And this is to promote your event? LoL.

I agree the landlord heard someone has been smashing the butts and need to take some preventive action. Haha glad your safe brotha. Probably a thresher. They like to smash the bait on the inside and take massive runs like the one you hooked up on.

This is one of my biggest fears while on my kayak and also why I wear a bright orange bucket hat. I've wondered about an air horn? It will certainly get somebody's attention but at the risk of scaring the shit out of them, in turn possibly pissing them off. At that point your a sitting duck for any retaliation from an angry boater.

I want to build a retractable flag pole to attach to my crate. Something I can twist to raise and lower quickly if need be. I've been thinking about a cheap walmart paddle for the pole. Any one got better ideas?

If I was able to figure out how to properly maintain it I would buy it.  After a second thought I would let someone else buy it and I would go for a ride.