Larry,
Your 9/6 report prompted a response.
On Sunday, 8/31 we were drifting eels on Middleground on incoming tide with about 6 other boats catching 20" to 26" strippers. Fish are breaking all around us . Everyone is very respectful of other boats. It is truly a very pleasant morning.
Then, at approximately 10:30 am, a balloonhead in a mustard colored Formula with a 150 Johnson comes through the fleet wide open. The Formula is driven by a guy with gray hair, mustache, about 40ish, with another guy and a kid about 12 on board.
We have 3 lines out 25 to 40 feet drifting into the rip. When we see Formula man approaching, close aboard, at a high rate of speed we start to yell and waive hoping to get his attention. No luck. The next thing we see is an 8ft St. Croix rod bent in half sideways and a 7ft Penn rod about to leave the boat.
Fortunately, the 17# and 20# test could not take all the strain. However, gone are the leaders, sinkers, eels etc...but the rods and reels are still in the boat. Formula man had proceeded about 300 yards west of us and then stopped. Seeing him drifting and knowing this fool is probably oblivious to what he just did, I decide to go over to have a chat with him. I must add that although there is a rod on his boat the line never gets wet. As I start over, he takes off in the direction of Green Pond. Now I'm determined. I give chase.
I get the attention of his passanger with a blast of my air horn. They circle back. As we're idling along, side by side, I explain his actions in a clear and calm manner. At first he denies that it was him, then he claims ignorance.
I conclude by saying that it was really dumb. He shrugs and takes, off full throttle, toward Green Pond.
For a brief moment I have the preverse hope that my lines are wound around his prop and his lower unit burns out.
Stupid incidents like this give credence to the idea of mandatory safety courses and licences for boat operation.
...Or in the alternative, maybe this is a forum for the "Balloonhead Report"