getting pulled over?

[sunburnt]

i was curious as to how many times a year ,every one gets pulled or boarded by marine officials =coast guard the sheriff or marine patrol . vs. how many times you go boating . i seem to get a lot of inquiries by such officials ! even though i obey all regs. maybe its because i fish? i would like to know if we are categorized or harassed? both sweet/salt.me and mine= 6-7 times vs. 24 times fishing.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: getting pulled over?

where are you fishing, i see you are in WPB. what is your boat? i haven't been stopped in Jacksonville, in years. i the Keys, Lobster season, it has happened twice a day.

 

[5150abf]

Re: getting pulled over?

Up here in Indiana DNR is pretty scarce, they target mostly the big lakes and I fish rivers.

In the last 11 years I have had a boat I have seen maybe 8-9 DNR guys and been stopped once on a large lake but I was in a company boat and forgot to put the temp tags on it and we had 6-8 guys fishing, checked licenses and was on his way.

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: getting pulled over?

Here in central PA I see them all the time but have never been stopped. I do try to keep a low profile but flying under the radar does not always work.

 

[sunburnt]

Re: getting pulled over?

i fish mainly in west palm ;-2nd the keys -3rd boca grande- 4th ft. pierce .of all of those 4 ;boca grande is the only place i have never been stopped! i have two boats 1 -14ft. tri hull 35 hp and a 20 ft. cuddy w/ 200hp both i get pulled on .but the 14ft. i use more ,so i probably get questions especially in salt . being small .but I'm always in the ditch.never outside.all i want to do is fish !

 

[triumphrick]

Re: getting pulled over?

I could not even count the number of times I have been on the water since I started in the fiftys. Hundreds, a thousand??

I can remember three times that the FMP has stopped me and/or boarded my rig.

Never cited and always sent away with a nod and a smile.

Attitude is everything.

 

[QC]

Re: getting pulled over?

I boat almost exclusively on the Colorado and her lakes . . . I have engough days for a Captain's license. I have never been boarded, but did get pulled over once for a potential overload. Got the life vest count and a "be careful" warning and that was it.

I do however, hail the local LEOs almost every season. I ask them if there are any new regs and go on my way. I want them to know my boat and know that I pay attention. I guess this has helped, but where I boat there are plenty of idiots to keep them busy . . . We are not the problem for sure.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have never been stopped. However, a few weeks ago, a couple of wardens on a patrol boat keep eyeballing me thru their binoculars. I knew it was because of my coozie....with a Diet Pepsi in it, that was on the dash. They never stopped me. When I was pulling the boat out, they came in and as one was walking by, he was looking hard at the coozie. I told him next time, just pull up and ask what I was drinking. I wouldn't be offended. I know they guy has a job to do.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: getting pulled over?

I boat on weekdays, usually on smaller lakes. In four years, I've had a DNR boat pull up four times for a license check. Since I have no livewell and release everything I catch, there's nothing else to see. On a 12' boat, not much is required, but I have a horn, fire extinguisher, lights, and two alternate means of propulsion. The pfds are on hooks next to me, and I always have a throwable, even thow it's not required.

I doubt if I'll ever be boarded, since there are no compartments on the boat. If you're alongside, you can see every thing there is.

 

[sunburnt]

Re: getting pulled over?

i also fished steinhatchee 3x never had a problem there; even in scallop season. the big lake ''o'' Ive been checked for fishing lisc. 2x in 4 yrs /11 times; during speck season .1 once on land after working in okee city. yes I'm clean cut! i am also counting ,while on my friends boats, which is quite numerous. i believe it is because of population and boat traffic. west palm has probably more problems per capita. i hardly ever see the big guys get pulled, meaning 60 ft and above. because my friends also have a bertram 54 and a wave making Hatteras. the fl keys too many .!! i guess it boils down to palm bch county . and the keys .all fishing destinations!

 

[dingbat]

Re: getting pulled over?

There are a lot of military and government installations in the area so the Coast Guard is very attentive. Its not a matter of if you get boarded, it?s when.

I have the boat CG inspected every Spring and display a CG inspection certificate. The certificate keeps deters most boar dings but I still get boarded at least once a year.

I have a fishing license for the boat which keeps the DNR visits to a minimum but they still show up from time to time to talk fishing and take a peak in the ?box? while they're there.

 

[aspeck]

Re: getting pulled over?

In Central PA - only once ... I know almost all the LEO's and so if I do get stopped for a check it ends up being a social affair. However, in the West Palm Beach/Ft. Lauderdale area the vessel I have been on has been boarded about every other time out ... the only times I have not been boarded are when I am fishing with Snapperbait (looking forward to that the end of September again, BTW - for you older salts around here, he is doing well, just busy).

 

[Kymasabe]

Re: getting pulled over?

I was stopped (and fined) this weekend. Was the first time in the last 20 years.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: getting pulled over?

Do extensive boating in PINE ISLAND SOUND, CHARLOTTE HARBOR and the gulf. Never been stopped, never see anyone. Dont have the pleasure of trailering and using a ramp, so maby I miss them!
KYMASABE, what did you do? Where did they get you? Miserable mile? Ever consider going out of the FISHERMANS CO-OP on pine island? Well kept secret, open to non commercial use on weekends and holidays. regards FRED

 

[mikeneal]

Re: getting pulled over?

Been stopped about 10 times total, boat mainly ICW and some lakes. Never fined, all safety type checks (always OK), but I was told to slow down once back at the infancy of my boating experience for making too big of a minimum wake. Every LEO I have ever dealt with has been courteous and professional.

Kymasabe, what was your violation?

I was stopped (and fined) this weekend. Was the first time in the last 20 years.

 

[Denning]

Re: getting pulled over?

I've rarely been pulled over except by visiting Game Wardens. I always get some overzelous Game Warden who wants to make his or her presence known.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: getting pulled over?

i fish mainly in west palm ;-2nd the keys -3rd boca grande- 4th ft. pierce .of all of those 4 ;boca grande is the only place i have never been stopped! i have two boats 1 -14ft. tri hull 35 hp and a 20 ft. cuddy w/ 200hp both i get pulled on .but the 14ft. i use more ,so i probably get questions especially in salt . being small .but I'm always in the ditch.never outside.all i want to do is fish !

I see the small boats fishing in the ICW get checked all the time. In West Palm Beach, particularly between Lake Worth Inlet and the Lake Worth Road bridge, as you enter the Town of Palm Beach's jurisdiction... they don't want the working class cluttering up their view.

-E

 

[freddyray21]

Re: getting pulled over?

In 40 years of boating I have never been stopped on the water. Last 4th of July the Coast Guard was doing inspections in line at the ramp and they inspected me.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: getting pulled over?

Usually once or twice a year for safety inspections..............always around a holiday weekend..............never bothers me................I view it as part of the boating experience.

 

[branman1971]

Re: getting pulled over?

I was towing my son on a tube last year in an oval formation when the water-cop came over and told me that my son's tube was going into the no wake zone on the turns, even though my boat wasnt. He then asked to see my life vests, and that was it. No check for fire extinguisher, sound device, or anything else. Gave me a verbal warning and went away.