As a serious sailor and owner of a 44 bluewater cutter sloop I would say that any sailboat under sail that does not change course when he sees fishermen trolling or bottom fishing is an idiot no matter what the rules say. Even with a boat my size it is not difficult to change course, a lot more easy than forcing the fisherman to pull his gear. Now if there is a planned race course set up I think that the fisherman should realize that by fishing inside the race course he should be aware that he may have to pull his gear as those sailors are out for blood and the faster they get into the club house the faster they get to drink strong gin & tonics!