The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) protects marine resources in the upper Keys in many ways. Sometimes a water patrol turns up suspicious activity.

Officer Danielle Munkelt caught four people who were spearfishing illegally on Tuesday. She spotted a group of snorkelers along the shoreline at the Channel 5 Bridge near Craig Key. After talking with them and then detecting discrepancies in their stories, she discovered a speared, undersized, out-of-season snook and five speared lobster onboard. Munkelt also retrieved a pole spear from the water.

The fish and lobster were seized and two subjects were charged with misdemeanors, including undersized and out-of-season snook, speared snook, spearfishing in the Upper Keys, undersized lobster and speared lobster.

They face up to 60 days in jail and/or up to $500 in fines for each violation.