I am quite new to the Gold Cost so don't know the rules too well.
I need your advice on this matter.
A couple of months ago I was caught on a fishing line that was towed by a motorboat on Shearwater, Gold Coast. Being a windy and busy day there were quite a lot kites and windsurfers around. I passed about 10 -20 meters behind the boat at a good planing speed, too late to see two fishing rods and thin lines towed by the running boat a meter above the water. I hit their line with my mast at boom height and jumped into water. Too late since two big hooks managed to catch and puncture my wetsuit. Luckily the boat stopped and it took me a good 5 min to rip the hooks off my suit and free myself.
Since I didn't hear any excuses from the fishing men I assumed that it must have been my fault to get caught on the hooks.
Consequently I now know that passing behind a speeding boat can be as dangerous as passing infront. The accident happened on a very obvious kite & windsurfer Shearwater spot, with at least 20 sailors on the water at the time. Have you been caught already?
So my question is: If besides common sense, is there any regulation regarding fishing from running boats in places like beaches and obvious busy water sports areas?
These days I don't wear a neoprene wet suit, so the huge hooks could easily get caught into bare skin thus causing a very dangerous and painful situation.