Night before last I was on SW ledge at BI drifting eels in a moonless sky. As I went to run back up I somehow saw a shadow of a 19' DC, I told the guy to put his lights on and he said he had nothing but a flashlight.....wtf I said get your ass back inshore before you and your crew get killed or kill somebody.People are just plain dumb.

Two days before I was running back from some Jamestown fluking,I come across the sakonnet with full visibility but a little spray on the windshield and next thing I know there is a GREEN kayak with a tiny dive flag on and he is diving right where boaters generally turn to enter or exit the river. Death wish IMO,that yak blended perfectly with the water that day and the diver almost became part of the biomass!

also close call
 

Can also happen during the day. Was fishing in a river just drifting downstream and saw a boat coming upstream. Not really paying attention cause of course he see's me. Anyhow, putting my stuff down to move to another location, my buddy in the back of the boat says " is this guy gonna turn". I turn to look and see this 14' or so boat heading directly for middle of my boat, maybe a 75 ft away going full throttle, 2 guys sitting in the bow of the boat facing back so guy driving the tiller can't see ahead of him. It was only seconds, your thinking, of course he's gonna turn, NOT TURNING!! My buddy yells "HEY" and the guys in the front of the boat turns and yells "HOLY S#@T, guy driving thankfully turned the right direction and missed the stern of my boat by 3-5 ft sending waves over my gunnel. He came back, apologized and said he will never let 2 guys sit in bow of boat again. That's great, cause there could have been some serious injuries or death. You Just never Know!!

good plan.... as the violent way can have repercussions for your whole well being...
even if you never caught up with them... it's big stress just the same... your a wise Man Joe

i was angry after reading your original post...

So glad you weren't injured ....

ever try this?
 

for the complete IDIOTS............

carry a straightened coat hanger (or section of thru wire) and thread it
thru a plug body,(for a handle)
then bend to a long shafted "L" so when you swing the wire over head it revolves... at the other end bend a narrow hook.
then attach some "dry" fine to medium steel wool
and have it ready to light off (need a hot flame)
in an emergency....

this is NOT intended for use where gasoline or fuels are nearby!

but you can create a thirty foot wide or tall Circle of SPARKS

that could be seen for miles.... Like a huge Sparkler.

Thank God you're ok Joe. Been there in heavy fog years back!