An update here...
I tested this "standing in the water thing" out all over Driftwood and was never attacked back. Tried it on Devil's Anvil when dropping off a load of cargo and it didn't work there, got attacked right back. I'm going to try some other islands today, and post the results. Think it may just be a Driftwood thing...
Worked my voodoo doll up three levels in like 45 minutes by attuning three giant crabs at once, luring them to the waters edge and just using Poke on them. Got 100 pts a piece for them. Probably could have gone further, but it got boring, LOL.
Arrr