Sports

Personal watercraft safety and rules

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published July 7, 2006

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National statistics show that eight out of 10 personal watercraft accidents involve a collision with another boat, often another personal watercraft.

Riders often follow each other too closely. They lose track of one another and end up in a collision if they make a sudden turn.

Always look in all directions for boats, skiers, divers, swimmers and other personal watercraft. Don't jump the wakes of other boats.

Many deaths could be avoided if everyone wore life jackets, refrained from drinking and driving, and took time to learn the rules of navigation.

Here are more tips:

* Remember, you are not the only boat on the water. Take a safe-boating class. Learn the do's and don'ts. Keep away from swimmers and bathers. When a personal watercraft collides with a human, the human never wins.* Be careful about pollution. Refuel on land to avoid spilling oil or gas into the water.* Stick to the main channels where the water is deeper. In shallow water, boats can stir up the bottom and cloud the water. This limits light penetration and depletes oxygen, which can affect fish and bird feeding.* Keep an eye out for sea grasses. These are nursery areas for a variety of fish and can be damaged by engines.* Give anglers a wide berth. Your engine's noise can disturb nesting birds, not to mention people. Fishermen are particularly sensitive. If you see somebody with a line in the water, don't motor up and ask what's biting.

Before you head out on the water for a day of fishing, make sure you have your saltwater fishing license. If you need a license, here are some facts:

* Fishing licenses are sold at all county tax collectors' offices and at many bait and tackle shops. There are also two convenient ways to get them without leaving the house. Licenses may be purchased by telephone at 1-888-347-4356, or over the Internet at www.marinefisheries.org. There is an additional fee for these services.* Florida residents pay less for licenses than non-residents. You are considered a Florida resident if you have resided in the state for six continuous months prior to applying for a resident license and who claims Florida as their primary residence. Or if you are a member of the armed forces stationed in Florida.* Florida residents may purchase a one-year license for $13.50. A five-year license is $61.50. A one-year gold sportsman's license, which includes a hunting, saltwater and freshwater license as well as permits for archery, muzzleloading gun, turkey and Florida waterfowl, snook and crawfish, is $83.50.

One-year combination licenses for saltwater and freshwater fishing is $25.50 for residents, the addition of a hunting license is $35.50. There are also lifetime fishing licenses available. For children ages 0-4 years old, the cost is $126.50, for children ages 5-12 the cost is $226.50, for ages 13 and older the cost is $301.50. A lifetime sportsman license is $401.50 for children ages 0-4, $701.50 for children 5-12 and $1,001.50 for those 13 and older.

* For non-residents, a saltwater fishing license is $6.50 for three days, $16.50 for seven days and $31.50 for a year.

 

You do not need a fishing license if:

* You are under 16.* You are a Florida resident fishing recreationally from land or a structure fixed to land like a pier, bridge, dock, floating dock or jetty.* You are fishing from a for-hire vessel like a guide, party boat or charter that has a valid vessel license.

[Last modified July 5, 2006, 13:07:25]