Holiday man arrested for illegal gillnet fishing
Holiday man arrested for illegal gillnet fishing
Reported by: Keith Baker
PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -- A fisherman from Holiday was caught Tuesday evening and charged with using a gillnet to harvest hundreds of pounds of fish.
Marvin Rankin was stopped by Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Marine unit at St. Joseph's Sound north of the Dunedin Causeway.
Rankin's 25-foot boat was traveling in circles at night with out running lights .
As the detectives approached the boat they saw a large net being removed by Rankin and another man.
Florida prohibits the type of net used within state waters out to nine miles from shore.
250-350 pounds of ladyfish were found on board which were confiscated along with the net as evidence.
The fish are being sold at the Northside Seafood on Island Avenue in Tarpon Springs. Money received from the sale will be held until the criminal case is cleared.
Rankin posted bond and is out of jail.
