Sword fisherman BEWARE!!!!!!!

[Certifiable]

On a 3 a.m. return trip to Ft. Pierce Inlet, I saw a very large boat pass by with no lights, I picked him up on the radar and was curious what it was until I could see his superstructure in the backlight of the moon. They eventually turned around to follow me into the inlet, I had no idea untill they came barreling up my ass and hit the spot lights on my stern. I guess the sight of 5 big boys and fishing rods was enough for them to figure out we were returning from Sword fishing that night.
My radar screen told me that there was a boat nearby, and I steered the collision avoidance heading to stay clear of him. I can imagine that if you are flying blind in the night, you could be in for a real scare when the boat pops up on your beam with no lights.
The story presented in this thread is justifiably concerning to the boaters safety, but you are on the open ocean in the cover of darkness...and we are at war with terrorists. Get yourself a radar for your own safety, and the safety of other boaters in the night.
I think it is unfortunate that you were stalked and pounced upon, but that is what we need to do in the modern day of terrorism.
I cant imagine that the police department will get on the loadspeaker and say "Hey drug dealer, it is 3am in the morning....please wake up...we are going to break down your door in 5 minutes...so please don't flush the drugs down the toilet before we come in".

[reeltherapy]

Certifiable,

I agree with you to a point. They do need and must have the element of surprise. However, cowboying around out there is a different issue. Radar on and monitored at night is a must in my book. There's always the element of personal responsibility to consider. But I think the issue here is that these guys have appeared to cross the lines of good, poor and even terrible judgement. It sounds as if the supervisor agrees. Good that they apologized but without accountability what will change on tonights patrol?

Anyway, I hope some of them will read the thread and realize most are folks on here are sensible guys that need law enforcement to get a handle on this type thing.

Be safe out there and I'm done with this one.

ReelT

[CAPTAIN YO]

Thank you for posting this story. It's an important issue for ALL party's to discuss.
First, I agree that there are drug runners and smugglers that operate off our coast and we have to deal with that threat. I have been on two different boats crossing the stream and been approched by pirates as we neared the bank, center consoles with NO t-top, antenna or anything metal above the gunnels, painted black/grey, And NO fishing rods or tackle, just 6 black Bahamians. They were just drifting out there in no-mans-land, until we came past them about 3/4 of a mile away. As we past them they cranked up there engines and made a beeline for us. That is when I climbed down from the tower to go into the cabin and get my Mini-14 and harness with 6 more 30 round magazines. when I came out from the cabin there boat was close enough for me to read there t-shirts and see that there boat had no ID numbers or name. When they saw me with a rifle ready to light them up they turned away and headed back to the area they were drifting when they came after us. That happened twice within 9 months. If we were not armed, we would have been easy prey for them. That being said, I never go off shore unarmed.

With that said, If I am approached by a boat in the dark with no running lights, spot light, and more importantly BLUE lights on, that acts like that H.S. boat did, I am going to react to it as if it is a pirate boat and ready the firearms.

It troubles me to read reports of Law Enforcement putting safety on the high seas SECOND, to trying "to catch the bad guy". For every boat they stop at night that has "a short snapper" or "expired flares" they pull over 10 boats that have done nothing wrong. For every boat they stop that is smuggling drugs or people, they stop 100 boats that have done nothing wrong.

There is a seasoned captain on this forum that closes his posts with, "It's better to be careful 100 times, then dead once." I agree with that 100%, and I hope the Law Enforcement folks out there read this, because they need to think about that for a few minutes before they go back out on patrol tonight. You are sworn to "serve and protect" and I applaud you and thank you for your service. But when you put 100 boats into dangerous situations (to catch one boat) you are not doing your job. I would rather see 100 boats loaded with Cubans land on Florida soil than to have ONE innocent family killed by a Law Enforcement Boat ramming it in the dark because they were not using there lights. I could care less if drug smugglers threw all there drugs into the water while the L.E. is chasing them with there lights ON... Don't endanger innocent people!!! As for terrorist sneeking into the U.S. in small boats from the Bahamas, Give me a break... Its alot easier for them to come in thru Mexico with all the other illegal immigrants (by the truck load)...

In this country you are suppose to be innocent until proven guilty, and I (and ALL of us) should expect the Law Enforcement community to treat US that way and not put US in danger by your reckless behavior...especially at night, in the dark, on the high seas...

[bajakian]

Captain Yo- Well said!!

[savanna lynn]

Originally Posted by Sopla2o

Come on Beats ... Your Kidding right.....

my point exactly 3-275 verados
do your job just leave me alone 20 years on the water with 1 life jacket violation should tell them something

[Governor]

theyre after... MARK THE SHARK, if not they should be

[Sopla2o]

Originally Posted by Governor

theyre after... MARK THE SHARK, if not they should be

[quack quack]

But he is a celebrity

[Governor]

Originally Posted by quack quack

But he is a celebrity

he'll probably just get community service

[Bonnie&Clyde]

Originally Posted by JahMussa

We got checked the other night in front of Boca. Running in.. I look back and see a boat off my port side. Figuring it was the Costies... we keep running until they turned on the lights. They too asked what were were doing and wanted to check for fish.

This rigid I think had triple Verado's. The big question is WHY did'nt we see them on radar?? This is twice that we have had been stopped and can't find them on radar... before they stop us or after we leave. Sneaky!!!!

Tek, I always run with my Radar on. I have noticed that smaller targets usually dont appear on my radar. My assumption is lack of reflective material for the radar to pickup on.

But I feel as you do, why dont most center consoles appear on my radar especially coastie boats.

[iriesoul]

Sorry I don't have radar on my vessel. I cannot afford it at this present time. Believe me if I could afford it I would have it. I must make do with what I have and I am a licensed captain so of course my radio was on 16 and of course it was loud enough for me to hear. Nobody hailed me. Just because I have no radar does not justify any of this or make it OK. I am extremely careful every night all night.

[Sopla2o]

Originally Posted by quack quack

But he is a celebrity

A legend in HIS OWN mind.....

[Disco Lady]

COÑO!!!!!!!!

[just2fish]

hello forum, haven't been posting in a while but I have been lurking... after reading this thread I have 2 stories. the first is being stopped on my way in by the local marine patrol. he ran his boat right up my 6 and we never knew he was there. I heard a different sound behind me and when I turned to see what it was, I saw was his bow maybe 10 yards behind me directly in my wake. stupid freaking move on his part. had I not been a seasoned operator and reacted differently that could have been a disaster. however, when I realized who it was I reached up and turned on my cabin and cockpit lights so they could see into my boat. as soon as I did that they turned to port and ran beside me until we stopped. they measured the fish checked the regs and went on there way.
the second encounter was a ghost vessel out on the 50. was fishing with hand crank willi and igotbenefits chris. where drifting, and in the moon light off in the distance you could see a silhouette of a cruiser style boat. as it got closer, still with no running lights it was heading right at us. we were drifting with just the anchor light, now, I turned on all my running lights and it still had no change it course. now im starting to panic and just about to start up and take evasive actions when it changed course. maybe 50 yards from my bow. they passed close enough for me to see into the dark cabin and it was black. the next trip I had the million cp spot light and have started carrying my gun again.

[billspilingup]

I realize why they run immediately behind a boat but to do so at such a close range is inherently dangerous. Everyone on here has lost an engine and gone from 20 or 30 knots to nothing very quickly. A boat immediately on my a$$ has no time to respond.

In addition to possible engine failure, a more likely scenario is the operator of the vessel being pursued chops the throttles quickly. On my boat, when we're running at night, all eyes are forward looking for something in the water and the operator's hand is on the throttles. Some surprised passenger yells "boat!", my boat is coming to a stop very quickly and without having verified where that boat is because it was assumed it was in front of us and unlit. People are naturally panicky and illogical creatures, especially when they are tired and uneasy. I would hope law enforcement procedures take that into consideration.

The one time I was stopped offshore I was in a 17 knot sportfish as we were running in and they were running alongside us (I suppose because of the drastic speed difference and they could because it was a dark night) for a while before they lit their lights. They were nice and courteous, never came on board, asked what we were doing, and let us on our way.

[snooknreds2]

Originally Posted by bajakian

Sorry to pile on Beast. I am sure that there are some good officers, but my experience with Coast Guard and Fl Marine Patrol has also been pretty poor. I have been boarded in bad seas by ignorant officers who themselves dont know the rules, busting my balls for no reason and writing petty tickets that I appealed and had dismissed by their superior officer.
I have been pulled over and hassled for over an hour when returning from the Bahamas despite having all my papers and safety equipment in order, and having a legal catch.
I just got a "routine" safety check at midnight while returning from swording a few weeks ago. Even though he didnt ask for my safety equipment! In my opinion and experience, there are too many officers that are not well trained and get off on bullying and hassling the citizens that they are sworn and paid to protect. I am not saying that I dont want them out there doing the job that they are paid to do, but their hassling and abusing good citizens is NOT part of their job description. Helping and protecting them is-If they dont know the difference, then they should not be out there. And complaining when they are out of order is our right and responsibility. They also have the right to defend their behavior if it is questioned and was appropriate.

I to have just been lurking lately but this is just ridicules!!!
BAJA...I agree with you. On land and on sea they just take advantage of there power. I understand they need to speed to get the burning house but when it turns into them speeding through he red light so they can get to lunch on time that is not a "perk o the job" that is breaking the law!!!! I know for a fact cops families get a "get out of speeding ticket" card. My ex's friend used to have one. and if she did not have it one her she just said her daddys name and got out of anything!!!

On the water most of them are ignorant as most of you know!! Recently a friend of mine got a "safety check" at the dock on our way out tot he grounds. Latter that night the engine caught fire when we were leaving to head home. Well the fire extinguisher that had just passed inspection was not charged and did not work. WHAT THE F IS THAT!!!
Dont get me wrong if we had gotten a ticket I would have been singing "they they dont have the right to give us a ticket for that"..... but if your are going to do your job and make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside because i passed me "safety check"....well then DO OUR FU*@ING JOB


As far as not running with lights I think we all could agree that it is necessary but they need to be smart and responsible about it.

Has any one put this in the form of a formal complaint, coming from the general fishing community? If not maybe that would be a good way to find a happy middle between what is necessary and the stupid shi** that they have been doing

Some one will get in a shoot out with them one night, of coarse they will loose it, and then this shit will stop!!

[snooknreds2]

Originally Posted by just2fish

hello forum, haven't been posting in a while but I have been lurking... the next trip I had the million cp spot light and have started carrying my gun again.

I wounder how many more are taking this attitude??

I really think that the general American populous is tired of getting pushed around and taken advantage of....there is a revolution in the air

[Tunachaser]

Wow Jason - Sounds like someone has some 'pent up' aggression Been a while has it brotha???

[just2fish]

Originally Posted by snooknreds2

I wounder how many more are taking this attitude??

I really think that the general American populous is tired of getting pushed around and taken advantage of....there is a revolution in the air

you know, I used to do a lot of work for the FBI. I can vouch that they can run surveillance on you 365 and never use the same agent or car or boat twice. that ghost cruiser could have very well been a spy boat with night vision set-up's looking for contra ban, people or dope or even terrorists. however, when they were heading right at me and didn't steer away until the last second's it leads me to believe there were up to no good. surveillance they can do from a distance not from my bow. i dont intimidate easily but that had me worried.

[fastgas]

Hey guys, I fish out of big pine and have had it all including a helo above us
blacked out. Coast guard in inflatables numerous times- no lights. I always
run my radar so I can pick em up but the ones that bother me are the
cutters that sit off you when you are set up. we don't have as many boats
down here and I'm not always sure its a cutter and I can't pick up and run
if I need to. Not a comfortable situation. I am runnung a big triple engine
boat so I can understand them checking me out but Identify please!
BTW- they have never checked my fish