Bruce

You say ;

That is exactly why I said. If they take the same coast guard training and get certified, why would they have to get a "charter license" to fish in the ocean?

Well unless the coast guard as change, the last I was aware, the "special coast guard license" was strictly a paper work test to get your license. Maybe that has changed now, but that's the way it used to be. Does that make you feel safer? The only big difference that I can see if charter licenses are just given out to a special few and are limited!

If memory serves me correct, the last couple of people who died in boating accidents going over the bars were both accidents that involved fishing guides who were holding either a 6 pack or charter boats licenses.

19 years ago, I was a licensed commercial fisherman in California and we were also running 50 to 75 miles outside. Some "crazy" dangerous things happen when I was doing that for 15 years, but I can truly say that just as many "crazy" dangerous things had happen in my 10 years of guiding on rivers!

What I have learned in those 25 plus years of commerical boating is; no matter what licenses you may have, be it in fresh or salt water….$hit just happens when you're on the water!

And yes, I agree that this archaic law needs to be changed! If I was still guiding, I would be in there face until it was changed! If the guys that got nailed did not have their coast guard training, then they should get nailed. But if they have the same training as the Charter Boat guys do, then it's all a bunch of bureaucratic bull $hit in my opinion to take their boats away!

That's just like saying that its ok to take away your car because you got a speeding ticket or ran a red light! It's all a bunch BS, and you know that it was the "charter boys" who put the screws to these guides. And it was all done in the name of money…not safety!

Where in the hell are we heading?

Cowlitzfisherman