Originally Posted by
bsp
Like I said, it's used to get the message across when polite, civil language doesn't seem to be doing the trick. I come from party/private boat fishing on the saltwater scene and that tactic is used FREQUENTLY when one boat is infringing on your bite, be it anchored up for WSB at the islands or drifting for paddies off shore. It clearly demonstrates that somebody is too close if you can reach their boat/lines with a cast. You never sling irons at people, just use them to make a point that somebody is too close by using them to reach out and touch their boat or casting over their lines.
I have had morons in boats buzz by and kill a decent deadstick bite, slice a bait off that I'm working on a long cast, and all around wreck the experience. Gotta love the guys that laugh, retrieve your bait, wave it at you, and take off again. Fellow shore anglers can screw things up, but it's a hell of a lot less frequent. I've seen much fewer gracious boaters than I have morons who think blasting around the lake with no regard for shore anglers is a fantastic idea. Level of patience for boaters is basically zilch at this point for me, so I'll admit that has influenced my opinion.
On a serious note, feel free to PM me if you honestly want to discuss this further. Pete and MWD Rich have worked this out, so this topic is beating a dead horse at this point.