Man charged with spearfishing snook out of season

A 41-year-old Greenacres man is facing several charges for spearfishing snook out of season, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Juan Cabrales, 41, is accused of possession of snook, spearing snook, spearfishing in a prohibited area and having no dive flag displayed, among other charges, FWC officers said.

He was caught earlier this week with 10 speared snook, which are strictly regulated marine fish, officers said.

The FWC received a tip on Tuesday that three men were spearing snook off the south jetty of the Lake Worth Inlet. FWC officers and Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies they found two speared snook hidden in the jetty rocks and a garbage bag with eight speared snook in the bushes, according to the investigative report.

Charges are pending against the other two men, officers said.

Anglers can use only a hook and line to catch snook and only one snook per person is allowed per day. Atlantic snook must measure between 28 and 32 inches in length, the FWC said.

Snook season has been closed on the Atlantic coast since Dec. 15 but it will reopen Sept. 1.