I didn't think fame had anything to do with it. But with higher fame there are more towns people after you and you would be tired from all the attacking. When you've finished licking the toads (Fame resets.) you would be fully awake and wouldn't drop gold. Also if players were more likely to drop gold with fame then I should be rich because I don't think players attacking my ship would only go for my ship. So I'm happy with it the way it is.
P.s:
I think you're a good luck charm because no players had dropped gold at my ship in probably about a month. But around 2 hrs after your post it happened at last,
. Not only that but I think the attacker is a 50/50.