Drinking/littering On The Water...is It Ever Acceptable?

[airborne_angler]

Went out with another angler on his boat awhile back. On the way to the lake, this guy reaches in the console of his truck and cracks open a "40" of Miller as he's driving and gestures to me with a "Do you mind?"

I was stumped...here I am, a guest on this guy's fishing trip, miles from anything and this dude is tossing em back as he's driving...

I was in a pickle...i just gave him the ol nod and said "It's fine."

Then once we got on the water,he cracked open another 40 as he ran the TM.

Now I know operating a watercraft while impaired is illegal...does this normally include the TM? Operation is operation...correct?

Then this guy proceeds to take his empty 40 bottle and throw it in the lake and comments..."Habitat for the fish"...

Anyone ever fish with someone with such blatant disregard for laws and regulations?

What is everyone's thoughts/opinions of this?

[nascar2428]

I know this much, it would be my last fishing trip with him. 

[BassinLou]

I know this much, it would be my last fishing trip with him. 

 

^^^what he said^^^

 

Thanks for the outing, but its not happening again. Blatant disregard to his and your safety, and no respect for the environment. Not the type of person I will like to be hanging around and associated with. 

[einscodek]

Lookin at the trash littered around bodies of water I fish I suspect there are alot of guys like that.

ie.. only cares about himself and nothing else

[crazyjoeclemens]

Well, the drinking part Im not totally against.  I've been known to crack open a beer or two (certainly not a "40" though) on a long day out on the water.  However, I do know that a lot of people look down on drinking and boating because of the number of accidents caused by impaired boaters.  The littering part is a definite deal breaker.  If I were a guest, I might not say anything, but I would make it a point to not fish with them anymore.  Its too easy to stash your trash on the boat and toss it in one of the numerous garbage cans placed by the ramp.  I guess some people feel the need to discard their alcohol containers on the water, so a CPO wont find any "evidence" of them drinking, but I find it easier to just not drink to the point of innebriation and also by not acting like a jack*** on the water and drawing attention to myself...but thats just me...

[Master Bait'r]

Well imo sipping beers while you're out fishing on the boat are always nice, but pounding 40s while driving a car is not cool with me.  At all.  Also I think I'd probably "accidentally" bump the guy over the edge after he threw a 40 in the lake.  What a dirtbag.  100% inexcusable.  Blatant lazy or ignorant littering makes me erupt like the Mt. St. Helens of contempt.  

[Raul]

Drinking depends on how much, a few brews ( 2-3 even 4 ) in an entire day aren´t going to kill anybody, littering is another history, that´s a definite NO.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Drinking isn't against the rules for me, within limits of course. Littering on the other hand is a big no no for me. Accidents do happen. We've all had stuff blown out of a boat. But to intentionally toss something over the side is just bad mojo.

[Catch and Grease]

I let someone borrow our jonboat one time and they left a box of worms in the back I didn't know about and I had to go out of town for while so it sat back there for who knows how long, then when I got back I loaded the boat up to go on a regular fishing trip.

I launched the boat and was on my way but 5 minutes in I smelled THE WORST smell I have ever smelled in my life and I looked back there and the worms had dissolved into some BRIGHT green goo and it was so bad that instincts made me pick the container out and throw it into the lake...

That's the only time I've littered there and I wish I wouldn't have done that.

[OroBass]

Light drinking is fine with me. Littering is not.

[gar-tracker]

Like anything if its done in a responsible manner I dont find fault in it, I live 3 minutes from the ramp, on a rare occasion when I go out in the evening around 4:00ish to sunset Ill bring a couple of brews out with me. Never on full day trips while seriously fishing.

 

And again let me reiterate, I live about 1/2 mile from the ramp.

[Paul s]

Why is everyone saying id stay quiet since I was a guest on his trip, no screw that he is playing with my life by drinking and driving his truck with me in it, and im sorry but I think you should have said no its not fine but thats jmo.

[Paul s]

Why is everyone saying id stay quiet since I was a guest on his trip, no screw that he is playing with my life by drinking and driving his truck with me in it, and im sorry but I think you should have said no its not fine but thats jmo.

aslo what I get really ticked off about are the guys and gals that smoke and then toss their cigarette butts into the water.

[CDMeyer]

Littering is not expectable at all under any circumstances.....

I do not drink at all but being from northern Wisconsin most people will have a beer or two while driving a boat, it is legal as long as you are under the blood alcohol limit..... this being said I do not agree with it

[CDMeyer]

We have a responsibly to take care of the waters we fish, God gave us them and we must respect them.  We also are responsible for those in our boat, ourselves and other on that body of water.  Therefore consuming alcohol is wrong and puts you and others at risk even if you think you are in "good shape"

[sparky241]

Is littering OK? Is throwing that piece of trash litter bug in the water count?

[A-Jay]

I'll say these situations fall under the category of " No Regrets".

 

I seriously despise looking back at any situation in life and saying ~

 

"I should have . . . . . ."

I could have . . . . . . . " or

I would have . . . . . "

 

It still happens, but a whole lot less than it used to.

 

 Life is too short.  When the situation arises, and they always do,  just say what's on your mind - DO IT - Right Then.  It's up to the other human to deal with it. 

 

A man is going to do what he will - but I'm going to say my piece and I might modify my own plan based on his.

 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

A-Jay

[Nice_Bass]

I drink a few while fishing every time I fish unless a tourney??  Some days I make it a rule I cant open a beer until I get a keeper in the boat- other days I wont leave the marina without first cracking a beer on the way out. 

 

Really 2 40's is not all that much if you were on an all day fishing trip..or really less for that matter- a six pack is not much beer...and everyone knows you don't finish a 40- last couple ounces get dumped for sure.  Seems like he should be able to be under .08 or whatever your state has as laws potentially.   

 

obviously throwing it overboard is just dumb.  Also obviously...if you are going to drink a beer on the road...who in gods name would buy a 40 to do it?

  I don't agree with a person drinking and driving, but it happens a lot everywhere in the world unfortunately...just not usually with a 40oz. 

[roadwarrior]

Most of the guys I fish with follow this guideline:

 

Can't pop-a-top until the first fish is boated or 7:00 AM, whichever comes first!

 

 

 

 

[newriverfisherman1953]

Well, I guess I have a different outlook than most.  I would have been more disturbed by the drinking than the littering.  I have worked too many accidents as an EMT to be comfortable with drinking and driving.  I would have said "I'd rather you didn't".  And either way, I probably wouldn't fish with him again.  I would have him fish with me. 

[mod479]

I pick up the trash at my bank spots everytime i go, yet it's never my trash. Usually the same bucket fishermen and amish tossing snelled hook packs, snack wrappers, soda bottles, hard bait packaging, etc. where I'm at. Seen them do it for years and years, they do not care how much piles up. I always toss the sticks they prop their rods up with out in the river. They're runnin' out of tree branches down there. lol.   

[EmersonFish]

It's not always possible (like if they toss something out of the boat and it gets away), but when I fish with people who litter, I clean up after them. I shouldn't have to do that, but believe me, I don't have to say anything. They know how I feel, and decent people will feel cruddy about it when they are getting in their car to leave and they see me picking up their trash. Hopefully, that makes them think next time. Some people are hopeless, of course; but it's best to just not associate with them. 

[EmersonFish]

I pick up the trash at my bank spots everytime i go, yet it's never my trash. Usually the same bucket fishermen and amish tossing snelled hook packs, snack wrappers, soda bottles, hard bait packaging, etc. where I'm at. Seen them do it for years and years, they do not care how much piles up. I always toss the sticks they prop their rods up with out in the river. They're runnin' out of tree branches down there. lol.   

I don't pick up everything when I bank fish, because around here if I did that, I'd never be bank fishing, it would only be bank cleaning; but I always try to leave the bank a little cleaner than it was when I came, which means cleaning up after a few idiots. It's really sad that people have no respect for nature, or the other people who use the area.

[skeeter1980]

My answer is HELL NO.Who doesn't have a cell phone today?.Just drop me off right here,I'll call someone,to come and get me.I will admit,I do throw my cig butts in the water. I was out rabbit hunting one day,a friend started to take a drink of brady.I said,we are using my dogs,i'd appericate if you wouldn't.He said but i'm cold.Dress better.I know beer and brady isn't the same.But when i'm fishing or hunting,I don't want either around.

[iabass8]

Well, I guess I have a different outlook than most.  I would have been more disturbed by the drinking than the littering.  I have worked too many accidents as an EMT to be comfortable with drinking and driving.  I would have said "I'd rather you didn't".  And either way, I probably wouldn't fish with him again.  I would have him fish with me. 

I'm with ya. I'd rather him dump a trash can in the water than drink and operate a boat. 

 

Either way...what kind of disgusting piece of trash has to drink and drive on his way to the boat ramp and then pop open another 40 while fishing? I wouldn't have even bothered fishing /w him. that crap is disgusting and he's an embarrassment to fishing.