MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – A morning fishing trip in the Florida Keys ended with a legal headache for a Miami man on Friday. Luis Angel Vera Berroa, 37, found himself on the wrong side of conservation laws after being stopped by local law enforcement.
The incident unfolded at approximately 7:53 a.m. near Mile Marker 78.5. Islamorada Marine Deputy Nelson Sanchez was conducting a routine patrol of the area when he spotted Vera Berroa.
Upon inspection, the deputy discovered that the man was in possession of a mutton snapper that did not meet the state’s minimum size requirements.
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As a result of the discovery, Deputy Sanchez issued Vera Berroa a mandatory notice to appear in court. Under Florida law, mutton snapper must be at least 18 inches in total length to be legally harvested, a regulation designed to protect the species and ensure healthy breeding populations.
Vera Berroa is now expected to face a judge to address the citation. Local authorities continue to remind both residents and visitors that strict adherence to size and bag limits is required to preserve the Florida Keys’ marine ecosystem.
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