Wildlife officers arrested two more alleged lobster-trap robbers Monday evening after a fisherman armed with high-powered optics spotted the men near Duck Key.

Meanwhile, many in the fishing industry said Tuesday they're moving forward with more plans to catch would-be thieves. The arrests Monday brings the season total of six men arrested on trap molestation charges in the Florida Keys since the commercial season began Aug. 6.

Carlos Almenares Blanco, 42, and Juan Morales, 65, both of Miami, face two felony counts of molesting lobster traps, a third-degree felony punishable by a maximum five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Their arrest comes three days after another alert commercial fisherman armed with a video camera helped arrest two other alleged trap robbers Friday morning in Key Largo. Ruben Barbusino, 61, and Daniel Peralta, 51, both of Key Largo, were charged with one count of trap molestation.

"I think we're seeing commercial fishermen out there this year trying different methods to catch these guys and really help us," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Bobby Dube. "It's working."

On Monday, a fisherman employed a scope normally used for looking at the stars to track a boat from Long Key Bridge, Dube said. He tracked the boat and around 4:30 p.m. called wildlife officers, who watched from the bridge with a Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputy, Dube said.

Those officers called a patrol boat to interdict Blanco and Morales a short time later, Dube said. The lobsters on board were sold to a local fish house for $180, which was put into an escrow account until the case is resolved, Dube said.

Lobster wars

The Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen's Association has been meeting with pilots at the Florida Keys Marathon Airport to iron out a plan that would put planes in the air to spot trap robbers, said George Niles, a Key West-based fisherman and former association board president.

"It's still bad, up and down the Keys," Niles said. "All the arrests made so far have been up the Keys. I'd like to see some arrests down this way."

There has been a push this year by the association to find new ways to catch trap robbers after many fishermen reported a spike in thefts since opening day. Many fishermen have reported that the amount of thefts is particularly bad this year, citing a weakened economy.

Jeff Cramer, a Conch Key-based lobster fisherman who is a board member of the association and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, said commercial fisherman are not backing down on trap robbers this year.

"The thefts have been so bad that you're seeing us take matters into our own hands," Cramer said. "All the six individuals caught this year have been caught by fishermen."

Two Key Largo fishermen, including association board member Ernie Piton, last month chased a boat whose crew allegedly pulled traps illegally near Molasses Reef. Wildlife officers later arrested two men: Key Largo Fire Rescue & EMS District Commissioner Michael Cavagnaro, 57, and his son, Michael Cavagnaro Jr., 32.

"We've cranked it up a notch and we've got an eye out," Piton said. "It's out of control this year and everyone had really banded together. We're looking out for each other."

Dube said the efforts of the fishermen to catch would-be trap robbers aren't going unnoticed.

"It's great they're working with us," Dube said. "They know we have limited resources. It's hard to sneak up on these thieves in a marked 25-foot boat and make a case."

alinhardt@keysnews.com