Night Shrimping Pisses Me Off

You would think every angler who goes out night shrimping at night would have some understanding of what they like and do not like when it comes to fellow boaters. I doubt there is one boater that has not  had a boat travel in close quarters to them, or passed them at a rapid boat speed sending a wake there way.

Who wants to stand on the bow or the wing of a boat and have to worry about some idiot blowing by at much higher speed than the signage allows. We all hate it, I hate it and I make a point of NOT blowing a wall of water at those boats still anchored enjoying their evening. There is nothing more annoying than this behavior that can take my enjoyment from hero to zero.

I DO NOT appreciate getting blown off my lights, I  DO NOT appreciate my anchors shifting and resetting on their own forcing me to reset all 4 of my shrimp lights. Who ever you are reading this, you may have ended your night but you do not have the right to end mine. Your anxious behavior to motor to your favorite spot is evident at your motor speeds you blow past other boaters. That need to get to your spot should NOT “trump” the need to ensure the boat you pass does not incur an accident caused by your wake.

Your race back to ramp in a no wake zone in close proximity of other boaters is un-necessary. The width of the river is wide enough to swing wide but you have to come within 10-15 foot of another boater who has full gear deployed and standing on their bow? What was your reason? Oh, to push shrimp over to me? I don’t like you.

When passing other boaters, pass at the safest distance with the widest margin. If it were not for the roar of your engine, you would hear a lot more “ass hole” being spoken your way. Your a shrimper, you dip on your bow, you have taken water on your gunner side from boat wakes, and I am sure you sung praises at that boater, did “asshole” cross your mind or lips?

It is bad enough your navigation lights are faded out, to low on your boat or blocked by people on your boat. Yes, we all park in the channel but you are supposed to have your stern lot on at all times. The light needs to be visible. DO not tie up to other vessels without leaving this light on. At night the landscape and dock lights add more chaos to the lights on the river. There are still boats that use halogen lights pointed down but often not calibrated hence blinding us on the trip back towards the ramp. Some pontoons have excessive cabin lighting on making them look like barges from a distance. If your going to spotlight down the river, do intermittent beam shots. If you keep your scout spot light continuously on  you appear to be a barge. Sometimes we think  your just another pontoon boat and ignore your blinding light just to find a barge is 300 yards away and closing.

To the small craft carrying way to many passengers, put your headlight on when you know your bow light is non-existent or not real visible. Grab your scout spot light and flash a quick pattern of light towards any engine noise. Sometimes the commercial folks do not run with lights on. You won’t offend me giving me bearings.  I promise I will not pull a gun and shoot you.  Shouting at us is pointless, Yamaha engines can drowned out Howard Stern on a bad day.

When barges come down the river, move out the channel into the shallowest water your can draft. These barges have no control and they can slide out of the ditch with 1 gust of wind. If you do not move, they will suck you into their wake. Do not think for a moment, you do not need to move. You either move or be prepared to be moved.

Please slow down when passing other boaters who you see standing on their decks. Please slow down when passing any boat so as to not dislodge their anchors and force them adrift. The urgency to get back to the ramp to avoid the “riverzoo” chaos is not worth causing a ship mate to fall on deck.

THANK -YOU goes a long way. I often make a point of thanking boaters for passing my vessel at a safe distance and non threatening speed. THANK-YOU rolls off the tongue so much more powerful than an anger driven “Asshole” we shout.

Lastly, commercial vessels from CM 4 South, if you are going to fight with another commercial vessel, us sporties would prefer you both speak clear  English. Even the best skilled eaves-dropper cannot  translate when the Asian dialect collides with a strong Florida small town accent. It is frustrating hearing only every 4th word in the heat of your argument. If you want to remain my Boo, you need to fight with more clarity to bring entertainment back to my world of shrimping.