10 GA men arrested after 500 pounds of fish found in illegal gill nets by Tampa Bay, FWC says

In November 1994, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that banned the use of entanglement nets in Florida state waters.

These nets, most commonly referring to gill nets, were seen as an indiscriminate killer when deployed in shallow waters. Depending on the hole size, they would lead to fish being stuck in the mesh if the proper size was not used for a specific purpose.

“Gill nets are any net constructed entirely or partially of monofilament material other than a cast net or a landing dip net. They are typically vertical sections of net that are stretched out on a rope suspended by a float and typically work by ‘gilling’ the fish and entangling them within the mesh,” states the FWC.

“With the exception of very small fish that escape through the mesh, the majority of marine life that becomes entangled in the net die. This type of net can be especially devastating for sea turtles and marine mammals.”

When properly used, they can entrap schools of single species, like mullet, for a bountiful day for fisherman with little bycatch. Commercial anglers in few states are still allowed to use them with under regulation. Louisiana fisherman can possess them from October through February in certain areas and bodies of water.

North Carolina still allows commercial gill nets for redfish, trout and flounder. But in states like Texas and Georgia, they are still illegal like Florida.

Despite the threat of a felony charge in Florida, 10 men allegedly deployed 1,660 feet of gill nets in the middle of the day off the North Skyway rest area in Tampa Bay.

“The use of these nets is illegal and harmful to the fish and wildlife that are indiscriminately killed when they become entangled in it,” said Maj. Rob Rowe, FWC SW Regional Commander. “This case is a great example of the important work our officers do every day to protect Florida’s natural resources.”

When a concerned citizen saw the men, who traveled from Atlanta, in action, they called the FWC and officers responded. What they found was already 500 pounds of fish and sharks entangled in the net.

Officers arrested the out-of-state men and began to retrieve the net from the water. Within it, by looking at the arrest record, were five snook, two undersized sheepshead, 13 undersized black drum, four undersized permit, three undersized trout, nine blue crabs and nine sharks.

For use of the gill net, they received a third-degree felony charge, punishable by five years imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine.

Based on the catch, additional felonies were added:

▪ One count first-degree misdemeanor - major violation pertaining to snook

▪ Second-degree misdemeanors of:

• Two counts - undersized sheepshead
• 13 counts - undersized black drum
• Four counts - undersized permit
• Five counts - illegal method of harvest of snook
• Five counts - undersized snook
• Five counts - out-of-season snook
• Three counts - undersized trout
• Nine counts - illegal method of harvest of shark
• Nine counts - illegal method of harvest of blue crab