He's fishin, he got the right to fish, he does not have to get out of our way, you had the decision to make, tack, miss the boat lose the race, or sail through, cut the lines and salute. those split second decisions are what make or break life, you paid the price, and maybe learned a lesson be happy for it. now you asked what I would have done, I know that fishermen have the right of way, and I keep clear in this situation I might have done as you did, and then I might have been abliged to let the helpful guy on the beach that offered to pay for the rig do so, I might have been drunk on the beach and not liked being yelled at and kicked his butt or died trying. However if the wife was there drunk or not I would have paid the man and been pissed and felt it was wrong. I think you did what you had to, do not feel bad, it could only have gone different if you tacked.