PWC Jetski angling

I wanted to keep my last post to pure facts... but I'll opine here.  I have never even heard of this being enforced outside another boater reporting one of the more splashy/speedy type of PWC operators.  In my years as LEO on the water, I never once heard of targeted operations towards PWC use.  The purpose of the PWC ban is to protect habitat in the sanctuary.  I seriously doubt you'll have a problem with enforcement.  That said, it only takes one officer who has a hair on their ass for PWC fisherpeople to ruin your year.  The first fine is reduced, but then they start to ramp up for "repeat offenders."  Just wanted to clear up the spirit versus letter parts from my experiences so it didn't seem alarmist.

Thanks.  I really do appreciate the Spirit vs letter point of view.   The challenge for me is that I would have a hard time fishing the area knowing that I’m just an officer having a bad day away from a $500 fine.   That’s an awfully ominous cloud hanging over my head.  Essentially, if I do decide to move forward, it appears that I would need to shit can all the fishing/crabbing spots that I know and completely start over with finding other spots that allow jet skis.   

The whole reason I wanted it was the size.  It would fit perfectly in my garage while completely extending my fishing range.   That completely kills it if I’m not even legally allowed to fish all the local good spots or am forced to go South of Cambria any time I wanted to fish. 

I may be losing my deposit, but I’m happy to find all this out before I went and picked it up. 

I have seen jetski fishing in Marin and HMB numerous of times.
I had asked them on occasion what are the cons, no one ever mention "oh I got a ticket".
You will be ok running jetski here.

The whole reason I wanted it was the size.  It would fit perfectly in my garage while completely extending my fishing range. 

Same.  Want greater range without having to store a trailered boat at home.  but holy cow, the regs! 

Under 15 CFR 922.131, it seems a motorized SOT yak would satisfy the MPWC definition...

Motorized Personal Watercraft (MPWC) means any vessel, propelled by machinery, that is designed to be operated by standing, sitting, or kneeling on, astride, or behind the vessel, in contrast to the conventional manner, where the operator stands or sits inside the vessel; any vessel less than 20 feet in length overall as manufactured and propelled by machinery and that has been exempted from compliance with the U.S. Coast Guard's Maximum Capacities Marking for Load Capacity regulation found at 33 CFR Parts 181 and 183, except submarines; or any other vessel that is less than 20 feet in length overall as manufactured, and is propelled by a water jet pump or drive.

Well, I thought it over and cancelled my order for the Sea Doo.  I’ve got my fingers crossed that they will be willing to give me back my deposit since we are still 7 months away from delivery. 

They’ve enforced the pwc ban in Monterey, it pretty much stopped all tow-in surfing at ghost tree.  I think they get some exemption to run skis during high swell in hmb. 

IIRC the pwc bans in the sanctuary were heavily support by the marine bird watchers.  And nobody else had any love for them.  I’m sure you can slip under the radar fishing but if it got popular enough they’d get pressure to start enforcing.

I have seen jetski fishing in Marin and HMB numerous of times.
I had asked them on occasion what are the cons, no one ever mention "oh I got a ticket".
You will be ok running jetski here.

I don't think you'd get away with going outside the restricted zone in Santa Cruz. I see jet skis buzzing around in SC once in a while, although I don't think I've ever seen anybody fishing from one. They stick out like a sore thumb, and there are enough boaters/kayaker/others around that somebody is sure to complain if they get too far off the reservation (so to speak).

I have seen jetski fishing in Marin and HMB numerous of times.
I had asked them on occasion what are the cons, no one ever mention "oh I got a ticket".
You will be ok running jetski here.

I don't think you'd get away with going outside the restricted zone in Santa Cruz. I see jet skis buzzing around in SC once in a while, although I don't think I've ever seen anybody fishing from one. They stick out like a sore thumb, and there are enough boaters/kayaker/others around that somebody is sure to complain if they get too far off the reservation (so to speak).

This!  People are snitches and haters.  I'm not sure what the fine is but might not be worth hoping that there are nice folks out there that won't rat you out because thats being too optimistic.   I mean its not like we're talking about poaching here.

I mean its not like we're talking about poaching here.

easily c h8r making a poaching allegation based on taking of fish while on an an unlawful vessel

I have seen PWCs in the bay and HMB get escorted back to the harbor. You can get a really sweet skiff for that kind of money. a much more effective and enjoyable fishing experience too.  It took me 8 months to sell my 15' hobie cc, and only 3 months to put a pilot house on my 16 footer replacement because by the time I got to the fishing grounds I was soaked by fog and my hands were numb..

I used to fish my Jet Ski in Bodega Bay, but one day I got pulled over by Coast Guard inside the bay coming in with my limit of Salmon.  They told me that next time I go out, I have to paddle my Jet Ski out all the way to Bodega Head before I can start my motor.  Oh!! and you can only fish North of Bodega Bay but you have to know where the MLPA.


-Kiel

I used to fish my Jet Ski in Bodega Bay, but one day I got pulled over by Coast Guard inside the bay coming in with my limit of Salmon.  They told me that next time I go out, I have to paddle my Jet Ski out all the way to Bodega Head before I can start my motor.  Oh!! and you can only fish North of Bodega Bay but you have to know where the MLPA.


-Kiel

Maybe get a tow out to 30 nm
This is so strange.  looks like scrapping idea now, with inconsistent enforcement, that basically means LEO discretionary actions could run the gamut from "you get a pass" to "assume the position"  with a low likelihood, but real possibilty, of either
Its either that, or chance it and seem like a total scofflaw. 

Oh boy x 10

So wait.  Bodega Head to Cambria is effectively closed to PWC fishing?  And most of SF Bay too?  That's what, 25% of the state's total coastline?

PWC’s are very under-represented in the discussions surrounding mpa’s and nms’s.  Maybe all they need is a voice…..perhaps an established Intellectual Property Attorney with a penchant for writing nasty letters to grubby halibut fisherman that decline discounts on rental skiffs.


Seriously, I think they get steamrolled in every conversation cause everyone hates the d-bags that get loose at the local lakes.  I think they’re a valuable tool for legit watermen. If memory serves me…..during MPA meetings they were thought to create too much noise pollution and act as a threat to sea birds.  Aka….rich coastal property owners didn’t want them buzzing around their ocean.  I remember seeing dive reports from skis in SoCal, if they allow them in nms’s down there, no reason they shouldn’t let people have them here. 

Maybe get a tow out to 30 nm
This is so strange.  looks like scrapping idea now, with inconsistent enforcement, that basically means LEO discretionary actions could run the gamut from "you get a pass" to "assume the position"  with a low likelihood, but real possibilty, of either
Its either that, or chance it and seem like a total scofflaw. 

Oh boy x 10

The good news is you at least learned all this stuff before putting down a non-refundable deposit at a dealership. 

The good news is you at least learned all this stuff before putting down a non-refundable deposit at a dealership.

Its awful that they won't give you a refund. I can't believe they sell the angler versions without giving people a heads up about the restrictions. Maybe you can shame them into doing the right thing by making a big stink as publicly as you can, but that may not be worth the aggravation. At least you didn't complete the purchase.