From: smithm@furnace.ecn.purdue.edu (Matthew Jacob Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing
Subject: Re: Bass vs. Trout vs. People
Keywords: Jet Skiers Die Die Die
Date: 2 Sep 92 19:27:30 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

>
>All you people are being highly critical of jetskiers, but they fight 
>much harder than any bass or trout.  The critical part of the fight is
>when they make that last desperate run for their car.  This is a true
>test for any tackle.  I usually use a gaff to land them and remember
>that they have teeth so keep your fingers away from their mouthes.
>Lately I have been employing a sort of personal taggin program by
>clipping off a finger before I release them.  Hope this helps.
>
>-- 
>
>jts@ginny.cmu.edu 
>John "fish tremble when they hear my name" Stonick


  I had the fortune B-) of hooking and both a 18 ft Sea Ray and a Kawasaki
Jet Ski this summer. However I was only able to land the jet skier as the
Sea ray spit the hook. I was Smallmouth fishing on Lake Erie this May near
the Bass Islands when this Sea Ray decides to come buzzing by only ~50ft
by out boat. Now it's not as if Lake Erie is a confined waterway or anything
but this F$#@GGIN guy has to pass close to our boat. Well I was using my
ultralight with 6lb test which can cast a country mile. I decided that this
would be a sporting outfit for an 18ft SR, and decided to go for it. Well
my 3/8 0z tube jig landed right on the guys windshield with a loud CRACK!
and it then bounced into the back seat. Unfortunately I forgot to trip the
bail and line careened out of my bail. So I forgot to set the hook and one
of the semi sober passengers threw my lure back into the water. I'm not
sure if I damaged his wind shield but it sure sounded satisfying. 
  Then this August I was on Houghton lake Michigan, a lake as notorious
for it's weeds, as it is for it's Jet/water skiers. I was live bait fishing
for Pike. about 1/2 mile offshore. I had reeled in one of the poles which
had a large bobber and trebble hook on it. Well This A@#hole comes buzzing by
on his jet ski and proceeds to circle the boat. Well it was to tempting.
I cast the garcia 5500C on a heavy 5"6" Ugly stick with 20lb mono. I missed
the first time bu here he came again and WHAM! I hooked him in the shoulder.
The 3/0 Trebble buried itself into his life jacket and skin. Well WHen I set
the hook I jerked the guy off of the jet ski and splahed him. Now I'm not sure 
how to characterize the fight the guy put up. It was basically three stages.
The first was bewildered thrashing in the water, followed by a stream of 
explicatives aimed in my general direction, followed by rage as I procedded
to haul him in (and dig the hook deeper). Well The guy came aboard mad as hell
but he was outnumbered and still somewhat shocked at our actions. After the
physical threats subsided and the lawsuit threats had no effect, we promptly
told the guy to F$@%off and get the H@#$ out our boat. Well we decided to let
him go as neither of us possesed a Jet Skier stamp, and I'm not sure if 
snagging is a legal method(but highly effective) :-). Well good luck for
anyone else out there who tries. I would recommend using a heavy baitcasting
outfit with at least 30lb dacron and a 3-5/0 trebel hook with a 1 oz weight.
maybe next year I'll get a Keeper.	Cheers
					Matt Smith

BTW does anyone have a copy of the current fishing regulations for 
jet skiers ie bag limit, size limit, and seasons ?-)
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing