Re: Rude Jetskiers
I can't disagree with bekosh or 45auto in regard to fishermen. I have certainly seen plenty of fishermen doing dumb things, and one of the most outrageous sitation that I have run across was actually caused by a major tournament fishing organization - B.A.S.S.
About five years ago, they held a tournament here in Louisiana, with all boats launching at a place called Bayou Segnette. They had many fishermen entered and all were operating sponsored bass boats with very large outboards on them. These boats were routinely being operated at speeds up to about 70 mph, in the narrow canals and waterways between Segnette State Park and the prime fishing grounds in lower Barataria Bay. I was nearly run over by three of them one day when they were returning to the ramp. All three came around a blind turn in the bayou, in the rain and at an extrememly high speed. Two of the boats made an evasive manuever to my port side and one did the same to starboard. All three of the drivers were operating the boats with their heads turned slightly downwards because of the stinging rain.
I have mentioned in a couple of threads that I participate in SAR operations with the U.S. Coast Guard and the La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries, from time to time. Although the boating activities involved tend to vary quite a bit, I can tell you that, almost universally, the SARS that quickly evolve into body recovery missions, result from bad decision making by those who were lost. Whether the deaths resulted from failure to wear a PFD, reckless operation, failure to check weather, operating a boat beyond its capabilities, or turning a fishing show into a boat race, because you can only watch a person with a rod in his hand for so long before it gets boring, most of the victims died through simple failure to think about what they were doing.
I don't have anything against jetski operators or fishermen in general, but I do wish both (along with everyone else) would truly consider the possible result of their actions before they get into/onto that watercraft.
PS: To be fair, I have not had to respond to a fatality linked to a fishing tournament. I can say, however, that the same event that I just spoke of, resulted in a back injury to a journalist who was riding in one of the boats. The operator drove through a tugboat wake at high speed, causing the boat to become all or partially airborne. When it slammed back into the water, the journalist sustained a spinal compression injury.
. They may have a boat, but they don't seem to be interested in being boaters. The boat is just another tool for their hobby. People who own cruisers/cuddies, the Go-fasts and even most of the Sea Fleas, are out there to boat, so they usually learn how-to boat and follow the rules of the road.
