Literally hooked while diving?

[B Lo]

Some months ago while diving off the coast of Sarasota, I had a group of redneck fishermen follow the dive boat I was in. I guess they rightly figured we were heading to where the fish were. While this was a good assumption, I resented the hell out of them getting so close that we could hear their conversation before they casted their lines into the water we were diving in. I was definitely within range of a hook and quietly thought to myself what I would do if I ended up with one embedded in me.

Not long afterwards, while doing a shore dive not so far away (Bradenton Beach), there was a group of good ole’ boys parked on the beach boozing it up while casting their lines with hooks the size of gaffs in the water with some of them left strewn about the sand right along the walking path. They seemed to care less that there were divers in the water and beachgoers that could end up with these multi-inch hooks literally through their feet.

Given the stereotypes associated with these fine upstanding citizens, how does one go about asking them to be a bit more mindful of others without escalating things into a fistfight or into a Jerry Springer background story? How many folks on ScubaBoard have seen similar things? More importantly, how many folks here have actually been hooked or had an extremely close call?

 

[fnfalman]

Just approach them and speak with them about your concerns in a nice, civilized manners.

Calling them "rednecks" would probably not help the matter.

 

[B Lo]

Perhaps I should stick with "fine upstanding citizens?"

Just approach them and speak with them about your concerns in a nice, civilized manners.

Calling them "rednecks" would probably not help the matter.

 

[tfsails]

Take a pair of dikes with you diving and snip their lines underwater. That'll make them wonder what happened. Just kidding...sorta.

 

[BoneCrusher]

Take a pair of dikes with you diving and snip their lines underwater. That'll make them wonder what happened. Just kidding...sorta.

Around this area (especially diving the St. Clair river) fishermen believe that all divers intentionally do this on every dive to steal their fishing lures. Guess we just sit in the water waiting for their lures to be thrown at us. The truth is that the bottom of the river has lots of debris that snags their gear. When a diver surfaces with recovered lures from the submerged objects, it can get a little dicey with the fishermen.

I have had a number of times where I was diving a site and had a large fishing lure pass by my mask. Because of this, I typically carry 3 cutting devices as well as a wire cutter just in case I get hooked.

 

[cmburch]

Well we all make assumptions. Such as that boat is following us. Who knows maybe this was their normal fishing spot. Go to BloodyDecks Florida Section and post your concern or idea that a fishing boat is following you because they think you have knowledge of where the fish are better than some "rednecks". Leave the "redneck" and "good ole' boys" out of the post though.

Why did not the captains converse with each other about their intentions.

Communication in any form may help.

When walking my dog or riding my bicycle with the kids along the waterfront, if I saw hooks on the ground. I would pick them up and give them to the boozing fishermen.

It's like us against the good ole' boys drunk redneck fishermen. Good gripe thread though. Post it on BloodyDecks for a more insightful discussion to get a more balanced point of view.

 

[raoulsttexas]

i read a post a while back of a guy diving on the coast of oregon (newport - fingers). he was suddenly yanked up from 30' by 4-5 hooks in his drysuit. he surfaced, with a mask full of blood, and the fishermen were laughing their heads off. as they reeled him in he found his dive float/flag IN their boat. they cut their lines, made a joke about the biggest catch of the day, threw the float at the diver and sped off.

fortunately, he was able to surface swim back in and get checked out. he was ok.

i hear it's common in some of the inlets on the oregon coast. that, along with crazy currents, is why we drive the extra hour up to puget sound.

 

[The Chairman]

I am both fisherman and diver so I can see both sides. I remember getting ready to do a night dive on the Duane in Key Largo as a fishing boat tied off to the center of the wreck. They could have waited for us to finish our dive. We had already discussed that we would do an alternate dive if there were people fishing the Duane when we got there. We were there first, and were surprised at them tying off. So, as we passed their lines we gently looped them over the rail or snipped them. Mono really shows up with a flashlight.

 

[fjpatrum]

If it were me, and a boat full of fishermen followed my dive boat specifically because they thought we knew where the fish were, I'd probably just cut all their lines with shears. If I thought it was an honest mistake, I'd talk to them and get an idea where they thought they'd be fishing and avoid them as best I could.

On the beach, I'd try and ask them about their interest first. Make it friendly, ask if they were having any luck and what they were fishing for etc etc. After the rapport was set, I would ask them about the gear being where others might want to be. I might even offer to collect any gear I see to give to them... make it like I was doing them a favor as much as they were doing me one.

I don't take too well to stereotyping people and try to give them the benefit of the doubt. I've found I'm much more successful in "confrontations" taking this particular tact because invariably stereotypes are full of holes once you stop and have a decent conversation with a person. If they don't think you're a blow-hard, they're far less likely to act like a blow-hard in response to you.

 

[mikecotrone]

Some months ago while diving off the coast of Sarasota, I had a group of redneck fishermen follow the dive boat I was in. I guess they rightly figured we were heading to where the fish were. While this was a good assumption, I resented the hell out of them getting so close that we could hear their conversation before they casted their lines into the water we were diving in. I was definitely within range of a hook and quietly thought to myself what I would do if I ended up with one embedded in me.

Not long afterwards, while doing a shore dive not so far away (Bradenton Beach), there was a group of good ole’ boys parked on the beach boozing it up while casting their lines with hooks the size of gaffs in the water with some of them left strewn about the sand right along the walking path. They seemed to care less that there were divers in the water and beachgoers that could end up with these multi-inch hooks literally through their feet.

Given the stereotypes associated with these fine upstanding citizens, how does one go about asking them to be a bit more mindful of others without escalating things into a fistfight or into a Jerry Springer background story? How many folks on ScubaBoard have seen similar things? More importantly, how many folks here have actually been hooked or had an extremely close call?

Convince them that there is a Nascar Race on and that they are missing it.