How I always fish even with 2 people, trolling motor guy usually me, then my partner or vise Versa directly behind the person piloting the boat, and then you could throw somebody at the very back

To me, the key is not letting anybody fish from the middle of the boat. Two in front or two in back, either way and those two people have to stay shoulder to shoulder or back to back 100% of the time.....as long as they stay that way it's almost impossible for them to hook each other or the guy in the other end of the boat....and when somebody goes to the middle of the boat, he has to make sure everybody is aware....I guided for 8 years with as many as 4 people fishing in the boat and never had anybody get hooked