Monroe County Sheriff Cites Men for Undersized Snapper in Florida Keys

Marine Deputy Nelson Sanchez was on routine patrol near Mile Marker 86 in Islamorada at 8:49 a.m. Sunday when he observed Alain Rodriguez Pozo, 35, of Hialeah pull an undersized mangrove snapper from the water. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office issued Rodriguez Pozo a mandatory notice to appear in court.

The same stretch of Upper Keys waters had already produced a second citation two hours earlier. Around 7 a.m. Sunday, a separate MCSO marine deputy patrolling near Whale Harbor Bridge encountered Onays Sandoval Gonzalez, 40, of Miami Gardens. Gonzalez was carrying eight mangrove snapper, seven of them undersized, and was fishing on an expired license. He received a mandatory notice to appear in court on three counts: possession over the bag limit, possession of undersized mangrove snapper, and fishing without a valid license.

The size violations both men were cited for are rooted in a clear conservation rule. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulations require mangrove snapper to measure at least 10 inches total length before they can be legally harvested, and the daily bag limit in state waters is five fish per person. A fish pulled from the water before reaching that mark has not yet had the chance to spawn, which gradually erodes the snapper population that Keys guides, charter captains, and recreational anglers depend on year-round. The FWC is the primary authority for these regulations and coordinates regularly with MCSO marine units across Monroe County.

Violations can result in fines and, in more serious cases, forfeiture of gear. Gonzalez's expired license added a third independent charge on top of the size and bag-limit offenses, showing how a single outing without current documentation can multiply the legal exposure. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office posts official enforcement details on its blog.

Know before you go: Mangrove snapper must measure at least 10 inches total length to be legally kept in Florida state waters, and the daily bag limit is five fish per person. Fishing without a current Florida recreational saltwater fishing license is a separate violation that can stack charges onto any size or bag-limit offense. For a full breakdown of size limits, gear rules, and any zone-specific restrictions on species MCSO marine deputies are actively targeting in Monroe County waters, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or consult its recreational saltwater fishing regulations page directly.