Being Approached OTW by DFW

I have been in contact with CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife Officers about approaching kayaks and safety. I have had three experiences on the water (two on the salt, one on fresh) where I was concerned about my safety being so close to their vessel in various conditions. Wednesday's near miss of almost being runover prompted me to take some action and make some calls, but also made me wonder what others were experiencing OTW. Please share.

I've been approached in the ocean and on the bay and have had pretty positive experiences. At least with the guys who have approached me, I've found having a sense of humor helped. As they came close I called out "are you gonna board me?" Both times they laughed, stopped about 10-15 yards away and let me approach them to show my license.

havent had to deal with DFW while OTW, but almost got creamed by a coast guard cutter, those big surf crashing ones in bodega, i was side saddle, pulling my traps and he nearly swamped me and we had a good exchange of words, with me finally telling him if he wants to see my saftey gear(radio, gps etc) and licenses then he better board me on his own or go to, well you get the idea, made a call to the CO after the incident and was given a verbal apology, but what good would an apology have been to the wife if they maimed me or worse, cameron

I've been approached 3 times, at 3 different spots. First time was a blustery, rainy morning with choppy seas and they just asked me to hold up my license so they could see the color while they stayed 20-30ft away.
The other two times it was clam and they coasted right up to me, after asking if that was OK.
All 3 times they were nice enough, and complimented me on my catch.

still not sure why the last time they had 3 cute russian ladies on board, but I never did ask about it (I don't know what the regs are on those but I am assuming it was all legal )

I've had them pull up on me and tangle all of my lines - flylining at the time.  Other than that, never had any issues with them. 

I've been checked OTW a couple of times out of Capitola and Santa Cruz.  They do a good job of letting you know they're approaching so you can reel in lines if needed.  I hang on to their boat (rubber zodiac) and they kill their engine.  We drift while they check my license and ask a few simple questions.  Push off and get on our way. 

I heard that someone got approached once and was asked to show the DFW the fish. Oops. The stringer was gone. Came untied. hehehehe Ive had two on the kayak and both were funny and pleasant. Same guys, a year apart. They remembered me because I released a big cab while they watched the first time to their amazement. They remembered me from that the second time.

I've been approached 3 times, at 3 different spots. First time was a blustery, rainy morning with choppy seas and they just asked me to hold up my license so they could see the color while they stayed 20-30ft away.
The other two times it was clam and they coasted right up to me, after asking if that was OK.
All 3 times they were nice enough, and complimented me on my catch.

still not sure why the last time they had 3 cute russian ladies on board, but I never did ask about it (I don't know what the regs are on those but I am assuming it was all legal )

Ive only been approached on the ocean once.  I was with Sean and can verify the cute Russians.  Showing off one's dabs to cute Russian ladies is always a positive experience. 

I heard that someone got approached once and was asked to show the DFW the fish. Oops. The stringer was gone. Came untied. hehehehe Ive had two on the kayak and both were funny and pleasant. Same guys, a year apart. They remembered me because I released a big cab while they watched the first time to their amazement. They remembered me from that the second time.

Doh! I couldn't freakin believe I did that! I must have looked so guilty, they even drove around looking for it!

I had them approach three of us out off the Cape a few years ago - I knew the warden in charge on the boat, and they kept a safe distance and spoke to us about our catches from about 25'.  Another time, at the Cove, I had the boat come up on me and have me make contact with them.  One warden touched my yak and I warned him not to tip me - it wasn't cool, but nothing came of it.  I think it's a bit overzealous to need to make contact with a yak fisherman on the ocean - they should be able to see what they need to see.

I had them approach three of us out off the Cape a few years ago - I knew the warden in charge on the boat, and they kept a safe distance and spoke to us about our catches from about 25'.  Another time, at the Cove, I had the boat come up on me and have me make contact with them.  One warden touched my yak and I warned him not to tip me - it wasn't cool, but nothing came of it.  I think it's a bit overzealous to need to make contact with a yak fisherman on the ocean - they should be able to see what they need to see.

On the salmon opening weekend I was out with Sin Coast and DFW was boarding and inspecting every vessel, but ours.  We were left alone - till he drifted into an MPA.  And even then they were cool about it.

I had the big cutter at Bodega race by me at high speed about 25 yards away. Almost swamped me. I was west of the jettys. I assume he was responding to an emergency, still he could have given me more room.

I'm always prepared to go over, I don't consider it life threatening, but who wants to lose their lunch/get their reel filled with salt water.

Everyone should use a waterproof license holder and fold the license so that the year can be seen from the outside. Usually that's all they need to see.

On the water they've always been cool with me.

Last summer though I was fishing for perch in Santa Cruz Harbor and was asked what I was fishing for.   I told them "salmon."  They didn't laugh.  then they asked if I had a license "yes"  Can you show it to us? I showed them my plastic license case with the big roll inside. Can you take it out?

"I told them they had to be kidding, it's too hard to put the 7-foot license back into the plastic sleeve and they couldn't read it from their boat on the water anyway, if you wanna come up here that's fine but let's not be ridiculous."  they left.

Kind of a goon.  and, no perch.

Allen

I was approached at Shasta Lake @ high speed and thought he was going to run me down. ( in the fog ). They did not give me time to get both lines in either.  He told me I could not be offshore as far as I was. I explained to him that is where the fish were and the only boat that came close to me all day was theirs. Then he told me my Hodgman inflatable vest was not legal ( type III ). He had me take it off so he could get a closer look. He never noticed the bright yellow pull handle for the Co2.
The next time he checked me I yelled at him to let me get my lines in first and reminded him that he checked me a couple of months back and everything thing was legal.
The last time at Shasta Lake as the boat came towards me ( different ranger ) I pulled my license out from under my jacket ( still around my neck ) and he waved thank you and kept plenty of distance.

Got license checked 2 times, 1 on the salt and the other at Grizzy Island by a game warden who riding a jet ski.  Both time they were OK and quick.

I have not been checked on the water in my kayak.

On the rocks at the ocean, at the river and at the lake I usually get checked once or twice each year. No complaints, I like to see them checking - want them to nab the poochers!