Date: April 14, 2002
To: PFIC Message Board
From: Ken Jones
Subject: Boats, surfers, etc. -- Just curious?
Just curious, but wonder how many of you “pier rats” have trouble with boats, surfers, etc when you’re fishing from piers. From what I hear it seems to be getting worse.
Posted by lucy
The few times I've been to Fort Point pier, I haven’t seen any boats, swimmers, etc. come close to the pier. A couple of times there were surfers, but they stayed a good distance from the pier—about halfway between the pier and Fort Point itself.
At Muni, there’s rarely a problem with boats, although the occasional kayaker comes blundering around too close (not kayak fishermen, just nitwits in rented kayaks). The big thing is swimmers. There's a swimming club at Aquatic Park that was founded way back in the 1800s, and they're very dedicated—you can see them out there no matter what the weather is like or how cold it is, and they take the attitude that THEY own the water and can go wherever they damn please. Some of them delight in swimming perilously close to boats, and many of them will swim right up next to the pier, even though they can plainly see that people are fishing, and they’ll often swim between the fishing lines and the pier. I've been sorely tempted to rig up a snag line with some big treble hooks and show them the error of their ways....!
Hey, wonder if the snagger that Frenchy took the picture of would be willing make himself useful, and come to S.F. and snag swimmers?
Posted by Lobsterman
I’ve had problems at San Clemente and Seal Beach. Once at San Clemente, I saw a surfer with a pair of scissors coming for my line. He didn’t get it though. Another time a dude yell “hey what do you think your going to catch in here...a crab?” even though I was there way before him. He was pi.... but soon after that I caught a 34” leopard right next to him. Well... he suddenly decided the waves looked better on the other side of the pier. Ha! I respect surfers and body boarders though and try and work with them. No one should claim the ocean, it is for all to share.
Posted by SD Fisherman
I also remember an instance at Crystal Pier about 10 years ago. A seagull had become entangled in a fisherman’s line. A surfer paddled over and unselfishly untangled the line, releasing the gull. The gull probably would’ve drowned otherwise. The last time I was at Crystal Pier (about a week ago) there were a few surfers out. I just made an effort to cast around, and in front of them. No problem really. -Don aka SDF
Posted by PierHead
Problems at SB Wharf ... Their are several kayak rental outfits operating off the beach and the kayaks and outrigger canoes parallel the shore disturbing those fishing the surf. They also cut underneath the wharf causing tangles and near misses. I have spoken to them several times but they don't seem to care. Someone is bound to be casting or retrieving their line at the wrong time and will snag one of them right out of their boats.
Given the previous problems with snagging pelicans those fishing will the ones blamed and will probably lead to calls to ban fishing.
Used to have a problem with the jet skiers showboating for the tourists and tangling lines. But then people started throwing beer cans (unopened) at them and the problem went away. Not that I would ever suggest such a direct course of action.
Goleta maintains a 100’ boat/surfer free zone around the pier. Since there are signs on the pier facing seaward we rarely have a problem. Tight Lines! PierHead
Posted by eelmaster
At Point Arena I had some ab divers in a Zodiac drive right through my line... lucky the lure didn't come up and pop a chamber.
Posted by Anthony
Sometimes when I want to target corbina in shallow water from the pier there are way too many surfers. Sometimes I can’t fish because of that. It sucks, especially when you can see lots of corbina too. Anthony (Sharkbait)
Posted by anomaly
I usually fish the early mornings at Hermosa Surf/Pier, generally before the surfers arrive. I usually warn them where my line is or tell them don’t get in my fishing area.
Posted by Snookie
We’ve had many an incident over the years. The worst time was actually the Junior Lifeguard Program, which is next to the Balboa Pier in the summer months. A few years ago the senior lifeguards decided to hold a marine biology lesson session right under our fishing rods. When we pointed out that it was a matter of safety for the kids not to do that, the senior lifeguard lost his temper and told us to basically get lost. It is amazing what pictures and letters can accomplish when sent to the city council, city attorney, and the city manager. I received an apology and a thank you for bringing the safety of the children to their attention. It has not been a problem since.
The point of this is that if you have a problem where you are fishing from a pier don’t lose your temper. Try the safety angle and the fact that the city will be liable for the injuries caused to the person in the water. It will be best to post signs on the sides of the pier where the water users, be they boaters or swimmers, can readily read them such as a distance to stay away from the pier, etc.
Posted by west coast dave
Ken, When I fished the Oceanside pier when I was attending college in So Cal, they had signs posted to keep swimmers and surfers away from the pier. When people violated it they got yelled at over a megaphone by the lifeguard that was in charge. Tight Lines, Dave
To: PFIC Message Board
From: Ken Jones
Subject: Boats, surfers, etc. -- Just curious?
Just curious, but wonder how many of you “pier rats” have trouble with boats, surfers, etc when you’re fishing from piers. From what I hear it seems to be getting worse.
Posted by lucy
The few times I've been to Fort Point pier, I haven’t seen any boats, swimmers, etc. come close to the pier. A couple of times there were surfers, but they stayed a good distance from the pier—about halfway between the pier and Fort Point itself.
At Muni, there’s rarely a problem with boats, although the occasional kayaker comes blundering around too close (not kayak fishermen, just nitwits in rented kayaks). The big thing is swimmers. There's a swimming club at Aquatic Park that was founded way back in the 1800s, and they're very dedicated—you can see them out there no matter what the weather is like or how cold it is, and they take the attitude that THEY own the water and can go wherever they damn please. Some of them delight in swimming perilously close to boats, and many of them will swim right up next to the pier, even though they can plainly see that people are fishing, and they’ll often swim between the fishing lines and the pier. I've been sorely tempted to rig up a snag line with some big treble hooks and show them the error of their ways....!
Hey, wonder if the snagger that Frenchy took the picture of would be willing make himself useful, and come to S.F. and snag swimmers?
Posted by Lobsterman
I’ve had problems at San Clemente and Seal Beach. Once at San Clemente, I saw a surfer with a pair of scissors coming for my line. He didn’t get it though. Another time a dude yell “hey what do you think your going to catch in here...a crab?” even though I was there way before him. He was pi.... but soon after that I caught a 34” leopard right next to him. Well... he suddenly decided the waves looked better on the other side of the pier. Ha! I respect surfers and body boarders though and try and work with them. No one should claim the ocean, it is for all to share.
Posted by SD Fisherman
I also remember an instance at Crystal Pier about 10 years ago. A seagull had become entangled in a fisherman’s line. A surfer paddled over and unselfishly untangled the line, releasing the gull. The gull probably would’ve drowned otherwise. The last time I was at Crystal Pier (about a week ago) there were a few surfers out. I just made an effort to cast around, and in front of them. No problem really. -Don aka SDF
Posted by PierHead
Problems at SB Wharf ... Their are several kayak rental outfits operating off the beach and the kayaks and outrigger canoes parallel the shore disturbing those fishing the surf. They also cut underneath the wharf causing tangles and near misses. I have spoken to them several times but they don't seem to care. Someone is bound to be casting or retrieving their line at the wrong time and will snag one of them right out of their boats.
Given the previous problems with snagging pelicans those fishing will the ones blamed and will probably lead to calls to ban fishing.
Used to have a problem with the jet skiers showboating for the tourists and tangling lines. But then people started throwing beer cans (unopened) at them and the problem went away. Not that I would ever suggest such a direct course of action.
Goleta maintains a 100’ boat/surfer free zone around the pier. Since there are signs on the pier facing seaward we rarely have a problem. Tight Lines! PierHead
Posted by eelmaster
At Point Arena I had some ab divers in a Zodiac drive right through my line... lucky the lure didn't come up and pop a chamber.
Posted by Anthony
Sometimes when I want to target corbina in shallow water from the pier there are way too many surfers. Sometimes I can’t fish because of that. It sucks, especially when you can see lots of corbina too. Anthony (Sharkbait)
Posted by anomaly
I usually fish the early mornings at Hermosa Surf/Pier, generally before the surfers arrive. I usually warn them where my line is or tell them don’t get in my fishing area.
Posted by Snookie
We’ve had many an incident over the years. The worst time was actually the Junior Lifeguard Program, which is next to the Balboa Pier in the summer months. A few years ago the senior lifeguards decided to hold a marine biology lesson session right under our fishing rods. When we pointed out that it was a matter of safety for the kids not to do that, the senior lifeguard lost his temper and told us to basically get lost. It is amazing what pictures and letters can accomplish when sent to the city council, city attorney, and the city manager. I received an apology and a thank you for bringing the safety of the children to their attention. It has not been a problem since.
The point of this is that if you have a problem where you are fishing from a pier don’t lose your temper. Try the safety angle and the fact that the city will be liable for the injuries caused to the person in the water. It will be best to post signs on the sides of the pier where the water users, be they boaters or swimmers, can readily read them such as a distance to stay away from the pier, etc.
Posted by west coast dave
Ken, When I fished the Oceanside pier when I was attending college in So Cal, they had signs posted to keep swimmers and surfers away from the pier. When people violated it they got yelled at over a megaphone by the lifeguard that was in charge. Tight Lines, Dave