TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be out in full force looking for dangerous boating violations on Labor Day Monday.
To see how the agency prepares for the holiday, WFLA joined FWC officers on the water in Manatee County.
“Everything in this zone is now a slow speed, you have to go slow speed minimum wake, settled in the water maintaining control of your vessel,” FWC officer Aaron Gonzales said.
Several agencies searching for person who went missing on Polk County lake
We made a stop on the Intracoastal waterway near Anna Maria Island where boaters were crammed on the water.
Officers kept a close eye on the people behind the helm, issuing citations to boaters who didn’t follow the rules of the water.
“Officer Gonzales, Florida Fish and Wildlife, just stopping you to do a boater safety check — can you show me enough life jackets for everyone on board really quick?” the officer asked a boater.
“I think we may be slightly short; we are going from here to there, that is all we are doing,” the boater replied.