My little "Island" in this "World" Vol. 6

[Capt_John]

Well, it's officially August and time to start Vol. 6. More importantly it's Aug. 1st which is opening day for lobster season. We went out this afternoon for a short dive and they were thick. I got 7 lobsters on my first reef in 10 feet of water. Like an idiot, I left my camera in my room. But I remembered to bring it for dinner time though. Damn dinner was awesome. Had some Chicken Fried Lobster for an appetizer, but there's nothing like a little Vanilla poached rock lobster to end an awesome day.

[AARON ROGERS]

Not reallysure how you make it through the hard times???

[Gringo]

I was at the Dept. of Fishing and Boating Stuff on Thursday, getting fishing and boat license renewed, and the ossifers there were talking about how serious they are getting on enforcing the fishery rules here, now. They really never have enforced em much from what I have seen. So I basically said 'yeah, yeah...when I see you guys pulling in some locals I will believe you"

Then yesterday, first day of lobster season I see the Marine Police pulling into the shipyard here ( their base) hauling TWO local boats behind them. The alleged illegals were still in their boats, with their outboards up. First time I have ever seen that.

boats are pretty shitty Whaler knockoffs, but there's a newly acquired Merc and an Evinrude that are probably in pretty good running shape...

Fines are heavy, depending on the circumstances. Without a license, taking shorts, using a spear...etc. Oh, and they keep your boat. Ouch.

[Capt_John]

Yeah, I went to their office in Provo a few weeks back and got all the rules from the horse's mouth instead of word of mouth. They don't have any rule books, written regs.,etc. So I made sure I was legal. $10,000 per illegal lobster is a big fine. And there's no reduced sentence here. That's what you pay or go to jail and have your boat taken. Now if they are getting on the locals now, man they must be getting serious. I've seen locals break rules and they laugh at the thought of being written a fine. I guess we'll see what happens.

[Gringo]

we got stopped offshore last fall for the first time ever. We wuz legal, of course. Most of them know our boat now, anyhow.

Two weeks ago we were tied up in Pine Cay cleaning conch, and a Marine Patrol boat pulled in. No problems, but that is the first time I have seen them patrolling over there.

I wonder what is going to happen when they really crank up the heat. Almost NONE of the locals have registrations on their boats, they don't carry fire extinguishers, flares, life jackets,or VHF radios, either. Those are all violations. The local guys seem to think a cell phone is all they need. And it probably is...if you don't get it wet. But its not legally enough.

Read in the paper last week they busted several guys from the DR with lobster before season opening...using a spear, no license, etc. And those guys got seven months in Grand Turk prison and then they will be deported.

I am glad to see it.

[Capt_John]

Good to see that they're cracking down. I'm legal, that's all that counts as far as I'm concerned.

[La Gringa]

also incredibly illegal is unlicensed charter...!!!

[Capt_John]

Haven't had any clients this week until the last day or so. But now we've got them coming in left and right for next week. The planes started landing today. Other than that, just been some late night poker games,a little fishing with some of the staff, and some snorkeling. Today I took our naturalist, his assistant, and one of our sales staff out snorkeling. They needed some underwater pics for the company website, so I grabbed my camera and went along to drive the boat and get wet myself. Here's a bunch of pics from today and the week past. I took some videos also, but I'll have to post them later when they finish uploading.

[Capt_John]

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[Capt_John]

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