Why I wish people wouldn't fish in channels

Morpheus

Morpheus

New Member
May 7, 2007
2,450
Odessa, FL
Boat Info
2006 SeaRay Sundeck 240
Engines
5.0MPI Mercruiser w/ Bravo III
Pulled this off my prop, not sure at one point I snagged it but I think it was the evening of the 4th on our way out to see fireworks.

Why they feel they need to cast out in the middle of the channel where there is clearly boating traffic and don't bother pulling their lines in doesn't make sense to me. This guy lost alot of that expensive braded stuff, I couldn't break it had to cut it, but it came off pretty easy.

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I am surprised you did not have the rod and reel also, that stuff is tuff.
 
Based on how much is there I'm betting he has to respool his rod.

You should of seen me standing at the ramp (didn't have a knife handy) and people waiting while I try to reel in this as it's stretched from the prop down the ramp into the water, I probably stood there 5 min pulling it in. Then I balled it up and stuck it under the swim ladder for the 5 min ride back to the house where I began to unwide it all.

I'm thinking he either ran out of line or cut it before he lost all of it.
 
2 incidents this weekend:

1) A guy was fishing across the narrow channel opening into the marina at Port St Joe, and while standing on the sea wall, has hooked the breakwater on the other side. We came around the tight corner, saw him, stopped, and began to drift into the breakwater. I kept the boat off of the rocks, he freed his entanglement and reeled it in. He was grateful, but it would not have been worth damaging the boat (not that close of call, but was a bit of a challenge). I just didn't feel like diving the boat to get lead weights off of the prop shaft.

2) Leaving St Joe Bay on the far West side, there is a point and a marker to depict safe waters. Most of the boaters will hug this marker to minimize distance traveled. There was a family boating in the middle of the channel, 100 feet from this marker, and 3 miles from land on the other side. Perfect spot! What am I supposed to do, come off plane? They were on about a 25' fishing boat. I kept on plane, hugged the marker, turned sharply to demonstrate that I was trying to stay clear. They waved. We waved back.

Two happy endings, but there are conflicts out there.

At our marina, people stand on the breakwater and cast between the boats. One night, I was down below when I heard a "Thud" on my deck. I came up top and opened the vent window. A guy over on the breakwater was fighting to get his hook and weight off of my bow rail. I yelled out at him, "Your lead will beat my plastic every time. There's lots of ocean out here, and I'd appreciate it if you'd cast away from my boat. The repair's are awefully expensive." I was pissed and almost lost control of my emotions, so some sarcasm showed through. He was quite embarassed and moved on. On military bases, most people back down when they've committed such a foul. I collect a nice assortment of fishing gear off of my boat, dock and dinghy. Our dock is now secure, so they can't come over and get it back.

Anyone want to claim a lead weight, three hooks and a piece of squid?
 
Had some idiot leave a couple of rods out on his dock, with the lines in the middle of the canal. As I passed, I turned around to see one of the rods jerking violently as the line ripped off the reel. Then the drag stuck, and rod/reel flew into the drink behind my boat.

Oops, so sorry...
 
You all are lucky you are just getting fishing line. We have cord tied to crab pots to deal with here, and yes they are even in the channel. You even get the finger here when you go by them at 20 knots or so as they work the traps in the channel. Go figure all that water out there and they still pick the channel.
 
I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding. We know the buoys and pilings with the red and green symbols mark the channel. The fish guys think they mark the good fishing spots.
 
fc3 said:
I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding. We know the buoys and pilings with the red and green symbols mark the channel. The fish guys think they mark the good fishing spots.
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Amen Frank. I see them constantly fishing in the middle of a narrow channel and I have no other choice than to blow by them. They never seem to learn or "get it".

I just shrug as I go by and leave about a 4' wake.

"Sorry about the Up Yours" come to mind.
 
That funny!!! I always wondered why they fished next to the buoys.
 
That's too much. If its not one thing its another, isn't it?

We had a great time running up to Sarasota for the 4th. How was your first experience in Charlotte Harbor on the 4th (besides the extra line you came home with)?

Cheers,
 
On my way home from a CSR Rendezvous, I had two encounters....and it wasn't even the weekend...it was Monday.

1. Cominig in the Little Egg Inlet, there were 50 or so boats fishing on the Bayside of the channel. Three or Four 'morons' were 10-20 feet off of the inlet buoys casting and reeling.....I had no choice but to come off plane, but I got on vhf 68....'typical fishing channel'.....and in no uncertain terms let those that were listening know how stupid they are.....I didn't even get back a smartass response.....I guess they agreed.

2. Not more than 15 minutes later, in a no wake zone, there was a guy alone in a 24' CC with twin OBs fishing 10 feet off of one of the ICW markers. This time, I was going slow already. Those that know the area, know that you don't go out of the channel unless you want to polish your props. I made it very clear that I was staying in the channel in spite of the fact that he kept waving me to go behind him.....the jack ass had three lines out behind his boat.......a few good blasts of the airhorns, and he started up real quickly and back down....I only hope he ran over his own lines....
 
While coming home from Lake Ontario to the Potomac River I stopped counting how many times I had to come off of plane to slow down to avert my wake from spilling the rednecks red white and blue beer or worse, throwing them overboard. I stopped at 75 and I can tell you it added a lot of additional time, money and frustration. I did like when a large ship said screw it after signaling to the dumb @$$. That ship must have been within 25 feet of the boat which was in the channel at a very tight turn. And oh, they thought they had the right of way especially when they were dead center in the channel which to my recollection was at least 50 feet deep.
 
osd9 said:
On my way home from a CSR Rendezvous, I had two encounters....and it wasn't even the weekend...it was Monday.

1. Cominig in the Little Egg Inlet, there were 50 or so boats fishing on the Bayside of the channel. Three or Four 'morons' were 10-20 feet off of the inlet buoys casting and reeling.....I had no choice but to come off plane, but I got on vhf 68....'typical fishing channel'.....and in no uncertain terms let those that were listening know how stupid they are.....I didn't even get back a smartass response.....I guess they agreed.
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Dom all those "what a nice guy" quotes from the AC thread must be true! Coming off plane is certainly a very nice thing to do. I am not familar with Little Egg Inlet but am familar with the ICW around S. Jersey and yes you stay in the channel for sure.

They most likely didn't have a (working) VHF or did not have it turned on or could not hear you over the stereo.
 
sfergson727 said:
We have people like that at Michigan City, they cast out in front of you, and then yell that you are going to cut their lines. I've had more than one unfriendly exchange with the redneck necked beer bellied fishmonger. Seems they think that federal water way was built for them to fish in, and boats have no right to be there, go figure.

Sadly, I find a sadistic satisfaction when I can cut their lines.
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I fish the m.c. pier all the time as well as keep my boat in one of the harbors. I've never crossed a fishermans line, but have had my line crossed by boaters. The fishermen (at least the ones i know) keep their lines close to the pier during traffic times (no one likes to lose tackle and waste good fishing time respooling). There are a lot of inconsiderate boaters who go too close to the pier. The Channel is wide and deep. There is plenty of room for both pier fisherman and boaters. We all need to share. With a little common sense and being aware of your location we will not have any issues. Just my two cents.
 
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osd9 said:
On my way home from a CSR Rendezvous, I had two encounters....and it wasn't even the weekend...it was Monday.

1. Cominig in the Little Egg Inlet, there were 50 or so boats fishing on the Bayside of the channel. Three or Four 'morons' were 10-20 feet off of the inlet buoys casting and reeling.....I had no choice but to come off plane, but I got on vhf 68....'typical fishing channel'.....and in no uncertain terms let those that were listening know how stupid they are.....I didn't even get back a smartass response.....I guess they agreed.

...
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Get a hailer horn installed. :thumbsup:
 
filthyoar said:
I fish the m.c. pier all the time as well as keep my boat in one of the harbors. I've never crossed a fishermans line, but have had my line crossed by boaters. The fishermen (at least the ones i know) keep their lines close to the pier during traffic times (no one likes to lose tackle and waste good fishing time respooling). There are a lot of inconsiderate boaters who go too close to the pier. The Channel is wide and deep. There is plenty of room for both pier fisherman and boaters. We all need to share. With a little common sense and being aware of your location we will not have any issues. Just my two cents.
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The channels were not dredged and the markers not put in place for the people that fish they were put there for the boaters. The channel is only wide enough for 2 boats and is only 4ft at low tide if you do not stay in the channel your gonna run aground. These people see the boats coming and could care less about bringing in their line for the boats to pass. They are fishing from one side of the boat ramp. if there was a way I could install something that would cut every line I pass in this particular channel I would.
 
Morpheus said:
The channels were not dredged and the markers not put in place for the people that fish they were put there for the boaters. The channel is only wide enough for 2 boats and is only 4ft at low tide if you do not stay in the channel your gonna run aground. These people see the boats coming and could care less about bringing in their line for the boats to pass. They are fishing from one side of the boat ramp. if there was a way I could install something that would cut every line I pass in this particular channel I would.
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Totally different situation in Michigan City than the one you are talking about, I was replying to the M.C. guy.
 
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