Had a Coast Guard Cutter come our way last week then cut back on the throttle and drop the Zodiak loaded with coasties. They hauled ass over and identified themselves, asked whether we had weapons aboard and requested permission to board.
Two of them boarded and verified we had all the proper safety gear. Life jackets, flares, working horn, fire extinguisher, registration, ect.
They didn’t check any boxes or fishing licenses. Pretty much just making sure we had what we needed to be safe (by law at least).
Seeing them coming, we cleared all the gear from the port side and once the two were aboard, the Zodiak pulled away about 20’ from the port side idling to stay in place. While we were paying attention to the Coasties onboard, the ones in the Zodiak holler at us pointing to a group of cobia swimming between us and them. (**(), made a valiant effort to get a pogie to them to no avail.
Oh well, just figured I would share this as I have been offshore quite a few times, but this was a first for me.
It was actually a pretty cool experience and I have the utmost respect for them. They left us stating everything was good and they were headed out 100 miles.
That’s pretty cool! I have a great deal of respect for them as well and have always been treated kindly and with respect. I hope to never need their assistance, but it’s nice to know they are around.
I’ve got nothing but respect for them. Been very glad they were there a few times. They have towed me in, air lifted people off my boats, and maintained radio safety checks with me every 10 minutes on very bad nights. I don’t break the law so have nothing to fear there. Never had a bad experience with them, other than few are fairly inexperienced in things like boat handling. Got to figure at least half of them are in training but they will risk their azz to save yours.
Capt. Larry Teuton
912-six55-5674
lteuton at aol dot com
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
A GC officer told me they seldom check fish that people have caught; only if a case of blatant violation is reported to them or observed by them. Does that match the experience of most fishermen?
My dad served in the CG. Based out of Charleston for stretches. They always get ripped on by the Navy guys but Lord knows they do a lot of different things for us.
A lot more than giving offshore fisherman peace of mind.
2005 Grady 209 Yam F200
“El Dorado”
1989 High Tide Super V-14
2004 Yam 25 2-Stroke
They can stay the hell off my boat unless I request their assistance. I don’t need the government coming aboard to tell me I have all the proper safety gear to not kill myself.
I saw them at the Ross the other day. They never came over to us though. Made me look over my safety equipment and I found a bad extinguisher! Good to go now!
quote:
They can stay the hell off my boat unless I request their assistance. I don't need the government coming aboard to tell me I have all the proper safety gear to not kill myself.
They can come on mine anytime they want to.
Capt. Larry Teuton
912-six55-5674
lteuton at aol dot com
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
I believe it takes fewer resources to recover a living person in a life jacket and signaling with flares than a dead one… maybe they are just saving your tax dollars.
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-HT Bugbuster
Which brings up a subject; obviously, the CG has jurisdiction in all navigable waters . DNR. Has been hired by NOAA to enforce fishing regulations in Fed. Waters. Does DNR have authority to board and search your boat even though their is no reason for them to believe a federal fishing law has been violated. They can see all of your safety equipment without boarding. What if you deny them permission to board and search. Obviously, they can’t search your house or car without reasonable cause. What would legally happen?
I believe it takes fewer resources to recover a living person in a life jacket and signaling with flares than a dead one… maybe they are just saving your tax dollars.
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-HT Bugbuster
Hey Marsh Chicken. The CG and DNR are both there to protect life and natural resources. The resources out there must be protected from exploitation to the benefit of this and future generations. While I may not agree with all the regulations on fishing these days, I would never have a problem with a visit from either. Keep it legal, keep it safe.
Hey Marsh Chicken. The CG and DNR are both there to protect life and natural resources. The resources out there must be protected from exploitation to the benefit of this and future generations. While I may not agree with all the regulations on fishing these days, I would never have a problem with a visit from either. Keep it legal, keep it safe.
Seafox 246 w 300 Yamaha
And the police are there to protect and serve. That doesn’t give them the right to enter my house or automobile anytime they want and make sure everything appears safe to them. I’m not anti government or anti coast guard, dnr, etc. In fact, my family has members who have served in both military and law enforcement. They will be the first ones to tell you that a government agent shouldn’t be allowed to board your boat or look through your stuff without your permission or a reasonable suspicion that your breaking the law. The 4th amendment applies to every facet of law enforcement except when your on a boat. Why is that?
Do you really need a government employee to board your boat and tell you that your being safe or tell you that your fire extinguisher is charged? If you do…I highly recommend not going out on the water anymore.
If they want to make the water safer how about posting up at the boat ramps and checking for life vest, throw cushion, flares, etc before people start their day on the water? Or patrolling nearshore fishing grounds? Sitting by a marina checking people’s catch for the day doesn’t exactly save the resource as bubba and the gang have already filled the cooler with their illegal fish at that point. Don’t drink all the kool-aid…
Speaking as an ex-Coastie myself…that boarding is not only for your safety, but for the safety of everyone on board who may not have inventoried your safety equipment before going out with you. Safety equipment is not all we looked for either!
Every time I’ve been boarded, they have always asked for permission to come aboard, and I’ve always said yes sir. And offered them a cold drink. Hostility and arrogance will get you nowhere.
Capt. Larry Teuton
912-six55-5674
lteuton at aol dot com
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Speaking as an ex-Coastie myself…that boarding is not only for your safety, but for the safety of everyone on board who may not have inventoried your safety equipment before going out with you. Safety equipment is not all we looked for either!
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!
Since when did it become the governments job to regulate stupidity? The authorities should have a reasonable suspicion to detain someone or pull them over, and probable cause to search them or their property without consent. That’s the beauty of our country. If you think otherwise, I suggest you read the constitution you swore to uphold and protect.
The ability of law enforcement to wantonly detain someone and search their boat, just because they feel like it, is an over reach of powers and specifically protected by the 4th amendment.
How would we like it if the police had the ability to pull people over at random and search their cars just to make sure they didn’t have anything illegal and everyone knew how to put on their seat belts? Why is it any different when an officer steps onto a boat? It shouldn’t be. To argue otherwise is a slap in the face who have fought to protect our freedoms.