Kayak almost in bad trouble.

We had a club tournament on Lake Bridgeport Saturday. I launched my boat at the One Stop ramp at 5:30, and waited till it was beginning to get light in the East about 5:45. There was a kayak tournament going on also. We were heading to the East bank to start fishing and were on plane running about 200 yards or more off of the bridge when my son yelled STOP. I shut it down and there was a kayak dead ahead. When we idled up close to him, we saw he did have a light, that was putting out less light than a candle. If my son had not seen him, we would have hit him broadside at about 35 MPH. There were several kayaks out there with lights that were working and could be seen from a distance. I am wondering if they have rules for safety in their kayak tournaments. I respect their right to fish and will give them an area because it is easier for me to move than it is for them. This was stupid for him to be out in the dark without a light.

What if it was a floater?

Its why i always use a hardhat with a Q-beam if i cant see something floating on the water.

No different than a boat with poor lighting. Lots of guys are inexperienced and it will get them in trouble one day.

Well I hope you at least told the D/A his light was like a candle, and he was just about to be runover because of this.

No way I’d be in a yak on Bridgeport, EML or Lewisville during this time of year.

Glad nobody was hurt. Yakkers need to be well lit no matter what lake they're on. Yes they have the right of way but if you're dead who's gonna argue the point for you??

I had a standup paddler on lake Austin going across the lake without any lights and I almost ran him over too. He said he lost track of time. I escorted him back to shore. Also, I recalled from my boating safety course that the maximum speed is 25mph during low light conditions. Just FYI, for liability reasons, you'll need to know that in case there is ever an accident. I don't want to tell you that you did anything wrong, it's just good to know to keep you out of trouble. Tim

From TPWD requirements, the white light must be visible from 2 miles away.

"All other manually driven vessels may exhibit sidelights and a sternlight, or shall exhibit at least one bright light, lantern, or flashlight from sunset to sunrise when not at dock. In vessels of less than 12 meters (39.4 feet), white lights shall be visible at a distance of at least two (2) miles. Colored lights shall be visible at a distance of at least one (1) mile. "Visible" when applied to lights, means visible on dark nights with clear atmosphere."

Did not know that. Many bass boats struggle to stay on plane at 25mph. Is this in Texas?

I was the kayaker that talked to y'all later that morning. I'm in the orange kayak and mentioned I would say something about it. I let the angler know the situation. I have 12ft of Supernova Fishing Lights on my kayak as well as the white light. I think every boat and kayak should be well lit on the water. As kayakers sometimes we can hear boats but cannot see them, huge pucker factor.

To answer the question if there are rules about lighting. Yes, you must adhere to TPWD rules. In his case if a picture would of been taken it would have been an instant DQ.

I am at Murrel Park on Grapevine a lot on weekends early AM and I routinely see some high end bass boats leave the ramp with no lights...hard to understand.

There is a reason why the auto industry has converted over almost 100% of vehicles to auto-lighting, and at a minimum DRLs. People are too stupid to turn them on.
I still see older cars going down the road at night driving via street lamp because they didn’t turn their headlights on. (Albeit most of which are under the influence half the time)

Sounds like we are headed there with boats also.

I see it all the time boats without lights on. I even saw is a youth/adult tournament I was fishing. I said something to the tournament director and he said it's not there probem. I never fished the tournament trail again.

There is no law for "Maximum speed" for low light conditions. If there is, it is new and would like to see the link.

John:
It's not the law; but for some reason, that number 25mph stuck in my head from boat safety training. So, I called TPWD. The law calls out for "safe and prudent speed". This is awfully vague, but the game warden makes judgement based on what he views as "safe and prudent".

Interesting!
Tim

Jeff, you're correct, please see my other reply on "safe and prudent" being the law.
Tim

35 seems pretty safe to me! Glad the OP's son was paying attention rather than just being "along for the ride" I tell all the guys who fish with me to pay attention while we are underway just as if they were driving in case I for some reason do not see someone coming.

Yep....saw your other reply. Just wanted to make sure that everyone understood that there is no state law on boat speed....just use common sense based on the current conditions.

Safe and prudent is common in Texas law. In fact, that is the law that governs speed on roads as well. The signs are used as evidence of not operating at a safe and prudent speed and nothing more.

HUGE PUCKER FACTOR!! I have had this issue on Fork from a bass boat and a kayak.

Some of the yakers are brave souls for sure... why someone would cross the mainlake in low light conditions with no light or flag is beyond me. Seen it multiple times on Grapevine, probably more there than any other lake I fish. Throw in a little chop on the water and they can be almost invisible.