You really should for reasons already mentioned. The Japanese took over the small boats and used them to supply. So in areas under the flag of the Japanese by all means, and yes this was done a lot in real life.

The trend kept on into the last years of the war where we would attack then friendly boats out of habit I suppose.

Christie put a stop to this pratice though, saying we are at war with the Japanese, not the natives. Boat in Japanese controlled waters were of course still fair game.

As to the game, I find it very interesting that many times after I am spotted by a "fishing boat" a plane will appear.

I ran into some around Guadalcanal during various phases of the war. I sank them all and got credit for enemy kills. On the other hand, I ran into a small fishing flotilla after refitting at Milne Bay, sank them all but got cited for sinking friendly vessels.http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/...s/35d68d28.gif
As a general rule, if they're far enough away that I probably haven't been sighted, I veer away from them. If they are too close when they're first spotted by my crew, I obliterate them.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/...s/66a8e324.gif I have spotted what seems to be a radio antenna atop some of the masts of Sampans and Fishing Boats.:stare:

And that is the reason why i blow em out of the water when they spot me :salute:

Ive never tried it in a 18 / 42 class, but in normal boats it shalnt harm you

Ramming them is a lot of fun.

Ok guys, got the message!
From now on no more fishing in Japanese waters.

I never shoot them. I don't like to reveal my presence anywhere, unless it's absolutely necessary. Killing a few, hard working family fathers does not justify me to risk the lives of my crew :|\\

Pick one juicy target and sink it fast, then get the hell out of the area. That's my style. You can call me a coward, if you like, but that doesn't change the fact that my name is on the top of blackboard :salute:

Shoot them at least once before ramming, that way you get credit for sinking. Maybe mods differ, but if I ram and sink it I don't get credit, but just a few damage points before rammin, I do.

Saves ammo.

I usually dont engage them but (i imagine that are fishers... simply fishers. But of course, in the real war some of them were equipped with hydrophones, radios, ASDIC and a few depth chardges), if any of then spot me... there's nothing i can do but engage then with AA guns or a few cannon rounds :arrgh!:.