Sword fisherman BEWARE!!!!!!!

[iriesoul]

I have been fishing non stop all week. Day and night. Working with customers during the day and swording with friends every night this week except tonight. It's sleepy time. The bite was red hot this week and I will post a report tomorrow after I get some rest. I wanted to make a post to tell everyone whats been going on off Palm beach and Stuart. Last night while we were fishing we had a suspicious vessel approach us with no lights at all visible whatsoever while we were drifting. This vessel got within 50 to 100 yards of us and they just stopped and sat and watched us and eventually moved on. Weird but we went on our business. We had a great night of fishing and cherry's were popped , pups were released and so on. Around 1:30 we start heading in. I was just north of Jupiter inlet and heading south west. At aprox. 6 to 4 miles from shore my girlfriend starts screaming "there's a boat heading right for us", and everyone looks to the starboard stern and we see a vessel with NO NAV LIGHTS AND NO MAST HEAD LIGHT Heading straight for us. They were about 2 to 3 boat lengths from us and moving really quick. I gunned the boat and made a hard turn to port. The other vessel then speeds up and starts turning at me. It was like something out of a movie. Everyone on my boat was screaming and it was complete chaos. At first I thought this was just a boat on a collision coarse and they got waaay to close but when they started to speed up and turn AT ME I realised this boat was trying to ram me. At this point our boat was pinned at we had made a complete circle and I realise this boat was way faster than I was and I started to think I was going to be killed. I thought for sure someone was trying to rob us or something horrible. The next thing I know they flip on red and blue lights. But since this vessel never hailed me on the radio and never got on there load speaker and announced who they were and I could see nothing I still was not sure what was going on. I slowed my vessel and hear people screaming at me "PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!!!!!!" Everyone on board put there hands up and I could barely see 3 silhouettes and 2 hand guns pointed directly at us. They then yell "what are you guy's doing?" I yell "were coming in from sword fishing what are you doing?" They then lower there guns and start laughing. I am thinking WTF? I was trembling at this point and was in relief it was some sort of law enforcement and I was not going to be killed. whew.... So they start laughing at us as we tell them how scared we were and we didn't know what was going on. They then try making small talk with us asking about how fishing was...They never stated who they were or what they were doing or why they pulled us over.... Never asked for documentation NOTHING! They just wanted to know if we needed toilet paper since our droors may have been soiled? I was in utter disgust. These jerks had just ruined a great night with a few friends. They stated that they were sorry for scaring us and that they were having trouble finding the switch for there red and blue lights. So they take off and we go on our way. Turns out it was a homeland security boat and they have been patrolling this area lately so I just wanted to give everyone a heads up. Apparently there has been some suspicious activities going on out in the sword grounds. Others have also reported these boats running around them with no lights while out fishing apparently one even ran over someones gear and cut there lines. This was a tasteless and dangerous maneuver on there part. Not only did they put everyone on my vessels lives in danger but also there own. I am sure if they pulled this with the wrong person they could have had someone shooting at them. I really thought we were going to die or have our boat rammed , it was one of the scariest incidents I have had on the water. Thank god I am an experienced boater and handled the situation appropriately. I spoke briefly with the supervisor for these jerks today and he was very apologetic and said they definitely made some mistakes but they were just doing there job. Luckily nobody was hurt or killed. Everyone be on the look out for these guys and be careful out there.

[Nik100]

That's is WILD! I wonder who they were after?

[Great Escape]

WOW! Thank goodness nothing serious happened. I'd be very concerned that with their approach as well.

[Disco Lady]

COÑO!!!!!!!! thats scary... my friend.

[mannyc]

damn, that is f'ed up. you are right though, if they would have messed with the wrong boat they would have got shot at. I know a lot of boat that go out at night carrier a pistol.

Cono, only for security bitches!

[Sopla2o]

That is unacceptable... Regardless of the investigation they were allegedly doing. Follow up with a formal complaint with the Internal Affairs Division. The Supervisor will not follow up with the complaint. He will probably laugh with them....

An internal affairs investigation will be followed through to the end. Think of the worst case scenario... They "accidentally" as they claim, ram you.... and take off... Meanwhile, your boat is damaged, someone is injured or worse ..... Who are they going to report the "accident" to... It is unacceptable... As mannyc said... They are lucky they did not mess with a boat that would have taken their joke as an assault and taken a couple of 9mm pops at them.... Then they will prosecute YOU for defending yourself...

I am sure we all remember the Joe Cool incident. You never know... Follow up with internal affairs and file a formal complaint. If the incident would have been reversed, you would have spent the night at the Federal Detention Center downtown charged with an assault or worse.

[The BEAST]

In today's world we need Homeland security. If a boat comes in to PE loaded with explosives and blows something up, everyone will ask "Where the hell is Homeland Security?" If you watch the news tomorrow and see film of 50 more people smuggled in on stolen boats everyone will ask, "Where the hell is Homeland Security?" Heard it countless times.

Running around at night with flashing lights or even lights for that matter will make your approach ineffective. Trust me the radar, night vision, and speed on that boat will not allow for a mistaken collison. You couldn't run him over if you tried and yet he knew right where you were!

Maybe he did have a malfunction on his red/blue switch. Not unheard of having a momentary switch malfuntion in a saltwater environment. They understand the Joe Cool incident and that is most likely why they didn't do any more of a check on you.

We really need to realize, that in order to protect us we must give up some peace of mind. Not calling for an internal investigation everytime there is an incident. Why put even more handcuffs on those that are trying to protect you? Just as you took off because you had no idea who it was... they had no idea who you were running from them, hence the drawn guns when you stopped.

I'm not saying it is easy or easier on you mentally. I would have needed a roll of charmin myself thinking I was about to be hijacked. All security measures will result in an inconvenience. Go to the airport and see the perfect example. Would you really want to fly anywhere today without at least that trivial inconvenient security search?

This is the price we must pay for our security, today.

[snookman86]

so say you do start shooting in self defense, they will absolutley fire back, and not be held liable. if the story is portrayed as it actually happened that has to be against procedure.

[Boboe]

Beast, I disagree entirely with your entire post. Don't take my freedom in the guise of security. That's reckless boating on the part of the federales right there. Had he chopped the power with the cops in pursuit, they would have likely slammed into him, due to the close proximity of chase. Had he whipped the wheel to the side when the boat was on its initial approach, it sounds like they would have gotten t-boned. That's unsafe boating. It doesn't matter what badge you wear. You don't get carte blanche for your navegation, interrogation, or arrest tactics. In fact, cops have to do things just right, or their arrests can be thrown out.

Screw the feds spying on me. Screw the feds running around without any lights on at night, snooping around. The idea that their lights just weren't working at that moment is laughable. That's like saying, "I don't know, officer, my speedometer must be broken. It said I was only doing 55." Riiiiight.

File a complaint against those shitheads, and while you're at it, write your congressman too.

[Knot Proper]

There is no question that this should have scared the shit out of you. I know I would have been to the pins until they showed their red and blues. Even at that point I would try to raise them on the radio before stopping completly. There is no excuse for endangering you or your crew by aproching without their lights. I understand being 30-50 yards away traveling on your current headding but not on a collision course. Be careful all!

[DIRTYFOOT2]

The authorities, need policing too.

[BIGSACK]

WHAT,THEY DIDNT HAVE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE BOAT EITHER? IF IT WUZ ME ID REAM THEM,THEIR BOSS,HIS BOSS AND CAPT. BUSH OUT! U GUYS ARE RIGHT,IF U WOULD HAVE BUSTED OFF A COUPLE ROUNDS THEY WOULD HAVE LAUNCHED A RPG AT U.!THEN CALLED IN AN AIRSTRIKE AND DROPPED A FUEL AIR BOMB ON U!GIMME A BREAK,THEY KNOW WHO U ARE,WHERE UR FROM,AND IF UR OLD LADYS ON THE RAG OR NOT WITH ALL THE EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE. THEY PROBABLY WERE OUT THERE SHOOTIN UP MARIJUANA JUMPIN WAVES BUSTIN BALLS.(GOD BLESS EM) WHERE DO I SIGN UP? UD HEAR ME COMING THOUGH W MY TRIPLE 471T'S AFTERCOOLED INTERCOOLED JUST PLAIN COOL! P.S.....WHY DONT THEY JUST PUT GAS UP TO $10 A GAL AND GET IT OVER WITH?

[underdog]

Seems every week or two lately the police find hatiens or Cubans on Jupiter island that have just been let ashore. If you read the newspapers at all you would have known that there is a very high probability of local and federal officials are patrolling offshore. I don't mean to not be on your guard but the possibility of pirates offshore I would think would be very slim. What with the going price of some were in the $10,000 a head to get them to the beach, and remember if there Cuban thats all they need to do is get their feet on dry sand , the authority's are going to patrolling our area for the foreseeable future.

[Sopla2o]

Okay, give them the benefit of the doubt. They need "latitude" to do their job. However, that does not give them cart blanch to totally disregard YOUR safety and well being.

Trust me, they have the resources to see you the minute you leave CUBA or otherwise. Hell, hold up a cup of coffee and I am sure the satellite can tell you if its decaf or not. I understand that we must "give up conveniences" in order to be safe and protected. No doubt. BUT, a total disregard of my safety and that of my guest is unacceptable. I am willing to give up some liberties to be protected. But that does not mean that I am giving the authorities the right to disregard my safety. There MUST be a check and balances in the system... hence... Professional Compliance Bureau.

I am sure that they had more than ample time to see you drifting with the current while you were swordfishing. You do not fit the profile of the drug runner in his 36 midnight express doing 60 MPH plus to the coast, or the alien smuggler with 20 guest on board.

Trust me, they knew who you were and what you were up to... LONG before you were approached. EVEN if the "light bar switch" did not work at the time, (it is very possible).... However, there is no justifying their disregard for safety. I am all for Homeland Security and I am the first to admit that we need to protect our Borders.

However, that does not mean that you can place my life and that of my guest on the line so they can have some fun.

Their actions cannot be justified ...

[lopezmj10]

Over the past 2 -3 years I have had them approach me at night on 3 different occassions. On all 3 without any lights whatsoever and I only saw them when they were either alongside or behind me and they turned on the blue lights. On one occassion a friend of mine who was fishing alone was pulled over by the same rookies that approached me earleir that evening. They boarded his boat took his cooler, (stupid him for letting them do it) pulled about a mile away and stopped. About 20 -30 minutes later they came back and told him he had 3 undersized fish and were citing him for this. He immediately complained and they told him to shut up or he would be arrested. When he took it to court his attorney advised that he plead no contest, he was fined $2500 and could not touch Monroe waters for 6 months. He swears up and down that he did not have any shorts, this guy doesn't need to take shorts he lives in Key Largo and fishes probabably 4 -5 nights a week.

To a certain degree I agree with beast, but these guys are running lawlessly and some control needs to be put in place. (How? I don't know.)

[Flyin By]

7.62X39 + 3mag

[The BEAST]

Originally Posted by Boboe

Beast, I disagree entirely with your entire post. Don't take my freedom in the guise of security. ...... You don't get carte blanche for your navegation, interrogation, or arrest tactics. In fact, cops have to do things just right, or their arrests can be thrown out.

Screw the feds spying on me. Screw the feds running around without any lights on at night, snooping around. The idea that their lights just weren't working at that moment is laughable. That's like saying, "I don't know, officer, my speedometer must be broken. It said I was only doing 55." Riiiiight.

File a complaint against those shitheads, and while you're at it, write your congressman too.

Boboe,

Of course you disagree. You are from Houston Texas and don't risk a 99.9% chance that your boat will be stolen from your back yard or slip to make a smuggling run to our shores. We see them dropped off on our shores on a daily basis. You also don't pay exorbitant boat insurance rates due to this.

LEO's should be entitled to some leeway in making arrests. No one was talking carte blanche, or taking your civil rights, but c'mon, give them an edge by at least allowing them to sneak up without lights. I run radar so they have a hard time sneaking up on me... they've tried. Was I nervous? Hell yes! Was I relieved to see someone trying to make a difference? Hell yes!

How absurd a theory to think that law enforcement could be effective, being forced to obey all laws, while trying to apprehend someone who has no regard for any laws.

My daughter is a Miami-Dade police officer and according to her, people like YOU are the biggest deterent to her doing her job. You think it is laughable? This is what is really laughable... that people just like YOU are the ones who call these "shitheads" (your words) when YOU need help. How would you like it if they said "screw" you! (your words)? You don't want them to have any privelege yet you want them to break any laws necessary to get your happy azz, ASAP, when YOU need help! You want them to lay their life on the line and do whatever is necessary when it comes to protecting YOU or YOUR property.

So! Since you feel this way, should I believe that you have had 911 service disconnected from you telephone? Riiiiight!

BTW, it hilarious that you used the broken/malfuntioning speedometer excuse as an example. It is the #1 excuse used in court for speeding violations!

[CaptKen]

Still sucks anway you look at it.
I would have been hailing US Coast Guard asking them or letting it be known that I was almost rammed and being chased by a boat with guns drawn and no LIGHTS, Then the whole deal would have been on tape.

I know most dont do it, but a lesson I learned is to monitor 16 on your ride home in the dark. It could save you a big hassle, I had some Coasties chase me one night 5 miles N of hillsbourgh back to the port in 4 seas, needless to say when they caught me in PE they were soaked and beat up from thier little rubber boat and not happy campers. Again no lights, I didn't even know they had been chasing me for an hour. So since they were pissed off to no end a 5 min check turned into a 2 hour search, sorta to get even.

[Sopla2o]

Captain Jim - The Beast,

You are right... And I commend your Daughter for doing the job she does. She puts her life on the line everyday while we are sleeping, working or in our case fishing. Having done her job for 11 years with MDPD, I can attest that leeway must be given in order to do your job "effectively." She will be the first to tell you (and I will back her up on this), that if you are not aggressive out there, you will not get the job done.

HOWEVER, aggressive and good law enforcement does not go hand in hand with carelessness and dangerousness. I think as this post developed we lost track of the initial complaint. That the officers/agents almost caused an accident in the middle of the ocean due to their carelessness. This was not a vessel that was fleeing. I am sure that their radars and preliminary surveillance would have supported the position that this was nothing more than a sword fisherman with his family.

If they would have rammed the target vessel due to their carelessness and hurt someone (themselves included) they would not have accomplished anything. We applaud the law enforcement, I applaud and admire your daughter's career choice. But, I am sure that she first protects (HERSELF) during any investigation. Remember in the alphabet the letter "I" comes before the letter "U". IF.... the incident occurred as presented in the post. The actions were unjustified. An investigation into the matter will clarify what happened.

This may not be the only complaint on these guys. By making a formal complaint is the only way that you will stop the abuse...

Enforce the laws .... But don't break the laws in the process.

Now, lets go fishing.....

[spearfish3]

I have had the Coast Gaurd come up to us twice on the North Drift. Both times they did not have any lights on until they were right up on us. The last time they had what must have been a cutter come right behind us before turning around. My guess is they were just checking us out with night vison and saw the sword gear. The first time they stopped next to us in another large vessel but not the size of a cutter. Both times were somewhat nerve racking. One thing I noticed is when I was close their radar cluttered up mine. Ours is a 12kw but I can only imagine what they have. In any case, I really wish they would hail us before they come up next to us at speed. It scares the heck out of me when its pitch black out there.