Pensacola Fishing Forum / General Chit Chat / General Discussion / Who do you call ? / Latest Posts

RE: Who do you call ?

jj — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:57:58 GMT

In these days of budget cuts one needs to be as self sufficient as possible offshore.

-boat maintained as well as possible

-plenty of fuel plus reserve

-food and water for 24 hours at least (not beer :) )

-one or more good working VHF radios with DSC that is programmed and properly connected to your GPS.

-paid up Sea Tow or Towboat US account.

-float plan

-EPIRB if you can afford it or at least a SPOT Messenger

If you go out there on a wing and a prayer you probably should pack a few extra prayers. If something can go wrong, it will.

RE: Who do you call ?

woody1661 — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:52:41 GMT

everytime i am at our condo in orange beach i see the coast guards helo go down the beach so i know one is close i have been there alot and only not seen him twice every other day he flys over you can set a watch to it

RE: Who do you call ?

alanbarck — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:41:59 GMT

Sinking, on fire, missing limb = Coast Guard

Failure to maintain boat in proper working order = BoatUS

RE: Who do you call ?

Shakedown — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:06:36 GMT

Ghostbusters

RE: Who do you call ?

brnbser — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:46:27 GMT

the Navy no longer has rescue helo's at NAS Pensacola. The Mobile info is correct, we work their helo's over here all the time

RE: Who do you call ?

sniper — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:43:19 GMT

I see CG choppers flying at Pensacola Beach all the time. I also think the Navy have rescue choppers too. I don't think you want to call the CG for a tow tho. Be kinda like calling the Navy cause you ran out of fuel 20 miles off shore and expecting them to bring some. It's 'Coast Guard', not 'Coast Life Guard'.

RE: Who do you call ?

bluffman2 — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:42:44 GMT

Mobile does have helos...one of the traing facilities and they do respond quite often..

HH-60J Air Stations:

ATC Mobile, Alabama
CGAS Kodiak, Alaska
CGAS Sitka, Alaska
CGAS San Diego, California
CGAS Clearwater, Florida
CGAS Cape Cod, Massachusetts
CGAS Elizabeth City, NC
CGAS Astoria, OR

HH-65A Air Stations:

CGAS Traverse City, Michigan
CGAS Barbers Point, Hawaii
CGAS Borinquen, Puerto Rico
CGAS Atlantic City, New Jersey
CGAS Corpus Christi, Texas
CGAS Detroit, Michigan
CGAS Houston, Texas
CGAS Humbolt Bay, California
CGAS Los Angeles, California
CGAS Miami, Florida
CGAS/ATC Mobile, Alabama
CGAS New Orleans, Louisiana
CGAS North Bend, Oregon
CGAS San Francisco, California
CGAS Port Angeles, Washington
CGAS Savannah, Georgia
CGAS Kodiak, Alaska

RE: Who do you call ?

FishinFool — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:26:41 GMT

"As far as I know there is not one here to send nor is there one in Mobile.. nearest helo is in New Orleans, please correct me if I'm wrong."

When I lived in Slidell, LA off Lake Pontchartrain, that CG helo flew over the lake just about every weekend looking for someone in trouble. If that's the closest CG helo we have, then that is ashame. I wouldn't count on it.

RE: Who do you call ?

brnbser — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:57:07 GMT

he wasn't dead when the calls were made.........

RE: Who do you call ?

Telum Piscis — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:57:00 GMT

[quote][b]Death From Above (5/12/2008)[/b][hr]Why would the CG need to launch a helo mission for a dead diver?[/quote]

He was not dead at the time of the call.:poke:banghead

RE: Who do you call ?

Death From Above — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:52:46 GMT

Why would the CG need to launch a helo mission for a dead diver?

RE: Who do you call ?

Jack Hexter — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:14:42 GMT

My understanding is that unless life is at peril, (due to injury, illness or sinking) the Coast Guard will not respond, but will notify a commercial towing/salvage company such as Sea Tow or Tow Boat US [b]if requested.[/b] Don't know anything about the diver on the O, but in the instance of the Snapper boat, they were not sinking and no one was injured or ill, so the CG did what they were supposed to do, broadcast an alert and if requested, notify a commercial operator

Who do you call ?

1923 — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:05:26 GMT

On a recent sword fishing trip on MIDNIGHT RUN we had engine problems and came in the last 36 miles on one motor. We thought we had it bad till we came along side a commercial snapper boat with no power at all plus he had run his batteries down trying to restart his motor. we knew that we would get in, a little later than planned , but still safe. The snapper boat could only sit there until help arrived,

Doc got on the radio and called the Coast Guard, thats where I got concerned. The first issue that they wanted clear was "who we were". Second was a description of situation.

I waited for some response from the CG as to what they were were going to do. They only thing that I am aware of is that they sent out a "vessel in distress " call out. I think that another snapper boat finally helped them out.. They had been there a full day when we chanced by them.

All this to get to my point , who are you going to call when "something bad " happens.

I have a PLB so my wife knows that if she doesn't get a call , I am OK, just late.

In our case the Coastie did make a phone call for us, but I am not sure if that was an exception. We all assume that they would , but separate what you know from what you think you know. Things like how far will your radio "really" will talk ,what will the Coast Guard do if you call them, how far will your tow insurance cover you. These things might make a big difference to you one day.

Recently a diver died after diving on the O and there was talk of why the CG didn't' launch a helo for him. As far as I know there is not one here to send nor is there one in Mobile.. nearest helo is in New Orleans, please correct me if I'm wrong.

I am sure there limitations as far as what the CG can respond to and how , but it would be nice to know before the shit hits the fan.