Conference wahoo::fishing

       Does it do any good to report them to the CG? If they get enough
    complaints on the same guy they might do something.
       Heard on the radio this morning that a waterskier was killed
    on Lake Shirley. The only thing they knew was that it was by 'another
    boat'.
                                                Denny

      During the LCI derby (Lake Champlain) we were trolling along
    an island (in a straight line) following the edge of a drop-off,
    when we see this boat heading (full throttle) liek he was going
    across our bow. When he got directly in front of us, he stopped,
    and dropped his anchor. No more than 30-40 feet directly in front
    of us!!! We had no choice but to swerve to the left to avoid him.
    Of course we gave him a ration of S**t and told him what we thought
    of his tactics. He had the nerve to say "read the rules... Anchored
    boats have the right of way over a trolling boat".  Excuse me!!!
    Someone who jumps right in front of you, drops anchor, then claims
    that since he is anchored he has the right of way must be real win-
    ner. We were very tempted to swing by real close and cut his anchor
    line with a fillet knife, but figured he would pull out a shotgun or
    something.
    
      To make matters worse, after we were about 75yds past him, he pulled
    up anchor and left!!! Now that's sportsmanship!!!
    
    
    -Ron-

    	You can't assume that *ANYONE* out there knows what they are doing.
    I always assume the worst and usually I'm not dissapointed.

    DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I was fishing in MAINE's (kezar lake) late this spring and we were
    trolling for salmon when all of a sudden  - Bait fish started jumping
    out of the water and the LCD was just black when BIG black marks under
    the bait fish were spotted ( I have never seen this before salmon
    fishing) 5 min later I had a fish on the down rigger.  I grabbed the
    rod and look to the right and here comes a water ski boat THE A__HOLE
    was about 40 feet from me and went flying by striping all 4 rods of
    line and tackle... I was in a state of SHOCK and started swing my arms
    at the boat and after about 400rds they turned and came back.  They
    said we saw you swinging your arms when we went by " What's the
    Problem" Then I said you just cut our lines and tackle and you ask
    what the dam problem - and no response Then I started in with boating
    rules.... They turn and said we didn't know you were fishing and
    bolted...  2 older woman in there 50's - and most likey there first
    time out and driving a boat... nevertheless the nite was ruined.
    
    MIke
    

    Last season I was on my way into Lynn harbor where I keep my boat, I
    had my sister and her two daughters with me. We were just entering the
    harbor when a 40+ foot boat blasts 10 feet off my port side. His wake
    knocked my sister and her two daughters on the deck. Luckily no one was
    hurt. We did the normal yelling jumping up and down but this did not
    phase the guy. Luckily the assistant harbor master is a member of my
    yacht club. I told him what happened but he said unfortunately there
    was not much he could do. 
    
    Well a funny thing happened to the guy that almost swamp my boat he ran
    a ground and needed to pull out to make some quick repairs. My yacht
    club is the only one in Lynn harbor with a travel lift so he came to
    see if he could pull out. Luckily he asked the assistant harbor master
    who happened to remember the name of his boat and what I told had
    happened. The assistant harbor master asked him if he remembered the
    boat he almost swamped in the channel a few weeks earlier and told him
    to speak to the owner about getting his boat hauled. Needless to say he
    had to go else where for repairs. 

    Boy, am I glad a boatman entered this note!  ;-)
    
    Think how those of us on the beach feel when some fool comes charging
    along paralell to the beach a half cast out !!!!! Why do guys who
    have access to so much water insist on interfering with surfmen????
    
    A couple of classic situations:
    
    1. Several surfcasters working a point, no fish showing, no rods
    	bent to fish, etc. Here comes a 20 ft. center console, fully
    	rigged. He decides to troll right in front of us with BIG out-
    	riggers. Needless to say lines were tangled, and we found out
        that a heavy trolling tackle is stronger than surf gear. 
    
    2. Two years ago in October. Blues are migrating along the coast
       from the surf out as far as the eye can see. Schools of choppers
    	are popping up all over. One school pins bait in the pocket
    	of a jetty. Surfcasters are lined up along the beach and jetty.
    	Some FOOL in a boat drives right into the middle of the school.
    	Luckily they were in such a frenzy they kept feeding. SO...
    	the FOOL ANCHORS IN THE SURF (mild waves) SURROUNDED BY CASTERS!
    	Not only did guys get tangled in his anchor line, but he had
    	chum bag drifting that caught plenty of lures, not to mention
    	that he tangled someone every time he cast out. Of course all
    	his casts were toward the beach or rocks, even though we were
    	casting well past his boat. This jerk was even oblivious to
    	the 2oz snatch hooks bouncing off his hull!
    
    Of course we on the beach do get some revenge when a boat runs aground
    and the driver asks directions to the nearest pay phone. :-)
    
    Bagel

    This weekend presented us with a classic case of obnoxiousness (?):
    
    	A fleet of approx. 200 sport-fishing boats were anchored in
    the area of the Bacardi Wreck (65 miles offshore) in the early (dark)
    hours of Sunday morning. Suddenly, a large oil tanker, the CROWN
    PRINCE, running without lights, ran through the fleet at 17-19 kts.
    The ship did not sound any warning, and did not turn on her lights
    until more than halfway through the fleet. LUCKILY, there were no
    injuries or damage, even though several boatmen reported the ship
    to have passed within inches of their craft. When challenged (via
    VHF) the crew of the tanker showed their ignorance of the 'rules
    of the road' by claiming that they had the right of way, even though
    they were in a known, legal fishing area, 25 miles from the closest
    (sea)traffic-lane.
    Most skippers interviewed in the newspaper stated that the use of
    anchor balls probably saved their skins. Many also stated that they
    would never again fish off-shore until they had radar installed
    on their boats. (I think I'll buy some stock in Raytheon ;-] ).
    
    Bagel

    Wow.
    Those fishermen must be of a different breed from the ones up here.
    I some A-hole came bustin thru the TUNA fleet like that they would
    be talking to Mr. Smith & Mr. Wesson. I bet they had a bit of
    explaining to do when they reached port?
    
    So.......? What did the Coast Guard do to them? In light of the
    Recent oil tanker exposure in the news I wouldn't think they would
    take it lightly.
    
    I read in another note somewhere back a bit, that a guy fishing
    off shore got tired of a boat cutting off his fishing lines. So
    he rigged some floats with heavy steel cable to foul the guys prop.
    What a neat Idea. Yea. Nothing says I can't troll surface plugs
    with 1/4" dia. Steel leader for "Bluefish"?
    
                                       Walt
    

    re:.9
    Walt,
    According to a follow up article in the newspaper, one skipper did
    break out the 12 ga. But only to put a couple of rounds into the
    air to wake up the fleet. (he was propbly afraid that if he shot
    the tanker HE would get busted for spilling oil.  ;-)  )
    Also, they quoted a CG officer as saying that, since there was no
    bodily injury or damage reported, and it occurred in International
    waters, he didn't think any penalties could be applied.
    
    Bagel  

      With all the people owning boats these days, you are sure to see
    some obnoxious/ignorant boat operators. I think we saw our share last
    night. We were fishing on a small lake here in Vt, and in the 4+ hours
    that we were on the lake we had 3 boats fly by us within 50ft, between
    us and the shore (we were about 100-150ft off shore) while we were
    trolling. They had the whole lake, but they still found it necessary
    to buzz so close to us. Here we were (3 of us) in a 12' aluminum boat
    (plus cooler and tackle boxes), obviously trolling, and these idiots
    come close enough to us to make sure we get the full brunt of their
    wake. Then they all proceeded to buzz right up through where we were
    headed trolling.
    
      We did have one guy buzz straight at us who veared towards land (like
    he was going between us a shore also) who changed his mind and made a
    wide swing around us. We thought, well there is one person on this lake
    who is courteous, only to have him cut right back in front of us, and
    continue up the shore. Not as bad as the other ones, but close enough.
    
      I spent my vacation (2 weeks ago) on this lake, and was amazed at the
    amount of boat traffic. We were buzzed by water-skiers and jet-skiers
    all week. Kind of takes the enjoyment out of fishing (kind of). The
    whole lake to ski in, and they had to weave thru fishing boats (anchor-
    ed and trolling).
    
    -Ron-