I was kiting at North Scarb on Sunday and noticed bit of a tug as I was heading back out but didn't think much of it. On the way in though I noticed a set of 3 big hooks in my harness and a line trailing behind me. There were 3 or 4 fisherman fishing off the beach so I went in and called one over and asked him if he wanted his hooks back. He dehooked me and off we both went without any altercation but thinking about it maybe I should have told him to fish somewhere else, he could have very easily taken out my tackle or even just tore a hole in my new wettie.

So whats the story with fisherman at a much used public swimming and surfing beach, are they allowed to fish there amongst swimmers, surfers and kiters etc? Whatever the regulations though I don't think next time I'll be so kindly accepting of catching a set of 3 large hooks into me and will in no uncertain terms suggest they fish elsewhere.

thats what i like about lots of wind- blows thm away. i dont fancy any new unexpected piercings - more afraid of them than sharks

We get them at pinnaroo as well, right where we launch and land on even when its blowing 25knots I had an altercation a few weeks back getting hooked in the boardies as well, and the day before a guy was actually hooked in the arm and the fisherman proceeded to try and atrat a fight!?
Matt

Hi Rod

Fishos have been around long before us - and yes they have every right to fish there or anywhere that is not specifically sign posted or flagged.

At Floreat Groin going back a few years ago there were some pretty serious agro at times between surfers - fishos, these PR$#%@CKS at times would cast star sinkers at you

We get em at brighton occasionally but its such a long beach, these days I think its easier to just avoid them. a gang of hooks with a treble hanging out of your arm or foot makes for an interesting time at the docs getting them removed - done it - I dont recomend it easier to avoid em and when itds over 15 knts you rarely see them anyway

One of the pricks deliberately cast across me as I was wave riding @ Brighton the week before last - the line came around my neck but luckily I got it off before the hooks got me!

The thing that pissed me off the most was that I was riding the one break that was working for an hour before they arrived - they could have easily walked another 100m either side. I really felt like making an issue out of it but I've mellowed in my old age - I moved on determined not to let some arsehole spoil my day.

I too am way more scared of losing an eye or ripping me an extra hole than of being taken by a shark!

Yep those fisher guys must have fish guts for brains.Try to avoid Windang on a outgoing tide when the lake is open to the sea.Blobby has a great story when he got hooked on a cruiser trawling a lure at Dolls Point.I heard it got stuck in his arm and was quite nasty,end up in Hospital.I once kited past a guy on the point,got a bit of a tug and turned around in time to see me not only take his bait,hook and sinker,but his rod and reel as well.Lets say i didnt stick around,i pulled into the beach a klm or so down packed it up and took the long way back to my car.The guy was still sitting there waiting with a macheete

PR I,m touched, I dont know what to say

then we can marry

I'm sorry PR it just wont work

Ok enough flirting you two, 3 inc the hamster.

Back to topic sounds like plenty of kiters, and I’m sure other water users, are getting grief from fishos. It seems crazy that in this day and age of PC going over the top with rules and regulations everywhere to protect people from others and themselves that fisherman are still at complete liberty to sling a set of hooks into the ocean/river wherever they like irrespective of other water users and the potential danger they pose to them.

Like Carl said I also pick a secluded spot to start but I’m still continually assessing other users and changing my tack/position to keep a safe distance from swimmers, surfers, windsurfers etc who I pose a danger to, as they come within 50m of me. Most other water users I encounter including other kiters, surfers, clubbies, windsurfers, yachties, boaties, jet skiers etc all do the same and extend due care and courtesy to other water users. On top of this most kiters here also have a huge amount of public liability insurance in case they do injure someone. But fishos…nah, it seems that on way too many occasions they suit themselves and they injure or put other people at risk without giving a sh1t. I reckon it’s about time they shared the waters responsibly like the rest of us.

most harnesses come with an anti fishing line tool, that little knife to cut lines with!

i love doing both, and think the fair call is first in best dressed. As for a few rules for the fishermen, you might want to try fishing down here on the south coast...85,000 hectares worth of rules in the new marine park...

what about kite fishers??
www.fishingkites.co.nz/htmfiles/kite.htm

i got hooked at scarbs a few weeks ago and a day or so later one of my mates got hooked aswell.

both times the fisherman thought they had caught a fish and started reeling in with excitement until they saw what was on the end of there line .

The fishermen were a 150m or more upwind / upstream of the kiters, but because scarbs has such a strong current their lines always end up parallel to the beach right in the middle of the kiters.