• Mike Forman •
• Originally published January 24, 2009 at 5:40 p.m., updated January 24, 2009 at 5:40 p.m.

There I sat on the edge of East Matagorda Bay's south shoreline, waiting for the next flight of ducks to buzz my decoys. As the sun grew brighter, so did the reflections of fiberglass cutting across a placid Raymond Shoals. For the next hour I watched as 25 boats, jockeying for position on a single piece of shell, left a wake large enough to wash up on my shoreline and give my stationary floaters life.

By now I know you are tired of the cold weather. You have cabin fever - it's time to get out on the water. You have heard the reports - fishing has been good between cold fronts on just about every piece of brine in Texas. It is only going to get better as winter gives way to spring.

Your first fishing trip of the new year is always an exciting one. You shake the dust from your baitcasters, knock the dirt-dobber nest off the motor and give your tank a fresh drink of gasoline.

Catching fish will be a bonus, right? You just want to make sure your boat floats and motor purrs so when the fishing gets real good, you will be ready.

In all the preparations and excitement, many forget the basics of boater etiquette. Here is a refresher course:

Stay clear of other boats. Too often I have had boats come within 20 yards of my boat, just cruising. Use the entire bay. If you can read a boat's registration numbers, you are too close.

Know which way the wind is blowing and cross a boat high on the upwind side. A boat may be using the wind to drift a huge piece of water, like the armada of boats on Raymond Reef I spoke about earlier. If you cross downwind you cut off a drift and spook fish. Avoid other anchored or drifting boats.

An outboard motor is the surest conservation tool, much like a duck call in the wrong hands.

Treat wadefishers like you would pedestrians on a street - give them the right-of-way. Do not run between a wader and his boat. Do not pull on the other side of a wader and cut off his wade. Give waders their space. If someone is fishing where you want to be, oblige them and get there earlier the next time.

If boats are anchored in a cut or channel and there is no other way to go but through the area, shut your motor to a crawl and respect those who are fishing. Be considerate so not to leave a wake. The same holds true for those bank-fishing. Slow it down and respect everyone's space.

When in doubt, use a little consideration and a common-sense approach. Think about how would you want to be treated in this situation? If you are unsure of what you should do, slow down and steer clear. Respect and use courtesy for your fellow man.

Leave the alcohol at the dock. Just like alcohol has no place in a vehicle, it also has no place on your boat. Leave the extra room in your cooler for the fish. People consuming alcohol are more likely to forget everyday etiquette; and, alcohol certainly enhances the chance of someone flying off the handle.

Leave the egos at the marina. A good fisherman is not always measured by the weight of his cooler. I love dining on speckled trout, yet I toss them back when I have enough in the freezer.

Practice catch-and-release and respect big fish. Many captains are self-imposing a rule on their boat that all speckled trout over 23-inches must be released.

Times are changing. There are many more anglers on the water putting more pressure on the fishery. We have to be pro-active with conservation. Don't kill big trout for the sake of mounting - they are much more valuable than that.

I know, some trout are hooked deep and can't be revived; however, some captains use that as a crutch to bring big fish to the dock and puff out their chest. There are few taxidermist left who actually skin-mount fish. Most prefer replica-mounts, and are very good at creating that fish right down to the last spot or dot. Keep a camera handy and take a few measurements, then release the beast back to the waters in which it came.

Respects the fishery and your fellow man, and chances are you will receive the same respect back. If not, it is still the right thing to do.

Bink Grimes is a freelance writer, photographer, author and licensed captain. Contact him at binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net.

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