Cat and Mouse...

[THE DARKHORSE]

Originally Posted by Big Wave Dave

Thank you for the reasonable approach to the madness.

If you're referring to my advice of spreading out it's not a reasonable approach. What I'm suggesting is a far more effective way of catching the right-kind for kayak anglers. And anglers fishing off a skiff for that matter. Why (try to) fish where a dozen Barneys are roaring their engines back and forth; then back and forth some more? All that does is shut whatever fish that are there, down. Even in a postage stamp location such as La Jolla there's, literally, miles and miles of water to cover. All of which hold fish...

To be clear, obviously, kayak anglers have less of this undesired effect. That's why I'm on one most of the time. If you learn to use the plastic tool (the kayak itself) properly you can hammer the same school over and over again. It's almost as if they don't even know you're there. So if it's not blatantly obvious by this point I'm referring to skiffs, Yachts, sport-boats, motorized crafts, etc. Noisy vessels for the most part. However, a lot of kayakers who don't know-what's-up certainly add to the problem.

It would also be highly excusable if it were just a family in a ski-boat not even fishing. You know coming within sixty feet to see what you're doing out there? It's Summer for crying out loud---and going to happen from time to time. Another thing entirely for the guy with the $5,000 sonar and an equal value of rods and reels on board. Not to mention someone who's out there trying to do the same exact thing! Just doing everything possible to ruin it for everyone in the process.

In summary, I'm not an elitist vegan, pastic only, catch and release snob. I'm fishing off a skiff just as often as anyone of these characters I mention. If not more so. So I know full well how easily it can be done. From simply giving everyone a wide berth---to never, ever, forever ever, never coming up from behind someone when they're trolling a bait. Or, up-current when they're simply drifting. Somehow I still see this from 90% of the vessels on the water. Every single day! To say it gets old would be a huge understatement.

I always try and give someone a hundred yard distance when passing. Especially if for whatever reason they're just sitting there. Lets think about this. They might have a 12" Mackerel on a fly-line for bait---so who knows where in the hell that thing is? I don't want to get that spectra wrapped in my prop; or pedals if I'm on a kayak. Nor would I ever want to keep that angler from catching the fish that's about to inhale his bait. It's just common courtesy----that's grown less and less common. I always try and go well around if at all possible. And when someone does the same it's much appreciated.

This isn't a squid-bite we're talking about, folks; with everyone fishing off a tiny nest. It's miles and miles of moving life. Get out there and find it. I can guarantee it's not always surrounded by a Hornet's nest.

[bigbarrels]

nice fish Josh you nailed it on the head....Comes down to common courtesy and lack there of......I could of counted the number of nose hairs on the entire crew as the private boat drove past me to try to get in some action but then I hooked up and stopped counting