A deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office was patrolling near Islamorada in the Florida Keys when he contacted an individual who was seen spearfishing in a restricted area. >> Information that start turning it up and that's when it really starts to go. >> Yeah. I might be able to scoot to you now. You're doing it. Eventually we'll get there. >> So we got in here. Slow and steady. >> Yeah, that's all you got to do. >> I figure if I use the trolling motor I can't get in trouble. All right, now we're going that way. >> Look at you. >> Here. >> Like a pro. >> Yeah, catch the line trend. >> Just check this out, make sure we got all our stuff. >> You got it, buddy. Just kind of pull the boat I'm set. So just pull it a little closer. Do you have a cleat right on the inside or anything like that? >> up front here. >> What about you? >> One up front. That's okay. >> Can you hand it around the back? >> All right, perfect. Do you have a license and everything or? >> Uh yeah, let's start with the license and the registration for the boat. >> Registration for the boat? >> Uh-oh. >> I don't think I have the registration for the boat on me. >> Okay. Um I'll take your driver's license. >> Wait, do you Can you do a digital copy of the registration or not? >> You're supposed to have it on you, okay? On the On the On the vessel. I mean, if you had a a picture of it, that would work. Um Yeah. >> I might because I registered it for you. I think you sent him a >> Well, let's get a water out of that real quick. >> How long you guys been out today? >> I think it was 7:30. >> 7:30? Where What areas have you been in? >> Um we cruised through that little channel over there. >> Okay. >> We went around to the other bridge. And then our We're at the top siders thing. I don't know if you know where that's at. >> Okay. >> It's like halfway between that little channel that little cut through and the other bridge. >> Okay. >> My boat's in my name. >> Not a boat fan? Your boat might be in your name? >> I can tell you the time when I registered it. >> All right. Um did you guys happen to catch anything today? >> We got one mangrove snapper. >> One mangrove? >> All right. >> Let me see where your mangrove is. >> It's in there. >> It's like 11. >> All right. Do we know how big he's supposed to be? Can Can you I'm trying to keep the the waves up. >> it was 11. >> I don't want to drop him, so >> There's one right here by your foot. >> Oh, there we go. Okay. Where'd you catch him at by chance? >> there. >> Okay. All right. All right, give me a second. All right, I got to hold him for a for just a second. I know, just hang out. I might have this boat take you and pull you over that way. I don't know if they'll be able to get in here, though. That's the big question. Do you have a fishing license, sir? >> Yeah. >> Were you the one who caught him? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I did something wrong or not? >> I'll explain everything in just a little bit, okay? >> Okay. >> Only the one fish? >> Yes. Do you have a fishing license? >> Yeah. Perfect. All right. I got one fish. >> What? >> One fish. >> One fish? >> One. One fish. >> One fish? >> One mangrove. >> Size? >> I haven't measured it yet. Did you measure it by chance? >> I thought it was 11. >> Yeah, it's 11. >> 11? >> That's good. >> Um Okay. Do you know the rules and regulations of spearing? >> I'm going to go with the look on your face, probably not as well as I should. >> Okay. Yes, that's correct. Okay. Um So, when you were just in the water here, right? You just brought everything back in, right? Or were you just snorkeling around or >> No, I Well, I was over there, I swam by the boat, I dropped that fish off, and I went over there, but I didn't get anything else. >> Right, with spear gun in hand, correct? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Did you happen to see me sitting over there? >> No, I did not. >> Okay. I've been watching for a little bit. Okay, so spearing in the upper keys is actually it's a misdemeanor in the state of Florida. Okay. Um luckily, we have a a good size fish as well, cuz anything that's undersized is also a misdemeanor, okay? So, this is a happy fish, this is a good fish. The problem is we have a violation of spearing, okay? Which is an arrestable offense. I'm going to tell you right now, I'm not taking you to jail. >> I appreciate that. >> Okay, I'm not taking you to jail. Okay. Um I'm going to give you your happy fish back. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Give me a second, let me uh I'm going to speak to them and then uh we'll go from there, all right? >> Thank you. >> Not You have to be 3 miles out. >> Wow. >> Okay. You got to be 3 miles out to uh and there's no there's no spearfishing on this side. Okay? Those are the heavy hitters over there. I got to you before Um let me have Mr. Snapper back real quick. I just want to take a picture. Yeah. >> Ow. You okay? >> Perfect. >> Yeah, you okay? >> I'm happy. >> He's not hauling me off to jail, yeah? >> You're not You're not going to jail. I already told you that. Nobody's going to jail, okay? >> If I make If I'm not anxious, can we >> I promise. Listen, I am >> Look, Daddy's job is to fix trucks. His job is to make sure that the water is >> Listen. Listen, hey. What What What's What's your name? >> I I messed up. I didn't research it properly. It's my fault. >> I have a daughter named Raquel, okay? Listen, I am the nicest guy out here. I promise you. >> The bad guy The bad guy looks like he's >> Look, I I kicked them away, okay? I am the nicest person out here. I promise you that. I am polite to everybody. I treat everybody the way I would want to be treated, okay? Just because I have a a badge and a gun doesn't make me a scary person, okay? I promise you. Nobody's Nobody's going to jail. None of that stuff's going to happen, okay? So, just let me um finish here. I'll go as quick as I can. You guys can continue your day, okay? The only thing he's doing wrong is he's just spearing where he's not supposed to, okay? >> That's my fault. I didn't research it properly. >> And And People make a mistake. It's It's It's It's going to be okay. I promise, all right? >> Are the Is the 3-mi rule the same in the West or is it just the >> No. No. No. No. It's It's It's called There's a specific statute spearing in the Upper Keys, okay? That That's kind of what it is. Um do we have four life jackets on board? >> Yes. >> I got one here, one on the other side, and then two >> And then two I can show you. >> I just need to see two more. Okay, and we got a throwable type four cushion or >> And she had a Mickey Mouse >> Blue one on top of the troll motor batteries, yes. >> Beautiful. We got a horn or whistle, perfect. The fire extinguisher. Do we have a fire extinguisher in there? >> Yes, that's the fire extinguisher. >> What is that thing? >> Fire extinguisher. >> Yeah, let see. >> It is a fire. >> Stop fire fast. Are these approved for boats? I guess so, yeah. >> know what a flare gun was. >> Uh, I'm going to let it go on this one, okay? Okay, I probably This is so Is there an expiration date? >> This takes up less room than everything else. >> Yeah, no, no, no, I get it, I get it, I get it. Just want to make sure Remember You're buying a fire extinguisher, make sure marine grade, that's what we want. I'm going to let you slide on that one. I think that's the last thing I needed, right? >> Life jackets, flares, whistles, fire extinguishers, whistles. >> Yeah. Pretty a pretty good ways. >> Is it? >> Yeah. >> I mean, I'm glad this happened today then cuz I have a friend coming down Tuesday to literally just go fishing. Glad that happened now. >> Okay. All right, this is what's going to happen. All right, now is now is when I'm real honest with you. I observed the violation, okay, in person. I'm not taking you to jail. What I'm going to do is write a notice to appear, okay? This is This is a written arrest, okay? It's not a It's not a You You get to continue having fun with your family, okay? This is a holiday weekend. This is obviously always recorded. This is me having to do my job. >> Yep. >> Hopefully you understand, right? >> Yep. >> You do get to keep the fish, okay? >> Can I trade? >> [laughter] >> I can I cannot, okay? Um Okay, just hold on to your fishy, okay? Give me just a couple uh minutes and I'll knock this out. >> Is it just over fishing is why that law is in place or >> Um Really cuz of so many of the parks and things like that. Um John Pennekamp, Key Largo, things like that. Uh Really I'm not really sure why it's regulated as much down here. I know up there is because of Pennekamp and I'm not going to lie to you I just transferred from Key Largo so I know everything about Key Largo and I'm still learning Islamorada. I I don't even know how I got here to be honest with you but I did it. Um But it is down into the I believe the channel five bridge which not the flat one but the round one. Okay, Marathon Marathon is a is a I think is where it changes. There's nothing to be nervous about. I promise. >> Had I not got anything would that still be >> No, as soon as you jump in the water with it Um Yeah. So I'm going to hand you this and then I'll explain it to you with my copy. Okay? So like I said, explained um It's spearfishing in the upper keys. Okay? This is generally what is what what the charge is. Okay? It is an arrestable offense. I'm not going to do that to you and in front of your kids and your family and I I don't know how long you guys are here for but I want you guys to be able to enjoy the rest of your day. >> Thank you. Seven units, domestic in progress. >> Always. Um Okay. Um like I said, you you shouldn't have a problem when you see the judge. If there is a problem with the court date if there's a problem with the court date, people don't just miss it. Call. Use that phone number that I underlined, okay? They'll work with you. They will work with you, okay? Make the phone call, um, if you need to. Um, if you have any other questions about the citation, make the phone call, okay? All you got to do is pick up the phone. It's way better than doing nothing, okay? Um, simple misdemeanor charge. Um, all I need from you is a signature here. This is not an admission of guilt. It's just an understanding that you have a citation with a court date, okay? Okay, so, July 24th, 8:45, it'll be in front of Judge Um, do you guys have any questions before I set you free? >> No, sir. No questions. >> You have any questions on other fishes? Fish, fish. Anything else you might see out there? We know mangrove snapper got to be 10, that was good. Um, you have your fishing license? Depends on what grouper. It really does. There's an awesome app on the phone, too, that you can use. It's called Fish Rules. >> Yep. >> Okay, you know what I'm talking about? Fish Rules is awesome because it goes off of your GPS location. So, it'll tell you the regulations in that area. Okay? Um, let me see if I have that pamphlet for you, sir. I got a little pink Gatorade. Did you kids want a Gatorade? You good? You want one? You sure you don't want one? >> Yeah, I'm good. Thank you. >> Okay. All right, you guys want anything? Don't be afraid. You all right? Okay. You want one for later? Okay. All right, let me check these drawers real quick and then I'll set you guys free. Look at that, right on top spear fishing regulations just kind of read through that okay and that will let you know the do's and don'ts and the areas and things like that okay. Do we have any questions guys? Okay, I'm going to put put back as easy as possible and if you guys can continue to use that trolling motor whether you want to stay or go just use it to get back into the the channel. Whatever way is deepest. I'm probably going to have to go straight back and Yeah, it it kind of it's going to get this is like a pool. Now you're good you're good you're good you're good. You can let it go. This is like a like a little small I guess it's going to be shallow over there and shallow over here and shallow everywhere. So it's up to you guys where you guys want to go you guys are free to go. Thank you. Thank you so much. If you have any other questions just please ask okay. Thank you. >> In the end the suspect was charged with spearfishing in a restricted area. He played guilty to the charge 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 fishing regulations course, complete 24 hours of community service with the option to buy out at $10 per hour and pay $378 in costs and fines. Approximately 2 weeks later he met the terms and his probation was terminated. If you like this video and want to see more like it subscribe to arrest cam. As always [music] thanks for watching.