fishitall

I know it's really easy to bash someone or something but sometimes the facts are facts and that's how it goes. So far this summer I've been checked by the FWC or Coast Guard several times while fishing. That's really no big deal, but the ability to do a proper and lawful inspection is lacking. Case #1, CG pulls up while I'm anchored/fishing in the bay; takes several minutes to manuever close enough to inspect( grab on, let go, throw rope, take rope back etc.) Then have to have discussions over regulations among themselves, argue and finally cut short and politely say good day. Case #2 FWC pulls up in shallows around mouth of Escambia. Has hard time controlling and maneuvering his boat, can't figure out fishing license date, says it's expired, I had to show him how it worked. He ask if I have all my required gear, no inspection and then procedes to ground himself. Case#3 Anchored in bay, same thing with license, he gave up trying to figure out the dates, said he was to write me a ticket for fire extinguisher being out of date. I had to inform him that a portable tank in a jon boat does not require a fire extinguisher to be on board. He conceded and left. I could tell you more but they're longer more dangerous cluster f--ks the CG and FWC worked together on. Has anyone else had occasions with their ineptness?

Mike aka FishWerks

Great post there bud. It's been a while since the last cop bashing thread. Stir it good sport...



:doh



:usaflag

fishn4real

Frommy post in this section on 6/22/08"FFLW Agrees to Pay for Damages to Boat.

["<SPAN id=_ctl1_ctlSearchResultsPostView_ctlSearchResults __ctl1_ctlPanelBar_lblFullMessage>In July '05 FFWL agents crashed across the bow of our Cape Horn jamming the trolling motor onto the deck and knocking out a chunk of the jellcoat. Of course, they denied liability and I fumed and fussed, and let it slide. Shat happens.

Couple of months ago, FFWL crashes us again, this time knocking the rub rail off the port bow. Not gonna let this one slide. Then, delay, delay, in getting an inspection; then delay, delay, delay in getting answer. Finally, second inspection;then, hemm/haww/stutter about liability. Well, after a well drafted demand letter, plus a request for public records of "all" the boats that FFWL has crashed in the bay, they have agreed to pay for repairs, towing, and loss of use.

Does anyone want 835# of public records/damage reports in which FFWL has crashed into citizens' boats?

We post this only to let you know that if it happens to you, and they are at fault, don't roll over, you have remedies.] "

Lane and I get checked roughly 20 -25% time we go out. Our routine is a heck of a lot smoother than theirs;

First sighting..."DH approaching"... reel in all lines; I grab life vests, throw, and fire extenguishers; Lane starts getting catch ready for inspection - if we have caught anything, each of us grab our license. By the time they get anywhere near us we have everything lined up for viewing. However, after you have read our recent posts you will understand why we have added bumpers and push poles to the routine.

If anyone ever needs agood attorney, I have a friend who specializes in Military and Maritime law.

Keep a sharp eye, and don't take any crap!

fishitall

Uhhhhhh, let's see. Joe fisher gets a ticket for a law that does'nt exist, maybe that's not important to some idiot, but to this one it is important. If I hadn't known the law it would have cost me. Maybe some folks are able to deduce from the post that you can't assume they are correct, OBVIOUSLY! DUH. "Cop bashing" get a clue.

Matt Mcleod

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f5080; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">I don't think this is bashing at all, I have had some bad experiences with some fwc guys and people should know about it. It is not all of them; some of them are very professional and courteous like the last guy who stopped me. Young guy new to our area from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Walton</st1:PlaceName></st1lace>. I have never had a bad experience with the Coast Guard, always professional. The biggest problem I see is that if you ask five fwc officers the same question you will get five different answers, and that?s just damn ridiculous! And unfortunately I got a $250 ticket before because one of them gave me bad information. I once got into an argument with one because he told me my 8 mangrove snappers were cubera snapper, are you serious, 8 damn cubera snapper in Pensacola? In my experience it?s the older guys, the ones that have been around here the longest that are the worst, the younger guys that are coming here from other areas seem less angry when they pull me over. I in know way have a problem with authority, but these people work for us. And if some of them are not doing a good job we should let them know through the proper channels.

__________________
Captain Matt Mcleod
www.hotspotscharters.com
www.hotspotstackle.com

Brant Peacher

I agree Matt! Im not talking about all of the FWC because I have been stopped by some that were very professional but a number of them dont have a clue. IMO if your going to get a professional job like a marine patrol then you should know your job inside and out. And for god sakes if your going to get a job that requires you to drive around in a boat all day then It would be a good idea to learn how to properly operate a boat.Ive been stopped before and they couldntidentify half the fish in the ice box. This mainly holds true with snapper because there are so many different types. Like Matt I too have had themost problems with the older guys.

Brant Peacher
tackle rep

shanester

man i was wade fishing chickenbone last sunday. had all the usuall gear bucket fishingrods castnet. my wife had her rod in her hand had my rod in my hand i had just walked in to get a piece of bait. fwc chick pulls up on a 4 wheeler ask us if we r from florida we say yes. had my brand new ambassador 5500 and allstar rod never been casted. had the reel on a towel so not o get sand in it and rod lying on sand. this girl runs over my brand new rod says sorry and runs off towards fortpickens. bent 2 guides and scratched it up. what the f then the storm came in never saw her go back by aint that a beotch..

X-Shark

Now that Really sucks shanester.



Had it of just been some Yahoo, I bet you would have picked the rod up and beat the crap out of them with it.

Framerguy

I was kayak fishing down by the Coast Guard station in East Pass awhile back and witnessed the strangest thing at the CG dock! These4 guys, all looked to be CG employees, were backing a CG patrol boat out of its slip and then pulling it alongside the dock! They would riccochet off the dock sometimes or throw the boat in reverse and gun the engine so strongly that I could hear it clearly out past their jetties. They did this for almost an hour and I always wondered what they were doing??

Now I know, .......... they were practicing their "crash" maneuver for CG approach to a fishing vessel!!! :doh

wrightackle

All this fun is being brought to you by the folks that are going to be giving safe boating classes! The FWC could be eliminated from the state budget altogether and it would be no great loss.