I had it happen about a month ago. I had set up off of an oyster bed and was fishing for trout on the incoming tide. All alone. Then comes a little key west boat, full throttle to within 25’, then stops right next to me to look. Guns it to the other side of me and stops again.
The poetic justice, he cuts his engine to fish for a moment, then when he goes to start it again - nothing. It won’t start.
I sat there and continued to fish. I heard him call Sea Tow, so I continued to fish. About an hour and a half later, no Sea Tow, and the bite had stopped; so I called over to see if they need help.
As I was tossing them a line to tow them to the nearest landing - along came Sea Tow.
At that point I quietly moved on.
They never did get it.
It is against the law to tie-up to a private dock, unless there is a verifiable mechanical or medical emergency. It is called trespassing. I believe this the creek behind Goat Island and that boat is there a lot. I agree the operator needs an education, but I doubt he cares.
quote:Originally posted by wfree2fish
I have heard a few times that there is a rule/reg that says you have to remain 50’ or so away from a private dock while fishing or shrimping. Surely one of you experts know if this is fact or fiction? In this case I would have had to say something to the other boater although it would have been honestly polite!
I have an excellent black drum spot very close to there. I, too, have seen people step onto the last dock in that creek. I saw a couple guys with a NC sticker on the boat and they were tied up to it and walking all over it. I asked them if they owned the dock and they said no that they thought it was abandoned because it looked really old. I would not dare pull something like that.
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.
I think people see the “For Sale” sign on the dock you are referring to and convince themselves it’s perfectly fine to use it for a fishing pier.
Unfortunately something like that happened like that to me by a guide. So it’s not only by people fishing from a ski boat. Maybe this guy reads CF or has a friend who does and this will help educate him. Capt Fritz good on you for being the bigger man. I’m sure your clients appreciated you being a professional.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
The teenage girl on my boat wanted to say something for me. She was the one casting towards the dock and is who they cutoff. She was skilled and landed a few close by and all the other boat did was take a quick glance and went right back to fishing directly underneath the fixed pierhead.
Well, I was in that creek today. Folks were fishing Fritz’s dock (the one you referred to) and a boat with 3 guys was tied up to the dock down in the corner. They appeared to be sheep fishing as they were bashing the pilings with something to knock off barnacles/oysters. Fished for a few minutes but think we missed the trout bite as as we were about at slack tide. The wife has been wanting some oysters so that’s really what we went for today. Got a nice bushel or so.
“Apathy is the Glove in Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
Happens all the time when I’m fishing my own dock, people will pull up and anchor within casting distance. Makes it fun to watch them watch you catch fish after fish and release them, while they are trying to keep them and catching nothing.
wow! I just looked at that dock on bing.com “birds eye view” and from the 4 different angles it has 4 different boats fishing it … suprised that creek has any fish left in it. I took my boss out fishing the other day in the wando and had a 15 foot Kew West anchor so close I slapped a trout trick off his hull.
Dfreedom, that was us fishing the last dock. Sheeps? No sheeps there. ;-). We had lines out for reds/trout too by not the first bite. I don’t fish that creek often, but it’s a busy creek for sure. At one point the mouth of the creek looked like a WalMart parking lot the day after Christmas.
Happens all the time when I’m fishing my own dock, people will pull up and anchor within casting distance. Makes it fun to watch them watch you catch fish after fish and release them, while they are trying to keep them and catching nothing.
So you don’t like the taste of fresh fish? How do you know they are trying to keep them if they are not catching anything?
I think most of us hit the point in life were it is just easier to be the bigger man. Good job Fritz. Hate to say it but it does seem like fishing etiquette has not been taught to some of ever increasing numbers of new people on the water. Funny how some get overly possessive of a fishing hole.
Fred67, I usually talk to the other boats fishing as i leave and walk up the bank, I’m friendly and all, its just one of those things when you see them plow into a spot you are stuck fishing because you arent on a boat like them. Sorry I said “own dock” really meant community dock. and i rent and im broke, so dont be to jealous.
Fred67, I usually talk to the other boats fishing as i leave and walk up the bank, I’m friendly and all, its just one of those things when you see them plow into a spot you are stuck fishing because you arent on a boat like them. Sorry I said “own dock” really meant community dock. and i rent and im broke, so dont be to jealous.
No Jealousy dude! Just take into consideration if you are broke keep some of those many fish you throw back to eat! God is Great! and he has provided us all with a world full of bounty if we care to use it!
Fritz you are the wiser. With some people (idiots) today even an educational confrontation could turn bad. This is not good for those of us who try and follow a moral compass.
Fish will be there again, and the impression you may have made on the younger members of both parties may be used in the future. Continue to share your wisdom and catch fish.
She was the one casting towards the dock and is who they cutoff. She was skilled and landed a few close by and all the other boat did was take a quick glance and went right back to fishing directly underneath the fixed pierhead.