Authorities in the Keys will increase patrols in the water and on boat ramps during the two-day lobster mini-season.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said boaters should familiarize themselves with state and local laws in the Keys before the July 25 and 26 mini-season.
Anyone caught with illegal lobster will face charges, authorities said.
In the county, it is illegal to dive or snorkel within 300 feet of residential or commercial shorelines or canal or marina between July 22 to July 26 and during the first five days of commercial lobster season from Aug. 6-10.
Two men face lobster and fisheries violations. Johnny Estevez, 39, and Ken Wrobleski, 47, face 12 misdemeanor charges each including possession of undersized speared black grouper, possession of three speared sheepshead, possession of five speared lobster and eight lobster harvested from Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission incident report.
They were booked into Plantation Key Jail. It wasn't immediately known if they had attorneys.
