That's just how some guides are. Im not saying it is right to do that, but for some reason some of them believe that they 'own' the spots they fish. I, and im sure many of you have heard or seen guides attach heavy weights on the end of their lures and throw into the boats that get too close. But if you can reach a boat with a decent cast, you are probably too close, still not kool though. A certain guide in Grand Isle is known for doing that lol

If he thinks i'm to stupid to know how to approach a flock of birds ,he will really think i'm stupid and don't know how to drive a boat when i trim it up and gun it right thru the birds.
Guides don't own the water or the birds or the fish.
As long as you approach the flock quietly and do it right i would have no problems w/ sharing .

just do the same and do it back and have a good time!!! nobody owns the water, just have common courtesy!!!

Don't like the image of hooks or heavy weights being cast purposefully into my boat. Definitely a safety issue and property damage issue. What is the best way to respond to an aggressive person like that, beyond just fleeing?

Totally agree with everything posted in this topic. Proper fishing etiquette is to call a fellow angler over to get in on the action with you.


If someone is throwing their lines with heavy weights purposely into your boat, without being noticed (if possible) get out your phone and start recording(most phones nowadays have camcorders built in). Then call the coast guard/sheriff and file a complaint. I'd also get the name of the guide if it's on his boat and post on ALL report websites like this one. Who wants to fish with a dickhead like that?

That's my opinion

Proper fishing etiquette is to let the guy fish the flock until he is done and then approach. Sure, he doesn't own the lake, but use some common courtesy.

Motorboat you sound like a really nice fisherman .. But everyone knows if one boat is fishing a school under birds , and catching fish like crazy , everyone has the right to catch those fish . If you approach the right way , a charter captain or any other fisherman shouldn't get mad in any way , and should envite other fishemen to join in , IF they approach correctly .

I've had guys flag me over when they were catching . Once a guy wanted to borrow a couple of my kids so he could catch more , but we had already limited out .

hey Choupic don't stress it, motorboat is just picking up drew-b's slack

Because I disagree with you? My post was nothing inflammatory or degrading. Who is to say whether you are approaching the flock correctly--you or the guide? Here we go again with baseless attacks on me because of my association with Drew B.

Go away.

that is the question, the problem is birds shy away as you approach and where you see them means nothing.

the real key point is YOU dont know for sure where the school is and could be driving right on top of them because the birds moved to the side for now trying to keep distance from you.

can guides be azzholes, yes. are all guides like that, no. can he trust you not to spook the fish and possibly be the difference in his customers limiting out or not, no he cant and any fair minded person will agree that he cant risk it and shouldnt trust you.

if you are close enough to have a bait casted into your boat then you are way too close. my rule of thumb is double the casting distance so lines cant get crossed.

do i think guides should try to run others off, no. do i think guides can risk taking the chance of sharing, sad to say but 90% or people you meet on the water cant be trusted to be smart or know how not to chase off the fish. that said, if he did that to me i also would run right through the school with prop wash because if you arent willing to let me fish then im going to damn well make sure im not going to leave without scaring off those fish you are too greedy to share but i would leave, because life is too short to be bothered by azzholes like that and who wants to get into a fight over fishing.

do i understand them doing that, yes, but i dont think they should, even though i might be tempted to do the same if i were in their position. they are running a buisness and taking care of your buisness and satisfying customers comes before being friendly on the water. this could have been one of his ''honey holes'' and if you catch there you will always come back there, by running you off he pizzes you off today but the next time you are out you wont have it on your mind to go back to try that spot because you dont have a memmory of catching fish there. our minds always remind us we should go places we already caught fish before.

I guess I have a hard time understanding. I thought the meaning of a Sportsman was that you respect our resources and you respect fellow SPORTSMAN! I have been fortunate to have always been on the receiving end of the positive. Whether it was help at the dock or with a hot spot on the water! I have always tried to offer the same support. That is what being a sportsman from the south is all about! To read that someone would put someone at risk over fish is ridiculous! Imagine that heavy weight hitting someone in the head. I agree with John that technology is our friend. We all have phones and radios so use them if you encounter a situation like this. And I can promise if something like this happens to me when my kids are with me.....

With that said I want to thank all the Sportsman who have helped me on the water.

Honestly, if he said something and you heard it, I think you were way to close. You may be a crappy fisherman but that doesnt give him a right to harass you. You have a right to that spot as anyone else. Now if he starts to chunk baits at you or threatens you then its a different situation and he should be reported. When I fish a set of birds boats will come from other directions but rarely will we be close enough for them to yell something out and for me to hear it.

I can't remember a time when I was that close to another boat . I have noticed a lot of times like without birds or anything obvious that a lot of people ride and look just to see if others are catching . They'll slow up and just watch and watch and if you don't pull any fish up in front of them , they'll gas on to the next boat .

Some people huh .. I've also seen the same people ride way up in a real shallow flat with a hard outgoing tide . I guess it all boils down to experience on the water , and you can't have etiquette without experience .

Now if its a structure or a canal, then its a different scenario. Ive seen boats line a canal or jetty a couple of feet apart and still be civil or a platform with a boat on each corner. But this is mostly bottom anchor fishing. You would expect to be close in these situations.

It all comes down to being civilized and being a sportsman who knows the rules and courtesies of the water.

Edit: I also believe that growing up in South Louisiana distills certain values and traditions not found anywhere else in the country. Most will go the extra mile to help a complete stranger out, and that is rare to see in other parts of the country. But it seems like those 'values' are starting to fade away.

If a boat is working birds, its best to move on. First of all, there are probably other birds in the area. Second, if another boat moves in, usually it spooks them anyway. Third, they don't stay up long. I've had some incredible trips fishing the birds, but most have been a waste of time. It's either small trout or gafftop, or they go down after 2-3 casts.

If you are after trout, usually there are more effective ways to catch them than under the birds (current lines, points, the beach in the summer). Not to say there aren't some incredible trips. Dularge and Cocodrie in particular seem to have effective bird fishing. Hopedale, not so much......

Also, if you see birds, sometimes its better just to drift with live shrimp nearby rather than spending half your day trying to keep up with them....that's assuming the trout are even keepers. Get on a bite, stick the anchor, they quit, start drifting again.

As far as the guide incident, I'll stay mum on that one :)

I've been in this situation many many times, but it seems like i'm the always the one doing the fishing and someone else is coming in way too close!! If i cast as far as i can and you cast as far as you can and our baits can touch - then that is too darn close. thats not being an a-hole and thats not taking ownership of the water. thats common sense and courtesy. Agree or disagree just my 2cents

I agree with rayjaylyons 100%.

I do not direct these comments at anyone specifically and many situations are different. Feel free to agree or disagree in a civil manner. These are my personal opinions.

It seems that too many fishermen these days are 'sight fishermen.' That is, they can only catch fish when someone else locates them and then they 'sight' you catching fish.

I have had so many encounters with people running up on fish, coming too close, powering in or out of a fishing spot, anchor chunking, etc, etc, etc, that it isn't even funny. I really think it's sad that there is that much of a lack of courtesy, fishing knowledge and just plain old common sense.

I agree, no one owns the water or the fish, but just because you have a fishing lisense, it's not a license to mess up someone else's fishing.

And yes, I regularly invite folks to join in on the good fishing provided they can access properly without running off the fish. Of course every situation is different and sometimes there's no way to determine exactly where the fish are and how to best approach- fishing birds is usually one of those situations. Instead of crowding someone and ruining their fishing, I prefer to find my own fish.