If you like fish and wildlife content, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future videos. An officer with Florida Fish and Wildlife was on patrol when they made contact with a commercial fishing vessel to conduct a safety and resource inspection. >> What kind OF FISH YOU GUYS CATCH? >> YALE. All right, let me get my ruler. >> Excuse me. Ruler thinks recap. We're just going to hop over. A bunch of tarpon. >> All the tarpon. >> All right, Tony. Take my ruler when you're done so I don't Thanks. >> All right. Today, huh? >> Uh, you the only deck, sir? >> Yes. >> And first, mate. All right. >> Awesome. You captain? >> Yes. >> Awesome. Yo, you got a license registration for us? So guys, we're the Coast Guard. She's FWC. We do these random boating safety stops. Uh we're going to check out things like safety gear, the guy in the boat, the captain's license, documentation, and then some of your catch. And hopefully you guys did good today. >> Let us know where dinner is. >> Yeah. What's up for dinner? >> Yeah. Have to ask them. That's it. >> Well, she's getting your the crew. Your crew? >> Yeah. >> And you you guys give her a hand. So >> I just need your license. Driver's license. >> Um my driver's license. I forgot. >> All right. Uh, do you have any form of identification on you or anything? Name, date of birth. >> Yes. >> All right. That's what we'll do. >> All right. I'm going to do you by your name and date of birth. How long you been a first mate? >> Uh, this is my second year doing it. >> Nice. >> Just part time. >> Isn't that all of them? >> Maybe. >> All right. First name? >> Charles. >> All right. So, I'll have them do it now once they're done with the radio traffic in my ear. Uh, they're going to do a safety inspection first and then I'll look at the cash once I get her information and put log on my system. Right. All right. >> And then while he's doing that, can I check out your catch? >> Yeah. >> I want to see all the goodies. I can't put this in my pocket. I have too many pockets. >> I could uh >> And then what'd you use to measure that ruler on the cooler? >> Yeah. Yes. >> Awesome. >> And I did close the mouse. >> All right. They're all in here. >> No, right here. >> Oh, they're all in there. Awesome. All right. So, I'm going to probably use this bucket. I'm going to move this knife over. Put it down here. Here. Pull that knife in here just so we don't have it on the ground. I guess >> I was going to put it back in the bucket when I finished. Yeah, I don't want it out. That's a lot of yellow. How many people How many people are on this charter today? >> We had 14 fishing. >> We caught We caught 41. >> Nice. >> I think there's 40. I said what you doing >> two three >> Can I check Can I check those >> after I check cap? Don't touch those fish yet. Four. >> That wasn't like it was an eighth inch. >> Five. Six. That must be >> must make a big difference if that mouth is open. >> 10. Okay. I'll put this one here because it's close. Wow. >> Damn. >> Wow. That one seemed It's half a already. 16. >> You pulled them out of a grouper's mouth. >> Not looking good. Cap. >> 17. Wow. >> 30. >> 31. All right. So, we got 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 underside snapper. That one's close. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But for right now, I got 12. That's a lot. >> So, >> I'll wait till she's done cuz she's captain. Can >> I uh Let's check them under. >> Yep. >> Maybe the mouse was open a little. See? Okay. So >> cuz you said you did the mouth closed. Even with the mouth closed cap. >> Hold on. Right here though. This honestly this is how I did it. >> Okay. >> 30 to 18. >> Okay. >> And that's that's what I got. >> And then when I do it on mine >> so I don't get that >> which is that is not 12 in. That is almost half an inch shore for almost all those fish. >> That's a lot of undersized. >> See there I touch the 18. So, >> ma'am, >> you got 12 undersized snapper. So, >> I'm sorry. >> You got 12 undersized snapper. Unfortunately, >> hold on. Look, let me show you. >> I get it, but you're still C, ma'am. And I got to see the charter paperwork. >> I don't get that. >> He did it from 30 to 18. >> So, I did it from 30 to 18 and it's touching. >> And you saw me measure them all and they were about 11 and 12. >> Yeah. Put it back where you got it. >> I didn't touch anything. >> I get it. But you're still a captain. Uh, I need to see your paperwork afterwards. You can start heading back in and we'll dock and that's fine cuz these lovely people still take Snapper home. >> Okay. >> Uh he needs his phone. >> All right. So >> hold on. >> Yes, ma'am. >> That's off. >> That's That's where I >> But you see where I'm doing it. >> No, no. I I see >> this one is right on the So I'll give you this one. So you still got 11. >> So but >> I mean but I'm saying your 12 >> that's the 12. >> Yeah, my 12 is >> so No. Yeah, my 12 is right here on the 18 >> at the back side. Yeah. Okay. >> So even so Hold on. Right there. >> It's not showing 12 on mine, >> right? So see that that's about an eighth. That one's definitely short. I don't know if maybe I had the mouth open, but yeah. So that's a lot of snapper. >> Yours is a little >> Mine is This is the one that Mine is not off. Oh, yeah. Yours is. Yeah. >> This is the one that I go by. This is the one that I go by. So from the tip to the 12, there's a >> there. >> Just a header again. That's weird. >> So look at where my 30 is and where your 30 is at the end. My 30 is past your 30. >> Yeah. >> So this is not accurate. This is not right. >> Yeah, you're right. So, we'll just put these off. One, two. And you see it. I'm measuring them on. They're all >> Oh, I know. >> They're short. Even with the mount slightly open, that's still solid. >> Can I Can I put it on mine? I mean, >> that's fine. >> Honestly, I would never keep one on purpose. >> That's fine. >> Like, that's not me. >> I'll show you how I >> It's even It's even before the 18 year. So, even if you're measuring it, they're still under >> that one is. Yeah. So, fully closed. See that one? If I was to put it up there, that would be good for me. >> I'm calling that good. >> And then you measure on mine. >> And then on yours, it's it's just a hair short. >> So, it's like an eighth in. >> So, >> yeah. >> Put it in here. >> Okay. Just so you know, that's how I measure them. I put them there. I get a cap, but it's not. Yeah, I'm not saying what you're doing is wrong. I'm just saying I still got to document this cuz it's a lot of snapper. That's about a fourth of your snapper. That's a lot. >> But I also don't want to interrupt the charter. So, I want to make sure you guys get back, drop off the gas. You can still be cleaning these fish and all that stuff cuz all these are good. We measured them. They're good. These are not like 31 or 32. But I got to take these cuz these are no good. >> If the owner is there, can I show them? >> YEAH. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. OFF. >> ABSOLUTELY. And even then, just to even be triple safe, always measure an extra inch or two above. I even do that on my personal boats. >> I went on my personal boat, but it's tough with the customer, you know. >> Yeah, >> we try to keep them right at >> and then can I see all the other coolers and on board? Make sure there's no other fish on board. I already saw that one. That one's got chump. >> Just that one. >> I'm going to move this. >> You said Charles, you said your ID's at the dock, right? So, would you be able to get it for it when we get over there? Okay. >> It's in my car. >> Yeah. >> You don't have any weapons in your car or anything? Okay. Would you be able to get it for me before you like fillet their fish and all that stuff? Cuz I know she does that. >> Oh, she does that. Okay. >> Y >> All right. So, I'll just clean the boat. >> I'll just need your license so I can take a picture of it. >> Your first mate watched measure all the fish. They're all either 11.7 or 11.5. They're short by a lot. So, um you're still the captain and he's the first mate. So, realistically, both of you are going to be getting the citation today because ultimately you're still a captain. This is still your charter. You're also responsible. So, it's going to be the two of you that are going to get written up today. That's why I needed to get yours license. So, while I'm doing that, he did tell me you're the one that cleans the fish for the gas. So, you're more than welcome now that I have your license to go clean their fish and stuff, and then I'll be taking photos of the other snapper. No problem. There's 11 of them uh that I ended up taking of the whole cache. There was one that was like right before it, but I just gave it to you guys cuz it's just close enough. I'm not going to even bother with that one. So, like I was telling her, I already have the licenses and I'm just going to sit here and I'm going to take all the photos. You're more welcome to watch me do the photos and stuff so you can see them again. We'll compare it again. I take photos of all of them, do the overall of all of them, and then I'm going to kind of gut them and then throw them overboard because we don't keep them. Uh because we used to do it in evidence and then we learned the hard way not to do it anymore because cases will take about a year. So those fish are disgusting by the time we get back. 26. All right. I'm just hoping she doesn't throw the fillets to them cuz that's a that's another citation. Do not feed do not feed the pelicans carcasses. Please do not feed the pelican carcasses. >> Please. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I'm just making sure she doesn't. They've been shrinking >> by half an inch. That's a lot. >> Half an inch. >> They're half I'll show you I'll show you now, Cap. Yeah. Right under. >> Can I I was going to say, could I measure them and and show how many? >> Yeah. >> Um that I'm from what I measured. There was a couple that were short like >> Yeah. That's what I'm saying. More be more than happy to just do not throw any of those fish overboard. >> Oh, how I would how I measured them. >> Yeah. They're way before the They're still before the 18. >> Yeah, that one. >> That one for a fact is before the 18 for your end. >> Yeah, that's like an eight. >> Which means then when you put it on my >> Yours, it showed a quarter. >> Well, mine it's either a quarter or half cuz you have some that are 11.5s. >> So, see that one in my eyes would have kept. >> Yeah. And then >> it was over. >> And then when you put it over here >> and then on yours >> it's 11 and >> 11 and 7/8. So, it's an eighth inch. Yeah. So just this cooler is just a little over an eighth difference. >> Yeah. But it adds up. So this one was was before the 18. >> That one was short. >> So that one that one's Look, that one's 11 and a half. That's a short fish. >> Yeah, just over. >> That's Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. >> I'll let you finish your measurements and then I'll take my photos. I got to take photos of them when you're done. >> I just This is just for my peace of mind. >> That's fine. You might have to just do it a little further then. >> Do you find >> Was that ever any shrinkage? I mean, even a 16th, nothing. >> No, if you put something if you put a an animal in the freezer, it's fine. Doesn't shrink. >> That one could have been mouth open, I guess. >> And even if even if that's a universal knowledge for the shrinkings, just get a fish that's past that. Then if you already know that fish shrink, if they do, then don't even keep the fish that are >> close enough. Like that one's before the 18th. That one's way before the 18th. I have an alcohol spray on my boat if you want to spray afterwards because I I hate getting infections too because a snapper will give you infections. Yeah, you're doing open mouth. >> Take that one. Let me see it. Yeah, that one. >> Or is it when I do it? [laughter] >> But I I I got to do I do a mouth close how we have to do it. >> Pull that tail. just for the 46 hour. >> Yeah, that one's just before. And then when I do it with mouth closed, >> I'm not I'm not pushing. I just That's it. That's how I do it. [laughter] >> That one's close enough. I'm going to measure them all again. The ones that are like close close, I'll I'll probably remove, but >> I'll let you keep doing your measurements first. >> I know. >> That's what I'm saying. I I even bought one for my personal bow and we just screwed it in one here and then we fixated on that side and we've had no problems since. >> And then my family, we had the twoinch rule, but that's a personal thing. It's not a charter business thing. >> I mean, what really got me like like you said, >> and it could be also this cooler is concaved in, too. This could be another thing. This isn't completely straight anymore. This this cooler is starting to cave in cuz you guys are putting so much weight on it. It's all scratched up. >> I have people put it like this on that back part of the boat that's curved. So, if you measure them there, it's going to be off, too. It's not exactly 12 anymore. If I put my ruler there, it's going to be off because that that transom is curved. A lot of people put it back there and I tell them all and some people put on the gunnel, it's all curved. It's not going to be perfect alignment. You have to do it on the floor of the boat. That's the best way to get your measurements somewhere flat on the vessel. So, I got to take pictures now. I don't know if you want to keep looking at them or anything. >> No, I'm just there. >> I'm sorry. I just I can't overlook 11. That's a lot. And I know some of them are close, but like I said, I'm still going to document it because they were still below the 12 on my end. I did see your understanding. I am going to write that down. I put in the report that you and I compared your measurements. I can see where you get from, but still it's in mine is short. So then, like I said, >> will the misdemeanor actually >> I will say that >> will the misamine actually stick for first- timers? It never does. It does not. >> Do I have to be here for court? >> Uh, no. It depends. You can either have somebody represent you or you can just try to do it through Zoom and stuff, but that'll be when I give you all the paperwork. I'll give you the whole spiel again. >> Okay. >> I don't want the pelicans to eat them. >> All right. Took a bit. >> You're sad. >> Yeah. I didn't even touch a darn fish and I got in trouble. >> Oh, you're still the captain. So, unfortunately, the responsible parties do get it. >> So, what how do we solve our problem here? What problem do we need to do >> to what? >> Measuring from the cooler. What do we need to do? >> Get a different ruler. I told him those checket sticks that we use, the state uses, all officers use that for measuring. Those are on Amazon. It's like 20 bucks, 25 bucks. >> We got to get Jim to get them. >> I've had I've had I've had charters get them and they'll drill them into the back of the boat cuz that's a flat surface and they measure it and they're happy with it. >> Okay. Well, we got to get that. I mean, Jim's got to get them. >> She seen that the jeweler was off. >> I did. We talked about it. I measured it. I I had a very very very lengthy conversation with him about it. Um so I'm not saying you're not trying, but I still got to document it. Um so I'm just going to give you guys both these papers first. Your court date is set for the 29th of April. >> What's going to happen to us? >> It depends on your court case. Depends on what happens with the judge. That's going to be decision with the judge. Um I did see that you did have an encounter with an officer last year for pretty much a similar problem. So it's going to be >> another. >> Yeah. So, it's so like I said, uh, double check with your mates before you head back in. Triple check your catch cuz at the end of the day, you are still a captain. The charter is still under your name cuz you're the main captain at that point. So, you are still responsible even if the first mate is the one that did. >> So, the second time here, I'm going to probably be >> I don't know. I don't know what happened with the first one. Um, >> same same thing. >> No, I mean like the result from the first one. I didn't check. I didn't go that far. Yeah. So, that'll that'll depend on the judge. I'm what I'm doing now is I'm just documenting it. So, whatever you tell the judge, whatever the decision is, up to them. I'm just giving you this piece of paper telling you that I noticed this violation. I wrote it down and then >> what happens before it happens in court. So, I'm going to have you sign yours. >> Signing it, just so you know, is not admission of guilt. It's just verifying. >> This turns out bad. I'm not going to captain anymore. I did it 45 years. I'm like, this is ridiculous. >> Yeah. So, you're not admitting guilt. You're just confirming that you appeared a court date and that you understand that there was a violation that took place today. >> I'm born and raised here. I've been captain my whole life. I've been a great person. >> I'm not saying you're not. Like I said, I'm just documenting it. >> Got tangled up. Tangled up. Tangled up. Tangled up. Tangled up. It's like >> same thing for you. Not admission of guilt. Just verifying that you're going to appear for court. This is like my whole life is over now. >> No worries. You be safe. >> Thank you. >> No problem. >> Cover off. In the end, both individuals were charged with one count of possession of undersized yellowtail snapper. Charles pled no contest and his adjudication was withheld. He was sentenced to 6 months of probation with the possibility of early termination. He was ordered to complete a Florida fish and wildlife regulations course, pay $38 in cost and fees, and was not permitted to fish, dive, or be on the water until his probation was completed. About 1 month later, his probation was terminated as he met all of the requirements. Claudia initially plead not guilty, but later plead no contest and her adjudication was withheld. She was ordered to pay $38 in cost and fees, which she promptly paid. If you like this video and want to see more like it, subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for watching.