HELP: Catalina's Casino Pt. Dive Park and Charter Fishing Boats

[Reeveseye]

Gratifying as it might be in the short-term to cut lines and tangle the boat’s props, that would be the worst tactic we could take right now. Doing so would only give the fishing boat’s management an excuse to call divers a bunch of vandals and then act like the injured party in all this. We would lose the high ground and be reduced to the level of mutual mudslinging – something we can’t afford in an issue like this that will be heavily influenced by public opinion. We don’t want the public or local enforcement to think this is just a case of jerks vs. more jerks. Far better at this point to remain the aggrieved party who is simply asking for justice, not taking it into our own hands.

That being said, I would some other suggestions. If you dive Casino Point, program the Avalon Harbormaster’s number (310-510-0535) into your cell phone or write it down and keep it with your dive gear. If you’re on a surface interval and see this boat near the park’s boundaries, call the harbormaster ASAP! The boat will only be cited if the Harbormaster knows what’s going on. Besides, any public enforcement agency pays attention to large volumes of calls. And along those lines, calls and letters to the Avalon city government (especially from residents – i.e., voters) might get the wheels turning a little quicker as well. The more of us who respond to this and make people aware of the problem, the quicker it will stop. But please – keep it CIVILIZED! It’s a lot better to come across as the calm and reasonable ones, and let the other guys look like a bunch of knuckle-dragging thugs.

Dr. Bill, count my wife and I in on signing your letter. I’ll send you a PM with our names. I hope everyone else here does so as well.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

After reposting Dr. Bill's message on a sportfishing site, I received a few replies that were pretty much what I expected.
http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com...rum=312&topic_id=174218&mesg_id=174224#174224

 

[drbill]

After reposting Dr. Bill's message on a sportfishing site, I received a few replies that were pretty much what I expected.
http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com...rum=312&topic_id=174218&mesg_id=174224#174224

It is the attitude of the posters whose posts I read on this site that makes me think the ultimate answer to the conflict between consumptive and non-consumptive users of the environment is to assume the wisdom of Solomon... "cut" the ocean waters of the State in half, 50/50. That would be fair... but I know how hard the narrow-minded fishers (not all of them mind you, many do see the light) would fight this.

It does not help when WE sound equally absurd in our posts. I know the temptation is there (I myself mentioned... in jest... limpet mines). Threatening harm to the vessel is not the answer. Try to work with them rationally first (I just wrote the owner and the captains of the vessel directly). If that doesn't work, seek enforcement of existing laws (such as no anchoring within 300 ft of the park and no fishing in established reserves).

Dr. Bill

 

[Reeveseye]

After reposting Dr. Bill's message on a sportfishing site, I received a few replies that were pretty much what I expected.
http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com...rum=312&topic_id=174218&mesg_id=174224#174224

Many of these posters seem to be fighting back with the argument that the dive park is not an official reserve, so anything goes. However, the park's legal status as a reserve is irrelevant. If there are clearly posted signs stating that it's illegal to anchor within 300 feet of the borders, then their actions are a clear-cut violation of law.

Don't forget the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. If you have a still or video camera handy when the boat pulls this stunt again, use it! The more images you can send to the harbormaster, Avalon city council, and the boat's management, the better.

 

[Stryker]

I would find it hard to believe that the boat's management really cares about this... If they did, wouldnt they be pro-active about policies regarding where the boat is allowed to fish? Bigger operations typically have some sort of policy

 

[drbill]

Fortunately the boat's ownership WILL care when they start getting cited and fined. Yes, unfortunately economics ("vs" the legal issues) will be the deciding point in this case.

One of the posters on the fishing web site where MaxBottomTime posted said the Freelance is the largest day boat in SoCal.

Dr. Bill

 

[drbill]

I have a bit of an update on this issue... some good news and some previous examples of "bad behavior" to illustrate this has been a long-term problem.

First, the good news. I walked into the Avalon harbor master's office this afternoon. As I waited, the asst. H. M. was on the phone talking to someone about fishing and the Dive Park. After he finished I asked who it was, and learned the "head captain" of the "Freelance" had called the H.M. to get clarification on the rules. I applaud that response by the "Freelance..." perhaps the problems can be remedied so they can fish in appropriate places and we no longer have to worry about poaching in reserves or taking of fish from the perimeter of the Dive Park (with its potential danger to divers).

It looks like the efforts of SB and other divers I've contacted helped trigger some action. I know that the "Freelance" crew received a copy of my e-mail from someone as they mentioned it to the Asst. H. M.

On the negative side, the following two incidents occured several years ago and came out as I was talking to folks here on the island who had encountered the "Freelance" in the past. Remember, these incidents are from several years ago and may not reflect the actions of the current crew and/or owner of the vessel.

1. A former dive boat owner stated to me that his boat was anchored in a spot with divers in the water or preparing to go in. The "Freelance" made a close approach and someone called out on their PA system something to this effect: We cannot fish here because of this dive boat. If you can scare them away, we will be able to fish here. With that a barrage of beer bottles and lead fishing weights showered the deck of the dive boat. I was told one of the boat members swam over to the "Freelance," climbed aboard and cold cocked the captain. This comes from an on-site witness who I trust.

2. Two law enforcement officers were traveling along the leeward coast of Catalina in a small outboard in civilian clothes. They passed between the "Freelance" and shore, and shots were fired at them. The officers apparently returned to Avalon, went out and arrested the captain of the "Freelance" because of this incident.

3. A harbor patrol man told me that the "Freelance" had struck his personal vessel and another belonging to a local business executive along the Pebbly Beach coast on Catalina's leeward side.

4. A dive boat operator told me that she had been at the helm of her dive boat when the "Freelance" made a close pass, rocking the vessel, then cut in front of it.

5. A dive instructor I know personally was taking an intro dive in the Park. He was hooked in his BCD by a fishing line within the Park's boundaries. He could not ascend immediately due to the intro divers. When he did ascend, he saw the "Freelance" leaving the area of the Dive Park.

I would be satisfied to see the owner and crew of the "Freelance" continue to fish as long as they adhere to the laws of the City of Avalon and the State DF&G. However, a decade long history of such actions makes me wonder if this is possible.

I was told by the H. M. office that commercial boats are not allowed to fish within 300 feet of mean high tide along our coast. I wasn't aware of that. If you observe incidents of fishing boats doing so, or fishing within or adjacent to recognized reserves, or on anchor within 300 ft of the Dive Park or the wreck of the Valiant, please notify the Avalon H. M. office and request action.

Thanks to all who care.

Dr. Bill

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I forwarded your post to the owner and weekend captain as well as Davy's Locker(which the captain also manages). I'm glad to see it did some good. Most of the replies on the fishing boards were negative toward me. I guess they couldn't read the Dr. Bill sig at the bottom, or the top line that mentioned it was a repost from scubaboard. A few replies stated that the owner of the Freelance is a very decent guy who is proactive in the environmental movement and is doing what he can to protect the fish stock. Unfortunately, I also received many replies stating that dive boats frequently anchor next to fishing boats, so turnabout is fair play.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

It's up to four pages now.

http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com...c_id=174218&mesg_id=174218&page=&topic_page=1

 

[headhunter]

Most of the replies on the fishing boards were negative toward me. I guess they couldn't read the Dr. Bill sig at the bottom, or the top line that mentioned it was a repost from scubaboard.

It looks like they simply think that the MaxBottomtime username belongs to Dr. Bill and that Dr. Bill is simply reposting his own writings from ScubaBoard.

Since you have not actually cleared this issue up, they will continue thinking that Dr. Bill was the one who posted this thread on their fisherman's board. Maybe if they knew that is wasn't you who wrote the information and that you were simply bringing it to their attention because you know they are the biggest board of their kind, they would concentrate more on the issue instead of flaming you.

That said, it has been interesting to see their reactions.

Christian