Florida FWC Arrests Carrabelle Man After Discovery of Lemon Shark and Over 30 Undersized Fish

Florida FWC arrested James Golden, 47, after finding a lemon shark and over 30 undersized fish on his vessel in Franklin County.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 12:39 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from WCTV.

Nighttime Vessel Stop Leads to Major Wildlife Discovery

The FWC arrested James Golden, 47, on Thursday evening following a patrol in Franklin County waters. An officer first took notice of Golden’s vessel because it was operating without required navigation lights. Upon closer observation, the officer witnessed Golden using both spears and gigs to harvest various marine species under the cover of darkness. The lack of proper lighting and the harvesting methods prompted an immediate stop and administrative inspection of the vessel.

Protected Species and Undersized Haul Uncovered

During the inspection of the Carrabelle man’s boat, FWC officials found a significant amount of illegal catch. Most notable was the presence of a lemon shark, a species protected in Florida waters. Additionally, the officer documented a large volume of undersized fish, including:

19 undersized flounder

12 undersized sheepshead