[617110]

I actually mentioned this on Islanders "Ire of a Surfcasters" post, so I figured what the heck I'll post it anyway. But first let me start with a disclaimer.

I intend not to offend anyone. I know charter boat captains and party boat captains may/do use this site. This is nothing personal. If for some reason it is deemed inappropriate I beg the moderators to delete it.

Have anyone ever been pushed from a fishing hole, squezzed in an inlet by two party boats passing side by side (as oppossed from the two following each other), had profanities screamed at you by patrons of the vessel, things thrown at you?

Now to make things fair I'll take the Captains vantage point. What was the worst thing that either you witnessed or you done to antagonize a party boat.

I only fish party boats on rare occassions.
Once we were anchored on The FI Reef for Sea bass at night and a private boat anchored way too close. The captain came out of the wheel house and courteously asked the people to move the boat. Well, let me tell you of the fight that enthralled between these two captains. Holy cow! Some of the small kids on the boat had wide eyes because this was like an R-rated movie their parents forbid them to watch. I honestly felt sorry for the parents of the kids.

On the other hand, I once had a beer bottle thrown at me and crack my windsheild (plastic) on a boat I no longer have. I will not give any other details (name of boat or location) but will tell you this. I radioed the party boat and informed the captain of what happened. He was very polite and told me to hold on he'll call me back. It turns out the captain spoke with one of the mates who witnessed it. He called me and informed me to be at the dock before he reached it. So I did. To my amazement the NYS Park Police were there also. Both me and a friend ID the guy along with the mate on the boat. The man was issued a dissorderley conduct, public drunkenness, and a littering summons. The officers asked if I wanted to have him arrested for assualt. I really had to think about that. I replied "No"! From what I understand if I had him arrested I had to show in court and that is the last place I want to be for any reason.

Anyway, sorry for the long post but I am interested in what the rest of you have to say.

somoan

 

[614512]

Yep

I've been pushed out, and squeezed. Also, once I was drifting, and fish started breaking around my boat. A party boat moved right in. Drunks yelled, casted at me, because I didn't move far enough. I was there first! I only moved enough to avoid a collision. I was in an 18 foot boat. It was very frustrating and discouraging. I just ignored them and kept fishing, including casting toward them (not at them). That only happened once. Getting squeezed in channels happens a lot, but channels are channels...

...Mocean

 

[Hunt n' Fish]

It definately works both ways. For as many times as I have been forced off of a spot I was drifting by a party boat that moves in and station holds over it, I have had three times as many problems with fellow private boaters doing similar things.

A notorious place for conflicts is the Fire Island Lighthouse dock when the weaks are there at night. If there are a few private boats there the party boats will pass it by. If there is only one or two and/or the federal guys are fishing from the pier, one or more of the head boats will anchor off and have the customers cast in, effectively cutting off much of the fishing. It is fishable but a little uncomfortable.

Turn about is fair play though, and I will squeeze my way in to be able to fish part of the pier if I get there after the party boat and there is a place I can cast from. Usually, there are a few unpleasant moments between the captain/customers and myself, but after few minutes they see I am trying to respect their distance and they respect mine. Even the occasional snagged lines are returned to the water intact This also happens a lot on the North side of Demo between the surf casters and the party boats.

Problems with the way a boat is run and problems with the actions of a customer(s) are two different things. For the most part, the Captree fleet operates in a safe manner and they have worked to avoid adversely affecting me many more times than they have aggrevated me. There are a few very popular spots that will always cause conflicts between private boats, head boats and surf casters.

 

[seaslug44]

Exactly Why I LOVE to Fish The Sound

Avoiding conflict & competition with other boats is the exact reason why I love to fish the Long Island Sound. It's not just a problem between private boats and party boats. It happens between the party/charter boats and between recreational boats on any body of water that is too crowded.

No offense everyone, but I love to get out on the water with my friends and family to ESCAPE other people. I deal with the public all week long at work. The last thing I want to do after work or on the weekends is see, hear or especially argue with other people.

Although I know much of Great South Bay like the back of my hand, I refuse to fish there anymore. It's just too crowded and not at all enjoyable. Too many boats and not enough fish leads to too much fustration.

The Long Island Sound is like the last oasis. It's large enough that we can literally fish an entire day without ever getting close enough to read the name of any other boat. I can count the number of party boats within twenty miles of Smithtown Bay using the fingers on one hand. With less angler pressure and more terrain, the fish tend to be larger and more abundant. On days when my favorite honey holes are occupied by other boats, I can travel to another spot or explore for a new one.

I try to keep a positive attitude but the truth is that the conflicts you are all talking about are simply a product of our screwed-up society. People in general have a problem getting along. There is a huge lack of respect both on the water and on land. Too many individuals think about nobody but themselves.

I'll always be the first person to offer another angler/boater a hand or advice. I'm also one of those fishermen who extend invites to everyone I know. I love the company and I love to share this great sport with others every chance I get. But fishing with dozens of anglers on other boats around me, especially dozens of anglers who show no respect is not my idea of fun or a sport. When others learn to enjoy life and leave their problems behind them at the dock, maybe I'll reconsider how I feel. But until then, I'll keep my distance and keep my fishing trips enjoyable for everyone on my boat.

 

[loonzter]

I was Fluke fishing in the bay and pulled up by a party boat to start my drift. Being kind of a newby I positioned my small aluminum skiff so that the party boat blocked the breeze, which meant it was drifting faster than I was. I was focused on fishing when I heard the Capt. of the Partyboat suggest to her fares that they chuck some lead at my head, if it was meant ot get my attention it worked because I started up my engine and beat it out of there.
I also fished one day for Blacks between Huntington and Conn. we had just finished anchoring and dropped down to the bottom to find we were right on top of a nice piece with alot of life. We saw in the distance a party boat coming form City Island who proceeded to anchor up in such a way that his fares were all of 6' away from us. You could tell they were pretty embarassed at the brazeness of the Captain, I suppose he felt this was his spot and we had no rights to it. I had just pulled in a nice 7 lber when he revved his engines and drove the party boat right over our anchor line, this pulled our anchor and we drifted off the spot, then he set up right over where we had been. I couldn't believe the balloons on this guy, we stayed calm and moved to another spot but that was the worst I ever experienced.

 

[Capt. Bill]

Geez Doc, don't play the Sound up too much. We don't want every south shore crazy with a trailer up here!

 

[619623]

Thanks Doc !!,,sorry capt bill smithtown is soundin better to me each day...if ya see a whaler with a fightin irish leprachaun on its bow you can thank doc...but dont worry i wont get too close

 

[620137]

Fishing the sound is no day at the beach. I fish out of Huntington and have had numerous run ins with one particuliar party boat. (most will know who I mean). Twice he cut my lines when I was trolling. It was done on purpose as there was plenty of room and he laughed as he passed by. Worst time came from same boat as I had been fishing a school boiling bluefish. My wife was onboard reading a book and I went below to get some tackle. While below she started saying something about a boat getting real close but as I always do I didn't pay much to her and just kept saying it was Ok. Next thing I know I hear all this screaming and yelling as this moron positioned me between himself and the boiling bluefish. His fares were casting over my boat and trying to pull fish and jigs right through my boat. Again he stood on the bridge laughing.

 

[617905]

My kinda guy!!

quote:
I'm also one of those fishermen who extend invites to everyone I love the company and I love to share this great sport with others every chance I get.

THANKS Doc!!!

Where should I be and when???

 

[621938]

i am's wit doc, with a caviat



doc, esk-nay on de bay-bay, and what ever you do, dont tell about fishin' the weekdays



dino

 

[622769]

Wow, some of those stories are pretty messed up...especially the one about the Huntington party boat.

While i never had any problems with charterboats, i had my share with private boaters and even surf fishermen....thats why i elect to fish mainly at night so i can avoid most idiots. The time where i stay clear of the water is a full moon.....i call that "Amateur night". Just last night i fished F.I. inlet and saw 4 guys anchored by the bridge with their navigation lights on. I guess they don't know about the anchor light!. I even saw some clown plowing through the channel with no lights on at all and to make matters worse, the hull of the boat was brown so it was a real struggle to see the **** thing! I motored up to him and told him to turn on his lights so the rest of us could see him. His reply: "They don't work". My reply: "Bravo".

Now, thats why i love the "New moon"....total blackness so the amateurs stay in that night and leave all the fish to a few select who dare go out.

 

[parttimer]

I also had a run in with the referenced party boat captain, after he thought I past too close to his boat. He came out of the cabin and proceeded to call me every curse word and insult he could think of. I was to shocked and embarrased at the time to answer but after thinking about it later I should have quietly told him to get back on "his" box in the wheel house.

 

[B.Attitude]

A few years back I had a problem with the Capt.Doug out of freeport. We were flounder fishing in one of my favorite spots and the Capt.felt it was necessay to drop his two anchors and use my boat as a fender.We actually had to hold my boat off his with our hands.He came out and told us "this was his spot".We exchanged a few nice words but I had to give in,we couldn't fish this way.We brought up the anchor with some hooks attached so we cut them loose and then he started all over again.This really pissed me off,ruined my day.When I got home I looked up his # in that other magizine and left a message that I wanted to charter his boat.Later that night he called,I told him who I was and we had it out.He said he has been fishing that spot for a few years now.I replied that I was fishing it since I was eighteen(I'm now in my mid 40's).I told him I understand he has a bussiness but I also told him my fees for owning a boat,the expense of gas and bait.Why should I have to leave a spot thats holding fish and fish elsewhere?
We kind of left it like that,but a few times soon after we ran into each other again the Capt. came out of his wheelhouse and waved to me.I have to admit that I started to respect him again and hold no grudges.
paulie

 

[Striper77]

Not sure this is about Party Boat Captains, small boat fishermen, or jetty jockeys, seems to me it is just about rude people. They are everywhere and no group has a patent on them. There are a few rude a**holes and many, many good guys in all groups. No need to take a side here, all groups seem to have a percentage of idiots, hopefully it is small.

 

[617110]

StriperKid

StriperKid,

I also fished FI Inlet yestersay from 3pm-9pm. There were lots of boats out there especially around the sore thumb. However, I find nothing wrong with having navigation lights on if anchored. Yes officially an anchor light is all that is needed, but what is wrong with a little extra security. Especially under a bridge where people cut in and out of the stanchions. As far a a boat without lights...well thats just plain stupid. I commend your reply..."BRAVO"! This of course is just my feelings on the subject.

How'd you do last night? We had a lot of runoffs. I finally landed one and it was a bluefish. It made me susspect that we were getting hits by them most of the night. Did see some stripers come up on boats that were putting in both the time and heavy chum.

somoan

 

[MakoMike]

Somoan,
Running lights when anchored is like putting on your cars left turn signal and then turning right. An anchor light indicates that you are anchored and therefor incapable of moving and manuevering. Running lights indicate that you are moving and have the ability to manuever. Its like what's the difference between parking in the middle of the street and parking in your driveway.

 

[Gamakatsu]

It is illegal to be anchored with running lights on. Your lights indicate to other boats what your situation is, what direction you're heading, whether they are looking at your stern or bow, etc. Those red, green and white colors tell an awful lot to other boaters.

Gamakatsu

 

[617905]

Dream on.... or maybe dream off at this point....

For at least thirty years now, if I could point to the one "dream" has kept me going it would be the one that starts with, "next year I'll get a boat". I've always wanted one more than almost anything, but as things would have it, this pops up and that happens and before I know it it's the end of the season and well, next year I'll REALLY get a boat. But after reading all of this as well as other similar stories that have been posted here in the past, I don't know now.

 

[Gamakatsu]

Now, back to the topic. Having run party boats, I will offer a different perspective. Often times inexperienced or untrained boaters make mistakes and don't even realize it. These mistakes are endless, some just humorous and others dangerous. Working a party boat on a nice night in a popular spot can be an absolute nightmare. People running up on top of you, tangling your fares' lines, running with no lights on, running with the wrong lights on, shining flashlights and spot lights at you, etc., etc. Honestly, I'd rather be boating in the company of other headboats with licensed captains than a swarm of small boats with skippers of varying experience.

I don't mean to pick on Somoan, but I'll use his example. If I were running at night, in area where people don't typically drift, and saw his red running light and a white light up top, I'd assume that he was underway. Who's fault would it be if I passed too close to his stern because I thought that he was moving forward?

I'm not saying that party boat captains don't make mistakes. In the case of a few, they act like idiots, but about 95% of the incidents that I've seen have been as the result of inexperienced boaters making the mistake.

Gamakatsu

 

[622769]

Somoan...
While your intentions are good, anchored with running lights on can be extremely dangerous. Once i was drifting through the inlet on a fast tide and saw the boat ahead of me with running lights on....this indicated to me he also was drifting and i was a safe distance from him. It wasn't until i was on top of him that i realized he was anchored!! I nearly clipped his boat and anchor line trying to scramble out of the way! This put both boats and crew in unnecessary danger! Had he turned on the proper anchor light (only the all around white light) this whole scene would've been avoided.
Another time, i was anchored by the bridge with a few other boats and for once we all had the proper lighting (yes, it does happen sometimes) and along came this 28' Regal drifting down on us. Me and the guy next to me had to yell to the Capt on the Regal that the rest of the fleet was anchored and he was the only one drifting. He almost caught the anchor line of the guy
next to me. If he had known the meaning of the lights, he wouldn't have been in that position. All it takes is a
simple boating safety course or a trip to the local library to find a book on navigation. As boaters, we all need to know the "rules on the water".
BTW, i was out from 8:00pm to 2:00am and had no action. The water is too warm and i think we're 3 weeks away from seeing steady action.