So, the son of a buddy of mine is getting married in a couple of weeks and some of guys in the wedding party wanted to do a fishing trip together.
Headed out Sat eve in 2 boats and fish were biting pretty good in the big water from 8-9, but seemed to turn off right at dark. Call him on the phone and said lets just go to the towers, since no one was over there and we could just easily fish right along side each other.
We were the only 2 there until a small camo jon boat came over and sat along side of us for about 30 min or so before pulling away from the tower then came back shining a light on their badges. Not worried at all since I knew I had all my safety equipment and even called my buddy the day before to remind them to make sure they all have a fishing license and we had no where near a limit of fish.
Hand over our licenses and one of them comes back to me asking is this the latest license I have? When I said I have a current license he says, " So, you bought one since July 2?" Whoooops…
Can’t believe I never checked mine.
Anyway, I lucked out with a warning ticket. As it turned out, out of all the boats out there, they had been watching us fish in the big water with binoculars, then followed us to the towers. They mentioned that they noticed I personally was only baiting hooks for the other guys and letting them drop them down and reel in fish. I’m guessing that may be what saved me some $$$. Either way, I appreciated just getting a warning.
I’ve always heard they would stake out a boat like that and just watch waiting to see someone go over the limit and to be honest, figured it was BS, just to keep people honest.
I stand corrected. 
It’s ridiculous that they do that. Glad you got away with a warning.
May all your favorite bands stay together…
It just seems like a big waste of resources. I’m much more worried about the people leaving the restaurants after drinking to much and getting in their 30’ boat they’ve driven twice…
Glad they were cool with the warning. Since they changed the license from 6/30 to a year from purchase, I’m constantly stressed about when mine expires now, yet to cheap to just buy one on 6/30. That would cost me $0.00241
“Those who have the ability to make a difference have the responsibility to do so.” Thomas Jefferson
I had forgotten about mine & fished July 3rd. Luckily I was not checked. I think the only reason I remembered to get the new one, was because of the post by catchall on the Midlands Striper forum. Next year I can get the lifetime license. (Getting old does have some perks.
)
Not to derail your thread, but what was wrong with your motor a while back, Tim?
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
quote:
Originally posted by on a fishin mission
It just seems like a big waste of resources. I’m much more worried about the people leaving the restaurants after drinking to much and getting in their 30’ boat they’ve driven twice…
Glad they were cool with the warning. Since they changed the license from 6/30 to a year from purchase, I’m constantly stressed about when mine expires now, yet to cheap to just buy one on 6/30. That would cost me $0.00241
“Those who have the ability to make a difference have the responsibility to do so.” Thomas Jefferson
Agreed. I’ve always heard of this, but never seriously thought they would put that much resource into monitoring a single random boat unless they had some reason up front to suspect they may be keeping over the limit.
They were just doing their job and I appreciate what they do, but with the time they spent watching us in the big water, then following us to the towers and watching us there, they probably could have checked the coolers on 10 - 15 boats pulling out at the boat ramp.
Imagine the highway patrol, instead of sitting on the side of the road with radar, assigned a couple of undercover cops to wait for a random person to come out of a store and then follow them home to see if they speed on the way home.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
DF90 Suzuki
quote:
Originally posted by Happy Bob
I had forgotten about mine & fished July 3rd. Luckily I was not checked. I think the only reason I remembered to get the new one, was because of the post by catchall on the Midlands Striper forum. Next year I can get the lifetime license. (Getting old does have some perks.)
Not to derail your thread, but what was wrong with your motor a while back, Tim?
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Next year I’ll be be renewing on my birthday in June to make it easy to remember.
Turns out my motor issue was nothing more than a tie wrap that was wrapped around my fuel line and other cables in the back. It was clamped too tight on the fuel line. It’s been on there since I bought the boat 9 years ago and was probably always tight, but it didn’t matter until the sun had softened up the hose over the years.
Glad I found it before I put it in the shop to have them cut a tie wrap. lol
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
DF90 Suzuki
quote:
Glad I found it before I put it in the shop to have them cut a tie wrap. lol
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
DF90 Suzuki
Let’s see, Probably a minimum of $60 to diagnose the problem (find the tie wrap), then another $100 in labor to fix it (cut the tie wrap).
Glad it was something simple & easy to fix!
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
I almost did the same thing. Someone mentioned they had to go renew their license and I happened to check mine and they had been expired for two days
Carolina Skiff 218 DLV
140 Suzuki