Joel
Good observation to a point, but for a black bear it had less fear of people then most I've encountered and either throwing it at the bear or down on the ground, I believe it already associated people with fish and recognized the source of that fish either thrown at it or to the side was the person. It was coming up to the fisherman with the fisherman's fish in mind for itself. When the fisherman went out into deeper water and further down the shore the bear came back and got the fish. Our yelling only hurried it on its way after it got what it wanted. Even though it was less leary of people then most it was in good condition with plentiful other food, so if I had been in the fisherman's shoes I would have kept the fish and moved aggressively toward the bear only throwing the fish to the side if my aggression didn't work. But that's easy to say now. Though for sure not a college certified bear expert, I've observed and been around many more bears then most people and yet to turn around not thinking a bear anywhere about and have a bear within a couple of feet wanting what I had in my hands, so until that happens can only say for sure what "I think I should do in such a case".
Jay