Man accused of illegally harvesting fish, resisting arrest on a Fort Myers Beach bridge

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials arrested a man on Friday who they say was in possession of illegally harvested fish and resisted arrest.

According to the FWC arrest report, officers responded to the Big Carlos Pass Bridge on Fort Myers Beach at around 10 p.m. There, they located Mardoqueo Sanchez, 53.

According to FWC, Sanchez was told to stop walking away while he was attempting to release his illegally harvested fish back into the ocean. Sanchez ignored the command.

Once apprehended, Sanchez was found to be in possession of an undersized, out-of-season snook that had been harvested using the illegal method of casting a net, FWC said.

He was also in possession of 17 gray snapper, 13 of which were undersized, FWC said. Gray snapper are classified as a reef fish and may not be harvested by the use of a cast net.

Sanchez was also in possession of a live shell, which is prohibited in Lee County, and was unable to provide a valid resident saltwater shoreline fishing license, FWC said. It was also discovered by FWC that Sanchez had a current immigration violation for failing to appear for removal.

Sanchez was arrested and faces charges of resisting arrest and seven counts of level 2 conservation violations.