Went out fishing the other day with my neighbor who had never caught a fish! We tried trout for 2 hour on clouter creek fished a good mile of shore line and nothing, threw everything I had at them mm under a cork, spinners every flavor of z-man I had - nothing. So on to the reds, I caught 7 in 15 min the school was right on the shore line feeding. Neighbor catches nothing we can see the bait right next to each other and the fish won’t bite on his line. At that point he got frustrated and sat down for a beer we moved on to the sheeps
I had all the intention of fishing the coal shoot but I was behind a cop and he swung into shipyard creek so I followed him saw a boat under a dock asked them how it was going the said slow so I went down to the other end of the dock and gave it a try. 20 min later the cop comes back out and gives me a warning ticket for fishing under a commercial dock. (Nice guys - the dock was posted I didnt see it) they leave me drive right by the other boat still fishing under the dock. But worth it my neighbor caught his first fish ever, a one pound sheephead. At that point we decide to head home.
Apparently the coast guard has an issue with people driving to close to the cruise boats in the harbor because I got a close view of the business end of a machine gun. I think a little over the top but if I was 20 and had a machine gun I would point it at whoever I wanted too as well. On reflection I dont know why an out dated cruise ship needs armed protection? You think terrorists are plotting to destroy a cruise ship. Really? We all saw Speed 2 in sucked because it was unrealistic and had crappy acting. Just saying - and no I dont take my freedom lightly, I greatly appreciate the sacrifice that the Men and Women of the Armed Forces make for me on a daily basis. I just thought the gun pointing was a little over kill…
i’ve seen that while fishing on sullivan’s island a few times.i finally asked about it.i was told it was to keep the foreigners from jumping ship in us waters.don’t know for sure that was it or abunch of crap.they were alot of people on board waving though.
F/B I will tell you after spending 26 years in the Marine Corps, serving multiple combat tours it is quicker to pull the trigger when pointing your weapon at the target then having to point than pull the trigger. They are more concerned about their safety then offending you with pointing a loaded gun at you. Maybe next time people will think twice about getting to close to restricted areas.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
Opps- I had no idea the green and red buoys in between castle pinckney and down town charleston was a restricted area.
I think it’s about time we get a goverment that puts the boys with the guns some place where they are needed. I dont think protecting a carnival cruise line is the best use of these fine assets.
You might want to go ahead and create a new account and never use this one again. I don’t think anyone is going to take you seriously ever again. This is priceless.
F/B you sound like the guy who complains about the TSA but if or when something goes wrong you complain about being protected. Sorry to say it is the times we live in.
23, who were you referring to?
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
I was speaking to the fella that doesn’t think the coast guard knows what they are doing…he’s the same idiot that’s gonna need their assistance one day at the jetties when he forgets to put the plug in the bayliner…
I used to be a sailing coach over the summer and while I was working with begginer sailors, I encountered the exact situation. The beginner sailors were way to close to the cruise ships in the harbor and three coast guard boats pulled up with their men on the machine guns and another on the PA shouting at them to turn around. The only problem was that they were beginners and had trouble turning the boat around. I tried to drive my coach boat over to them but they instructed me to stay put. Dont get me wrong I understand they are doing their job and i have no problem with that but they not only made a huge deal over two kids in a sailboat, they made them so uncomfortable about sailing, the kids won’t step back on a boat. It was just a major cluster!
Cam, understand what you are saying but its all in the name of security. I will end my comments with this; USS Cole and Marine Barracks Beirut just to name two. Thanks why it is serious business.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
FB - Educate yourself on the security measures in place by reading the 7th Coast Guard District Local Notice to Mariners. The notice will provide info on security zones, aids to navigation, etc. You can set up to get emails with the weekly notices as an attachment. Providing security for a vessel with over 2000 people on board is not an easy task. Knowing what you can and can’t do will make your day on the water a lot more enjoyable.
I wasn’t there, so I don’t know the details, but the Coast Guard saves a lot of lives, and they do have to protect the ships, as they are prime targets, and they do have to protect themselves in so doing. However, at the same time, I can easily see some innocent 12-year-old kids in a little sail boat, or some teens in a skiff, getting a little too close to a ship and not realizing they are in error or being able to correct it quickly enough, and regardless of whose fault that would be, it does seem a bit alarming to have a locked and loaded M60 pointed at them. Personally, I’d rather be shot by a terrorist than accidentally pull off a round on some innocent kid. Again, I wasn’t there, so I can’t say anything was done right or wrong, but no one is beyond error.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance Agency, Inc. https://stricklandmarine.net
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Some folks don’t want to believe it however you can bet on the fact there are people here in this country (some with all the right paper work) who will gladly sacrifice a teenager to gain what they consider a moral victory by killing innocent men, women, and children on board a cruise liner (or any other target of opportunity). The men and women manning the guns on a Coast Guard boat NEVER know what they are going to encounter when approaching another vessel (fishing boat or small sail boat). If having a loaded weapon pointed at you offends you then stay out of restricted areas while on the water. Kids in the sail boat, consider it part of the education.
We are still recovering from an attitude of “It won’t happen here”!
I was with someone that ran out of gas under the Cooper River Bridge a few years ago. We got a tow over to the marina at patriots point and instead of pulling us inside the docks we were tied up the the outside by the Yorktown. The guys that towed us said that was all they could do so we thanked them and off they went. While this particular boat owner went to get some gas I stayed with the boat. It was so d*** rough that it was all I could do to keep the boat from ending up on the dock. Needless to say the Coast Gaurd pulled up with the machine guns pointed at me and directed me I needed to move. I explained that the boat was out of gas and there was nothing I could do until we got some fuel. They could obviously see I was struggling with the boat so they just left. I can understand cause for concern but running around pointing machine guns at everyone IMO is not how to keep people safe. Especially on a boat thats slamming up and down.
Some folks don’t want to believe it however you can bet on the fact there are people here in this country (some with all the right paper work) who will gladly sacrifice a teenager to gain what they consider a moral victory by killing innocent men, women, and children on board a cruise liner (or any other target of opportunity). The men and women manning the guns on a Coast Guard boat NEVER know what they are going to encounter when approaching another vessel (fishing boat or small sail boat). If having a loaded weapon pointed at you offends you then stay out of restricted areas while on the water. Kids in the sail boat, consider it part of the education.
We are still recovering from an attitude of “It won’t happen here”!
No, I actually agree with you that the threat is real and there has to be a strong defense. Most anyone who knows me knows that. I’m also a gun enthusiast.
The point here, though, is that the area where this happened was not in front of the Navy docks or a military zone. It’s a place where kids have been doing sailing school, and Charlestonians have been boating, for many years. The problem happened because someone got too close to a cruise ship. It’s hard to judge 500 feet and maintain it when the ship is taking up half the channel and you’re a 12-year-old in a sailing skiff.
I believe the threat is real and the defense must be strong and steady. I just don’t like the idea of a kid in sailing school being in the crosshairs of an M60. I don’t make the rules, though. I just think a little situational judgment might be of merit, but I can’t say for sure, again, because I wasn’t there. It’s also not a matter of being “offended”. It’s a matter of not wanting any innocent kid accidentally shot because he didn’t know how to turn his b
Some folks don’t want to believe it however you can bet on the fact there are people here in this country (some with all the right paper work) who will gladly sacrifice a teenager to gain what they consider a moral victory by killing innocent men, women, and children on board a cruise liner (or any other target of opportunity). The men and women manning the guns on a Coast Guard boat NEVER know what they are going to encounter when approaching another vessel (fishing boat or small sail boat). If having a loaded weapon pointed at you offends you then stay out of restricted areas while on the water. Kids in the sail boat, consider it part of the education.
We are still recovering from an attitude of “It won’t happen here”!
I couldn’t agree more. Sad, sad, sad the ultimate battle that terrorist won on 9/11 and other instances - that you CAN NOT trust anything. They would roll a baby stroller into a day care and blow kids to smithereens to kill future “infidels”.
I wouldn’t want to stand behind that gun and make a call. The world would crucify them if they let that 12 year old blow up a ship, should that be the case. But he’s got to make that call.
I DO BELIEVE that we have the best trained professionals protecting our waters and country, and the right folks overseas making bad people “disappear”. Had any trouble with Samoli pirates lately? We killed the pirates in public when they kidnapped our ship Captain, but I’m sure SEALS took care of many other bad guys involved without making a headline. And the message was sent. Don’t mess with us.
Sad times we live in, but it is what it is. Adjust to it.
