[2022] Pirate ships do not chase my ships (patch 16)

I wanted to have a little war with the pirates (new world), sink a few of their ships for some interesting items. But with the current patch 16, it seems that there is something wrong with their AI. After war is declared, the pirates will not attack my ships at all, except when our ships come into range when passing each other. Basically, pirate ships always stick to their patrol routes (even in combat).

I remember about half a year ago (2-3 updates ago) pirate ships tried to sink damaged ships and actively chased my ships outside of their patrol routes. Now it is very easy to run away from a fight even with a very damaged ship, where before I would have lost that ship. And basically if I put the Schooner next to their island out of their patrol routes, it can stand there safely forever.

It's not as challenging now and it's less fun.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is this a change that came with the some combat adjustments in the Empire of the Skies DLC? Or am I remembering it wrong and it's always been this way?