Whoa, nice info...AV8R wrote:I asked my son, who sails the south Texas coast and is regularly armed, what he thinks about this.
He advises that there is nothing illegal about having firearms in the bays, estuaries, or open sea, as many fall duck hunters will attest. Whether hunting or fishing, though, all game laws and licensing requirements must be adhered to. Sharks are not regulated as game fish, but other fish may be caught which are, so a license may prevent a citation. Game and Fish officers may search in coolers for fish, and do safety inspections, so it's best to have licenses and safety equipment in order.
Outside the 12-mile limits of territorial waters, you are no longer in the United States, and our game and gun laws do not apply. However, a U. S. registered vessel is still subject to Coast Guard inspection. Again, have your vessel's registration and your ID handy, and tell the coasties that you have firearms on board, and that you'll just stand back and watch while they perform the inspection. You won't be dealing with officer material here, either, and they probably will not be familiar with CHL laws. Having firearms on board is perfectly legal, though, and should not be a concern to them. Most "safety inspections" are really searches for drugs or other contraband. Be polite, and keep things simple. Don't annoy them, as their guns are bigger than yours.
There is another area of concern, as well. If you are near a U. S. Navy facility, or near a moored naval vessel, do not do anything which may seem unusual. Taking photos or observing with binoculars could get you rushed, and possibly boarded by Navy security. Showing a firearm most surely will. In the space of less than a minute, you could be staring at four clueless boys in a launch, barely out of high school, pointing M4s at you, and who may believe that you are a terrorist. While they have no authority to enforce laws, situations involving kids and guns can get ugly in a hurry. Keep a very low profile if you pass by a Navy vessel, moored or underway.
