While out on a charter with active‑duty helicopter pilots, a fishing crew from Hot Spots Charters near the Florida Gulf recovered a large gray LUCAS drone that had crashed into the water during a scheduled test by Eglin Air Force Base on September 17.
“We were going over there to check it out, and it was a drone,” said crew member Arsenault, who added that the presence of the military pilots gave him confidence to haul the unmanned aircraft aboard alongside his catch of mahi‑mahi.
The crew brought the drone back to the dock, photographed it with their fish, and handed it over to the local sheriff’s department, which in turn transferred the device to the federal government. A spokesperson for Eglin Air Force Base confirmed to AFP that the LUCAS (Low‑cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System) drone was recovered and is now back in the Department of Defense’s possession.
Background on the LUCAS program
LUCAS drones are low‑cost, one‑way attack systems modeled after Iranian Shahed drones. The Air Force uses them for munitions testing and, according to U.S. Central Command, they have been deployed in combat by the newly formed Task Force Scorpion Strike in the Middle East.
Centcom announced in late 2025 that the task force would employ LUCAS drones for “one‑way attack” missions, marking the first time the United States used such unmanned strike platforms in combat during Operation Epic Fury.
Local significance
This incident underscores the close proximity of military testing activities to Florida’s coastal waters, a reminder for local fishermen and charter operators who share the Gulf with defense exercises. The quick recovery and safe hand‑off of the drone demonstrate effective coordination between civilian mariners, local law enforcement, and the federal government.
Hot Spots Charters posted a photo of the recovered drone beside their catch on their Facebook page, inviting anyone who might be looking for a missing drone to contact them.
While unusual, this is not the first time a Florida fishing vessel has stumbled upon a surprising find; in 2023, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s family retrieved a multi‑pound haul of cocaine while fishing in the Keys.
Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.
