Kayak Police Patrol

Why cant we all just get along?

Why cant we all just get along?

Absolutely we can...but name calling someone who approaches you in a friendly matter is not exactly the way to do it

I've found the best approach in life is to treat all people politely with respect.

"kill 'em with kindness"...

But I think there are more diplomatic ways to make your point.

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NCKA as a club would be better viewd (respected and taken seriously) if we all learn to be all of the above 

I probably was a little harsh towards the poor guy but his request to me seemed a little ridiculous. One of the reasons I ever even bought a kayak was a DFG warden told me about the largest cabezon he ever saw in his life were at the end of that jetty while he was diving once. This was a few years ago and it made the gears start turning in my head. How could I access the end of this jetty? First I bought a twenty dollar inflatable boat from Walmart and upgraded from there. I discussed this with the warden at the time. He never said anything about 100' or any BS like that. There's no way the guy knew I was NCKA unless he is reading this now. I did leave the area after I gave him the tongue lashing. I've spoken to these guys in the past and they are volunteers who warn tourists renting kayaks trying to get close ups of sea otters. About a month ago you couldn't even walk down the dock without stepping over juvenile sea lions, literally. Where was the 100' law and their enforcers then? The city built a brand new chain link fence to keep the furbags out of the restroom. I wasn't harming the animals or even affecting them in any way. Redyak, very funny comments I'll try to be more of an ambassador and work on my public relation skills though. I'm out OTW at least once or twice a week and sometimes more, so I guess this guy just rubbed me the wrong way

I would have been polite, but would have been grumbling to myself...

Doesn't a man have a right to peace, quiet, and solitude while fishing on the water?

Unless you're doing something illegal, I mean.

I'll try to be more of an ambassador and work on my public relation skills though. I'm out OTW at least once or twice a week and sometimes more, so I guess this guy just rubbed me the wrong way

We all should, regardless if we are NCKA or not.

Calbear - I completely understand your position as well. Getting out on the yak and fishing gives me a break and keeps me relaxed and sometimes I don't really like to be bothered. Like I said earlier, I just would have handled the situation on a more positive note. Let's try to keep the good vibe going  

On another note, when I did my scuba cert dive by Breakwater / coastguard pier, I saw this tourist climb down the rocks to get close to a sea lion pup to take photos  and "pet it"   I politely warned him that the mama might be around and might not be too pleased about it. He ignored me and just then, a Jr. Coast Guard came over and explained to the tourist that if the baby sea lion moved from it's spot (to get away), then he'd get a healthy fine for harrassing it.

Does anyone know if this is actually a violation? I don't remember seeing a sign anywhere...I mean, Monterey is a popular tourist destination and I'm sure many of these tourist don't know much about "the rules".....perhaps some posted signs would help....don't you think???

i am not sure of any specific regs either.  I read through the MMPA yesterday and the only thing related to distance was for aircraft.  "harassment" of marine mammals is against the law - but i don't think what calbear did was "harassment" so it would have been up to law enforcement to interpret what he was doing.

as for treatment of the fellow, i think calbear probably did overreach his bounds a bit and maybe reacted too harshly.  the other person may have just been misinformed - that doesn't necessitate bad manners.  it appears that calbear understands that he probably overreacted to the situation.  calmly asking the other person to quote the specific regulation against fishing near the jetty would have been my course of action - after all it appears that calbear (nor any of the rest of us) doesn't even know the regs about it.  who knows?

yet another case of poor signage/information about regs leaving a bad taste in the mouths of both sides.

maybe us fisherfolks need a "beer summit" with some of the NOAA folks? just kidding 

The 1st time I get approached by a seal advocate, representing NOAA: friendly exchange—thanks for the info!
The 2nd time I get approached: yes, I care about the seals too—thanks for the info…
The 3rd time I encounter a save-the-seals nut: I spoke w/you (or one of your cohorts) last wknd. Thank you.
The 4th time I get harassed by one of these zealots: please leave me be—I am not breaking any laws nor do I intend to.
The 5th time I get harassed: Please go away, I do not want to talk to you. And please do not threaten me.
The 6th time: silent wack-off motion with my hand as I tell him to go away.

  I looked around the internet a bit and all I could find was that it's a recommendation that you stay 50 to 100 feet away from marine mammals but that harassment is illegal.http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/psd/rookeryhaulouts/CASEALVIEWBROCHURE.pdf

 

   

 

   




   
     

Only one answer to this quandry - BEER SUMMIT

I would never sit down with a radical enviromentalist. It just aint gonna work. Our views are way too far apart. I will say this. Mr Jerry will probably think twice before exceeding his authority again. I would have said please get the F*&^%# away with heart and feeling. If he crosses my fishing line he is now harrassing me. From the tiger salamander to the spotted owl some of this shit is just a bit much.

I guess I'd better stop paddling right at the seals...     You think I could get a fine for "harrassing" them right off the buoy?...

We have two issues here (that have been pretty well worked out in the 3 pages already logged).

1)  Calbear kinda went off on the guy and has acknowledged it.  Thank you, Calbear, for agreeing to be a little more kind and patient.

2)  Seal-loving well-meaners are on the loose, possibly stifling our rights as fishermen.  I'm not impressed with that.

I've chucked a Kastmaster in the direction of seals.  I've paddled right at them and made them abandon their rock/buoy or raft on the water.  I've engaged in vocal dueling with them quite often.  I've waved my ab iron at them while diving...  I don't believe I've ever harrassed them though...  Most people know not to approach the babies on the beach, and that's something I adhere to (it's called common sense...).  Defending your space or even getting a little aggressive with them regarding territory while fishing is OK in my book.

How about when I splashed 3 of them with my paddle as they sunned on the rock?  Harrassment?!!  That's more like camaraderie!   

Of course, the great irony here is….these people paddle around the jetty all day, warning other kayakers that they may be unintentionally harassing the seals.
Think about THAT for a moment.

Maybe we should engage them in a preemptive conversation as soon as they approach.
In fact, that’s what I’ll do next time!
When I see them paddling towards me, I’ll begin by saying “Hello, did you know that these marine mammals are protected by federal and state law? In fact, you are not allowed to come within 100yds of them or else it’s considered harassment. And you care about the seals right, brother? OK bye bye!”
That would be incredibly ironic. And funny.

And if that didn’t work, plan B is the silent wackoff gesture hahaha.

From DFG regs:

§251.1. Harassment of Animals.

Except as otherwise authorized in these regulations or in the Fish and Game Code, no person shall harass, herd or drive any game or nongame bird or mammal or furbearing mammal. For the purposes of this section, harass is defined as an intentional act which disrupts an animal's normal behavior patterns, which includes, but is not limited to, breeding, feeding or sheltering. This section does not apply to a landowner or tenant who drives or herds birds or mammals for the purpose of preventing damage to private or public property, including aquaculture and agriculture crops.

I would never sit down with a radical enviromentalist.

I'll sit down with almost anyone if they're willing to make the effort. There is little point if someone is so closed minded they can't imagine anything but their point of view as being valid, but you don't know until you have a conversation. Of course "radical" can be applied to both sides of any argument. We don't know that "Jerry" is anything but a well meaning kid who thinks he's helping and is a little full of himself. I'd rather indoctrinate him to fishing than send him off thinking kayak fishermen are a**holes...

That said, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed Calbear's report. It was the perfect metaphor for the current frustrations we're all experiencing. Picture a room full of guys making "wack-off gestures" to Rogers as he was telling us what a waterman he was. Not productive, for sure, but it would certainly have been a feel good moment  

Ben

First off let me say I've got no problem with the law. Everybody should be careful not to harm any seals. They are an important food source for GWS and also help bring in the tourista dolores for our state.

I do have a big big problem when the govt and these asshat volunteers use seals to limit and put a stop to citizens engaged in fishing.

Many of you seem to be missing my point.

If a group of seals colonizes 'da Bean' will you invite 'da Jester' out for beers when he oh so politely tells you to stop fishing in the area and if you hesitate to stop jumps on the vhf to call in NOAA's a/c spectre for backup?

"Mr.Jerry"= no authority=no respect from me as he's just NOAA's little tattle tale, and NOAA= another anti-fishing organization=needs to be downsized back to it's original mission of predicting and forecasting the weather.

This "organization" is actively engaged in curtailing your fishing rights and I'm sure your "killing them with kindness strategy" will be greatly appreciated by them, Julie Packard, Nature Conservancy, Audubon, Sierra Club, Bay Keepers, and all of the other well financed organizations that want to limit and put an end to your fishing.

But I understand..... it's a lot easier for you all to maintain the "it's nice to be nice" vibe. It takes courage to stand up, get nasty, resist, and fight for your rights. It's a lot easier to roll over, give up, and succumb to "the inevitable". You didn't really want to keep fishing anyway? jim