Canal control ticketing boaters?

[likwid]

As long as you're well past MMA and out of the channel you're safe.
They will ticket if you're fishing in the channel, just be aware of where you are.

[Uncle Matt]

Last year the canal patrol came up and spoke to me twice about fishing in the shipping lane. I was a few hundred yards south(or west) of the west end. I was trolling by a small mud hump just east of the pilings. Are the pilings considered part of "the shipping lane?" I thought we were off to the side and out of the shipping lane. The first time they were nice. Not the second time. Anyone know?

[likwid]

Just called Canal Control out of curiosity/boredom.

No fishing within the Canal itself (which everyone knows)
No fishing in channel limits.
Outside the bouys in Hog Island Channel.
The piling structure is considered part of the channel as its for holding barges and whatnot.

The officer on duty was unaware of any restrictions around MMA, but if they're docking/undocking (or planning on it) a patrol vessel will be out and will ask all boaters to leave the area.

Its definitely about safety, if you're drifting across a channel and a barge is bearing down on you and you can't start your engine. Buhbye boat.

Pamphlets with this info are available at Canal Control and apparently at the area ramps that are on/near the canal.

And a link to the navigation regulations: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recrea...ion/navreg.htm

[missing link]

Me and my dad fish all the time near thoes pilings, even with the patrol boats driving by? mabey because were just casting and not trolling around? Oh yeah, that big hill there with the sign on it, dont fish there, theres no fish at all , i think the canal patrol is trying to stop the guys fishing right in the middle of the channel , i see it every time we go out trolling right down the channel , than they wonder why you fly by them at 30. just wait one day you'll be fishing in the fog there and you wont even here the RIBS with a 4stroker on it sneek right up on ya

later

[likwid]

They're cracking down harder this year because of the number of boaters.
Stay out of the channel, enough said.

[Uncle Matt]

Heck I'll stay out of Buzzards Bay! What I laugh at lately are the C.G. go fast boats doing donuts by the MMA then zipping up and down the canal. I know - "Homeland Security." Looks more like a joy ride to me though. Got to love the toys for the job though. I'm jealous

[likwid]

The coast guard out of Woods Hole always goes into a couple of harbors in the area, you think they're actually looking for anything?