Kayak Boat Crowd Fishing Etiquette

[cabojohn]

IMO its the new generation of kayak fisherman who are the idiots out there.
Warning shots accross the bow seem to work best...its a big ocean...stay waaay the fawk away from other boats / kayaks.

[makobob]

Cabojohn, so educate us, Tell us what you expect to be right.

[vincentek9]

i just assume that everyone is trolling something and stay far away from them. people who go to fast and cause a wake.. i use it to test my reflexes and wave handling abilities.

[dorado50]

Originally Posted by makobob

Cabojohn, so educate us, Tell us what you expect to be right.

TRY COMMON SENSE FIRST>>>>>>>>>

[Hondatom]

Good information. IMO: if you can cast an iron and hit the other guy, you are too close. I am a true green horn around here, so maybe I am wrong.

[Iceman]

However far you can cast X 2 is a good rule of thumb

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by Iceman

However far you can cast X 2 is a good rule of thumb

Sounds good....then the fish bite then all the rules go out the window!!!!!

[GregAndrew]

It is not as simple a question as how far. There are a lot of factors that you should keep in mind when determining how far. Sometimes, well within casting range is acceptable (like rockfishing), and sometimes you need to give much wider distances (you are both dragging flylined macks, or fancasting irons). Even if you are not fishing, and just passing by, you should give the other fisherman the room you would want if you were casting an iron or flylining a mack (if those are types of fishing that occur in the area).

[lowprofile]

Originally Posted by Iceman

However far you can cast X 2 is a good rule of thumb

does that mean the Kevin has to stay 300 yards away when throwing his irons?

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by dorado50

TRY COMMON SENSE FIRST>>>>>>>>>

Best statement of all. Because there are so many new Kayak fishermen out there that may or may not have ever fished from a regular boat or whatever Common Sense is the best tool. If you are paddling around and you see a fellow Kayaker assume they have a bait out either trolling or fly line and keep your distance. There are a lot of boaters out there that will look out for others, and then there are those that just bought their boat and don't know squat about rules of the water. Carry a radio, cell phone, whistle, horn, or whatever you need to feel safe. Like others have said prepair for them to not see you.

When I got into this I asked the question of what's a safe distance to stay off a fellow Kayaker. I was told to imagine about 50 feet of line being out and double that. Also what Andy stated about casting the irons.

Last year I had a boater throtle up and haul off and in doing so sucked my line up. Fortunately it did not spool me, but I yelled at him, he stopped, apologized, and went on. It's not always that pleasant out there. It's almost like those Surfers that get mad at you for surfing their break, it's a big ocean, I'm sure we can figure out how to give each other space.

Common Sense, use it, It could make for a better time on the water.

[taggermike]

Great post in this thread. And Andy that's. A messed up encounter.
Most bad interactions are just from ignorance or inattention. But there
Are folks out there that get a kick out of f'n with yakkers. I comuted by
bike for years and always assumed drivers didn't see me. That same attitude
Has served me well on the yak. I've had exactly 1 contact with Greg T. My YT ran
A long way and in to his anchor. He helped me get the fish free. No trouble
Just a sory and a thank you. Communication always helps oh ya and respect.
I love having the sporties out there. They pull all the dogs in and I stay the
Hell away from them and the clueless, or rudes, they attract.
And catch fish. One last thing; no matter how pissed you are, how right you are,
Or how bad the others transgression is, do not fire an iron at them. I've come close
To doing it and the though of being in court for assault made me cool my jets.
Mike

[alanw]

Watch out for SUPs in the harbors too. Last month I was trolling a big hammer around and a clueless summer SUP renter went by me then cut in behind me which I didn't expect. I just saw my pole bend while she ran through my line back there. I tried to stop, but she kept going and I was too slow to release the bail. I heard the lure knock against her board a few times as it pulled over and across her feet/legs. She was screaming something about the "flying fish" as it went by, clueless to the possibility of a fishing line. I just went on feeling lucky I had on a weedless head so it didn't hook up her foot. It was probably my fault though and is a good idea to warn people you pass about trolling lines, or pull them up when in doubt.

[wade]

Originally Posted by cabojohn

IMO its the new generation of kayak fisherman who are the idiots out there.
Warning shots accross the bow seem to work best...its a big ocean...stay waaay the fawk away from other boats / kayaks.

A-MEN! Googans on the loose!?

Clueless PB'ers are one thing, its another to have a fellow plastic brother completly clueless with proper OTW etiquette....After you get your gear situated and are ready to charge LJ, there is a lot more to know than tackle requirements before you jump into the deep end...

Greg is one highly skilled & cool guy, but there is a good reason why some call him the angry skiff guy...

Take notes!










& years ago on this glass day...check the wake straight into Greg T., where he could have easily let me break off on his anchor line..
Nope.
He totally saved this !!


•

[StinkyMatt]

Talk to other people on the water. You will know whether you are too close or not. If fishing with people you know, the rules are different. If rock fishing with your buddies, it's clusterphuck time.


If you plan on getting anywhere close to another kayaker, ask if they have lines down and if not ask if you can pass behind them.....most guys will let you know if its cool or not.

If in doubt, or someone is not very talkative, give extra room.



I do want to add, as soon as people start going bendo see if all these 200 yd rules stay in place. I can tell you from my experience that as soon as you get on even the most experienced, highly respected, sponsored yak fishermen out there have a way of sliding in really close.


Common sense is not so common anymore.

[lamb]

Keep it coming gang, great dope!
Tnx for sharing that Greg's video Wade, good stuff.

I am sure new kayakers will learn a lot,
I am hoping the number of boaters that keep an eye out on BWE will learn from this discussion too.

[Iceman]

Gotta share this fresh experience. Today I was doing the happy pedal in around 10am with a large greenback in tow. About 100 yards outside the reserve the greenback gets picked up and freight trains south and finally into the kelp. There is a boater in gear cruising into the path of the fish. I yell out that I have a fish heading at him, it is obvious, rod bent and moving fast, he just stared back and kept motoring. Around 25 feet away I yell that I am going to run right into him. He yells back all pissed off" Are you serious? I slammed into the side of the boat, fish still pulling drag, I have the rod in the water and am getting pushed around the stern right by that spinning prop thingy. Fish pops off as it rubs on something sharp and finally he tells his chick to take it out of gear. He lets loose with smoke coming out of his ears about me hitting his $50,000 boat and how I should have bjust backed off the drags. I just apologized as I had no intention of hitting his boat. Now if he had been anchored and not under power I would feel really bad. I like to think that I always try to take my share of the responsibility, this guy took none and showed me no courtesy, he could have easily taken the boat out of gear or turned the wheel to the left and I would have easily won Wades YT Derby

[dorado50]

Wow, that sucks. Not much you can do about people like that. Too bad you had to lose the fish because of this arrogant soul. Worst part about it is that tomorrow there will be another guy like him right around the corner!

[lamb]

Ugh...

Andy, that really sucks.
That's that "the guys that don't pay attention" category...
And you had to apologize?!

There is just no excuse...
If you are out there, fishing on your beautiful $50K boat,
and if you don't know that any moment that kayaker off of your bow can be taken on a ride,
and turn into unpredictable sailboat whose wind has a plan of it's own,
you have no friggen place out there.

You should be banned from sharing these waters, for ignorance.

Sad part is that if that was the attitude the guy had,
he'll likely keep it forever -
he is not the type that will read forums such as this, trying to learn more about what he's trying to catch (I suppose)

Thanks for sharing that Masta

[steveooo]

Originally Posted by Iceman

Gotta share this fresh experience. Today I was doing the happy pedal in around 10am with a large greenback in tow. About 100 yards outside the reserve the greenback gets picked up and freight trains south and finally into the kelp. There is a boater in gear cruising into the path of the fish. I yell out that I have a fish heading at him, it is obvious, rod bent and moving fast, he just stared back and kept motoring. Around 25 feet away I yell that I am going to run right into him. He yells back all pissed off" Are you serious? I slammed into the side of the boat, fish still pulling drag, I have the rod in the water and am getting pushed around the stern right by that spinning prop thingy. Fish pops off as it rubs on something sharp and finally he tells his chick to take it out of gear. He lets loose with smoke coming out of his ears about me hitting his $50,000 boat and how I should have bjust backed off the drags. I just apologized as I had no intention of hitting his boat. Now if he had been anchored and not under power I would feel really bad. I like to think that I always try to take my share of the responsibility, this guy took none and showed me no courtesy, he could have easily taken the boat out of gear or turned the wheel to the left and I would have easily won Wades YT Derby

Any pics of the dudes girlfriend? No? How about a pic of a YT?

[YakMedic]

Originally Posted by Iceman

Today I was doing the happy pedal in around 10am

Happy pedal at 10 huh?

Sucks about the asshat boater but I have suspicions that you didn't come in empty handed either.

Its good to post up the experience because even when you try and do everything you can there are always things outside your control eg. oblivious boaters.