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Fished out of Carrabele today. Ran to a dock that we have caught reds on and first cast, landed a 21" red. Oh man, thought it was on. Lost one a few minutes later running around the piling, did not break the line, just got off.

So we are sitting there and a pontoon boat comes rolling up. We are fishing at one of many docks in the area. So the guy comes pulling right up and proceeds to tell his buddies to cast right at the frigging pilings we are casting at, but from the other side. His boat is 40 yards from us, max. Casting at the same pilings we are. 5-6 guys in the boat, only two fishing. We move closer in to the pilings so they can't cast where we want to fish and they manage one red. WTH? The whole frickin gulf and tons of docks in a 20 minute boat run and these arseholes have to fish right where we are. If the person that did this today happens to read this, you have no manners and your momma did not raise you right. If they would have just fished another nearby dock, they could have had the spot in 30 minutes, we had other places to go, but just wanted to hit this spot real quick. I was so shocked, I did not even know what to say-I just shook my head-I would hate to have to get in a fistfight over a fishing spot-glad my brother was not with me, it would have escalated. I have no problems with folks pulling up and saying, mind if we fish the other side or anything like that. I would not ever do what they did. We have called folks over to join us when we were tearing up overs and upper slots. Taught some guys how to catch fish one time after they watched us catch 5 to their 1. Even gave them some tackle to get them started-they were in the paper the next week grinning with their big catch.

Caught one more keeper trout (elsewhere) and one bluefish later in the day (discounting short trout and ladyfish).

Yea Doc, we hung a sign on you that said " follow this boat, they catch fish". Seriously though, you expect that kind of behavior at the st marks river or bear creek boils in feb., but not dock fishing in may. Surely they had no idea of what they were doing or etiquette. Probably saw a nice boat and some dudes that looked like they knew what they were doing, and figured that would be a good place to fish. Way to go showing restraint and not giving them an ediquette lesson. Although if we are not taught, we have no way to learn.

Been there and had that happen....sort of

Here's your sign . . .

Fishin' is the mission.

When the other boat arrived, I would have packed it in and moved to another dock immediately. Then if they followed me and stopped near where I was fishing, I'd buz over by them and say "Howdy" and see if they were having a problem finding the fish, see how they were doing and if they were having some sort of "problem" and ask if I could help... I know it sounds very passive, but if my motor quits working and there was no body else around, these intruders may be your sole way to get back to the ramp. You never know when you're going to need a hand from a fellow fisherman.

mjsigns wrote:When the other boat arrived, I would have packed it in and moved to another dock immediately. Then if they followed me and stopped near where I was fishing, I'd buz over by them and say "Howdy" and see if they were having a problem finding the fish, see how they were doing and if they were having some sort of "problem" and ask if I could help... I know it sounds very passive, but if my motor quits working and there was no body else around, these intruders may be your sole way to get back to the ramp. You never know when you're going to need a hand from a fellow fisherman.

mj, you are a better person than I. I would have dropped my britches, mooned them and then turned around and whizzed as close to the piling as possible. That would be followed by an abrupt engine reving session and a quick departure at full speed as I bellowed "Have a nice day"..... But that's me. I have TowBoat US if I need a tow!

I can't stand rude people.

Unfortunately, this kind of fishing practice isn't all that unusual. Last Monday I went out of Carrabelle to try some "end of cool season" grouper trolling by myself. Began trolling some favorite numbers, and the starboard reel went off. Put the boat in neutral, and began fighting in what turned out to be a nice gag. As I was fighting the fish, another boat approached and began idling in towards me. I continued to fight the fish while they came closer and closer, until they were about 25 yds away. All this was happening about 6 miles south of Dog Island, with no other boats in sight. They (a couple and two children) watched while I boated the gag and freed it from the Stretch. It was one of those situations where I was inclined to ask whether they wanted to just get in my boat, but I decided not to act out. They waved at me and I glared at them, which didn't deter them one bit. I secured the gag in the cooler and got ready to run the lines back out, assuming the other boat would be leaving. Uh uh. They proceeded to break out their tackle, bait up, and toss lines in right where I caught my fish.

So, this meant I could not troll the spot again where I had caught the fish, as they had parked on top of it. I moved a bit away, and trolled as close to them (and my spot) as good sense dictated, catching another four gags and releasing all but one to join the first in the box.

Yep, it isn't illegal, but what person in their right mind thinks this is good manners, much less sensible? I used to blame just "Georgia People" with no local numbers, but I have found that is entirely prejudiced: Florida folks (like this boat) are more than willing to do the same. It's just part of fishing, I guess.

EJ

It is true.....clueless idiots come in all flavors, sizes, and points of origin.

What seems to be lost is someone to teach them the proper etiquette in these situations. My Dad taught me when I was young that we did not horn in on another anglers fishing hole. It was our job to find your own places that held fish.

This particular weekend will be LOADED with the above individuals......some of them endangering themselves and potentially you in the process.

Be careful out there.

Stuff like that really burns me up. My wife has to keep me in check when it happens to us. I personally would like to start chunking a big ol plug with nice sharp treble hooks in their direction.

I aint that kind sorry, I know I should turn the other cheek but I work too hard and play hard and fishing is my passion! I spend a lot of time finding good fishing holes and creating GPS #'s and if someone comes that darned close to my boat while I am fishing they get a good "Talking to" and hopefully I don't hear a smart A** response cause then it's on! Sorry

The real issue is why were you trolling my numbers and why did you have the audacity to take and keep fish caught off of my numbers. If my children had not been there, I would have shot a flare into your boat and watched the fireworks. Nahhh, just thought I would add a "rest of the story"!

Seems that all of these incidents end with the victim turning the other cheek, even DEMON. I'd say the person in the wrong would be FAR better served to get a calm explanation that what they were doing was in poor taste. When I first started boating on my own, I would have done the same. Not knowing the area, I certainly would have a better day if someone could show me where the fish are. I certainly understand, now, that you need to do your own homework, but then, as well as most twice-a-year fishermen, just want to land some fish, and they aren't looking to insult or infringe.

I'll say this. The guy with a family is far more innocent than the a-hole who speeds right up to your spot, grabs some numbers on the GPS and speeds off to be a jerk to another guy.

These guys were not noobs and knew exactly what they were doing and just did not give a ****. They think they own the spots and we were the arseholes for being in their spot before they got there. Even heard they caught a mess of trout later.

onefishtwofish wrote:We were the arseholes for being in their spot before they got there.

Y'all had a lot of nerve! :twisted:

Fishin' is the mission.

I know its probably not the right thing to do, but I know myself and my buddies have been known to cast our lures right next to thier boat or give them the ole J.T. "GET OFF MY HOLE" with other expletives. Noobs or not they should learn the proper ettiquette.