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Men charged with poaching off Island

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers have charged two men with a variety of fish poaching charges.

Arrested Dec. 4 was Mark Douglas Mora, 49, charged with fishing net violations and possession of undersized fish. He was also charged with fleeing to elude. Another man, Chris P. Jones, 21, escaped officers and is being sought.

According to the report, FWC officers saw the men in a boat in Bimini Bay and chased them in boats after they refused to stop. The suspect's boat crashed and the men made it to land in the 8300 block of Marina Drive, where they attempted to flee on foot.

The arrestees have prior convictions for fish poaching.

Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach police, as well as Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies and a K-9 unit participated in the pursuit.

NewsManatee.com Editor Mike Quinn contributed to this report.