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Getting chased off of a wreck by divers, who's right?
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Getting chased off of a wreck by divers, who's right?
My cousin was fishing in a bass tournament last weekend along the Canadian shoreline of Lake Erie. He was fishing a wreck and had boated 3- 4LB smallmouth when two dive boats from the U.S. drove right up on the wreck and tied up to the buoy that marks the wreck. They told my cousin that he had to give them 100 yards distance when they but their dive flag up. He argued that he was on the wreck way before they got there and one of the boat captains said he was going to call the Coast Guard and have him arrested. Since he wasn't sure who truly had the right to be there he left even though he was at the wreck an hour before the dive boats got there.
He left the wreck and ended up in 50th place in the tournament but was sure he would have won if he would have been able to continue to fish the wreck he got chased off of.
This doesn't sound right to me, anyone know the rules?
1st come first claim. To my understanding the 2nd boat to arrive is in the wrong. My problem with this entire situation is that a guy was already on anchor and should not need to move off because of common sense and has no right to claim 100' law when they were the infringers of the spot.
Ditto, Those guys give the other divers a bad name. Get their REG numbers and call the USCG on THEM. When they raise the flag, THEY must be in compliance with all laws to raise the flag. Taking pictures of them arriving with yourself already there, along with them raising the flags with you already there will go a LONG ways to make sure they don't do it again.
It happens alot here, but most dive boats will call you and let you know their intentions and ask that you call prior to retrieving your anchor or starting your motor. I can handle that courtesy. If they tried to make me move, you would be able to hear me laugh from SC.
i fish a particular wreck as well, although i usually drift or troll since i don't yet carry a dispensable grapple.....
the first time i fished this wreck, i noticed a couple of yellow lobster bouys with a big loop of line sticking out of them.....they turned out to be mooring floats, used primarily by dive boats......
a couple of times since then, dive boats have pulled up while i was putting around, flags flying, forcing me to fish elsewhere....the last time, this big fancy boat pulled up right directly in front of me and tied up....a young couple was onboard, she was driving....on my way by i mentioned , in a nice manner, that i knew what the yellow floats were about and that there was a wreck there that i knew they were going to dive, but since i was there first that it would have been nice to make at least one pass (i had just gotten there, although well before they showed up).....they guy apologized, but the woman responded "i put those floats there myself", to which i responded "no you didn't".....i determined that the next time i was out there that i was going to either cut those bouys loose or move them to another spot., (although i knew i wasn't really going to do so).......anyway, the next time i was there, somebody had beaten me to it, although there were a couple of red and white bouys in about the same place.......the time after that, i tried to tie uo to one of the red and white bouys only to find out there were lobster pots....as soon as i figured that out, i let go....however, a commercial lobsterman about a quarter of a mile away was working his way towards us....when he got closer, he gave us a big wave, moving his whole arm back and forth 3 or 4 times.....now lobstermen do not wave at recreational fishing types, so i have to assume he thought i was a poacher
at least those mooring floats are gone
__________________ Anyone who calls a spade a spade deserves to use one.
I always carry a couple of those disposable cameras for such occurences. I was fishing a wreck in Lake Superior off Isle Royale when one of the local dive operators showed up and muscled his way into my pattern. I gave him a friendly call on 72 and he promptly told me to buzz off his dive site. I took a bunch of photos, to which he responded why I was doing that. I just told him I needed backup to my complaint when I called the Coasties to report him. My partner was calling them on a cell phone at the time and they overheard the conversation. We filed our report in Rock Harbor and the dive operator got a stern verbal warning when they arrived.
First one there, is first.
__________________ Capt Alf Harvey
FV Miss Lily
Bocas del Toro
Hail the Canadian CG or Navy, Not the USCG. From your post it seems that you where in Canadian waters. At that point I would report it as a threat and wait till they arrive to sort things out.
Photos would be great, But video would be better . my digital camera can do both
Canadian law is allot different, very few divers and allot of fishermen.
__________________
1989 ProLine ,1989 johnson-225 ,2005 Tohatsu-9.8 troll 140gal tank
Last year while on the outerbanks, I heard something similiar with divers chasing the fishermen off their dive spot. I was curious who was right. Last year a friend got some gps numbers for a few wrecks and he was told if divers came he would have to move off. I was wondering who had priority since I figured it to be a first come first served deal.
Hail the Canadian CG or Navy, Not the USCG. From your post it seems that you where in Canadian waters. At that point I would report it as a threat and wait till they arrive to sort things out.
calling the CG or any other law enforcement agency to clarify the situation is one thing...calling them and reporting a threat is quite another. i would think there is an equal chance that you, not the divers, would be cited if you did that
it's just fishing, guys
ain't worth my time or my temper
Scuba divers and snorkelers should not place a flag in an area already occupied by other boaters and may not dive within 50 feet of a vessel engaged in fishing. Scuba divers and snorkelers should also follow all of the water safety rules themselves.
I ran a dive charter out of Montauk for 15 years. My "bread and butter" wreck was a barge in 60' of water. Day I was looking for it I came upon a guy fishing around it. He not only confirmed its location. but moved off after a few drifts. Over the years, I waited or moved to another spot many times when someone was fishing.
On another location ( the German sub off Block Island) there could be six or more dive boats on three moorings roped to each other so all could enjoy the wreck.
It all can be done with just common courtesy. Or we all have to relate to the other thread - how big is your gun?
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
While on the subject of diving. I have been out out pulling in my lobster pots on several occasions and had dive boats in the area. The only flag they are showing is on the boat itself. I kept my distance from them. There were no other flags in the water other then the one on the boat. When I pull a pot and let it go down I don't know if they are around me or not. But on one occasion I had a struggle pulling up one of the pots. But when it came loose and I got the pot on board there was a glove stuck in the trap with the door open. Why are they poaching in peoples pots ?
i always thought you had to give them 100 yards if you were under way, i have never had any problems with divers i fish the ponquoge bridge atleast 3 time a year and the divers are all over there and never say anything but hello and goodbye
__________________ Proud to be Union U.W.U.A 1-2
A committed individual can make a difference,but a group of people, United in purpose,Can make the difference
Getting chased off of a wreck by divers, who's right? 
