrol officers who stopped me were newbies who don't know their heads from their asses. They have been placed on administrative leave.  Anyone who received a citation will have it dismissed and will be reimbursed up to $200 depending on how many fish were confiscated.

Score one for the taxpayers.

It's a small world.  6-8 months ago I mentioned renting your house to come visit my friends, Julie and Glen.  They were about to have their second child.  I've known Julie forever and I served in the Army with Glen.  Glen is now a Lieutenant in the florida fish and wildlife division of law enforcement.  I Skyped with Julie earlier so Abby could say hi to the kids and called Glen out.  When I detailed this situation he literally laughed so hard he his drink coming out of his nose.

Even without knowing someone who happens to work for the FWC, you're really expecting us to believe anyone - regardless of how long they have been "on the job" doesn't understand what is in season and isn't?  This is paramount to a Maine Game Warden not knowing when deer hunting season starts.  Secondly, you also expect anyone to buy that a single call from you "lawyer" over this "situation" resulted in anyone being placed on "administrative leave" over "confiscated fish ?"  Even in the unlikely event this happened, which it didn't, a phone call from your lawyer over the weekend wouldn't have this end result.  This comes from being a former member of law enforcement who happens to understand my rights under due process in the event I did make a mistake.

A fish tale, indeed.  Sorry, I'm not buying any of this - and it was backed up by the belly laughs of my real, breathing friend who is out there risking his life every day while you are out...uh...fishing.

[Spider-Dan]

LMFAO!!!!  I just spit coffee all over my monitor!!!!!!

[MaineDolFan]

LMFAO!!!!  I just spit coffee all over my monitor!!!!!!

Oh no you didn't!   I got chills.  A shadow...shades from the past?

[MaineDolFan]

I would also like to point this out:

http://myfwc.com/news/news-releases/2011/december/05/new-officers/

The last graduating class was 6 months ago (December).  This was a class of 11 (2 did not make it to graduation).  Hundreds of applicants.  These highly trained, highly qualified candidates happened to be (1) assigned to same area together and (2) don't understand basic fishing seasons?  And now - out of 11 brand new officers (which came from a pool of applicants in the hundreds) a handful are now on leave due to improper citation? Not arrest.  Not shooting. False detainment. 

Improper seizure of fish.

These aren't part time sheriff recruits.  I'm not sure if everyone understands what an FWC officer is, the jurisdiction the officer has (the whole state) or the power they yield.  These officers are more highly trained than city and state police.  Look at the resume of these officers alone.  Yet they didn't know the fishing season?  As a former vet, I'm insulted by this.