Two Arrested for Pre-Season Lobster Trap Theft Florida Keys

Just hours before the official start of lobster season in the Florida Keys, two individuals, Dorgis Rodriguez Lugones and Daily Brito Fernandez, were arrested for illegally harvesting lobsters and robbing lobster traps. Deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office spotted a blacked-out 17-foot Mako boat on the bayside of Grassy Key around midnight, where Lugones ignored commands and dumped a lobster trap and a cooler containing approximately 30 lobsters into the water before surrendering. Fernandez, arrested later on warrants, faces charges including trap molestation, possession of out-of-season lobster, and being a principal in a crime. The arrests underscore law enforcement's commitment to protecting marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of local fishers, with Sheriff Rick Ramsay emphasizing vigilance against environmental crimes. Both suspects' boats were impounded pending further investigation, and authorities continue to urge the public to report suspicious activity to help safeguard the region's natural resources. The lobster season is a major economic driver in the Florida Keys, making enforcement against illegal harvesting critical.