Pinellas Sheriff Arrests Men For Shooting Snook With Compound Bow

MADEIRA BEACH, FL – Authorities have arrested two men for reportedly trespassing at a Madeira Beach business and using compound bows to catch snook.

According to Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies, on July 9 at about 4:30 a.m., 35-year-old Derrick Ennis of Dade City and 27-year-old Carlos I. Gonzalez of St. Petersburg reportedly walked around a 6-foot chain-link fence armed with two compound bows and trespassed after hours at Don's Dock, 215 Boardwalk Place in Madeira Beach.

Deputies say Ennis and Gonzalez ignored the posted "no trespassing" signs and used the compound bows to shoot and kill snook that were in the water next to the dock.

Surveillance video at the business captured images of the men illegally harvesting and killing multiple snook at the business.

Deputies say Ennis and Gonzalez were then seen leaving the area in an older-model Ford Ranger truck.

Later that same day, the business owners viewed the surveillance video and notified deputies.

Deputies obtained the surveillance video and placed photographs of the men on social media. Through their investigation and the help of social media, deputies were able to confirm that Ennis and Gonzalez were the men in the video.

Deputies interviewed both men and they admitted to the allegations.

On Wednesday, July 25, Ennis was arrested by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers at his home in Dade City and booked into the Pasco County Jail. He will later be transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

On Thursday, July 26, Pinellas deputies arrested Gonzalez at his home in St. Petersburg and he was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

Deputies say additional fishery violations are pending on both men for illegally harvesting snook out of season, over the bag limit and illegal method for harvesting snook.

Images via Pinellas Sheriff

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