FWC in Carrabelle

[charlie tuna]

I don't know about you guys, but i like to see my government employees busy!! With all those boats offshore, if they were going to have a problem, chances are it would be offshore. It's a no win situation!! But if you were 40 miles out and needed them, would you complain then??? Being checked is a pain in the butt, but if they are checking everyone - thats the breaks!!! And if the tournament's director would have coordinated with FWC this might have never been a problem. I have been checked 40 miles out, after being buzzed be a plane?? My guess they were looking for someone coming in with drugs?? And their job looks easy, but with today's drug problems, they never know what is going on in your boat??? Expect to be treated accordingly.........

[Tidedancer]

The FWC was contacted and was aware of the tournament. In fact the head Captain of the Timber Island post was present at C-Quarters during the tournament. It is apparent that he is not in control of his officers.

[Snook1]

Just wanted to shed a little light on the FWC and their offshore patrol. I don't know the officer in Carrabelle but my cousin is an officer in South Florida, and he has told me about their requirements for being offsore. All officers are cross deputized federal agents with the Department of the Interior and NOAA to enforce Federal fish and wildlife laws. They have to record a certain amount of hours of patrol in fed waters and record all checks due to fed. funding. Most of their larger vessels come from a fed. grant.

[neckmoe]

Its BS. Wheres the probable cause. Once a while is one thing but its gotten to the point of harrassment. I spend a pile of money on this sport including being legal and ensuring that all my safety gear is in good working order. All I can see them doing is taking up my time and being a general nuisance. Damn sure can't find em when you need them.

[lonesouth]

Sounds like an FWC officer, Mary Pat, who was notorious for accusing you of mudding simply for driving in the national forest. She was a transfer from central florida and she maintained her MO when she moved. It does seem that FWC should be involved in the pre-tournament meeting/checking and should pre-check tournament boats for safety and allow them to forego additional stops during the tournament.

[rockyg]

Mary Pat was actually a Federal Forest Service employee under their law enforcement division. She did not like hunters, trucks, men in general, and especially motorcycle riders.

[SeaBiscuit]

We were eating at the Fish Camp yesterday. Watched FWC pull over everybody on the river, including some dude going too fast and creating a wake. Funny thing was that he was creating a huge wake with his FWC CC with twin Yammies running around chasing everyone. I would say that each stop was quick, so as long as he is polite, efficient and professional I am ok with it. Glad they are out there.

Evidently you did not read the whole tread.
I don't have a problem with the FWC in the river. Why was an officer 40 miles offshore stopping tournament boats with 4 to 5 lines out for a safety check? See (idiot). Now if you are glad that officer was out there, then you are not as smart as I thought you were.

Dang TD - a little harsh, don't you think???

[Tidedancer]

We were eating at the Fish Camp yesterday. Watched FWC pull over everybody on the river, including some dude going too fast and creating a wake. Funny thing was that he was creating a huge wake with his FWC CC with twin Yammies running around chasing everyone. I would say that each stop was quick, so as long as he is polite, efficient and professional I am ok with it. Glad they are out there.

Evidently you did not read the whole tread.
I don't have a problem with the FWC in the river. Why was an officer 40 miles offshore stopping tournament boats with 4 to 5 lines out for a safety check? See (idiot). Now if you are glad that officer was out there, then you are not as smart as I thought you were.

Dang TD - a little harsh, don't you think???

No Mr. Biscuit I don't.
It's like I said. The patrols in the river are expected and yes they do a good job at keeping the waterway safe. Sometimes the checks are more than one would like, but what in the heck was this officer doing out at "S" tower doing safety checks. I was told face to face from two of the boats he boarded that he was Officer "not going to say his name" and I want to do a safety check of your vessel.
So if you are glad he was out there doing the safety check thing-------well what I said before. But I know you are smarter than that.

[Scoop Sea]

It is what it is, every organization has some folks employed by them that don't operate in a manner we would like.

Sunday afternoon, after scalloping earlier, my family and two other families were up the Wakulla River swimming and relaxing. While I had a beer in my hand, an FWC Officer cruised up to our boats (tied together) and hollered out, "I'm gonna throttle back so your boats don't bang together". We told him we appreciated it and he told us to have a good day. As that was my second beer of the day, I wasn't sweating any alcohol issues. However, I was surprised that with that many folks together and with so many kids, he didn't ask to do a safety inspection (specifically life jackets since there were so many kids). I would have gladly gone through the inspection and wouldn't have been bothered one bit. Had he requested to do so, I would have figured he was just doing his job.

Two years ago while fishing for grouper during the winter, I was stopped twice in three days. The first time I was bottom fishing and the Officer (Mallow) was totally nice during the vessel inspection. Three days later I was trolling and two yahoos came up from the northwest in a direct line to cut off my lines. I had to stop and reel the lines in so they wouldn't mess up my rigs. Naturally I was a little peeved at their move. I started off by telling them that I had just gone through a safety check three days before and that if they looked on the side of my boat, they could see the boot marks from the previous Officer (who by the way apologized for marking up my boat). As I went through the vessel inspection I asked "don't you all have a sticker you could throw on boats you already checked so we wouldn't have to go through this too often". The lead young buck said "no, we don't do that anymore, besides we check for resources on board as well". I was like WTF ever.

Like I said up top, it is what it is and I just chalk it up to a price I pay to fish.

[mjsigns]

I think Tin Can hit the nail on the head....

[Tidedancer]

As I went through the vessel inspection I asked "don't you all have a sticker you could throw on boats you already checked so we wouldn't have to go through this too often". The lead young buck said "no, we don't do that anymore,

Yes they do. I have a 2012 red Safety Check decal on my windshield and they still stop you for a Safety Check. That officer Lied to you.

[Jumptrout51]

I had one of those stickers years ago.
The officer that gave it to me said it will not prevent future inspections.

[lonesouth]

Most of what I've read says that the young guys are typically the ones who get all hot and bothered and inspect everyone. The old salts are the ones who pick and choose, and are more likely to say hello when passing by than to stop you just because they can. Seems every time I have a beer in-hand, they just wave, but when none is present, I get a safety inspection.

[RHTFISH]

Next time you think you are going to get pulled for a safety check, take a picture as they approach your boat wait till you can see the whites of their eyes (when they are within facial recognition range). Remember, we live in a "free country", and they are in a public place so this is perfectly legal. If you want to be kind, ask them first. If they allow you to take their picture, that should be an indicator of what kind of person he (sometimes she) is. The will always ask what you are going to do with the picture, you can tell them that it is just to document the encounter, and the picture will likely just be deleted later. If know you have nothing to hide and you are not interfering with them carrying out their duties, you are within your rights to snap a picture or two, or even video the stop. This is the friendly officer that stopped me over in Spring Creek a few years ago. (of all the places, I would have never expected them to be there where I was fishing on one of MY Fishing holes)

A great idea! I wish I had done that earlier this year when I got a lecture for idling too fast.....
after enough I said as politely as possible "if I'm guilty of something then write me a ticket but
I'm just not up to any more lecturing." When my oldest stepson spoke up that he thought enough had been said the officer insisted he prove his identity. He had already checked our licenses, boat registration, etc.
I was tickled when Mark handed him his Retired Law Enforcement credentials. I asked why his license issued with proper ID for purchase was not sufficient but got no answer. He then said he was issuing me a warning as proving I was idling too fast would be difficult to prove in court.
I would love to have a video of that encounter. Things did not start well when he measured our three 27" reds several times and kept saying they were "almost illegal." It was not a good experience. Several other people I know were stopped that day as the officer was anchored in the middle of the channel and difficult to pass. There were no favorable comments. I'm conditioned to be the "temperature of the water" with them....nice and courteous gets that and extra in return.
Conversely.....! Well!

[Chalk]

This reminds me of rain - most complain when we get too much and they also complain when we don't get any