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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ New Boating Regulations
November 22, 2009
North Carolina is now one of many states that require boaters to have completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators approved boating education course. Organizations that locally provide boater safety courses are beefing up their 2010 schedules to accommodate the increase in demand created by the new regulation. Below are excerpts of information from ncwildlife.org and other sources:
“After May 1, 2010, every person under the age of 26 must complete a NASBLA approved boating education course before operating any vessel propelled by a motor of 10 HP or greater in the state of North Carolina.”
”North Carolina has the following restrictions for the operators of personal watercraft: No person under 14 years of age may operate a PWC. A person at least 14 years of age but less than 16 years of age may operate a PWC , if the person is accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age who occupies the PWC, or the person possesses ID proof of age and boating safety certification or card indicating the satisfactory completion of a NASBLA boating safety education course.”
“A person 16 years of age or older may operate a PWC without completing a boating safety course, however a course is recommended. The owner of a PWC must not knowingly allow a child under the age of 16 to operate a craft except as provided above.”
Below is a partial list of organizations and web sites that provide NASBLA approved courses:
Instructor Led Courses
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - 1-919-707-0032
Light House Marine Services - 1-704-587-0325
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - 1-800-336-BOAT
US Power Squadron Home Page - 1-888-FOR-USPS or 704- 662- 3647
Online Courses
Boat-Ed.com
Boater Exam
Amboat.com
BoatU.S. Foundation
Tips from Capt. Gus:
“Safe Boating is No Accident”
Hot Spots of The Week:
Stripers are hitting live baits in the backs of major creeks early and in deeper water throughout the day. Best bets are the creeks above the Highway 150 Bridge and Mountain and Reed Creeks at the south end of Lake Norman.
This week’s forecast: Fishing for stripers, bass, crappie and perch should be good to excellent for holiday anglers. Take a kid fishing!
The lake level is very high due to recent rains and the water surface temperature is in the sixties.
Captain Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is licensed by the US Coast Guard, a member of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, and is an outdoor columnist and a full time professional fishing guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his web site, Fishin' With Gus! at www.FishingWithGus.com or call 704.617.6812.
For additional information e-mail Gus at Gus@LakeNorman.com
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