2 Fisherman Arrested For Illegal Stone Crab Claws, Lobster Tails
SHARK KEY (CBSMiami) – A couple of South Florida fishermen are facing serious charges of trying to haul in way too many undersize stone crab claws and undersize Florida lobster tails.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, William C. Brandt and Robert Adisano were spotted pulling their boat into Shark Key Boat Ramp on Tuesday, October 18th, in the middle of the pouring rain and in the midst of a Tornado Warning.
After running the tag on the boat owner's pick-up truck, FWC Officer Joshua Peters discovered the owner, Brandt, had a suspended driver's license.
When FWC officers pulled Brandt and Adisano over, they found 9 gallons of stone crab claws which is 7 gallons over the legal limit. In addition, 49 stone crab claws were undersize. The FWC said they also found 2 undersize Florida spiny lobster tails and 2 wrung lobster tails. It is against the law for spiny lobster tails to be separated, or wrung, from its body while on or below the water.
Brandt and Adisano were booked into the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island charged with Possession of undersize Florida spiny lobster tails, Possession of undersize stone crab claws and the harvest of 7 gallons over the limit of stone crab claws. Brandt was also charged with Driving with a suspended license and attaching a tag not assigned to his vehicle.
