Fishing courtesies.

[Nowhere Bob]

Recently surfing has got together a list of courtesies, while not taken up by 100% of surfers [Yes I'm looking at you Gold Coast ] at least it sets a foundation of courtesies in the waves that are getting more and more crowded.

As the dad to a teenage girl I have found that setting the rules early can save aggro.

So to the questions.
1:what courtesies apply?
2:What exemptions apply?
3:How should the offended party react.

1: Don't drop a pick in the middle of another boats drift.
Don't poach spots - find your own.
Don't scream up to a tuna boil if someone else is "waving a wand" at them.

2: Surf fishing. Dont drop in on someone elses gutter, unless you are on Fraser and there is already several fishers shoulder to shoulder.

3: A gobfull cursing the misbegotten son of a motherless Turkish goat, or a gentle pointing out the error of their ways. Or do we go straight to sinking?

[DR]

Recently surfing has got together a list of courtesies, while not taken up by 100% of surfers [Yes I'm looking at you Gold Coast ] at least it sets a foundation of courtesies in the waves that are getting more and more crowded.

As the dad to a teenage girl I have found that setting the rules early can save aggro.

So to the questions.
1:what courtesies apply?
2:What exemptions apply?
3:How should the offended party react.

1: Don't drop a pick in the middle of another boats drift.
Don't poach spots - find your own.
Don't scream up to a tuna boil if someone else is "waving a wand" at them.

2: Surf fishing. Dont drop in on someone elses gutter, unless you are on Fraser and there is already several fishers shoulder to shoulder.

3: A gobfull cursing the misbegotten son of a motherless Turkish goat, or a gentle pointing out the error of their ways. Or do we go straight to sinking?

truth is Bob, it's a sad day when so many people have no common sense or manners that we have to even consider drawing up courtesy rules. usually comes down to selfishness.

it has always been around in surfing, remember in the 70s, growing up in Cronulla, it was deemed a locals beach & all the best breaks were for them, even when there was so much room some would fight you just for entering a good break..even though most of these fools were mates of mine, started surfing down the south coast because of less aggro & enjoyed what it was all about..

as things get crowded it is becoming the same with fishing. except i find it works the other way, we cannot claim a 100-150 yard stretch of water just because we are drifting it... BUT it is downright ignorant to anchor up in the middle of the drift. Solution is that the person anchoring should just get on the end of the line & drift as well. also i don't really care if you have a burley trail going, you cannot claim the 100-200 yards of water in the burley trail..

i rarely fish were there are lots of boats, unless they think i know what i am doing & all come over & anchor near me, foolish people.. then i will move to another spot with no fish..
bottom line..COMMON SENSE & COURTESY is all that is needed, i will never see it 100% in my lifetime..

[VoodooChile78]

What annoys the Pi$$ out of me is when you have a good spot and your landing some nice fish and then everyone and his dog then starts moving in on you...casting over the top of you etc

Most of the time it is not the spot that's working; it is they are using the wrong bait/rig and could get the same fish in the spot they were in if they knew what they were doing!

But you only have to go driving to see how manners and common sense/courtesy has gone out the window so it's just a reflection of society in general it's moved to fishing.

[mickinnewy]

Hey all and the newcastle people.! First post on here and ive done loads of reading of some fantastic posts on the forums, Thanks all.

Now, with regards to surfers having a list of courtesies. They have always had them and i have surfed all my life(37} and so has my father{62}.I have not surfed for a few years as i now have 4 kids under 7 years old{that love to fish}.
Over the last 15 years i have watch the change with surfing, it is far more accessible and there are many forms of people having a go at it now than there were 20 years ago.This is where the problem is, as 20 years ago it was a local culture thing and you learned the rules of yours and other beaches.
Now everyone comes from anywhere{out west, england etc etc} to a beach paddles out and plants themselves in front of everyone. I can see how locals would get a bit pissed off. Me im older now so it isn't a problem but i would imagine it is with young blokes so a set of courtesies is a fantastic idea.

Fishing on the other hand is a little different as most anglers have a bit of patience about them, or they don't stay fishing long. The only time ive ever had was with drunk young blokes on the beach of a holiday that thought it was funny to setup and fish 2 feet away from me! This did not worry me much as i had my 4X4 and 7 miles of beach{yes they chose beside me on a 7 mile beach} so i packed up and drove up the beach and found another hole.
Moral to the story, don't piss off a smart bloke and all go for a swim and leave your bait unattended, as a can of aeroguard spayed on your bait makes for quiet fishing. hahaha

courtesies for fishing.
1. Give the bloke already fishing some room to move, unless you know him.
2. Don't drive your boat flat out,right next to a boat fishing, give them some room.
3.Don't start collecting bait right next to them, walk up the beach a bit.
4. do offer him a hand if he is by himself and has been working for an hour to land a fish, getting his drink bottle, torch etc etc might just help him and it doesn't hurt to offer and you might learn something or a lot from him for you because of your action .
5. Do offer your leftover bait to a person near you if you are leaving, fresh is best and better to someone than in the bin.
6. always offer a greeting as you go past other fishermen to get to your spot, it might just be your next mentor.

Lol i could go on, but that plenty long winded for a first post!

[Nowhere Bob]

Sorry to bump, but I saw a new one on Teewah the other day.

Don't drive over someones rod, bucket, & tackle bag.
But it was yahoos towing a jetski - so can you expect any better?

[rockfisho]

Add jetskis
I've had hoons some up near me while fishing on the rocks and tear around in circles

rockfisho