Boat Fishing etiquette.

Two mates of mine were on holidays on the south coast and were offered a days fishing in a small, open boat. The guy bringing them out knew the area and headed for a reef about 3 miles out. The idea was to drift along the reef and then motor back and repeat.

When they got there, there was already a charter boat fishing, it was about ¼ the way down the drift. They began fishing and followed the other boat along the reef. Some comments were shouted from the charter which the lads took for some sort of welcome. However, when the charter reached the end of the drift and motored back, it passed very close to the guys and the skipper shouted some abuse at them; something about finding their own marks. The local told the guys to ignore him (the guys fishing the charter said nothing and looked sheepish), but the lads were a bit concerned. The wake of the charter shook them around a bit as it was quite close, but they did not know if they were in the wrong or not: the local guy had said before they left that they were going to that location.

Is there any agreed conduct in such situations? If I go out and fish, is it ok to fish up wind/tide of some one else or is it looked on as bad practice? Was this guy just an a**hole?

Any comments welcome.

I've never had any problems with other angling boats. I'll make a point of not cutting the drift of a boat already fishing a mark, normally go upwind and start above him. If anchoring I just normally keep a fair distance, small boats tend to swing around a good deal on the anchor so its has much for your own safety as anything else.

It sounds like you werent being anyway rude or obstructing the charter boat. The only issues i've had whilst at sea has been from speedboats and other fast boats going past me at full throttle :evil:

Wonder where exactly was it on the south coast???


Jim

the sea is a public place and you are entitled to fish where you want to. as far as i know there are no hidden rules amongst boat owners when drifting. so your right they are just being assholes! :evil:

The only time i think any body could have a gripe about fishing to close is if the first boat was fishing Shark and had a rubby trail out and the second boat cut into there slick but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

You get A**holes in every business

Cheers Danny

Hi, check your pm,
As mowhawk said, was this on south coast , cork harbour area?