https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/mlf-sue-9925.html

I think we all knew this was coming!

 

And Glenn I hope you don't mind me posting this information here. If so, please delete. I hope this post is considered as relevant to this tragedy.

 

I'd add that some people think, maybe myself included, that MLF probably should have held the tournament under caution due to fog, but under pressure may have pushed forward not being as cautionary as maybe they should have been.

 

I wonder if this might add to the MLF liability in this case?

 

Just a tragedy all the way around. Hope it never happens again.

 

There is talk of using GPS location devices to try and prevent this type of thing. Biologists want to do the same in Florida with manatee. Since we can't see them and boaters run all over them injuring them seriously and killing hundreds of them.

 

If they were all tagged with electronic trackers, then boaters could use GPS to prevent future collisions. It has many applications with tournament bass fishing being one of them.

 

Other uses the biologists are considering and may be doing already is to put trackers in invasive species like the pythons and boa constrictors running loose in South Florida. They hope the snakes will lead them to areas the snakes prefer so hunters can use that data to help eradicate them. Other animals like our Florida panther also has some trackers on some of them now already.

 

There is a fine line between freedom and safety and going too far. Tragedies like this one are behind why safety changes to laws happen. The lawsuits and publicity give them the cause to pass laws to change things if we the people do not choose to do it ourselves is when big brother steps in and does it for us. And it could very well be coming too. 

 

After every major plane crash there are calls for changes to try and prevent it from happening again.

 

I should add the biologist I talked to wants to incorporate this GPS tracking into boat controls. So if a boater is flying up river at full speed and the GPS tracking data shows a collision is imminent with a manatee, then the boat controls would give warning first, and then maybe even throttle back on boat to prevent collision if the driver does not want to slow down or change course. The electronics they want to implement might do it for them. Kind of like how drunks can't drive because of the electronics they use in cars.

 

Biologists don't want the manatee going extinct here in Florida because of careless boaters killing so many. So they are looking at future options. GPS tracking maybe could have saved some lives in this tragedy as well.

 

It can be a good idea used correctly, but there is also room for abuse. Law enforcement would love to use it to track criminals. Already are. Cellphones and Apple have been a big help to them in this area. Expect more in future.

 

I'd like to add more of what a state of Florida biologist told me. He said presently the state of Florida in conjunction with various corporations like Sea World and non-profit foundation corporations like Sea to Shore Alliance all have a combined effort for a rapid recovery rescue and response teams all across Florida to try and rescue and save manatees who are injured, starving, or trapped in various places, or even dead. They even want all sightings called in if people would only do so to help them track manatee right now.

 

My son just reported one in New Smyrna Beach directly to state biologists on their report a manatee phone number. He thought it might be trapped because of low tide. But his manatee got out OK.

 

If they could implement the GPS tracking data into AI, they hope to have early warnings on manatees in trouble. They even want the tracking devices to transmit the manatee's vital statistics so veterinarian doctors can know instantly ahead of time what they are getting into and how to respond with their rapid response teams. Every single one of them all across the state would be alerted instantly.

 

What this means for all of us, if they have their way, new boats will come with tracking devices mandatory. And maybe if they can get it some boat controls like an engine kill or throttle back if a collision is imminent and their warnings go unheeded by boat driver. This means they will be watching all of us on the water everywhere we are. And they will KNOW before any of us hit and injure or kill a manatee and they will know who did it too.

 

Every manatee in the state of Florida they can locate are all photographed, tagged, and named. Injuries documented. The biologists take saving the manatee and other animals very seriously and are working hard to change laws more in their favor which means less in our favor.

 

Do these animals deserve to be saved from extinction is the question. GPS tracking of boats may be the only way to do it while also preventing more tragedies like the MLF boat accident.

 

This is what they want to put a stop to as soon as possible:

 

 

 

 

 

I think a lot of us Floridians take it seriously about trying to save and protect the manatee. Some boaters going through manatee slow speed zones don't slow down. Now with GPS they can track that as well.

 

But what I want to say is that I have a 40 plus year association to various biologists in Florida. And, I try and teach my sons ages 12 and 14 to be conservationists. Pick up trash rather than throw it down. Leave things better than you found it type of thing.

 

But one thing I am trying to do for my sons is to use that connection to state biologists to get my sons into manatee rescues as volunteers.

 

When a manatee close by is in trouble and they need an army of humans to rescue the manatee, I would like for my sons to be a part of that rescue. I think it would have a profound effect on them long after I am dead and gone. I think they would think more highly of themselves if they knew they were a part of saving and protecting the manatee.

 

Florida is also designing custom machines to go into remote places to rescue these manatee.

 

 

 

 

To save this stranded manatee, heavy equipment was brought in to dig a water path back to the water.

 

We can all be a part of this effort. Especially all of us boaters on the frontlines. We are the eyes and ears for the alliances. Technology is bringing it all together.

 

Those 3 fishermen killed might still be alive today if the biologists had their way. Who knows, maybe their lives lost will be what it takes to move forward with this type of technology to save future fishermen from the same possible fate.

@FloridaFishinFool multiple people who fished that tournament said fog was not the issue. Another angler in the tournament went by this boat that was anchored and is on record saying that boat was at a bad spot to be anchored. 
 

undoubtedly this was a terrible accident. Legally it matters whose fault it was. More than likely the boater because it’s his responsibility to be in control of his vessel at a speed he can safely do it. Sadly no legal action will change the outcome. People lost their lives. My heart goes out to everyone involved. 
 

As far as GPS to avoid collisions that’s just crazy talk. It was a horrific and sad accident. We can’t prevent everything. It’s always easy to look back and say they should have done this or that. Who knows maybe that boat gets struck by someone not in the tournament an hour later if he didn’t. I don’t think there would be near the outcry for change.  

22 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

@FloridaFishinFool multiple people who fished that tournament said fog was not the issue. Another angler in the tournament went by this boat that was anchored and is on record saying that boat was at a bad spot to be anchored. 
 

undoubtedly this was a terrible accident. Legally it matters whose fault it was. More than likely the boater because it’s his responsibility to be in control of his vessel at a speed he can safely do it. Sadly no legal action will change the outcome. People lost their lives. My heart goes out to everyone involved. 
 

As far as GPS to avoid collisions that’s just crazy talk. It was a horrific and sad accident. We can’t prevent everything. It’s always easy to look back and say they should have done this or that. Who knows maybe that boat gets struck by someone not in the tournament an hour later if he didn’t. I don’t think there would be near the outcry for change.  

 

Multiple fishermen can say all they want to and it does not mean a thing in court- unless called as witnesses.

 

https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2025/06/alabama-fishing-tournament-fatal-crash-company-disputes-blatantly-false-account-in-lawsuit.html

 

One of the lawsuits already filed made this claim in court records:

 

"A lawsuit on Broom’s behalf was filed in May, targeting three parties. They are Major League Fishing, tournament competitor Davis and fishing guide Holcombe. Among other things, the complaint alleges that Major League Fishing failed by “organizing and incentivizing high-speed boat operation in foggy, congested conditions on a public waterway shared with recreational and guided fishing vessels.” It likewise accuses Davis of “traveling at excessive and unsafe speeds” despite “dense fog, mist or clouds” covering parts of the lake."

 

Fog may not cover the entire lake. It does not have to cover the entire lake so keep that in mind. Fog may not have been in that area at the time, but if fog existed on other parts of the lake will surely matter in a court of law as to how MLF should have handled it. Fog is now legally a part of this accident case regardless of what any anglers say. They don't matter unless they are called into court to testify. Other than that nothing more than hearsay on their part.

 

Here is another description from AI search:

 

"Yes, initial reports stated fog was thought to be a factor in the tragic boat accident on Smith Lake, Alabama, which resulted in the deaths of two fishermen, but later reports indicate it was not the primary cause; it was a combination of the narrow channel, racing down the lake, and heavy steam from the water causing limited visibility, according to a YouTube video."

 

I want to know how they will differentiate steam from mist from fog? That will be interesting. But fog may not have been a primary cause, but is certainly a major contributing factor- or steam, or mist or whatever it is they choose to call water vapor these days.

 

Again, the MLF has to take an entire lake into consideration when calling a halt to a tournament for fog or whatever it is. If fog exists only on Southern end and northern end is clear you can't cut the lake in half. Its either all or none and that was missed big time. But it will play out in court for sure!

 

To your point of the boat being anchored in a bad spot is also irrelevant. Legally anyone can anchor where ever they want to. No rules or laws to prevent it. Was there a sign on that spot that said "Bad spot no anchoring here"? If not, that point is irrelevant to the case. Those deceased people were well within their legal rights to anchor up there, and no one should run them down for any reason. MLF messed up here big time as I see it. Many are saying the tournament should have been paused or held back until fog and mist fully cleared from the lake. This is at the core of the case now big time.

 

Now maybe it was technically a bad spot, but so what. That does not matter. The fault rests exclusively on the driver of the boat that hit them. End of story.

 

That is like saying when I get rear ended by someone from behind that I am parked in a bad spot for them- victim blaming. The law puts full responsibility on the person driving who caused the accident. All this bad spot talk is just crazy talk like you said of the GPS which is NOT crazy talk. Its already here and being used and will be used even more heavily in the future. I was merely pointing out what I am hearing and reporting it here. If it is crazy talk to you then so be it, but that crazy talk will save lives and its use and further implementation is coming- I believe it. Tesla and others use it now.

 

GPS tracking of those tournament boats could have possibly prevented this tragedy. And you wait and see what comes out of all of this. I will bet you down the road MLF and others will do something similar. These types of accidents are avoidable. So its not crazy talk if future accidents like this can be prevented by way of simple application of already existing technology.

As previously stated in a recent post, I'm not an attorney.   

 

However, I can't imagine them winning the case against MLF.

 

MLF could possibly settle out of court and write them a check. Call it a "win" if you want.

 

I could see Flint Davis maybe being on the hook if they can prove he did something illegal/reckless.

@FloridaFishinFool I literally said it was more than likely the boaters fault not the one anchored. I for one will not fish an area I feel like could put in me danger legal or not. I also would think people who saw this boat anchored with no fog around it would be eye witness enough that have already gone on record saying that. 
 

Your GPS idea is simply crazy talk. That won’t happen. 

I wouldn’t trust AI or GPS. Both are wrong more often than not. Especially Google’s AI. GPS is good, sometimes incredibly good but there is still induced error by our Gov..

To avoid a collision during the start of a bass tournament a patrol boat should warn boaters to stay out of the area before the start of event. Once the tournament boats clear the starting area it’s up to the boat driver to avoid collisions. 
The problem I see is the large sonar screens block off forward vision and that needs to be addressed.

When I had a bass boat my Sonar screens were located not to impede my forward vision. This should be mandatory and fold down units that block vision.

The boat driver is at fault and the MLF could be found negligent if they allowed an unsafe start of the event.

Tom

I wasn't aware of this until today. I haven't kept very good track of things in the pro world and I don't watch much news.

 

@FloridaFishinFool I see 2 issues with the GPS tracking of manatees.

 

The first is, not everyone has electronics in their boats. I know, that sounds odd in today's times.

So then would it be mandatory for one to have GPS installed in all vessels?

The second is, if it is designed in a manner that does not force the boat to move under autopilot to miss the manatee, there will be a small number of individuals that will do their best to hit the poor critters.

Manatee’s have nothing to do with accidental collisions killing people, it’s a shallow water Florida issue!

Tom

@Bazoo it would seem every vessel would need GPS so they can talk to each other. Kayaks, paddle boards, jet skis, canoes, all commercial and non commercial vessels. Youd practically need a water traffic control to handle this and designate on plane areas for boats and fishing areas. Than what if it’s dangers for the boater to be coming off plane in a certain situation?  The gps cuts the power you come off plane stuff the bow and swamp your boat.

 

@FloridaFishinFool any thoughts to my above situations and theory’s?  

 

Susky River Rat said: "it would seem every vessel would need GPS so they can talk to each other. Kayaks, paddle boards, jet skis, canoes, all commercial and non commercial vessels."

 

You are going way off track.

 

Kayaks don't run people down and kill them. Paddle boards don't run people down and kill them. Canoes don't run people down and kill them. That's crazy talk. Those watercraft are also not running down wildlife either.

 

Why are you doing this? Surely you can see the benefits of GPS monitoring and warning systems?

 

And as a last resort if warnings do not work that POWERED boats can be slowed down or stopped to prevent collisions possibly by remote AI monitoring or other.

 

How do you think autonomous vehicles work? How do you think they are able to avoid hitting things (most of the time)?

 

The technology is there. We have it now. If it had been employed on Smith lake 3 people could still be alive.

 

And since when does coming off plane swamp boats? Seriously? Kind of like how paint has solved the corrosion problem and how old aluminum boats and new aluminum boats are not the same? You go off track sometimes into things that just don't jive with reality.

 

Drivers will be warned first and they will know what is coming if they do not follow the warnings. Down throttling or engine kill may be coming. NOT GPS boat driving. I can't see that one. But surely tracking and collision avoidance are on the table right now.

 

Many commercial vessels do use it now.

 

This is what is real:

 

"Yes, the State of Florida, particularly through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), monitors wildlife using GPS technology on various animals, including black bears, Florida panthers, manatees, and bobcats, to study their movements, habitat use, and behavior. These GPS collars provide researchers with detailed, real-time data, while smaller, specialized GPS devices are used for sea turtle nesting activity data collection, informing conservation efforts and management practices for these species." 

 

Now you combine what is already being done, and simply apply it to boats to be included into it all collectively. GPS tracking is common place now. They are already tracking the animals. And now the time has come or is coming very soon to begin tracking boaters.

 

If this technology is to be applied to boats, more than likely it will be installed in only new boats sold. Old boats may be grandfathered out as they simply allow the cycle to take place. Older boats drop out of service, and new boats with the technology fills in the void. They are cycled in same as we see in cars and trucks on the roads.

 

More and more of this technology is coming into play. Accept it. You can't stop it. You can't do anything about it except sit around and ............... about it. (Pick a word)

 

State biologists want to use it to prevent boaters from running down manatee. That is a long overdue good thing too! We NEED it here.

 

And tournaments should implement it to protect each other from running down others like Smith lake.

 

This is not hard to grasp really:

 

"Yes, airplanes use GPS as a critical component of their navigation systems, which, along with other technologies like Air Traffic Control (ATC), radar, and ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast), helps pilots avoid mid-air collisions. GPS provides precise location information that is crucial for pilots and ATC to maintain safe separation between aircraft, with ADS-B systems specifically broadcasting a GPS-derived position to other nearby equipped aircraft for real-time collision avoidance."

 

And:

 

"Yes, cars can use GPS in their collision avoidance systems, but it's a complex process where GPS data is combined with other sensor technologies like radar, cameras, and LiDAR to detect and react to hazards. While GPS helps systems avoid fixed dangers by using a database of locations, the real-time detection of other vehicles or pedestrians relies more heavily on these other sensors, which track objects directly in the vehicle's path."

 

And:

 

"Yes, boats use GPS in combination with other technologies like Radar and AIS (Automatic Identification System) to avoid collisions. GPS provides location data, while radar detects physical objects and AIS broadcasts information about other vessels, including their speed and course. These systems are integrated into chart plotters, which display this information on a digital map, showing the relative positions of your boat, other boats, and fixed hazards like land, significantly improving situational awareness for mariners."

 

The Smith lake tragedy may be just cause to push this technology deeper into the boat industry namely bass fishing boats. Surely a little foresight and future visionary thinking can show the possibilities?

 

Can we keep it real please?

 

Susky River Rat said: "You'd practically need a water traffic control to handle this and designate on plane areas for boats and fishing areas."

 

We already have that. Presently it is done with water police chasing you down. In future they won't have to do that. You will simply receive your speeding ticket through a manatee no wake zone in the mail.

 

Many boaters do not observe common decency and common courtesies out on the water any longer. I thanked a man just two days ago for slowing down to pass me and my son while fishing. Most people just fly by dangerously. Time for some accountability when the boat traffic police can't be on all bodies of water at the same time.

 

Maybe we DO need more traffic control on lakes. And GPS is one easy way to do it. Combine it with AI traffic police and GPS and boaters are going to have to come around to playing by the rules more and more. Its coming. This is my last comment on this subject. I've said more than enough for my part. If others want to debate it or call it crazy or irrelevant then have at it.

 

 

 

 

@FloridaFishinFool how am I going way off track?  You are the one who writes encyclopedias for responses and just brought up something that isn’t even in this topic.
 

For my boat fitted with a GPS to know a kayak is there to avoid it the kayak would need  GPS as well. I am not saying kayaks kill people. Kayaks can be very hard to see. If my boat has the gps to do what you say and a kayak doesn’t how is that going to work? If my GPS is going but, there is no ping from another GPS it won’t slow on down. That is why they would need it. 

Clearly you do not have enough experience with boats to know at times coming off plane can be dangerous. 
 

 

Yup. A 20 foot Bass Boat running can mow over a kayak easily..any boat w motor can roll over a kayak. 
 

Something needs done, at least put young operators into a weekend of classroom doing safety stand downs and that helps believe me. I’ve done these in Aviation, Highway, Factory, Heavy equipment. 
 

Having GPS alone isn’t adequate for all boating safety issues. You’d need radar and other high tech software to integrate it all together. Even barges don’t use such a system. Accidents involving night operations have happened on Pickwick. Bassboat vs barge. Ocean transport ships might have such an elaborate system, I haven’t studied it. Barges are dim at night also. 
 

I mean for crying out loud, Bass Cat has a boat w a 500 hp racing motor for sale 😂 that’s a Bass boat guys. 

@FloridaFishinFool no disrespect, but the manatee issue is unique to Florida water and doesn’t correlate with this thread very well. 

I thought it did. I considered the GPS tracking could prevent collisions for humans and wildlife. I see no difference. Same technology. Same application. Different purposes are the only difference. I thought one collision was same as any other with the goal to prevent all of them.

 

I just hope we can save lives with it in the future.

 

I'd like to add one more thing. I first heard about this from FWC state of Florida biologists. And when they talk, I listen. This is the direction they are heading in and have been for many years. Technology is just now bringing it all into fruition and bringing it all together into one cohesive system. Big Brother is after boater controls. Make no mistake about that! Boater controls are coming through application of new technologies.

 

And I believe that MLF and others may also be implementing something similar in tournament boats in the future. Step by step it is heading in that direction. This lawsuit and the others already filed may compel it to happen even faster. Give them an inch and they take a mile. Always.

 

"They" big brother already have GPS in hand. Now all they gotta do is use it.

 

I don't know about other states but Florida has implemented your suggestion:

 

"Florida law mandates that all boaters born on or after January 1, 1988, must complete a NASBLA-approved boater safety course and obtain a Boating Safety Education ID Card to operate a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more. This requirement applies to all operators, including visitors and those who rent boats, who must carry this card along with a valid photo ID while on the water. The law is known as the Boating Safety Act of 2022, and its primary goal is to improve safety by ensuring all operators have basic boater education."

 

Honestly I am not sure it has helped much. We still see a lot of stupid out there. And I mean a LOT! Along with a lot of inconsideration for others.

 

 

Alabama made everyone that boats there get a certification after all their recent boat wrecks, I had to get one when I went there in may. I learned absolutely nothing, might have even unlearned some things from all that jibberish 

@TnRiver46 - there's pages of that going around.  

Well at least it can be interesting jibberish that forums were designed for, and not 100 different photos of the same old rods and reels endlessly posted over and over and over along with PE#. Ha! Two can play that game.

 

This is what Florida is dealing with and no amount of "education" can fix this.

 

Oh and hey, do you see all those boats in the following video the sheriff impounded along with the tow vehicles and trailers? Yeah, their dads are posting on fishing forums! Ha!

 

I'm one but the kids have not gotten the keys to my boat- yet.

 

 

 

Big brother is coming!

There is already a system in place for sharing location information for collision avoidance purposes.  It's called AIS and is required on larger vessels.  Any boat can add it.  I've never heard of someone putting it on a bass boat much less a kayak.  AIS transponders start around $500-$1000.   I can't imagine that requiring every boat to have one would go over well. 

 

The solution to fatal collisions is incredibly simple.  Watch your speed and watch where you're going.  Those who do not look for other boats in their path will probably not look for them on a screen either.  

 

Bass tournaments encourage dangerous behavior and it's only a matter of time before a tournament organization is found liable for an accident.

 

23 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Bass tournaments encourage dangerous behavior and it's only a matter of time before a tournament organization is found liable for an accident.

I agree with this. When money is up for grabs people do stupid things. People make bad choices. High speeds highlight those bad choices even more. 

I have read some of your ideas and I don’t think you have considered the magnitude of tournament events.  On one lake near me there were 72 tournaments with up to 350 boats in a 30 day time period.  Multiply that times 12 months, 50 states and 1000s of lakes and I think there are no easy solutions.

^ We don't have quite that number of tournaments on Minnetonka - but we occasionally have more than one going at the same time.

 

15th of this month, for example, we have a Bass tournament AND a Muskie tournament happening at the same time...talk about confusion.

Magnitude you say?

 

Big brother already has a grip on growing numbers of cars coast to coast that far outnumber any boats. And big brother already has GPS grip on all planes, or most. And big brother has a GPS grip on commercial shipping and other vessels.

 

Adding in consumer boats is not a "magnitude" issue for big brother when they come for us!

 

Wanna talk "magnitude"? Take a read on this! And it is NOT me who needs to consider anything. Its ALL of us!

 

"There is no precise total number for GPS-equipped cars in the US, but it is estimated that 78 million cars already have tracking technology, and 80% of new cars sold are equipped with GPS devices, with that number predicted to increase to nearly 98% in the coming years. GPS trackers are integrated into vehicles for various purposes, including stolen vehicle recovery, fleet management, and data collection on driving habits." 

 

And:

 

"There isn't a precise number for the total number of bass boats in the U.S., but it's estimated to be a fraction of the approximately 13 million recreational boats registered nationally. To estimate, consider that there are around 30 million bass anglers in America, and a bass boat is a common and popular choice for many of them."

 

"Bass boats represent a small fraction of 13 million recreational boats. SMALL fraction. No magnitude to it!

 

Magnitude does not matter to big brother. Cars outnumber bass boats by over 65 million and growing!

 

All I did here was to point out the direction big brother is heading. And going from 80% to 98% is proof of it.

 

I fully expect the same to begin happening to our boats. So its not such crazy talk jibberish after all! (As I see it.) I'm just a messenger. Don't shoot the messenger!

I hate to sound like Blauket, but I’m in favor of going back to the old 150 H/P rule. Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, et al will never let that happen but I’d be in favor of it. 
 

A lot of this stuff mentioned above sounds like a whole bunch of government overreach to me. This tragic accident was definitely due to the irresponsible actions of the guy in the bass boat. I wasn’t there, don’t know how foggy it was, but possibly mlf will share in the liability. Hopefully it will cause them to go under but that’s just me. I’m sure they’re insured pretty well.

^ And you forget that every cell phone for the past number of years has GPS built in....unless you're using a pre-2010 cell phone....you're already being tracked...and even back to 2000 many higher-end phones already had it.