TONER

Often times while diving you pull up to a public wreck and there are boats already fishing on them do you anchor and dive or move to another spot and take the chance of finding more fishermen ? I usualy take option A and often end up with mad fishermen ! What is the rght thing to do?

Voodoo Lounge

Excellent question, cant wait for the in depth responses!!

opcorn

lobsterman

I have always used the rule that there is a big Gulf out there if someone is on the spot and it is little thenI go elsewhere. If it is a long reef I move over a bit and blub blub.

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Captain Mickey O'Reilly

Chad, I think the appropriate thing to do is to ask if the boat already on site minds if you dive. If the spot is very small, then I would not even bother, but if it is like the liberty ship, steel barge etc. just ask. I think we all tend to get a little bit angry when somebody pulls up to a spot we are at, but we must remember the big picture; if we can't get along as RECREATIONAL FISHERMAN, we will continue to lose out. As a community of fisherman, a little consideration can go a long way. Remember also that these are public, and not private spots, we ALL have the right to be there. If all recreational fisherman could as a group, get together and join the RFRA, and other local organizations and fight for more reefing and fishing rights, we could do wonders!

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ChrisH2O

I think the best thing would be to keep a good distance between you and the other boats , and dive with caution. I would think it would be a fairly large dive/fishing spot, so there should be enough space for all to enjoy. Of course you're going to have a few people who think they own it, so just be respectful of who was there first. You should always have someone on the boat while diving and in turn theyshould notice if any other boats anchor too close to your boat...remind them there are divers below and they should keep required distance. Remember, you are down below and could get hooked.

Sailor612

I agree with "Team Get Bent," but on the flip side, I feel that fishermen/women should do the same! There have been many dives I've done where we are anchored up on a "big" structure and by the time we surface there are 3-4 fishing boats right by ours....
Shoot...look at the "O" for example...when i've dove it there have been fishermen/women trolling the superstructure right were ALL the (5+)dive charters are tied up....
I think as divers we all agree to a point that we don't"scare" away all the good fish for hook and line fishers (contrary to how many hook and line fishers feel!) Hopefully one day we can all get along and work as a team for "our" recreational water pleasures!
Public is PUBLIC, but we all need to be considerate of eachother!!!!!
You won't catch me tying up to small public structure if there is already another boat or two, divers or fishermen....sometimes it just isn't worth the hassle or dangers

flyingfishr

Here's a good hyothetical from the other side of the equation.... What if say, you are diving a big structure like the liberty ship, have your divers in the water, have your colors blowing in the breeze and when on the wreck you hear a boat approaching. Lets take it even further and say the viz is so good, that you can actually see this other vessel (I'll just call it a 19 footer, with about a 115 hp whiteJohnson and a sea green bimini top on it) approach your vessel from the end of the ship you are on and motor up to within 5 feet of your boat...WITH DIVERS IN THE WATER! Imagine having to swim up side down with your arms in front of your face and head for fear of a blooming anchor getting dropped down on your head as you are trying to swim out from under this f$@*ng boat! Then have the operator of the other boat tell your crew that he knew there were divers in the water because he could see their bubbles coming up on either side of his boat! There's a real question of what to do!

Other than that, I agree the gulf is a big place and if the structure is small enough, there are plenty of places that are easily reached within 20-30 minutes of each other. Everyone should just respect one another's space. JMHO. Didn't mean to derail with my rant, just respect the water and give everyone a litle breathing room.

gamccp

Boy is this going to be fun. I've only been fishing the gulf for about 5 yrs.

I've been on a public spot fishing and have been asked to leave so that the

charter dive boat could drop his paying customers. We were catching fish, but I

agreed. I don't like to stop were a dive boat is allready anchored. Now, I have also

been anchored on a public spot (only boat insight) when a private dive boat came within

10-20 ft. dropped anchor then divers right beside me.:banghead

My fishing technique is not that good, so I became a certified diver this Dec. I going down to where they are if they wont come to me. I only hope that the fishermen will be as nice

to me as I will be to them. I will have been on both sides and believe that just plain

common sense and a little curtisey(SP) will prevail.

Dylan

[quote]gamccp (1/5/2009)Boy is this going to be fun. I've only been fishing the gulf for about 5 yrs.

I've been on a public spot fishing and have been asked to leave so that the

charter dive boat could drop his paying customers. We were catching fish, but I

agreed.

Thats nuts..

Pierce07

But if they swear the boat was in neutral it makes everything ok. Or when you pull up to the next spot and you see him :sick over the side of the boat. Don't forget it was a Key West. I actually saw him going out the next day



Just be respectful to each other out there. If you see people fishing anchor on the other side of the wreck and ask. If you see divers down be careful where you drop anchor and use extreme caution approaching the wrecks. Most of us do safety stops and a mere 15 ft and it's not fun when a prop comes buzzing over your head.

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