A 27-year-old Miami man was arrested Saturday night for poaching lobster with a speargun.
Dennys Llopiz was charged with possession of nine out-of-season lobster, possession of seven undersized lobster, possession of eight speared lobster, spearfishing within 300 feet of a bridge and having no measuring device.
Middle Keys Marine Deputy Wilfredo Guerra was on patrol near Long Key Bridge when he observed a man, later identified as Llopiz, spearfishing without a dive flag near the bridge. Llopiz exited the water with a speargun and bucket. Inspection of the bucket and three coolers turned up a total of nine lobsters. Llopiz stated he speared eight of the total nine lobsters. Of the total nine lobsters, seven were also undersized. Deputy Guerra also found a speared, undersized hogfish and a speared parrotfish.
Llopiz was taken to jail.
Regular lobster seasons begins on Aug. 6. It is illegal to shoot lobsters with a speargun at all times.