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Mako, you were stopped while on the kayak? Im curious as to where that happened

once while on the kayak at Weedon Island and have seen others being stopped at this location too (near the power plant)...twice as I was getting off the water at 4th St and Dunedin Causeway.

Mako wrote:I've been stopped 3 times by FWC to check papers, catch, etc. and have seen others being stopped. I think it's good that it happens.

About the drinking, I just don't do it on or off the kayak

Stopped three times by the FWC? You must look like a foreigner.

I was stopped the second time I was ever out in my kayak at 4th st. about 3 years ago. Haven't been stopped once since then.

If drinking while kayaking is wrong, I don't want to be right.

I've been stopped a bunch of times in Jacksonville when I was paddling in a main waterway. Never had any problem thoughs. I've never been checked on the west coast. In fact, I think I've only seen one FWC boat the entire time I've been fishing the Big Bend region.

BearsFan wrote:If drinking while kayaking is wrong, I don't want to be right.

TODAYS WORD .... BEER

I've been stopped on more than a few occasions. Always glad to see them though.

In my 12 years of kayak fishing....most in FL.....I have only seen the FWC twice while on the water and never stopped. I have had them check me at the ramp upon return on 3 occassions. Until last Saturday's EBM I had never drank while out on the water.....but I did have to take a sip of the special concoction that Paul made for me at around 11 am....rest I drank afterwards. Paddling and drinking just dont seem to go together.

I don't think it's an issue unless you are in the Shell Key Preserve....and it's deep enough that they can get to you. Alcohol is prohibited there.
I've been stopped twice. Once near Gandy where I got to see them give another guy a $90 ticket for not having a flotation device, he was being a jerk and deserved it. The other time was at Bunces pass, they "made" me paddle out about seventy yards to the channel so they could check my catch (skunk).

Sometimes I take a couple beers out with me but seems I never get to drink them. WAY too busy reelin' in fish. 8)

trash.can.slam wrote:Kayak beers are just like the Spook Jr. You should never hit the water without at least 2 of them.

Thats a good way to look at it.

dont drink and paddle... you might spill your beer <just kidding

I just make it a personal rule not to take any alcohol out on the kayak. Too many things can happen out there, plus, alot of the places I fish are in the parks system which don't allow alcohol anyway. I have been checked quite a few times by the Marine Patrol, but most of the time they just wanna check out the fishin' machine and were not really worried about papers, equipment etc.. 8) One FWC officer told me that he normally does not bother checking the kayakers because we are always within the laws.

With all the nice exspensive power boats on the water and compare them to the coat of a plastic boat. If you were looking for someone to stop to get a big fine and possibly impound a high dollar boat which would you spend more time stopping?
I had FWC drift past me at Allen's Creek he saw I had my PFD and asked if I had my license as he went by that was the exstent of the stop.
As far as drinking while paddling you can't get enough in your boat to get too drunk if you want room for all your other gear.

As far as drinking while paddling you can't get enough in your boat to get too drunk if you want room for all your other gear.

Do they still sell party balls? Im sure you could put a party ball in your tankwell and fill the box up with ice, run a hose over your shoulder and clip it to your collar like one of those camelbak deals.