Thread: Wear your life vests/don't run over other boats

That was almost me on Tick run heading to Lake Woodruff a few years ago. I'm fishing in the no wake zone just after sun up and I hear a boat a full throttle coming around the bend behind me. I did the wave thing for a couple of seconds and then I hit the Minn Kota rabbit button and turned. He took out 2 of the rods I was trolling with on that side but didn't hit me. He stopped and turned around simply because his wife made him. He took off when he realized I was going to board his boat with a bat. I always keep my eyes open when I'm on the water, so many people are idiots it's scary. P.S. glad to still be here! JC

I got hit a few years back, God himself smiled on us that day.

When I was in high school and college, I worked on charter boats out of Fort Myers Beach. We ran a lot of extended overnight trips down to the Tortugas and a good ways offshore.

We were anchored up in the middle of the night snapper fishing on a wreck, and we saw a cargo ship coming in our direction from a long ways off. The Captain was catching some Z's while I watched the deck and helped the customers out. I kept watching thinking he'd change course, kept running up and checking the radar. About a mile out, I started to get worried. At half a mile, I woke up the captain. Ship kept coming, we had to hammer down and drag the anchor to get out of it's way, a bit too close for comfort and killed a pretty solid snapper bite.

Don't think they ever even knew we were there, maybe they didn't care. You'd think they'd have proximity alarms on the radar and such...or at least someone on watch.

I've also had some very close calls on my mudboat, and one mild collision with an oysterman in the back creeks of Yankeetown. He was in a Carolina Skiff that was about as big as the creek was, we both came around a turn and had nowhere to go, but thankfully we weren't going fast.

Never been in a boating incident but have been close, hope my luck continues. Accidents wouldn't happen if people pay attention, this irritates me especially knowing he was distracted by his phone Texting will kill you, put the phone down !!

I had a close call, as i've posted before, on lake talquin, as i was doing about 30 MPH going to my crappie trolling spot early am mid lake out from freeman and oklawaha creeks. passed 20 feet in front of me by a bass boat doing 65-70 MPH on my left! my right of way! the worst are bass tournament fisherman, and i used to be one. i don't assume any other boat is following the rules of the water.

Always, ALWAYS count on your self. Do NOT count on the other guy doing the right thing. Keep safe out there guys.

I have had 2 very close calls. Had a big Baja boat almost hit me while I was in the water getting ready to ski, I was no more than 5 feet from my boat. The wake went over the side of boat and I had a fairly deep 18' boat. Second time, same boat heading back to launch, hit the no wake zone and had a fancy bass boat almost rear end us. We were only 40 yards from dock, and several other boats there. He turned less than 10 feet from my boat

Originally Posted by Slimjim1

Always, ALWAYS count on your self. Do NOT count on the other guy doing the right thing. Keep safe out there guys.

''Do NOT count on the other guy doing the right thing.'' good advice. that is what i do out there.