Fishing boat reels in large U.S. military drone off Florida coast

Updated on: September 22, 2026 / 6:35 AM EDT / CBS/AFP

A fishing boat's haul recently included mahi-mahi, snapper, grouper and something unexpected: a U.S. military drone.

Daniel Arsenault, a 36-year-old charter captain, was fishing in Gulf waters off Florida when he spotted what looked like an upside-down boat, he told AFP on Monday.

"We were going over there to check it out, and it was a drone," he said.

Arsenault was fishing with active-duty military helicopter pilots at the time, who identified it as a target drone.

"That's why I kind of felt confident in picking it up," he said, adding it to a catch that included mahi-mahi hooked near the aircraft.

"We brought it back to the dock, took photos with it with the catch of the day, and then the sheriff's department here took possession of it, and then the government got it from them," Arsenault said.

A photo posted Saturday on the Hot Spots Charters Facebook page shows the large gray drone next to a table of fish with the caption: "Great 6 hour today with this crew! If anyone is looking for their drone please call Hot Spots!"

A spokesperson for Eglin Air Force Base…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/