Cutting fishing lines

[Rich]

Hey guys, I need a littlte help. Two boats moving towards one another and not realizing the other boat was trolling the second boat went around and cut the lines. What is second boat responsible for? Two reels were potentially lost and maybe a damaged rod??

Please respond,

Thanks Rich

 

[JV II]

I suppose the boat cutting off the lines would be responsible for all damages. The only reservation is that if the trolling boat had his lines way out in a high traffic confined area, he would be trolling at his own risk.

 

[Rich]

Thanks guys!!!

 

[fwebster]

Can he prove it was you?

This is a very common problem down here. I am continually surprised at where fisherman drag their lines. We just assume they are idiots who think they own the water and give way, regardless of who has the right of way (just because they are dragging lines does not make them the give-way vessel).......its far better than cutting seals out of a lower unit or burning up a cutlass bearing.

 

[Cleatus Jo]

I live on the Chesapeake Bay. There are several tournaments and loads of trollers in the bay for spring rock fish ( Striped Bass ). I don't know the leagalities , but we totally respect the fisherman here. We even go so far as to try not to motor to close at high RPM as this causes the fish to get lock jaw and go deep for hours. Some charter boats pull 18 rods on planer boards. There really never seems to be a problem until a knumbskull in a donzie, checkmate, super nova, etc. ( Usually black with a red hull and a checkered flag) goes air borne thru a gaggle of trollers. My humble op.

 

[Tonka Boater]

If it's obvious that the other boat is trolling and you accidentally cut his lines then the right thing to do is own up to it. Maybe its a conversation and an apology, maybe it's replacing equipment...its a judgement call. If it weren't obvious or they were trolling in a high traffic area or they were unfamiliar with the local "code of conduct" then its really not your problem.

 

[rcknecht]

The guys who fish where I boat seem to always be in a restricted channel. They block the markers and crowed the channel. I try my best not to cut lines or knock them out of their boats, but I am often number one in their minds. I once wrapped a fishing line round my prop on my 250 and it led to me stripping my drive connection to my fly wheel... So if some is fishing in restricted water and you wrap your their line around your prop, is the guy fishing responsible to pay for the repairs to your boat? I think we need to be considerate of both the people fishing and the cruisers just passing through... It’s a shared water way...

 

[2000SEARAY280SS]

I kick this around a lot.I fish and I cruise and I typically adheare to rule number 1 I got this off the Internet from
http://ficus-www.cs.ucla.edu/geoff/mnemonics.html

The rules for who has the right of way are complex. The basic rule, of course, is General Responsibility: notwithstanding any other rule, you're not supposed to run into other people or things. That ought to be obvious.
General responsibility. Above all else, don't have a collision. "I had the right of way" isn't a defense if there was something you could have done to avoid the other boat.

Anchored. Anchored, stopped, or moored boats must be avoided by all other vessels.

Overtaken. Boats being overtaken have the right of way over the overtaking vessel. (This is true even if the slower boat is power and the faster boat is sail.)

Restricted maneuverability. Boats with restricted maneuverability, whether due to fishing, draft, length, towing, or other causes, have the right of way over vessels not so restricted.

Traffic separation. Vessels participating in a traffic-separation scheme have the right of way over non-participating vessels. (If you must cross a traffic lane, try to do so at right angles.)

The guy fishing was doing just that fishing if you ran into his stuff you are at fault. If he hit you with a sinker you were probably to close.:grin:

What really gets me is when there are miles of water around and some yahoo wants to see what you are catching and comes blasting past way to close for safety.

Lets all have fun out there and watch out for each other.:grin:

 

[JVM225]

If he was trolling in the marked channel, then he is out the lines. If he was outside the marked channel, then the boatthat cut the lines needs to pay for them.

 

[2000SEARAY280SS]

As far as I know anchoring in the channel is the only restriction for being in the channel and that is allowed if under distress. Trolling or slow cruising sailing etc are all allowed in the channel and all rules of the road apply for overtaking and stand on vessel etc.