Prohibited areas

[maycraft19]

On my chart I noticed that the Target ships west of Tangier are in "prohibited areas". What does this mean? Can you get in trouble for fishing right next to the wrecks?

[little bubba]

Looks like no one wants to tackle this one. I really don't know myself. I know people do fish these areas. The book says go to Note A. I think there is metal close to the surface left from the ship used for target practice. Don't know if they shoot at the ship anymore.
Note A:
Navigation regulations are published in Chapter 2, U.S. Coast Pilot 3. Additions or revisions to Chapter 2 are published in the Notices to Mariners. Information concerning the regulations may be obtained at the Office of the Commander, 5th Coast Guard District in Portsmouth, Virginia, or at the Office of the District Engineer, Borp of Engineers in Baltimore, Maryland or Norfolk, Va.

I think you want to look at regulation 334.210.
Bubba[angel][angel]

[rocksandblues]

people fish there all the time.

they still shoot at them

they will tell you when to leave.

[frogboat]

the planes usually make one pass to run the boats off before they fire rockets or drop bombs, but not allways

[maycraft19]

yea I wasnt sure if anyone was going to respond. This looks like good info though. I especially like rocksandblues response.....right to the point.[grin] I have always avoided these areas. I think I will give them a try. Thanks

[B Young]

Several years ago, we were chumming at the middle grounds and had 3 small navy gun boats come up the bay from the south at top speed. They went straight to the target ship and without any warning started firing on it in a northeasterly direction. They made about 6 or 8 circles, and each time attacked the ship firing everything they had at it. You could see the tracer rounds bouncing off the ship - spectacular show. I don't know if they had the Coast Guard clear the impact area beforehand or not, but there were no boats visible in their firing direction. They left the area just as fast as they appeared, going out of sight in no time.

Last year, we were again chumming in the same area and had a Coast Guard vessel run us out of the restricted area. They told us to move south, and they actually escorted us and the 5 or so other boats there about a mile out of the restricted area. A little while later several planes started dive bombing the ship and put on such an awesome display that we just stopped fishing and watched.

[capt. dave]

I know they still shoot up the American Mariner target ship up in Maryland around buoy 68. They will run you off if there is going to be live fire there.

There isn't enough of the old ships south west of Tangier to present much of a target so I can't see them doing any more target practice with them. As far as the prohibited area goes, it's a small area around the Davidson Wreck within a larger restricted area and has been on the maps at least since 1972 when I got my first map book.

I think the restriction has to do with there being unexploded ordnance on the bottom that you could snag on anchors or fishing lines and cause an explosion rather than them shooting at you now.

At any rate, if you go there be aware of the potential risks.