How to deal with people fishing right on top of you?

[Darth-Baiter]

Just now, Darnold335 said:

@Darth-Baiteri will have to remember that one 

 

i think i still have the footage.  haha.

[Bassabductor69]

10 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Were they adults ? Sounds like something a turd butt would do. 

Yes, had it been kids. Okay fine, I can understand and honestly if they’re outside enjoying themselves doing something I did at their age for fun, more power to them I hope they catch it.

but these were grown adults mid 30s, not much older than me

[Bassabductor69]

11 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

one time a kayak floated 6 feet in front of and started fishing.  i said, "gopro start recording".  he looked at me and i said, "nobody will believe how rude you are, so i wanted to film it".  he gave me stinkeye and paddled off.  hahaha.

 

Clearlake is a big lake, but still try to keep it fun.  

I was actually looking at GoPros yesterday. I want to start filming my catches, but my thinking is if this happens again I’d like to get it in video just so everyone in our area who happens upon it sees them

[Dwight Hottle]

The state of Florida allows open carry when fishing. A visible gun on your hip might have alleviated them crowding you in the first place. Just a thought. A call to the FWC is warranted after you see a violation. If you have video evidence so much the better. 

[Kirtley Howe]

When I was younger and less concerned about my personal safety I had a technique that I used in that type of situation.   I would use an 8 foot extra heavy duty rod, and a large lure with multiple treble hooks, and would side-arm cast. That usually cleared the area around me pretty quickly. These days when people get shot for looking at someone the "wrong way" I just move on to a different area. At 74 years old, discretion is the better part of valor....and I want to live to see 75 or more years of age.

[Pat Brown]

This is when you fire the cannons!

 

Avast!  Y'aarrrrr!

[Susky River Rat]

2 hours ago, Bassabductor69 said:

next time I’m throwing rocks in the water

I wouldn’t even bother.  Just shake your head and walk away. The next area could be your new PB. Don’t get involved and put a target on your back. That’s even worse to do if you are there often.

[J Francho]

[galyonj]

3 hours ago, Bassabductor69 said:

But again my biggest problem is idk how to deal with a situation like this, then trying to bully me out of my spot and just fishing on top of it.

 

I have suggestions, but the secret ingredient is crime.

[TnRiver46]

You can’t fix stupid…… well you can but it’s illegal 

[galyonj]

It's only illegal if there's a witness.

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

You can’t fix stupid…… well you can but it’s illegal 

 

7 minutes ago, galyonj said:

It's only illegal if there's a witness.

And that's why I don't like making plans for the day

because that's when the word 'premeditated' gets throw around the courtroom.

A-Jay

 

 

[TnRiver46]

^

[PhishLI]

7 hours ago, galyonj said:

It's only illegal if there's a witness.

Don't trust anyone who says the good old days weren't really that good at all. Oh yes, they were.

[padlin]

I run into similar, at least the instant crowd, when the stripers push baitfish into a spot at shore. 1st person catching draws a crowd in minutes, shore fisherman and boats. There must be something like a party line that folks call.

[GreenPig]

Just move on. No fish/fishing spot is worth hurting someone or getting hurt. The folks that would do such things, have no morals or manners and all the your talking, fussing, or fighting isn't gonna change that. 

I'd look into a small boat/kayak and be mobile. Sure it'll cost, but it'll be so much cheaper than a hospital stay or defense attorney. 

[TOXIC]

If they’re willing to be rude and have you outnumbered, they’re probably willing to start something if confronted.  I would walk away but let them know they are breaking the law.  If they keep harvesting, a little further away and I would say, google call game warden so they could hear it. 

[Columbia Craw]

There’s always miniature golf.

[Bassabductor69]

Hey all, I decided I’m going to invest in a foldable kayak if I can find a decent one in my price range. That solves the problem.

I’ll also get a GoPro eventually, so if something like this happens again I can post it here and elsewhere, show FWC the reg violations, etc.

May finally get myself a gun this year while I’m at it considering the new conceal carry laws down here. Although an open carry may serve more purpose by that logic, I’m not gonna harm someone over fish but if the perceived threat keeps them a respectful distance away from me then it’s worth it.

[IcatchDinks]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

That looks maybe half as crowded as Tippy Dam on the Manistee river in Michigan during the salmon run. Absolutely unbearable. 

[Bankc]

People are crazy these days.  And anger has a way of spreading, like a disease.  Best thing to do is walk away before you get angry.  Avoid the problems before they get worse.  Because the last thing you want is them to drag you down to their level.  Keep your happiness intact, even if it means letting the bad guys win, because your happiness is worth more than your righteousness.  

 

Second best thing to do is ruin it for everyone else.  And in order to do that without getting into a confrontation, I've discovered a little secret about humans.  No one believes you when you tell them you're smart, but everyone believes you when you tell them you're stupid.  So you can act like a real jerk, so long as you're super friendly and don't seem to be aware that you're acting like a jerk.  In other words, you can do things like pester them with constant questions and keep reminding them that you're new to this, so you don't know what you're doing.  Then maybe cast way off to the side and cross the other guy's line so you get caught up in theirs and say something like "sorry, I'm not very good at this".   If they tell you to leave, just say "one more cast, I've got a good feeling about this one" over and over again.  So long as you smile and act like you have no idea that they're getting angry at you, it makes it really hard for them to act on that anger.  People want to believe that they're good at heart, so they need your help to escalate the anger into violence.  That's why people almost always shove each other before throwing punches.  But you can often avoid the violence by pretending not to recognize their attempts at escalation, and just remain calm and happy.  It's still risky, because there are people crazy enough to snap without warning and not need you to help them escalate things.  So you can still get yourself hurt or worse.  But it's a method I've found that works more often than not.  

[Kirtley Howe]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

You can’t fix stupid…… well you can but it’s illegal 

You can't fix stupid but you can muffle it with Duct Tape.

[the reel ess]

6 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

My strategy is never look at other fishermen. That way you won’t know (or subsequently care) what they do 

There are a few urban places you have to keep your head on a swivel.

[Woody B]

Eat a BUNCH of chilli beans before your next fishing trip.  If people crowd you just "gas" them.   

[12poundbass]

@IcatchDinks I haven’t fished Tippy but I’ve fished steelhead on Michigan rivers and that’s the main reason I don’t anymore. Guys on both sides casting to the middle getting tangled with one another. I thought for sure I was going to see a kid get lynched because he was going to keep a steelhead that wasn’t hooked in the mouth. Absolutely illegal, but not deserving of the words and threats he received.