Harry Krause wrote:
That's what I remember, though this one makes me wonder a bit:

" Anyone fishing from a sandbar or other land mass that is accessible by
boat, or by swimming through water deeper than (3) feet."

Wouldn't that include most of the Florida shoreline, if literally
applied? You know, like surfcasting from the beach?

There were almost always "fish police" at my two favorite Florida boat
ramps, busy looking into everyone's coolers as soon as they pulled their
boats out of the water.

Harry,

What are the laws up your way about 'fish police' and they right to
inspect? Can they simply board your boat or check your property cuz they
can?

I've wondered that down here in Florida and altho we do not trailer our
boat, I'm curious. On the water I've been informed I have to allow the
Coast Guard aboard, but where do my rights and my property begin and end?

You can deny an officer to search your vehicle on the road, but what
about on the water?

In another thread someone mentioned "If you've done nothing wrong, you
have nothing to hide" but at what point do you say enough is enough?

"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On 2 Jan 2006 08:12:09 -0800, "

wrote:


Gene Kearns wrote:
(Keywords: ; Expiry: ; Reply: )

On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 03:53:17 GMT in rec.boats, NOYB penned the
following thoughts:


wrote in message
roups.com...
I do know that we
do not need a license to fish from a dock in salt water.

That's only true if you're a resident of Florida...or if the pier that
you're fishing from has a blanket license that covers everybody fishing
from
it. Non-residents need a license anytime they're fishing.

Are you a Florida resident?

Untrue. You don't need a sal****er license in FL if you are a citizen
fishing from a structure fixed to land.
http://taxcol.martin.fl.us/fishing.asp

I think all states on the Atlantic Coast now require sal****er
licenses.... excepting two or three. I don't think DE has one, not
sure about NJ, and NC will have one in 2007.

Anybody know if I missed one?

The goal is for all of the states to have licensing... We have to buy
Federal licenses, now, for HMS.....

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/
Homepage*
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

Agent Version 3.2 Build 806

Yes, I am a real Florida resident (5th generation) and not a
transplant. Furhtermore, "ignorance of the law is no excuse" is
nonsense. For example, if you missed an arcane part of the tax code
that hardly anybody knew and you ended up losing your house you'd be
justifiably ****ed. Laws are meant to be applied intelligently, not
blindly as absolutes rarely make sense. I have no problem with the
law, it is the absolute enforcement of such when enforcement does more
harm than good that I dislike. I would hope the wildlife officer would
use discretion when enforcing the law but my experience with the Fl
Marine Patrol gives me little hope for that. My experience says that
it is best to hide ALL activities from law enforcement people lest they
find some excuse to cite you.

I can get the pertinent fishing regulation booklet into my shirt pocket.
Can you do
the same with the tax code?

For each species of fish there are dates and sizes. What is arcane about
the legal
dates and sizes for redfish in Florida? For example:

Red Drum (Redfish) Not less than 18" nor more than 27" One per
person per day

That's really not difficult to comprehend, and the whole regulation would
probably
fit in your back pocket. The basic recreational sal****er regulations take
up two
pages. He

http://myfwc.com/marine/Regulations/..._JULY_2005.pdf

Now you'll never have the worry again.

Your experience with law enforcement is different from mine. If DNR wants
to see
what's in my cooler, they're more than welcome. I *like* them keeping
folks honest.

--
John H.

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to
resolve it."
Rene Descartes

The fishing code in california is more complex than the tax codes! We have
protected fish, that the F&G wardens can not tell from the very similar
legal fish, we can fish for rockcod in less than 120' of water, that is
contiguous to dry land, but if the water depth goes to more than 120' then
the bottom comes up, that is off limits.

DNR may not look into my cooler without cause. Once at a State park,
the park police saw a beer bottle on a nearby table and gave a friend
of mine a ticket for this even though it was not his. Then, they
proceeded to search all coolers nearby, including mine. Of course, I
walked up while they were doing so and went ballistic, snatched my
cooler from them, asked em if they had a warrant, etc (I had no
alchohol). We all got tickets and went to court in Wakulla. The judge
basically told DNR they were at fault and they dropped all charges.
Yes, I really am a 5th gen Fl native who does not fish. I have watched
people on the beach fishing who catch something that they couldnt
identify and throw it back for that reason to avoid being caught with
something possibly illegal. maybe that makes sense.
I have had bad experiences with the Marine Patrol on two occasions and
I no longer expect them to act with any intelligence. In fact, I think
my life is in danger whenever they are near (based on my experiences).
If you have done nothing wrong, it is best to hide anyway.

Harry:

Not being a fisherman, I cannot discuss how they treat fishermen. My
bad experiences with them were over other aspects of boating and were
not only unprofessional of them but genuinely life threatening.
As far as joining a militia, nah, I dont even own a gun, ok, I own an
old 22 that I have not fired in years. Militia types strike me as nut
cases and I do believe there is a need for the laws we are discussing.
I am simply arguing for sensible enforcement, not enforcement for the
sake of enforcement.
I apologize to NYOB, I over reacted.

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
ink.net...

"NOYB" wrote in message
nk.net...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I do know that we
do not need a license to fish from a dock in salt water.

That's only true if you're a resident of Florida...or if the pier that
you're fishing from has a blanket license that covers everybody fishing
from it. Non-residents need a license anytime they're fishing.

Are you a Florida resident?



There is probably an age requirement. 9 years old most likely does not
require a license, resident or not.

Correct. Age 16. But I got the feeling that dbohara was fishing too.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
NOYB wrote:
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
(Keywords: ; Expiry: ; Reply: )

On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 03:53:17 GMT in rec.boats, NOYB penned the
following thoughts:

wrote in message
oups.com...
I do know that we
do not need a license to fish from a dock in salt water.
That's only true if you're a resident of Florida...or if the pier that
you're fishing from has a blanket license that covers everybody fishing
from
it. Non-residents need a license anytime they're fishing.

Are you a Florida resident?
Untrue.

Nope, true. Read below.

You don't need a sal****er license in FL if you are a citizen
fishing from a structure fixed to land.
http://taxcol.martin.fl.us/fishing.asp

If you're a *citizen of Florida*.

A sal****er fishing license is required for:
Anyone fishing from a pleasure craft. Each person fishing must have a
license on their person.

Anyone fishing from a sandbar or other land mass that is accessible by
boat, or by swimming through water deeper than (3) feet.

Anyone diving who takes, attempts to take, or possess any marine fish.

ALL NON-RESIDENTS FISHING IN SALWATER (EXCLUDING THOSE NON-RESIDENTS
FISHING FROM A LICENSED PIER).



Kids under 16 don't need a license, however.




That's what I remember, though this one makes me wonder a bit:

" Anyone fishing from a sandbar or other land mass that is accessible by
boat, or by swimming through water deeper than (3) feet."

Wouldn't that include most of the Florida shoreline, if literally applied?
You know, like surfcasting from the beach?


Fishing from the beach is OK. If you have to take a boat or swim through
water more than 3 feet deep to get to a sandbar, then you need a license to
fish from that sandbar.



There were almost always "fish police" at my two favorite Florida boat
ramps, busy looking into everyone's coolers as soon as they pulled their
boats out of the water.

I'm glad the fishcops/grouper troopers are out there protecting our
fisheries.

"DownTime" wrote in message
.. .
Harry Krause wrote:
That's what I remember, though this one makes me wonder a bit:

" Anyone fishing from a sandbar or other land mass that is accessible by
boat, or by swimming through water deeper than (3) feet."

Wouldn't that include most of the Florida shoreline, if literally
applied? You know, like surfcasting from the beach?

There were almost always "fish police" at my two favorite Florida boat
ramps, busy looking into everyone's coolers as soon as they pulled their
boats out of the water.

Harry,

What are the laws up your way about 'fish police' and they right to
inspect? Can they simply board your boat or check your property cuz they
can?

FWC can do just about anything they want. There are a few 4th Amendment
exceptions about checking living quarters on your boat if it is so
equipped...but coolers, fishboxes, etc. are fair game.




I've wondered that down here in Florida and altho we do not trailer our
boat, I'm curious. On the water I've been informed I have to allow the
Coast Guard aboard, but where do my rights and my property begin and end?

You have very few rights on the water when the CG decides to search your
boat.



You can deny an officer to search your vehicle on the road, but what about
on the water?

Nope.


In another thread someone mentioned "If you've done nothing wrong, you
have nothing to hide" but at what point do you say enough is enough?

Strip searches by limp-wristed fishcops?

On Tue, 03 Jan 2006 15:16:07 +0000, NOYB wrote:


In another thread someone mentioned "If you've done nothing wrong, you
have nothing to hide" but at what point do you say enough is enough?

Strip searches by limp-wristed fishcops?

How about if they confiscate your new Grady? Scroll down to read about
Dick Kaster.

http://home.pacbell.net/rsdotson/gov...tOnTheTake.htm

"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 03 Jan 2006 15:16:07 +0000, NOYB wrote:


In another thread someone mentioned "If you've done nothing wrong, you
have nothing to hide" but at what point do you say enough is enough?

Strip searches by limp-wristed fishcops?

How about if they confiscate your new Grady? Scroll down to read about
Dick Kaster.

http://home.pacbell.net/rsdotson/gov...tOnTheTake.htm

There's simply not enough information there to make an informed comment on
this case.


Did Mr. Kaster have a prior record of illegally gill netting fish?

Was a gill net found on his boat at the time?

Did the authorities witness Mr. Kaster using a gill net in the lake?




Can you find a link to any of the actual court cases on this for me to read?

Many of my neighbors are small commercial fishermen who were driven out
of business by the so called "Net ban Amendment" that was promulgated
by so-called "Sport Fishermen" The amendment to the FL constitution is
written so badly that it is very difficult to decide if some nets are
legal so that the Marine Patrol simply enforces it against those people
they do not like. The situation became so tense here in N. Fl that a
few yrs ago the Marine patrol refused to rescue some commercial
fishermen on a small boat off Alligator Point. The Marine Patrol says
they never heard the distress call although they were less than 10
miles away on the water writing a net ban ticket at the time. Instead,
the Coast Guard station at Yankeetown 90 miles away did get it and
relayed it to the marine Patrol who refused to act on it for hours.
Later, the Marine Patrol sai9d the wearher was too rough for them to
search in spite of them having a 60' vessel at Carabelle 15 miles away.
Finally, other fishermen decided to search since the Marine Patrol
refused but by this time the vessel had sunk killing two. It is widely
believed in these parts that the Marine Patrol intentionally allowed
these men to die to punish the local fishermen for their opposition to
the net ban.
Meanwhile, it has been found that it is the so-called "Sport Fishermen"
with their mega expensive boats that are depleting grouper stocks
Given a choice of having sympathy for a hard working "commercial
fisherman" with a plywood boat with a 30 yr old Johnson trying to
scrape by vs a spoiled rich transplant driving a $100,000 "fishing"
boat, I'll take the plywood boat.
Because of the extraordinarily foolish idea of putting the net ban in
the Fl constitution, many of us here have protested by voting for the
pregnant pig amendment and the bullet train amendment. Of course, you
can see where the money is as the bullet train amendment ahs been
ignored while we still prosecute poor commercial fishermen and sieze
their property so the rich "Sport Fishermen" can enjoy themselves.