I just contacted the water police on this. They were really interested in the situation down there and said they wished we'd called them! (They didn't recieve notice)

They are all about safety in waters in Victoria - and heavily against any aggressive behaviour that endangers anyone in the water.

They have asked that we keep their number on hand should the situation arise again. (Please call them)

They offered the advice to remain calm and courteous to other activities in the marina - Respect the fishermen and their sport also.

In Short - They offered the following advice:

1. Approach the fishermen at low speed before we enter the area and discuss out plans (Likely Courses) - and see if an agreement can be made before hitting the area with speed...
2. Don't get too excited if they blow up.... We only have right of way as marine vessels if "Intending to dock' - In which case all other parties on pier must give way. (Legals) - If we are not intending to dock - There are also speed limits of 5 knots that apply... (So it goes both ways).
3. Don't take matters into your own hands. It will only make things worse.
4. The St Kilda Pier is a magnet for tourism in the area. Aggressive/Offensive/Violent behaviour is not what the council wants. (They spent a lot of money re-doveloping the area and have plans in place to do more). Bring up the issue with council if pressure on the limited space continues. (They may already have plans to initiate a zone for recreational fisherman away from the mooring area).


Again - Any comments or ideas are welcomed. Im about Done - and I don't want to go any further. Just a heads up to the Kite community. -

Maybe they've heard I was in town but missed me by a day! (I kited there Sat instead).

Seriously - what tools. We get idiot fishos doing the same up here. They just rock up, set down like as if they're in a cricket match with eskys, chairs, etc and throw a line right in the middle of our take off point. And they have the gaul to say they were there first! Bogans

suniboy21 said..
Didn't you read the MEMO about kitting close to the pier?
All that space to kite and you have to get right up near the pier...

Last Sat, there were about 5 guys riding the lower half of St Kilda, but they were at least 100m anywhere near the pier.

Everyone knows not to kite near the pier, but tell that to some "pro locals" that should know better, and set examples.

I'd think you'd have to be pretty close to the pier to get hit by a flying brick?

Lofty,Gaz and Suni,you guys think throwing bricks is ok,you guys need to fish somewhere else!

extreme said..
Lofty,Gaz and Suni,you guys think throwing bricks is ok,you guys need to fish somewhere else!

Nope, they're not saying it's okay, they're saying the kiters shouldn't be there in the first place and if they weren't there like they shouldn't have been, the bricks would not have been thrown at them. It's not hard to understand.

Dumb and dumber

extreme said..
Ha Ha dont like a joke?
but seriously,throwing a brick at someone multiple times could kill them!
even if he was kiting on the pier this should not happen
Rules rules blah blah

Zigackly. Who appointed the fisher****s as police, judge, jury and executioner?

Beware kiting past the end of the breakwater. I thought the area was closed due to the penguin colony, but there were two guys fishing there a couple of weeks ago. I looked hard but didn't spot them until I was quite close. Very hard to see them among the rocks.

Just aswell you guys all wear helmets down there. Hopefully no go pros were damaged in the process

RedKite said..
The fishos are not only doing it to kiters.

They are also doing this to paddle boarders or if you are in a kajak going below 5kn navigating your way out or in the harbour.

And the guys that fish on the breakwall which is officially closed, are also throwing stones at you when you kite there and they think you are too close.

Great image for St Kilda, with fishos pulling knives on people on a tourist destination.
A good enough reason to ban fishing from the pier.

I hear you, but if we banned every activity because of idiots, we'd be banning kiting, surfing, drivers, etc.

If only there were laws governing behavior in public places...