Just wondering if anyone has ever had problems getting buzzed by power boats – either intentionally or just failing to see you.
If it appeared to be intentional, such as being accompanied by gestures, shouting, laughing, etc. – what would you do?
I haven’t had any trouble with power boats, most of the water I’ve been on is out of the way/ secluded.
But, if I was having trouble with a power boat I’d try to get the registration # from the bow or a very good description and turn them in. The Sherriff Dept., Water Patrol, and Park Rangers won’t tolerate much of that garbage here. Too many folks have drowned on the water already.
A fisherman died at Truman Reservoir, MO on Saturday when another boat slammed into his. No details about the reason. Probably inexperience or alcohol, usually always is.
Stay safe… 
I’d add ski-doos in there as well. I wrote on one of these posts about have two racing power boats go past me at full bore with me in between. I don’t think they even knew I was there, that is, a friend and I. There probably wasn’t ten feet to either side. We landed with a big splash. Matt, my canoeing partner that day, has never sat in a canoe since and that was about either years ago. If either boat had been either closer or further away there is no telling what would have happened. Pretty scary. JGW
When I fished from my blue canoe, skiiers would buzz me often. The problem stopped when I started fishing from an orange kayak. So, I assume it was just they didn’t see me. I also have an air horn or whistle available.
I recently had the opportunity to question “The Man” about this very issue and I was told not to hesitate to call for such problems. The type of person that would buzz a paddle craft on purpose usually has other issues that would interest law enforcement. Besides, I was told, their budget is determined by the number of calls they respond to.
Here is what I would do if they were doing it on purpose: take a picture (camera phones are great) and record the registration number. If they see you with a camera, it might be enough to make them leave.
Yup from the topic I supose you can guess.Yes I have swam to shore.Yes they have laughed about it.Yes the sherrif made them go diving for my gear (it was only 12 ft down) Yes after they got my gear and my canoe back to shore the sherrif took the owner of the boat to JAIL. His partner got to load the boat and take it home,he’s the one who ask if he could dive for my gear and get my canoe out of the lake! Deputy liked that so much he got a walk but the other idiot got arrested for Agrevated assault with a motor vehicle,Damage to personel property and operating a motor vehicle under the influance.
He plead guilty and got 5 yrs probation,loss of boating privalages in the state,$5000. fine and replacement of all lost gear.
The judge is a canoing WW FF! Can you say bounce the book of his forhead,SMACK!!! That lake now has a very gentle demenor as far as canoes and kyacks are concerned NOW. They did drop the charge of op. in excess of the posted 10 hp limit.He had a 150 on his boat.
Dennis
Yep, a picture is worth a thousand words.
:shock: Wow. This would make a great article.
A lot of the places I fish would be Instant Death for a power-boat, if anyone was stupid enough to try it. Where I live, it’s pretty remote.
When I fish on big lakes (at least in Ga. and Tn.) in my Yak, skiers and bass-boats usually give me a wide berth. I’m not sure if it’s courtesy, or the Colt 1861 revolver in my shoulder-holster that keeps them away, but whatever…
Semper Fi!
Get their boat number and call it in. In the State of Minnesota, it is against the law to interfere with a person who is fishing. Besides the law is broken regarding a motor craft endangering a none-motor craft, on the water. No-wake rules apply, as well as a distance of 100 feet.
To many of these speed maniac’s are also under the influence, and can be charged with DWI or DUI, for operating a motored watercraft.
I used to work in Laughlin Nev.We would venture up to Lake Mohave on weekend mornings to watch the fun at the boat launch and have breakfast.I have seen MANY idiots trying to launch after drinking in the casinos ALL night.I’ve seen them sink the boat (drain plug).The fun is when the Ranger walks up to a boat and starts talking on his radio (trouble is a comin).Soon Here comes a state trooper or county sheriff.There goes the boat owner with his kids and wife standing there wondering “How to load a ski boat”.Then the ranger starts in with "but the boat has been CONFISCATED!!!
DWI is not to be played with in a NATIONAL park!!!
Dennis
I don’t have a problem with power boats, just the inconsiderate idiots that drive them! Get the registration number and description. Turn them into to the authorities right away. This is where a cell phone comes in handy.
Me and a buddy mnay years ago used to when fishing from his Sears Aluminum boat with a trolling motor always keep the following on hand. A spin rod with a heavy large lure full of lots of tremble hooks for those idiots that would buzz us on our local lake. While we never hooked one of the guys or gals either in the boat or sking behind a few cast in their general dirrection gave them a large hint to stay away and give us our space. It worked most of the times we had to use.
Its funny but now days I am often out in the salt fishing from my kayak and the boaters out their normally are quite polite though I do have to always stay alert for the boater paying more attention to his salmon rod then where his boat is going. so far no boater while fishing Puget Sound has tried to swamp me yet and that might be because they know the water will kill in as little as 15 minutes if they did.
What if they see you with a gun?
[quote=“mtb4jc”]
What if they see you with a gun?[/quote]
In Ga., it is legal to carry an unconcealed pistol while engaged in fishing. It sort of makes power boats give you a wide berth.
Semper Fi!
Some lakes in Minnesota, have buoy’s situated at a given depth from shore, completely or partially around the lake (depending on the lake size). Between the shore and the buoy’s it is a “No-Wake Zone”!
As for speed boats, buzzing non-motorized craft, the operator not only loses their right to operate a motorized watercraft, they may even lose the watercraft.
I do not fish on weekends, I leave that time for amateurs. Some States, even restrict lake use. Some limit the hours that high speed boats can operate, I have seen some lakes posted that, that the speed is no wake within 100 yards of shoreline, and top speed is 10 mph, except between 11 AM and 5 PM.
In Minnesota, we have a term for for someone going to a Lake (“UP NORTH!”), and the idiots out on the water are called “NORTH WOOD REDNECK!”.
Many years ago when I first started fishing out of a float tube I was warned to stay off the water on Wednesday nights because that was the night of the weekly bass tounament. Of course I lost my temper and showed up at the marina they fished out of to make it clear that if any of them hit me I would sue the marina, the club and every single member paticipating that night. After they got me calmed down they disqualified the guy who had warned/threatened me for two weeks and always gave me plenty of room except for one time when I was invisible in a bad sun reflection and that guy came back to apologize and explain why he buzzed me. They are mosly a good bunch of outdoorsmaen and weren’t much happier with the idea of warning other people off the water than I was.
Rainbowchaser,
I’m glad your incident had a good outcome. We had an unfortunate indicent on the Jersey Shore earlier this year involving a charter boat captain, believe it or not. Charter boat captains have been known to try and intimidate smaller, private boats out of their “spots” and off the blitzes, and there seems to be a growing feeling that kayaks “shouldn’t be there”. There are some tough tactics applied out there in the salt.
I fish a freshwater reservoir that is owned by a power company, and everyone that puts in at the reservoir is recorded at the only launch. I was “warned” to stay out of the way of the bass boats by the recorder there because the bass boats had been complaining about the kayak’ers. I’m pretty respective of other fishermen’s space, so nothing to worry about. If you buzz me, though, you might have a problem.
But kayak fishing is a growing community, and it looks like we’re going to have to fight back. One thing I’m going to do is to carry a marine radio and know who to call when something happens.
In all the years that I’ve been fishing from small boats, I’ve had almost no trouble with other fisherman. Most seem to know and respect the rules of the road.
Over the years, my problems have come from boats with a water skier attached. Many of these half wits seem to think it’s a real hoot to come in close to a fisheman and soak him with their spray from the ski. Aside from the danger of collisions, tackle, camera and other equipment gets soaking, wringing wet–way worse in salt water. In my younger years when I was relatively immune to litigation, I actually took a water skier right out of his skis :twisted: by hitting him in the square in the chest with a full beverage can as he came in toward me at high speed and afterward threatened to bash his head in with my oar if he didn’t go away and stay away. I was only 18 at the time but he said “Mr. I’m really sorry and won’t cause any more trouble.” I’ve also discourage more than a few by slinging a paddle or a gaff end over end at their legs just before they begin their cut away and start to spray. Now days I content myself with sliding behind coral heads, stumps or submerged bars and hoping the boat or the skier will follow me in as they try to get me wet :roll: . Nearly got a boat and a skier on the west end of Long Key that way. Sorry folks but that water ski spraying is one thing that really ticks me off. 8T 
Gigmaster is it true can I pack while fishing? I live north of Atlanta and only two exits from the lake off of 400 and while im in my small v bottom I have been almost capsised several time including a few times with my little ones with me 
:x :x . If I shot would the law consider it self defense? 
Here in PA we have of course the three rivers area that attracts all sorts of characters in boats, jet skis, what have you. Last summer some jokers on jet skis were harrassing a SHORE fisherman by buzzing the shore line etc. Words were exchanged and the idiot piloting the jet ski beat the fisherman to within an inch of is life. He’s in jail now. I prefer to carry a small sidearm secured safely in a holster that is strapped directly to my PFD, it’s my right and I’ll exercise it. In PA it is illegal to not give berth to a non-powered water craft and it is also required that if you a see a troubled craft you must lend assistance. I try to stay out of the heavily pressured waterways because of the number of idiots that are out there but it is a shame because I live 8 minutes from a new Yak and canoe launch that will be completed this summer. Stay visible and be prepared.
JA