Tales of the Square Grouper Comes to Chokoloskee

"Square grouper" is slang for the large, compressed bales of marijuana resembling large fish that smugglers utilized when importing the contraband to the coastlines of South Florida and the state’s Gulf Coast. 

The square grouper has become an integral part of the history and lore aroundChokoloskee and Everglades City, harkening back to theheyday of the area as a center for pot smuggling during the 1970s and 80s.  

Commercial fishing had long been the village’s economic backbone, but that began changing during the 1970s when the Federal government began restricting the trade as a preservation measure. Then, in 1985, a ban on commercial fishing in Everglades National Park crippled the industry for the generations of residents who’d made a living by harvesting those waters. 

It was then that the neighboring villages underwent a dramatic shift to highly lucrative illicit trade, adding credence to the old saying “When one door closes, another one opens.” 

Kent Daniels knows the story well, having lived it. He and about 29 members of his immediate and extended family were among the local residents who spent smuggling tons of pot to survive economically after the ban made their legal professions unfeasible.  

“I've heard people say, well, they could have done other things,” said Daniels, 64, who’s now a private fishing guide and amateur historian.“Well, I don't think so, because I didn't have the schooling, and we lived on the island and were involved in the commercial fishing industry. Living off the land is what we knew. And when they come in and took that away from us, they didn't offer us anything else. The marijuana, when it came in, the family got in it. We knew the water. We were born and raised on it. I have either walked it, swum it, held it, played in it, and commercial fished some way or another, all my life.” 

The smuggling ring was one of the largest ever in the United States. Its size and scope eventually led to Federal agents and Collier County sheriff's deputies sealing off Everglades City and Chokoloskee and making widespread arrests in July of 1983 as part of the two-year undercover "Operation Everglades. The raid resulted in the initial arrest of 23 to 28 people. Eventually, more than 300 people were indicted and more than half of the local fishing boats were seized. 

Daniels family members spent about a decade involved in the trade, employing their intimate knowledge of the 10,000 islands to evade capture by the authorities and, as with their fellow smugglers, maintaining strict silence about their activities.Ultimately, the law did catch up with them, resulting in prison sentences in both state and Federal facilities.  

According to Kent Daniels, who served about 11 years behind bars, they were never caught red-handed and were only convicted on charges of conspiracy.   

“We were the first family since the Jamesbrothers (Frank and Jesse) that never went down for the crimes committed against the United States government,” he said. “That actually made us famous. And we're the family that has the record for hauling the most into the country and for the largest job that ever came in at one time. In one night, we hauled somewhere around 162,000 pounds.” 

The smuggling exploits of Kent Daniels, his family, and other key players in the community are now the subject of a documentary. Entitled “Outlaws of the Everglades,” the documentary examines the area’s history and culture and the decisions that led to it gaining a national and international reputation as a marijuana smuggling hub. 

Aside from interviews with Kent Daniels, the film also features segments by Southwest Florida historian Robert Macomber, well-known Florida author Carl Hiaasen, and legendary Miami Herald photojournalist Tim Chapman. 

“Outlaws of the Everglades” represents the first time the Daniels family, Southwest Florida residents for 10 generations, and others involved in the trade have broken their public silence about what occurred during the days when the square grouper ruled. 

The film will be shown on January 23 and January 24 in Chokoloskee as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the historic Smallwood Store’s being placed on stilts after a hurricane lifted the structure off its foundation. The event will feature live music, Native American food, and arts and crafts. There will also be family-friendly activities, boat tours, raffles, and special programming tied to the store’s century-long role in the Everglades. 

The Everglades Society for Historic Preservation will be sharing information and celebrating the area’s rich history. Kent Daniels will be present to speak with attendees about his experiences and “Outlaws of the Everglades,” as will some of his family members and others involved in the trade, along with Carl Hiaasen.  

Festivities begin at 11:00 AM and end at 7:00 PM. Admission is $15 per person.   

The Smallwood Store is located at 360 Mamie St. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/historic-smallwood-store/centennial-celebration-at-the-historic-smallwood-store-chokoloskee-fl-jan-23rd-2/2021332062047783/ or call 695-2989.  

For more information about the “Outlaws of the Everglades” documentary, please visit https://outlawsoftheeverglades.com/.