Naples man charged with possessing 68 undersized grouper
News Release
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Media contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459
A Naples fisherman is facing 69 charges after law enforcement
officers discovered a large illegal catch in his boat Sunday.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers
patrolling off Gordon's Pass in Collier County Sunday stopped a
boat that was returning to shore. The captain initially advised
officers he did not have any fish on board.
Officers boarded the boat and conducted a fisheries inspection.
They found 75 red grouper in a fish box onboard, and determined 68
were undersized.
The captain, David J. Starrett (DOB 11/05/62) of Naples, was
charged with 68 counts of possession of undersized grouper and one
count of possessing over the allowable limit - all misdemeanors. He
was booked into the Collier County jail, where he remains on
$34,500 bond. Red grouper must be 20 inches in length or larger to
possess. The possession limit for red grouper is two.
"The laws are in place to protect the fishery," said FWC Maj.
Alfredo Escanio. "We enforce the laws to help ensure sustainability
of the resource."
The fish were seized by the FWC and entered into evidence.
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