BREAUX BRIDGE –- A veteran New Iberia bass angler knows what an 8-pound, 2-ounce, bass feels like on the other end of the fishing line after landing one in 2019
FWC encourages safe boating during Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival Posted on The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding all boaters to practice safe boating during the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival on May 1 in Fort Walton Beach. The FWC and law enforcement partners, including the United States Coast Guard, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Okaloosa Island Fire Department, Fort Walton Beach Police Department, Fort Walton Beach Fire Department and several others, will be patrolling the waterways for public safety during the event. Law enforcement agencies are encouraging all boaters to enjoy their time on the water but to take a few safety precautions to stay safe. This includes designating a sober boat operator, wearing a life jacket, using an engine cut-off switch lanyard, and paying attention and keeping a proper lookout.
“I am incredibly proud of their tireless efforts in conserving our state’s natural resources.” Arrest warrants were issued for the suspects and they were booked into the Walton County Jail on Jan. 8. Phone records also showed that violations occurred in Alabama. Two of the suspects, Bryant and James Mcleod, were charged with additional violations by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the release said. Bryant, 38, of Freeport, is charged with: one count of unlawfully taking or possessing any freshly killed deer or turkey with the use of a gun and light at night one count of petit theft
After nearly a yearlong investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has charged four individuals with multiple hunting related charges including night hunting, over-the-season bag limit of white-tailed deer, petit theft and entering fraudulent information into the FWC Harvest Reporting System. In February 2020, FWC officers received information of illegal deer harvest that was taking place at night on private property without landowner permission. A suspect, Dustin Bryant of Freeport, was identified and officers began gathering information. Phone records for Bryant were subpoenaed and, through further investigation, several other suspects were identified. “I appreciate the dedication of our officers and their supervisors for their diligence in staying with this case for almost a yearlong investigation,” said Maj. Craig Duval, commander of the FWC’s Northwest Region. “I am incredibly proud of their tireless efforts in conserving our state’s natural resources.”