diving vs. sport-fishing IRT Oriskany

[riddler]

I just want to preceed the following questions with a statement that I know a little bit about diving, and almost nothing about fishing.

When searching the Internet for information about diving the Oriskany, I come across some sites stating good diving, and at least one site proclaiming the wonders of sport fishing the new wreck. So how does that work - are we both diving and sport fishing the same area at the same time?

I carry a knife just in case I get tangled in any line, but I'm not sure I want a sport boat trawling a marlin hook in any area that I'm diving.

The Oriskany looks to be between 70 and 130 feet - do sport fisherman run their lines that deep, or do they run closer to the surface?

Has anyone been out to dive the big-O and also seen sport fishing boats there?

 

[mike_s]

if they're "trolling", then typically their bait is shallow near the surface.

however, "bottom fishing" at that depth is commong. Most of the time this happens they are either drifting over the bottom site or anchored.

Any boat has to stay 300 feet from a dive boat (showing dive flag). This should keep most fishing boats away, but that doesn't mean they will follow the law.


Right now though I don't think you'll have to worry much as it's a new wreck and is 22 miles from the nearest port. That will keep a lot of fishing boats away based on distance and the fact that fish haven't moved in like they have on other wrecks. (of course some fish are there already though.) most commerical charter fishermen don't typically run out that far based on run time, but they will if you pay them to.

Seeing how most dive boats will tie into the island of the Oriskany, that's pretty much the only factor you've got to worry about. If dive boats are tied into the same spot and "got there first", not much you can do about it.

 

[PerroneFord]

The Oriskany is 212ft deep and rises to about 70. There are no fish on it worthwhile to make a 22 mile trip out there. At least nothing I saw on it. I saw nothing but dive boats when I was there. One one knucklehead who tried to ANCHOR to the boat from a 18ft boat! He was roundly chastized from the commercial boats onsite.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Any boat has to stay 300 feet from a dive boat (showing dive flag). This should keep most fishing boats away, but that doesn't mean they will follow the law.

Ah yes ... the "dive flag" law ...

It's common to find fishing boats trolling within 20 feet or so of a dive boat. They know that the divers are down on structure, and that's where the fish are.

I've yet to ever see the dive flag law enforced. I once saw a boat run over a float and flag at high speed, and when I reported it the officer responded that unless he hits a diver, there's nothing he can do about it.

As for fishing line ... I've had lures go past my face, and cut one when it got too close to my dive buddy. I also on one occasion had to play dodgeball with a downrigger ball (which is a bit scary because they're tied to steel leader) ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[PerroneFord]

Fishing would become a VERY expensive sport for those folks if they did that crap around me... Tackle is expensive to keep replacing.

 

[MarkUK]

I did seven dives on the Oriskany in August on three consecutive days and on two days, we had some dimwits in private boats trolling through the middle of the moored-up dive boats! Much yelling from the captains drove them away eventually, but hello – have they got a clue???

As PerroneFord said, at the moment there aren't really any decent-sized fish on the wreck anyway to attract fishermen to go all that way out.

Mark

 

[Nemrod]

" I saw nothing but dive boats when I was there. One one knucklehead who tried to ANCHOR to the boat from a 18ft boat! He was roundly chastized from the commercial boats onsite."

Why does anchoring on a public site make him a knucklehead? An innocent question because I intend to do exactly that and my boat is only slightly bigger. I have run into commercial ops that think they own the ocean, it is public water and I have a right to be there and anchor there and dive there in my boat and if they don't like it to bad--I can chastize right back on my VHF. What is up with the statement, everybody who does not pay a diver operator to escort them is not a knucklehead.


Fisherman, again it is a public ocean last I checked and they have rights too as do divers. If they are there first then to bad. Usually common courtesy allows both parties to eventually fullfill their needs if one can be patient. On a wreck as large as this I would expect you may have fishing boats trollling while divers are down. I have seen it before on other areas. When I am diving frommy own boat, if a diver operator is there first and there is no place to anchor safely CLEAR of their flag I will either hold off till they leave or move to an alternate site. They are usually bamm--bamm thank you sorts in a hurry to haul the next load of customers so they are usually gone quickly enough---I got all day. On a wreck this big I don't think ONE BOAT is going to be able to claim the whole thing to themselves, there should be room for seveal boats to dive. N

 

[PerroneFord]

He was about to drop anchor on the heads of the divers from the 3 boats who were already down there... That makes him a knucklehead in my opinion. If he wanted to back off the island, and try to anchor in the sand, that would have been different.

 

[jamiemac]

I did seven dives on the Oriskany in August on three consecutive days and on two days, we had some dimwits in private boats trolling through the middle of the moored-up dive boats! Much yelling from the captains drove them away eventually, but hello – have they got a clue???

As PerroneFord said, at the moment there aren't really any decent-sized fish on the wreck anyway to attract fishermen to go all that way out.

Mark

i'm with you, mark, there's nothing like a cold Heineken after a tough 2 hour dive.

jamie MV Trident, thailand