Bank Fishing Etiquette

[mudsucker]

When does a bank fisherman have to get out of the way? Several years ago we took the boat to Mackay and launched at the upper ramp where there was a tiny floating dock. The wind came up fast and bad and we came back. An old guy was seated on the dock, fishing straight out into the whitecaps. Here we came, trying to get out of the weather. I had pulled the gas line to run the motor dry and didn't have time to wait on him. He made no effort to reel in and watched us for hundreds of yards head right for him. I yelled that we were coming to the dock. I tried to stop short and the wind took us right into him and bent his rod against the hull. He yanked it out before it was crushed by the dock that we blew hard against. Then he seemed to figure out what was needed and reeled in from under the boat. I didn't feel too bad for him.
[signature]