Yesterday was a great day for fishing. Three boats traveling along the Otter Point shoreline at 50' of water, moving in the same direction, with our right rods closest to shore. Enter a boat named Double Header - directly at all three boats, causing all of us to have to move out to deeper water to avoid tangling our gear. As Double Header goes past, I hear someone call out to him that we usually give way to the people with their right rods closest to shore.
The old guy operating Double Header starts yelling that he's busy setting his gear out and there are no rules written down that say right rod closest to shore. Someone yells back to Double Header, "Hey! Isn't your license full by now since you fish every day and use three rods?" Double Header pitches a fit and we hear his ranting for the next quarter mile as he travels away from us. This is the 6th time I've seen Double Header cut other boats off, and then throw a tantrum when people tell him they take great exception to his totally selfish and potentially dangerous behaviour.
Anyone know this Double Header guy? Please tell him to give his head a shake and grow up. "Right Rod Closest To Shore" is a manoeuvring procedure that has evolved as a practical way to allow as many boats to fish in the sweet spots that we all want a piece of.
Do your part to eliminate confusion, tangled lines and avoid possible collisions (which IS THE LAW, Double Header).
Repeat after me: Keep your right rod closest to shore in shallower water. Travel back on your tack with your left rod closest to shore in deeper water. Everyone goes in the same oval direction. It's called boating safety. And common courtesy.