We setup last night before sundown. As we got to our spot we observed that two boats were already in close proximity, 1/2 mile apart, of where we wanted to setup. So we squeezed in. Still there was probably 300 meters between us, each direction. We drifted a little ways to review our drift. We rigged up some squids in the meantime. At that point we moved up-wind and tried to balance our distance between the two boats, and make some more space before letting lines out. We figured that they were there first so go further upwind to allow them to pass over the zone first.
The distance seemed to be a little close for my complete satisfaction but is was dealt with in a courteous fashion. I think others are less considerate than that.
After dark, someone moved like only 150 yards away from us. We thought for sure they would crowd our drift, maybe outpace our drift even. But they were setting up anyway. We did not get upset: but I was thinking in my mind that they do have lots of space farther upwind and they are the ones obligated to pick up and move if they got too close. But if a fish took our far balloon and swam a circle around the boat at that distance, the fish would have swam under their tips lines for sure.
Later a boat was on plane heading for our spread. I was crinjing that the boat would not take out our far jug. He went outside but I thought that maybe he was doing a slalom course around that marker. Seemed to be very close to the jug, ie. 150 ft. But at least not between jug and our boat. Another boat buzzed our down wind beam by about 100 yards later on that evening.
It seems that sometimes people can easily crowd your boat at times. It is just a shame that it is still done when there is plenty of space between their boat and another drifting farther away. A quarter mile is about 440 yds. and 150 yds. in about a third of that distance. So think of it as 150 yds. is pressuring someone's comfort zone and a 1/4 mile sounds just about right to fish the same zone. And please let the first arrival patrol the drift first; ie. don't cut in front. Besides if you follow behind you may just pick up something that their chum line brougt in closer to investigate.
Be courteous and yield to people that are there first.