Dive site with Fishermen on it...

[pasley]

If the fishing boat is commercial or a pleasure boat would impact the decision process somewhat. In either case they were there first and have an absolute rite to the site. But if the site is large enough there is really no reason you both cannot share the site with a little thought and coordination.

For a Pleasure boat there when you arrive the choices are in order of preference:
1. Move to alternate site.
2. Inquire in a manner that does not imply that I want them to leave of the fishermen how there luck is and if they are planning to stay long at that site.
3. If they are gong to be there a while and if the dive site is large enough to allow two boats to anchor with at least 30 yards between I would then ask them if it would be OK with them if I anchored nearby (at the opposite end or side of their boat from the one they are fishing from. Since most pleasure boats would be fishing off the stern, this would be anchoring in front of their boat with you diving in front of your boat. If they are fishing on the Starboard Side you would anchor on the Port side and dive the area off the Port side of your boat. This would put their boat and your boat between where they are fishing and where you are diving. I would also let them know that you would be diving and in what area, and ask if that would be ok and if they were not planning on fishing in that area, and if they would not cast near where they saw bubbles.


Commercial Fishing Boat (1/2 day or all Day).
1. Move to alternate site
2. Ask the skipper how long they planned on staying at the site and go from there. If they were not going to be there long, I would move off a ways, drop anchor and wait. If they were going to be a while, I would move to another site. But I would not get into the water until they left.

A good point about what they are fishing for was raised. It might be a good idea to inquire if they are chumming the waters before making your dive/no dive decision.

 

[Heffey]

Dave, are you serious?

Let’s say that you go fishing and you find a nice fishing spot that is already occupied by another fisherman. What would you do? Ask him to leave, try to ruin the fishing so he would leave, or call the police and tell them that he won’t leave and you called dibs on the spot weeks ago?

I see that you are a fisherman. How would you like divers to interact with you at your favorite fishing spot? When you answer that question you also have the answer to your original question.

Sometimes it sucks being courteous.

Jeffrey

 

[lead bottom]

I would agree that if fishing in allowed, and they were there first, move on. I would hope they would do the same if they came upon my boat with a dive flag out.

I would really hate getting a big ole hook in me. That could ruin a good dive.

 

[WicketsMom]

The general rule on the charter boats we've taken in the Gulf is that if the fishermen are there first, we move to another site. If it's another dive boat, we'll share the site if it's large enough and the other boat is agreeable. The captain then keeps any fishing boats from anchoring while we're in the water. I'm not getting in the water at the same time that someone is fishing on a site, and if they were there first then they have just as much right to be there as we do.

 

[spectrum]

What stinks is when we get there first to explore a rocky shoreline or jetty and the fisherman shows up after we go down. Flag not required. Fortunately one person casting only has so much range so we move along.

Pete

 

[cobaltblue]

One of the sites we dive in the summer is also a fishing spot. I have gone under a number of times and found fisherman there when I've surfaced. For that site, I don't even think about getting in the water if there are fisherman there. In fact, alot of the time, the fisherman will ask where we see the fish, to get their anchor unstuck, bring back a lure for them or the like. I think the key is to be nice about it and no one should have a problem. I know at this point, the fisherman I know that know I dive are always looking for tips as to where and what kind of fish I've seen.

 

[Diver Dennis]

because fishermen are depleting the oceans at an insane rate while divers are spending to protect it...so good guys first

Not Sport fishing.

 

[drbill]

If they were there first (as you indicate), I'd find another spot to dive until they left. Just as I wouldn't expect a fishing boat to intrude upon a site with divers, I would not condone the reverse. Only exception is if they were fishing in a marine reserves. At that point I'd arm the torpedos!

 

[tparrent]

Where's everyone's creativity????

Ask for some chum, take it down with you to attract fish and then hook the little fishies right onto their lines! You could have them limit out in a matter of minutes

Of course if you are in the water first that is a whole different story. In that case, you grab their lure and give them the fight of their life! Just when they think they are going to get old Moby to surface you dive deep and wrap the line around a rock. Then play with it some more. If you can fin up so had that you actually clear the water with their line attached then they will have the fish story to end all fish stories

 

[Zoomer]

First come first serve, anything else on public use areas is not acceptable. I don't see how anybody could think they have the right to kick another person out of an area just because they want to dive and somebody else is using it for fishing. They have as much right to it as I do, either work it out or dive elsewhere.

I'm curious what your views were that made you believe at one time it was ok for you to run them off and why you now have the opposite view, or whatever you currently think.

Actually I was one of the fishermen... gotcha huh? My buddy and I where out fishing one day, there was two other boats on the reef we where fishing, another boat pulls up right next to us (within 30 feet) puts out a dive flag and they jump in the water... They actually went right under my boat (we saw the bubbles coming)...

Now here is the sticky part of the whole thing, If I am there fishing and a boat is diplaying a diver down flag I have to move out of the area otherwise I can be sighted for being too close to a diver down flag.... true?

Here is the rule quoted from the Florida Boating saftey:
Diving and Snorkeling:

The size of divers-down flags displayed on vessels should be 20 inches by 24 inches, and a stiffener is required to keep the flag unfurled. Dive flags carried on floats may still be 12 by 12. Also, divers-down flags on vessels must be displayed so that the flag's visibility is not obstructed.

Divers shall attempt to stay within 100 feet of the divers-down flag on rivers, inlets and navigation channels. Vessels should stay at least 100 feet away from a divers-down flag.

On all waters other than rivers, inlets or navigation channels, divers must make a reasonable effort to stay within 300 feet of the divers-down flag ; vessel operators must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of 300 feet on these waters.

Vessels may approach within 300 feet in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets and navigation channels of a divers-down flag only at idle speed; approaching at higher speed is reckless operation.

Divers shall not, except in case of emergency, display the divers-down flag in an area which would constitute a navigational hazard.


Anyway I was just curious as to what a diver that is a non-fisherman would say to this question and for the record I have NEVER run anyone off a fishing sight to dive however as you can see I have been run off a site because of divers.