Went diving today at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI and there were some people fishing at the dive site. I would expect that, as any normal human would, they would think to themselves "oh, some divers are coming, we should probably move down or find another nearby place in the park to fish." Nope. They just keep fishing, right there, ten feet from the main entry point. And the surge was going toward their lines, so avoiding them was very difficult, as your were pushed toward them. Why are people so careless? So rude? So inconsiderate?

Comments

LatitudeAdjustment - 8/18/2009 8:08 AM In NJ @ the Point Pleasant RR bridge there is actually a sign, fishing > and diving [ but a few fishermen will wander over to fish under the bridge, a few idiots will even go up on the bridge until a train comes and they need to run! Shark River inlet has three entry points and in each you will be diving under the fishermen, most will pull their line when your float comes by to avoid a tangle. Up stream in Shark River basin there is a pier for the fishermen but it was there I got hooked by a fisherman casting across the boat ramp into the swimming area. One Sat. in Oct. the fishing pier is closed for an hour and we dive to clean up all of the lost fishing gear and things that fell off boats using the boat ramp. They grumble about not being able to fish until some diver hands them a bag of lost lures, hooks, lines and sinkers. I try to do that dive because it’s the only time of the year we get to check out the cold water corals.[

geobrad7 - 8/17/2009 4:43 PM Ray, I know the fishermen were there first, but it wasn’t there property any more than it was mine. At a state park, you should respect other people and be considerate of how they are trying to enjoy the park. I know that there is not just one place in the park to fish... But for diving there at this park, one side of the park is the marina, so you cannot dive there, and the other areas, you can’t get to the water. So for divers, that IS the only place at the park to dive. I couldn’t suggest anything (like looking for flounder further upshore) because I don’t know anything about fishing. Jeez, that’s crazy that it seems to happen so often. I’m sorry you had to deal with getting hooked. And the people I was diving with said they have had that happen and it really hurts. Maybe it is the economy. I haven’t been around here long enough to observe a difference, but that would make sense. Thanks for your insight. :-) Brad

LatitudeAdjustment - 8/17/2009 3:27 PM As you said, they were there first. I usually go over and ask them what they are fishing for and if I know the spot where they should put their line. As an afterthought I’ll say "please don’t cast on my bubbles!" If you find any gear give it to them and make a friend.  I got hooked by one last year and while I was trying to free myself he kept pulling on the line so I ended up cutting his line.  Maybe it’s the economy but I’ve noticed a lot more fishermen and crabbers on the water looking for dinner. Saturday I went out sailing and families were wading out to deeper waters with crab pots. I’d never seen that there before.