CG-Boarded Offshore of Jupiter on 6/21

[Radarsrus]

What a PITA!!!!

At 8:30 or 9:00 in full darkness after dodging storms on our way down from St.Lucie Inlet to the Riviera Bch. area drift starting-point we have to get a visit from the friendly neighborhood Fed's!!! Doh!

Running along at about 30 MPH I noticed a large spotlight coming out of the blackness a couple miles offshore of us. I did not see any running lights and I suspected it was the Coasties up to their tricks. Sure enough..1 minute later that damn light ended-up painting me and I switched the VHF to 16 at that moment to hear you know who asking me to drop to a slow speed and start exchanging every bit of information they could think of.

This went on for about 20 minutes with quick, courteous and efficient communications from us on channel 17 and then the dreaded "please stand by because we are going to launch a small-boat for a boarding inspection" came over the radio ... I asked him if that were really necessary as we had just recited all of our vessel documentation info, personal information, drivers licenses, birthdays, addresses, etc., etc. and were just trying to get some fishing in tonight, but he kindly said they would like to come over...gee, how nice.

Now for the real time-pissing to begin. We wait 20-30 minutes for the inflatable to get along side, then another 30-40 minutes with the two guys on board (ZERO violations Thank You) to go through everything on board and check everybody's drivers licenses... I had told one of the crewmembers who asked to just leave his wallet in the truck..Big Mistake. This accounted for a significant portion of the waiting...this guy is a Jupiter local all his life and still we had to wait for the cutter to Vet the license...

The boarding crewmen were very nice and, Yeah, I know it's all in the interest of the Country...but why my little turd of a 28 ft Whaler with quick courteous communications and an obviously observed course on their Radar coming down the coast NOT in From The BAHAMAS...

Anyways, at the end of the time-wasting extravaganza we finally get to go on our way and getr our first bait in at 10:15

Moral of this Story...Bring Your Wallets !

[Unreel]

The other night i was sword fishing out the south side of cayman islands and the police helicopter shows up and put there spot light on us blinding us and just sat above us for like 10 minutes i had my running lights on the hydro glow on and every thing so its not like i was trying to hide out there with drugs lol at least i had lines in the water all ready they probably just never seen anything like that before lol

[mneptune]

The Coast Guard has very, very important missions in our waters. They handle everything from repair and maintenance of navigation aids, drug and illegal alien interdiction, Search and rescue, port security... the list goes on and on.

I know the last thing we want is to be boarded while out on a fishing trip but I know of many people whose lives and property were saved by Coast Guard crews. They are here not to bust our chops but to protect our waters and save our lives in times of trouble.

Best recommendation is just welcome them on board, let them do their jobs and then go about our passion of fishing. Believe me, if you get in a tight spot...seeing them arive on scene is a Godsend.

Just my .02

[billspilingup]

Put a bait out next time. Never know, you might just get some coastie his first sword!

[Disco Lady]

[Radarsrus]

I like "Billspilingup"'s answer.... Get them on their first sword! They had all kinds of questions about the fishing and you could tell they were dying to try it!

That aside, they WERE nice, well mannered feloows and I don't hold anything against them. They have a job to do and they have to train somehow...

[DORADOsteve]

Well . . .

What did you catch

[billspilingup]

The Coasties are pretty good guys.

And watching one of them dance around the boat fighting a sword while wearing a lifejacket and gun would be freakin' hysterical.

"Commander Johnson, Lieutenant Jefferson is gaining line back, it shouldn't be long now, the RIB will be back to the cutter shortly, over and out!"

[BirdDog0219]

My friend and I have been boarded on several ocation's while out swording and run up on by boarder patrol though an incovenience not terrible. What did upset me was being stopped several times in a row by the same fwc officer on our way in the port after the first two tmes he knew we had all our stuff inorder and our fish were legal it just be came harassment especial when he stops us and says remember me. thats when we asked for his name and badge number and wrote it down so he could see and it stopped. I think they were just keeping tabbs on us since we were going out so often three of the stops were on consecutive nights and we did have fish every time we were stoped.

[iriesoul]

At least they didn't run up on you with no lights at all like they did to me. Its so hard to tell how far object are away sometimes at night. It is definitely dangerous. Well that was Homeland security... I thought I was gonna die! I just wanted to catch me a swordy. But I do understand they have a job to do and they are there for us "HOPEFULLY" when things get ugly. I just dropped a boat off in Lucaya yesterday and I saw the cutter near west end. Just knowing I am always within radio distance for the most part makes me feel good. As long as they are doing there job and not harassing people I say bravo!

[CAPTINMITCH]

Just wait til the Customs boys sneak up on you with their PaveLow. Sucker was 50 feet behind us and 50 feet off the deck and we never heard him back there until he lit us up. Scared the ever-loving chit out of everyone on the boat.

And yes, being boarded is a pain but as long as you show some respect and have your paperwork in order, it's usually quick and painless.

[NightCrawler]

3 or 4 years ago we were boarded at night. We were fishing rather deep on the 47...Just waitin for a bite bullshittin...then I catch something out of the corner of my eye maybe 30 feet from us (never saw or heard them) before they lite us up It was the FWC Told the officer he scared the shit out of me, especially that particular night was pitch black.
They checked our papers and were on their way, the the guy goes to me:"Now don't get on the radio and warn your buddies"

Not sure but wasn't FWC out of their jurisdiction in that case?

[CARBEN COPY]

That was last year not 3-4 years ago. And while they were approaching with no lights mind you, I called out on the radio saying we were mysteriously being run up on by a dark vessel (in fear of because we had no idea it was a coastie) Then the coastie asked why I warned others. My simple reply "how exactly was I supposed to know you were cguard when you would not even reply on the radio when asked?? Stupid in my opinion running up on someone in the pitch black and not even announcing who you are. Pretty dangerous in my opinion!

[NightCrawler]

Can't be last year, we fished with Blair that night. I know I haven't fished with blair in at least 2 to 3 years. Time does fly doesn't it.
It wasn't Coast Guard!!! It was definitely FWC, grey hull with FWC on it.

Your memory is bad!! your getting old

[Captain Juan]

We got boarded on the sword grounds off Fowey last year on our first drift. We saw the cutter in the distance. A few minutes later, up over a swell come the coasties in their zodiac. They clearly saw what we were doing and were checking for safety equipment. Well, my buddy had just had is boat detailed and removed everything. His guy forgot to put the flares, horn and throw cushion back in the boat. Well, they gave my buddy a ticket but told him if he emailed a time stamped photo from back on the dock showing all the safety equipment missing from the boat they would consider dropping the ticket. My buddy did that and they did. They were very polite and surprisingly young. Unfortunately, the swordfishing ended that night before it started. They ordered us in. They actually floated nearby and waited til we reeled up our spread and stowed all our gear and headed toward home before they went back to the cutter. Wish that would've happened by Bug Light and not on the 47.500. Ya live and you learn.

I have also seen on a few occassions boats running lightless near us at night out on the grounds....could hear the engines and make out shapes. But I think those were likely da bouy guys.

Tight lines.

Juan

[CARBEN COPY]

Originally Posted by NightCrawler

Can't be last year, we fished with Blair that night. I know I haven't fished with blair in at least 2 to 3 years. Time does fly doesn't it.
It wasn't Coast Guard!!! It was definitely FWC, grey hull with FWC on it.

Your memory is bad!! your getting old

okay 1 year 4 months FEB 07

[RocknReeln]

Been stopped twice by CG this year. Both times I was boarded off of Fort Jefferson / Dry Tortugas. It seems that if your boat has a cuddy or looks like a go-fast, then they will stop you (migrant runners). No worries, gald to see them doing their job. I did get a ticket for having expired flares though - I wasn't happy because the boarding took an hour and half of my fishing time and the flares had expired only two months earlier. Craziest thing though cuz I had an EPIRB, Spot Locator, VHF with DSC, and alot of safety stuff thats beyond required - still got the ticket!

[mneptune]

Originally Posted by NightCrawler

3 or 4 years ago we were boarded at night. We were fishing rather deep on the 47...Just waitin for a bite bullshittin...then I catch something out of the corner of my eye maybe 30 feet from us (never saw or heard them) before they lite us up It was the FWC Told the officer he scared the shit out of me, especially that particular night was pitch black.
They checked our papers and were on their way, the the guy goes to me:"Now don't get on the radio and warn your buddies"

Not sure but wasn't FWC out of their jurisdiction in that case?

I'm not sure if jurisdiction area's have changed but FWC is a state agency, I believe the states territorial waters end at three miles out. Could be that they changed the states water jurisdiction after 9/11. Federal waters were 12 miles out but fisheries laws extended out to two hundred. However, the Coast Guard, Navy can board any US registered vessel regardless of the boundries. Foreign vessels can also be boarded but if I remember correctly they need permission from the gov't of the country of registration.

At least that was the rules many years ago.

[Country Boys]

I have had Coasties sneak up on me once. Now I have Radar so no more sneakie uppie nobody!!

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by mneptune

I'm not sure if jurisdiction area's have changed but FWC is a state agency, I believe the states territorial waters end at three miles out. Could be that they changed the states water jurisdiction after 9/11. Federal waters were 12 miles out but fisheries laws extended out to two hundred. However, the Coast Guard, Navy can board any US registered vessel regardless of the boundries. Foreign vessels can also be boarded but if I remember correctly they need permission from the gov't of the country of registration.

At least that was the rules many years ago.

FYI, all FWC officers on the water are federally deputized.