Coast guard phone call..!!!!

[TAT-TUNA]

Well we've had some drama on the board over charter fishing and a few heated ones over what we charge versus the bigger boats...Well yesterday I get a call from the Coast Guard Investigative unit... It seems someone called and try ed to tell them Ive been running charters on my own with out my Capt..In Hatteras and OI....I had a long talk with her very nice lady...She said this happens all the time and just wanted to let me know and make sure were abiding by the laws.Ive spent allot of cash setting up the boat legally got all doc and permits ect..I provided her with a email I got through ebay of someone saying there a charter capt In Hatteras and threating me..She also said actions can be taking by them against the false reports..and that the keep track of EVERY THING.I also asked her about fun fishing with friends non charter trips...She said as long as the friends I'm taking or family volunteer to help pay for gas ,ice,food,bait ect Its not a problem at all.!.It amazes me that some has to screw with us so hard because there to dam stupid to promote there own business and get there own charters....I have a few good ideas of who It Is .."IP tracking" ...




Now for the jackazz who wants to play games Get a life be a man not a coward behind the phone or keyboard..IF you don't like me or Todd or what we do call me come see me Ill be more then happy to talk to you In person AS A MAN not a coward.!!!

[Mike Avery]

I had my run in with them a while back. All I had on my personal website was that a good ho is one who shares expenses (among other things). That was all it said. I said nothing about charging anyone anything. Somebody reported that and the CG Investigations called me. But this guy was a complete A-Hole threatening me with prosecution and they always win in court...bla...bla...bla. I wanted to say bring it on...see you in court...but my better judgement kicked in and I took it off my website and guess they are happy now. Wonder if the jackazz that reported me is now playing games with you.

[Persistence2]

Sorry to hear that and you are right...just because someone's a good fisherman doesn't mean they know $hit about promoting and running a business. I love the "no competition" stuff they try with the anger against part timers. Come live in my f-in world where I have people coming after every piece of my business every day...and I am responsible for over 2 mil in revenues for the company I work for so in essence, I run my own small business.

If the current Charter model isn't working, then try something different! Here's an idea, change the plan! Or else your business will fail and you'll blame everyone else...Bill Pino made an excellent post on this some time ago on another site. It was insightful and he was dead on...can't remember exactly what he said but it had more to do with managing your OWN business vs. worrying about what others are doing.

There are a lot of good full time guys out there and they run a successful business and in this tough environment, my hats off to you. Look at the Canyon Runner guys...5 years ago they had one boat (successful), now they have 3 or 4, run charters up and down the coast, do seminars (for profit), sponsored by a major manufacturer, etc...BUSINESS...

I'd be cautious of how you promote fun vs. walk-on trips. Some morons are watching and stirring the pot.

Glenn

[kapoc]

Just rember Jimmy karma always comes around in the end, they will get whats coming to them. What you guys have is versitlity (think i spelled that right) as long as you and todd keep that up you'll stay busy.

You all going to be south any next week??????

[Bill Fisher]

With that subtle reminder a few weeks ago to this....geez even I have my suspicions

[Chumlord]

That Sucks Jimmy hope everything works out well

Fish Dad I distinctly recall your incident and recall visiting your website to see what the CG was investigating because I have my own site and didn't want to have the CG on my back. Let's be honest, your website described a bit more than simply what is a good ho is. Your website did in fact spell out in great detail the responsibilities of people you would take fishing. Your site used word to the effect of "If you would like to fish with us on the "Seaduction" these are your responsibilities etc. etc. One of those responsibilities listed on your site was the sharing of expenses and you were inviting anyone to fish with you not just your friends and family. In my opinion you were not simply being hassled by the CG you were in violation. You changed your site and all is good now. There is a distinct difference with what Jimmy is going through compared to what you went through.

My point is that I don't believe the CG is out there hassling folks, they are investigating reports of potential violations, if you have your ducks in a row everything will be Ok... if not you may have to change something you are doing, perhaps like change one's personal website so you are not soliciting strangers to fish with you and telling them they will have to pay money.

[Noworrys05]

I don't get what the big deal is. Fish Dad, even if what chumlord said is correct, I don't see how that is in violation. I am 22 and been fishing offshore since I was 12. I fished with my father on his boat until I was 20. Now I am married and have my own house and our schedules don't always match up. If I go to the beach and he is not there I look for someone on this site that needs a ho. I have no problem in sharing expenses, that should be expected. Some of my dads best fishing buddies he met on this site or at the dock. I wouldn't pay someone $200 additional profit to be a ho for a day but sharing expenses should be expected. Ice, Gas, Bait, ect. You bought the boat and now your kind enough to let me ride along that is the least I could do. Just my two cents I guess.

[cuhollow]

Chumlord I don't see the difference between what Fishdad said his website said and what you are claiming it said. He stated that he would be asking for HOs to split expenses and other things. Are you saying asking for a HO is a violation if you don't know them or expect them to split expenses?

Just trying to get an understanding. I thought the definition and legality of a HO had been covered extensively.

[Chumlord]

As long as the sharing of expenses is voluntary and the people you have on your boat are close friends and/or relatives you are OK. If you tell people they will or must share expenses that's wrong... if those people are strangers that's even worse.

Fish with your friends/family and as long as everyone is volunteering to share expenses all is well.

Fish Dad's site was soliciting strangers to fish on his boat and letting them know that they will be responsible for their share of expenses.

Strangers who must pay are customers.

I only fish with close friends and those close friends volunteer to chip in with expenses. My website is not telling people they can contact me to and I will take them fishing and this is what you will be responsible to pay.

[Chumlord]

Yes in a nut shell if you invite strangers to fish on your boat and they must or are expected pay for any part of the trip that is a charter.

The key words being "stranger" and "must"....