Hot Spots Charters, a local fishing charter based in Pensacola, reported an unusual catch on Saturday when a U.S. military drone surfaced near the bow of their boat while they were out on the water off the Florida panhandle.
Drone recovered during routine fishing trip
Captain Daniel Arsenault posted photos to the company’s Facebook page showing the unmanned aircraft occupying the entire front of the vessel. He wrote, “Great 6 hour today with this crew! If anyone is looking for their drone please call Hot Spots!” The images show the drone missing its nose section and rear propeller, with the black‑suited service members who arrived to retrieve it in the background.
Location and military response
The incident occurred near Eglin Air Force Base, home to the Air Force’s 96th Test Wing. An Eglin spokesperson confirmed that a test article had been lost during a flight, but declined to specify the exact model. “I can confirm that we were doing a test and the test article went down,” the spokesperson told defense outlet The War Zone. The Air Force has previously acknowledged that it is field‑testing a domestically produced copy of the Iranian‑designed Shahed‑136, designated the Low‑cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS).
About the LUCAS drone
Manufactured by Arizona‑based Spektreworks, the LUCAS drones are 9.8 feet (2.9 meters) long, have an 8.2‑foot wingspan and weigh about 70 pounds. The U.S. Central Command announced in March that the drones are being employed in the ongoing conflict with Iran, describing them as a means of delivering “American‑made retribution.” The recovered aircraft appears to be an FLM 136, a clone of the Shahed‑136 that has seen extensive use in the Ukraine and Iran wars.
Local reaction
Arsenault told CNN the drone was found “floating” while the charter was offshore. Some of the charter’s Facebook followers responded with humor, noting the drone’s “super bony” taste and questioning whether it would be “catch and release.” The charter later posted, “The black suvs came and got their drone, all is good!” indicating that military personnel retrieved the aircraft without incident.
Implications for the area
The unexpected recovery underscores the active testing of advanced unmanned systems in the region surrounding Eglin AFB, a major hub for U.S. Air Force research and development. While the incident did not pose a safety threat to local fishermen, it serves as a reminder that military testing activities can intersect with civilian maritime traffic. Residents and boaters are encouraged to stay alert and report any unusual debris or equipment encountered on the water.
What’s next?
Eglin officials have not released further details about the test or the cause of the drone’s loss. The Air Force is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether equipment failure, weather conditions, or other factors contributed to the mishap. In the meantime, Hot Spots Charters continues to operate its regular fishing excursions, offering anglers the chance to catch speckled trout, redfish, flounder, mackerel and even occasional sharks.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
