Captain mitch - While i do agree that ignorance plays a big factor in the actions of all parties involved, there are those out there who do not want to share the water and do not give those using man powered crafts a second thought. The ICW was created years and years and years ago with the purpose of connecting the states for commerce and travel. All of this I am sure you already know, but what it seems like you are missing is that times have changed. The ICW has not gone through any major changes in years yet the people around it and that use it have. The ICW still provides a major source of income for its surrounding areas just not in the way it may have been first intended. People pay guides to fish, they shop at stores for food, gas stations, support local businesses, and I could keep going about all the things people spend money on while using OUR ICW.nMore and More people are going to continue to use non-motorized craft and we are going to have to find a better balance between all parties involved. I do believe that kayakers and paddle boarders should be forced to take some sort of water saftey courses, as well as boaters. I like to think of this issue in a very similar to the way that bikers look at using the road. SHARE THE WATER!!! This issue will continue to rage for years to come but hopefully as we all become more educated we will find a better way to enjoy that outdoors in our preferred craft without issue.
“The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad.” </font id=“size2”> “Go Big or Go Home!” </font id=“size2”>
My seat time in a kayak is somewhat limited but I always try to look around and anticipate thoughtless boaters. It is basically all about common sense and simple courtesy. Two things in very short supply.
Lost (in general)…If you are riding a bike down Rifle Range after dark and some 84 year old is driving home from Wal-Mart and kills you then you are still dead…The old person will feel horrible for the rest of their life and rubber thonged skinny people will be up in arms for 2 or 3 months…But you know what, you are still dead, dead is dead. Once you are dead it really does not matter who is right or wrong.
Same with the paddle powered peter heads that DEMAND right of way regardless of where they are.
I have spent countless hours on a kayak…landed what I consider to be my best (not biggest) fish of all time, a 24 pound King Mac on a kayak with 10 pound test.
All of this time I planned and plotted a course to stay out of the way of power boaters, regardless of whether or not they had a clue as to what they were doing.
You drive down a highway with no speed limit at 3 miles per hour and sooner or later someone is going to splatter you all over the place…not that it is right, but again dead is dead.
Rules of the Road count for something…if you or others don’t know them then tough…continue to give me the finger when I wake you as you pass under the middle of the IOP Connector bridge with two power boats coming from different directions…oh yeah, I have noticed that dead is dead usually because you can’t do nothing about stupid.
Time may be money … but a life is a life, people are highly reckless when it comes to lives on the water and I wish the state would write a law taking kayakers into more consideration, I go to idle speed when passing a kayak on the water …
I guess the state should also pass a law allowing bicycles on the interstate and that tractor trailers should slow down to 5 mph so as not to blow them over. That said; I do slow down for yaks, but I believe all yakkers should use common sense. The ICW is a major hiway and you know what to expect so don’t be there if you can’t handle it. I recently saw a group of yakkers cross from crab bank to castle pinckney in front of a ship. Several were flipped and cursing. I know too busy and a lot of you are not that stupid but there are many who just buy a yak and get out there and expect everyone to look out for them. Like I said, you guys need to use common sense and fish in safer areas. There are plenty of flats and creeks where the sporties don’t travel at full throttle.
I can honestly say I have never put my kayak in a positon where I felt uncomfortable, and no I never said anything about allowing a bike on an interstate. The interstate and the ICW I don’t think should be compared due to the sample size of traffic thay take on. A law controlling 100 boats a day to protect 10 kayakers a day, is a whole lot different than a law controller 100,000 cars for 1 bike a day. Big percentage differenence. I think a law wouldn’t be out of the realm of consideration.
And for the people that said DNR was off they are never off, some of them will give you there cell number and gladly will respond to the situation that is occurring and someone is in need.
The yak guys are hard to spot.I passed one wide open and never saw him until it was to late.He was behind a big dock casting.Green yak I apologize!!! Never saw you until I passed.The ICW is for boat traffic.I get pissed at a 50 footer blowing a wake but he has the right to do that.As long as it is not a No Wake zone ride on.
Wonder why we never see the sculling folks on here *****ing about wakes?
Any way, yakkers should probably not go where their craft are not capable of handling conditions.
Kind of like me taking my 20’er out in the ocean during a SCA.
“Watch what we do,not what we say.” John Mitchell
Sea Hunt Triton 202
Yammy 150
I never said my yak couldn’t handle the conditions. I asked if it would hurt to throttle back a little. For me it was a pain in the butt factor… Get two trolled lines in quickly and set up for incoming breakers. I feel for anyone working the shallows in a small boat cause those rollers would swamp them.
I have been in smallish creek and had motor boaters do the same thing so it is not just in the ICW. I actually fish more out of my boat that I do my yak so I see both sides but I ALWAYS throttle down when I see a yak, even if they are sometimes where they probably should not be. It is just a lack of consideration or a “screw him” mentality.
I am a kayak fisherman and I can see this from both sides. If I go into an area with lots of power boats, I figure I’m taking my chances and that I just might get tipped over (if not run over). It’s part of the risk. The big sportfishers can either throw a big wake or no wake, they can’t really make a small wake. As for the more normal sized boats, I prefer for them to stay on plane as that is usually a smaller wake than going half-speed.
Whether you fish from a yak or a 58’ Hatteras, there will always be a-holes on the water to deal with. Some are true a-holes, some don’t know better, and some just don’t pay attention 100% of the time. Be careful out there!
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
Many times i am running a small creek and come upon a yak around a bend or something,if i come off plane, i will make a bigger wake than not. I slow down if i see them in time but sometimes they are just screwd by being in a blind spot
Many times i am running a small creek and come upon a yak around a bend or something,if i come off plane, i will make a bigger wake than not. I slow down if i see them in time but sometimes they are just screwd by being in a blind spot
Capt. Mitch - I am not sure what part of my response you decided warranted taking it personal and listing your personal accomplishments out of a kayak doesn’t make your opinion anymore relevant in this case. I will continue to do my part by being considerate and aware of others on the water and educating my clients on how to enjoy the water safely. On that note, I could care less if you respond with with another ridiculous rant about " dead being dead." I wish you nothing but the best and hope you will atleast try to be considerate of others on the water.
Thanks,
Lost-in-general
“The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad.” </font id=“size2”> “Go Big or Go Home!” </font id=“size2”>
Yes, it’s hard to see yaks in the creeks.
Perhaps they could display a flag of some sort that can be seen over the tops of the marsh grass? Just sayin’-might be a little safer for them.
“Watch what we do,not what we say.” John Mitchell
Sea Hunt Triton 202
Yammy 150
