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Coast Guard checked 15 miles out of Matagorda

19K views 84 replies 31 participants last post by  SeaOx 230C 
#1 ·
Coast Guard boarded us 7-Sept. @ 15 miles SSE of the Matagorda Jetties.
Safety shakedown and equipment verification.
They deployed a smaller RIB out of the Cutter "Tiger Cat".

Lucky I had brought my ditch bag with me as "COCONUTS" flares were expired!
Anyone know what the fine is for that?
They also wanted to have a look to see if we had any illegal snapper on board. Of course, we would never keep an illegal, out of season fish.:clover:
These guys were absolute professionals. Really nice guys that do us all a great service.
Great day on the water with a good bunch of guys!

There was one boat that tried to get back in the jetties and avoid the CG, unfortunately for them, the CG had their 42' RIB boat with them that day, caught up with them about a mile outside the jetties. I wonder how that conversation went?
 

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#3 · (Edited)
I don't know how messed up this country could be without CG and other LEO's to stop drug trafficking, human trafficking, etc.


But being stopped and boarded still strikes me as identical to stopping you on roadway for absolutely no reason, no probable cause. Guess it best I just don't go boating there. No matter how professional they are, it seems you are guilty until prove innocence.


I would absolutely treat them very professional, just admitting it makes me uncomfortable.
 
#7 · (Edited)
TPWD or Coast Guard makes no difference, if it was really in name of safety why would they not simply post up at the boat ramps and do these checks before you get miles from shore?


Once I'm in the middle of the bay or 20 miles out it's a little late don't ya think? It's not like they make you go back to shore either. They simply write you a ticket and you go on your way still unsafe.


If they are so concerned with my safety why not escort me back to a safe place if I am found in violation of the safety rules?


Oh wait I figured it out, if you don't do the safety check then you can't use that as an excuse to check you for other illegal activity. The safety check is an excuse for a search.
 
#9 ·
Once I'm in the middle of the bay or 20 miles out it's a little late don't ya think? It's not like they make you go back to shore either. They simply write you a ticket and you go on your way still unsafe.

If they are so concerned with my safety why not escort me back to a safe place if I am found in violation of the safety rules? .
How do you know that the CG would not escort you back if you were found to in a major violation.... unless you can speak from experience??? I sure do not know SOP for this as I have never been found to be in violation.

Is this a way to keep an eye out for illegal red snapper poaching... probably. But it should keep you much more vigilant to ensure that you are in compliance with any regulations knowing the that USCG could roll up on you at any time anywhere. Let them keep doing there job out there any enforcing safety rules because who knows, maybe that extra fire extinguisher or that set of new flares may very well save your life.
 
#10 ·
I respect the CG and what they do but how do they have any right to check your fishing license or for illegal fish? They're not TPWD. When they checked me in Aug they never asked to see inside the ice chest or asked for a fishing license. They checked safety equipment and my drivers license against the boat registration to make sure it wasn't a stolen boat.
 
#14 ·
I have no problems telling them what I have in my box. It’s when they don’t believe you so they go on treating you like a criminal first rather than honor code.
I think they should pay you if they get it wrong and give you a free snapper pass for wasting your time.

I almost got boarded twice in less than 1 hr for another so called safety check. Kid wanted to come aboard even after I gave them the slip. How’s that for harassment.



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#15 ·
The Coast Guard is contracted to NMFS to check for illegal fish. I've Been fishing offshore in the GOM since I was 10. Been boarded many many times and never once was I treated with disrespect. IMO the Coasties are doing a great job.
Get you safety equipment together, don't keep illegal fish and you have nothing to worry about.
 
#16 ·
My rubb is CG would not assist my friend who had a dead boat 30 miles out and got locked up due to severe dehydration while trying to get underway . CG would not after numerous calls from wife on board of medical situation. But they were in bay doing maneuvers . This is fact. So checking RS is more important ? I made inquiries with CG in corpus and got a barrack Obama deflection on what CG responsibilities are to public ...I lost lot of respect at that point .
 
#79 ·
I wish I had more details on that case. How did they end up getting help and making it back in? Having adequate hydration, the medical condition of the passengers and their apprehension are all factors we can take into consideration in determining whether to launch or to let commercial providers take the case.
 
#18 ·
Last time I was boarded they did the safety inspection, asked about my fish but also asked about any observations I might have related to human smuggling. I really had no idea what I would be “looking for” related to that so I asked and they gave me some things to keep an eye out for. Apparently along the icw along this is a problem. All of the guys that says were very courteous and professional.


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#22 ·
I have been boarded several times over the years. Never have had a bad experience but I always tell the kids that board me that I don't appreciate it and consider it harassment.
I quit fishing out of freeport for that reason...too many cops wanting to get aboard and hassle me. One day the TPWD boarded me at the jetties and then one of the local cops with a boat tried to board me in the ICW! I sternly told them I had just been boarded and to leave me alone! I respect and appreciate LEO but I HATE big brother.

And to those who say comply without question, you are sheep and lemmings.:cheers:
 
#24 ·
Do I like it when TPWD uses state resources to set up in strategic areas to catch people coming back from Federal waters with out-of-season snapper, enforcing a Federal law to protect the endangered species? Not really.... But I have no problem with the Coast Guard enforcing all laws in their jurisdiction. Some people need to be protected from the stupidity of their friends, families, and themselves. Kids have to wear PFD's, operators need to have proper and working safety gear, etc.... Are they often "fishing" for violations of other sorts, like poaching in Federal waters? Of course they are. It is literally their job. This can all be avoided by one of three methods; getting into office and pushing for a stop to all this (yeah, not gonna happen), bribing enough officials (I'm sorry, I meant contributing to their campaigns) to make it stop, or quit going into Federal waters.
 
#26 ·
I think it’s harassment when you have 8-10 fishing boats fishing on a semi public, “privately paid” snapper spot and Coast guards in their rafts doing “safety checks” 45 miles out.
Yeah, it’s distribution of illegal contraband going around with our kids.

It’s true they have been respectful but hell, leave us the F alone. We are here to fish and know the **** fishing rules. How do you get those **** black mar/scuffs marks off your rub rail when they bang up against your boat?


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#33 ·
Kinda like a cop pulling you over on the highway to do a "safety check" of your seatbelts, then writes you a ticket for paying your taxes late.

Of the coasties I know, they hate being fish police, but have orders. Overall if you are not doing anything wrong law enforcement on the land and water should just leave you alone. To many making criminals where there are just average Joe's minding there own business.
 
#39 ·
Pausing on all of the back and forth over enforcing fishing regs - I really think the outbound safety checks are a great idea! The times I have been boarded it has always been inbound in the ICW or at the Freeport intersection area. I think if the CG did the safety checks on the way out and sent people back to the ramp if they don't have the required equipment - that would be a good step. Freeport Marina lends out child PFD's and I'm sure other marinas and bait shops in the area could take up the call to lend or rent .

Cheers
James
 
#41 ·
Well I didn't do a count but did read through the whole thread and the folks that believe this is government (big brother) over-reach are in the majority. Like I said above I do respect and support LEO but hate big brother...and I don't really like sheep meat. I was raised on beef, pork and venison.
There was a comment above about the poaching of the snapper resource. How would anyone determine that as fact? Like I said, for those that actually fish os a lot, we know the feds are fos when it comes to knowledge of actual snapper populations. I suspect the folks on this thread that are so mad about we the people being upset about over-reach don't even have an os boat!
 
#45 ·
Photo, there is a fine line between respecting authority and respecting yourself. You claimed that some of us are writing that we are bad arses and would resist. I stated real early that I would treat them professionally. The middle of the GOM out of sight of everyone and everything is not the place to mess with the CG. Yes, out there the CG can bend me over, but they can not force me to LIKE it.



You got very insulting this same way about Harding street too. Overall we can be supportive of LEO's but still want to double check facts and keep them honest. Facts later proved you were wrong about Harding street. To me that one was much more obvious than this. The CG isn't murdering anyone that I am aware of, but there are times they push too far. Although the average post on this thread may be that the CG goes too far, I think that we are supportive of their overall job.


Nature gave us a brain to use. We don't have to blindly support everything without question.
 
#48 ·
Nature gave us a brain to use.
Ignorance of the law doesn't seem to be using your brain. It's one thing to argue a no knock case...quite another to spout online about your "rights are being violated" only to find out when you look at maritime law that you actually don't have the same rights you do on land.
There are already laws which govern abuse of power. Let's focus on following the law versus complaining about things we obviously have ZERO control over.
 
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