[Drizzt]

Gunfire erupts as anglers clash over prime spot off Florida coast

Associated Press


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A clash over a fishing spot two miles off the coast has led to one man sitting in jail today after a torrent of angry words and at least one gun shot.

“A clear case of road rage on the water,” said Broward County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Hugh Graf.

The Instigator, a 20-foot boat with three sports anglers aboard, was on the spot Thursday when the Baits Factor, a 40-footer carrying its owner and a private captain, roared up, Graf said. Despite the shouts of those aboard the Instigator to stay away, the Baits Factor pulled to within 10 to 15 feet of the smaller boat, he said.

“All five parties are apparently yelling obscenities to each other,” Graf said.

He said the men aboard the Instigator soon decided to leave. That’s when Baits Factor owner James Bates, 44, pulled out a .45-caliber pistol and fired at least one shot, Graf said.

The three men on the other boat “literally hit the deck” and called the Coast Guard, he said.

Patrol boats were on the scene within minutes and escorted all five men and their boats into port, said Petty Officer Scott Schubert.

Bates was the only one arrested, charged with one count of aggravated assault with a firearm.

Schubert said the fishing spot was desirable because a patch of floating sargasso weed was attracting small fish, which often attract larger fish. Both vessels apparently spotted the weed line and wanted to fish there.

“They take fishing seriously,” Schubert told the Miami Herald.

http://www.floridatoday.com/topstories/022103boatrage.htm

Don't ya just know this story is giving some anti-gunners good dreams tonight?

[TheeBadOne]

Fishing isn't a matter of life or death.......it's much more important than that!
"Backdoor" Bates

[El Tejon]

I say, I say, y'all best calm down down yonder.

Let's see to help y'all calm down we could limit test line to 10 pounds or ban black coloured assault rods.:D

[Hal]

ban black coloured assault rods They can have my Ugly Stick when they pry my cold dead hands from it!!
:D

[Soap]

Alright THR, I have a SHTF situation for y'all: You are fishing off the coast of Bimini in 1933. You have found a PRIME spot for marlin. But the problem is that Papa Hemingway is at your spot enjoying a glass of whiskey while shooting at sharks with his Thompson. What do you do? :D



http://www.antiquefishingreels.com/photos/fishing/big/MVC-085L.JPG

[pinduck]

"I thought you said this thing could get on plane from a standing start"?

[El Tejon]

Fish behind him. Don't cross his LoF!;)

[Mannlicher]

Living down here in Miami,nothing that happens in South Florida comes as a shock anymore.

I do wonder though, why copy/paste the entire story, which brings up copyright concerns, and then paste in the url? Why not just post the link?

[CZ-75]

Links die, esp. at periodicals.

[HABU]

That gives new meaning to the term "combat fishing", although I gotta admit, two boats and five guys do not combat fishing make.

[Hkmp5sd]

Sounds like they need to change their fishing method and adopt the one in this thread. (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10250)

BTW, since when does one describe firing one round as "Gunfire erupts"? Must be some reporter that wants an eye catching title for his gun crime related article.



I do wonder though, why copy/paste the entire story

Also, some online news sources require you to register prior to reading the linked article. Not everyone wants to do that.

Besides, the originating source is generally included in the title, so it can be argued that the poster is merely quoting the article with proper recognition of the author.

[vulcan]

In a situation like that, The lead thrown should be sinkers, not bullets. That what they do around here anyway.:p

[labgrade]

Mannlicher,

Having finally fled Miami & The Keys in '75 (because nothing then would have surprised me ..... yada. ;)

I did some stints as a bill-fish charter-guy outa The Keys for a while (Pop was a private captain, etc.) - we spent some time in/on the waters thereabouts. People were stupid then & this latest Guy With A Gun is no exception - just another idiot.

Kinda funny though. They mention "weedline" which is exactly what it is - a line of weeds piled up & extending, sometimes, for miles. Hassling over "one patch of weeds" is an idiot.

[jmbg29]

Gunfire erupts as anglers clash over prime spot off Florida coast God trying to work his magic and thin the herd. He'll do better next time. :D ;)

[Justin]

You have found a PRIME spot for marlin. But the problem is that Papa Hemingway is at your spot enjoying a glass of whiskey while shooting at sharks with his Thompson. What do you do? Pull up along side, ask nicely if I can check out the cool hardware, and refrain from telling him that I thought 'The Sun Also Rises' was godawful.;)

[Soap]

Justin,

One time in 05/1935, the publisher Joseph Knapp criticized Ernest's fishing ability. Ernest handed him a beating. Interestingly, the locals wrote a song called "Big Fat Slob in the Harbor, Tonights the Night We Got Fun" about the event. The orginal lyrics still hang on a wall in an Inn on Bimini. Apparently, the locals still sing the song. So in short, I wouldn't say anything about his writing prowess ;) Just remember, when you read Hemingway, he writes on the iceberg principle.

[Blackhawk]

“A clear case of road rage on the water,” said Broward County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Hugh Graf.That's it! The water in Broward County needs to be tested ASAP. :rolleyes:

[F4GIB]

Someone complains "I do wonder though, why copy/paste the entire story, which brings up copyright concerns, and then paste in the url? Why not just post the link?"

Because links go down.
Better to post it and avoid the (c) problem by deleting an unnecessay paragraph while showing the deletion with an * * * . It's called "fair use."