ISLAMORADA, Fla. – A Miami woman faces a mandatory court appearance after being caught in possession of an undersized mangrove snapper in Islamorada on Saturday afternoon.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Marine Deputy Jason Farr was on patrol near Mile Marker 78 alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at approximately 2:30 p.m. when the incident occurred.
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During the patrol, Deputy Farr discovered Erlinda Serrano Polo, 40, of Miami, in possession of five mangrove snapper that did not meet the minimum size requirements.
Initially, Serrano Polo and others in her group reportedly attempted to place blame on a juvenile who was with them for harvesting the illegal fish. However, authorities stated that Serrano Polo ultimately claimed responsibility for the undersized snappers.
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As a result of the violation, Serrano Polo was issued a citation that mandates her appearance in court at a future date.
The FWC has strict regulations regarding the size and number of fish that can be legally harvested to ensure the sustainability of marine populations. Mangrove snapper, a popular sport and food fish in the Florida Keys, have specific size limits in place to protect juvenile fish and allow them to mature and reproduce.
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