I posted the top 17 spots to catch fish in RI. I closed the post by saying, "Do you know how I found these spots?"

Too bad the post isn't up there anymore because I was about to reveal the big secret to those top 17 locations. Each of the super spots I highlighted were the arbitrary spots where a loran line ran into shoreline. And guess what, they were great spots. RI has 400 miles of great spots.

Another way to determine where to go fishing today is take out a road map of RI, go down to the area in blue (the water) and start at Napatree Point (only used because that’s about the first shore spot in the state and it’s already been given up) then mark off an area one half inch to the right, then another spot one half inch to the right, then continue until you run out of Rhode Island shoreline. Guess what, you’ll have nailed a bunch of great spots where cows can be caught.

As far as jumping on the site and trying to stir up trouble; quite the contrary, I’ve been reading about all the spot burning posts and I was trying to simply point out that there are no secret spots, there are no spots that can’t be discovered, or should I say rediscovered. You guys need to lighten up. Like many of you folks on this site, I’ve put my time in…over 45 years of diving RI. You would be hard pressed to come up with a spot I’ve not seen from both the top and the bottom.

What are you guys doing to protect access? What are you folks doing to protect the stocks of fish you so desperately want to catch? Are you going to the ASMFS meetings? Are you supporting any conservation groups. Did you send in a letter on Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring?

Quite frankly I can’t believe some of the remarks that came out of that thread. I’m just sorry I didn’t get the chance to deliver the punch line before the post got yanked. Lighten up. Let’s start talking about ways we can get access opened, organize area clean ups, etc.

I guess I made my point, there are a lot of people here ready to flame someone for trying to share a point of view they might not like.

Get over it.

Mike - you knew the precise reaction you would get by posting that up. So by intending to yank the collective chain of the site, stir up the controversy, and then, toss in the "punch line", you KNEW you would stir up the people and start another flameage war. You are not dumb so please don't say that you knew something like that would not happen. You know that we are keeping specific location information to a minimum here. Is it the best way? Hell no, but there are not a lot of alternatives at this time and that right balance is still trying to be found.

I fully support that thread getting pulled, if for no other reason, than on the surface - unaware of any wonderfull "punch line" - you were posting contrary to our issues with spots. Unfortunately, solving issues at my real job precluded me from getting on and seeing it first hand. Now as far as spots, you ARE in that other camp, the one that will promote locations, aren't you?

Lets hear more about what Fish Eye is doing for beach cleanups, protecting the stocks and protecting/preserving access other than just blowing his own horn here abouts! Do you attend those meetings that you speak of? I bet not! Up front I do not but it is not that I do not care....its because I don't have time due to work and getting my new home squared away. I do not preach it because I do not practice it Mike....do you practice what you preach? :lurk:

John,

My post was ment to first get a reaction, but then with a quick follow up post (obviously not quick enough) make people realize that there are thousands of great spots, some involving more work to fish than others.

I just wanted people to realize that their knee jerk reactions are often over the top and that they are too quick to jump down someones throat. I DID NOT INTEND ON STARTING A FLAME WAR, the list of spots was nothing more than arbitrary areas where Loran lines met the shore.

I can remember when only a small tribe of people fished Beavertail, when Sachuest point was open to the degree that you could drive all the way around to Third Beach. I'm also aware of areas being closed to the public because of the trash and disrespect shown by others, i.e., Newport Causeway during squid run, URI dock, Sachuest Point, etc.

As far as my being in the camp of "tell all" writers, I think my record speaks for itself. All my lectures and videos deal with generic areas other than when they are common knowledge. A list of lighthouses in New England would be a good example of commonly known hot spots. I work harder at trying to give people the skill sets necessary to find their own productive water -- after all, that's the most satisfying feeling isn't it.

I've been quick to share details when it comes to areas like Cuttyhunk because I know the area is remote and there is very little shore based fishing taking place there.

I have nothing to gain by insighting a flamewar...on the contrary I was reacting to the posts that were starting to slam OTW for a show they didn't even air yet.

Big Fish,

FYI, I was at the Menhaden meeting in RI this summer speaking on behalf of myself and representing the Recreational Fishing Alliance. I was also at last weeks herring meeting in Fairhaven and before that I was compiling all the statistics that pointed to a corralation between our loss of river herring and the relatively new mid-water trawlers. After the meeting I worked the phone trying to get press on the issue in many of the local newspapers from Maine to New Jersey. Maybe that's why you haven't seen me on this board as much as in the past.

I spent a year and a half on a documentary against longlining that was sent to every governor in the US and to the members of each house. It was helpful in getting time and territory closures in Florida swordfish nursery areas...a move that has allowed for rebuilding of stocks.

I was honored by Save The Bay as the volunteer of the year for my efforts in creating a video to help teach children about the importance of Narragansett Bay.

I've also produced all the STB TV commercial and did so for free.

I'm currently working on two documentaries, one to advance shark research and put an end to shark finning and another one looking at problems with the forage fish (menhaden, herring and mackerel).

Next time you see me next to the shoreline you might just see me raking up the cigarette butts and trash left by others.

I was hoping to motivate others regarding this access issue. I know it's serious and it's not going to get better by itself.

What do you think we should do to improve the situation?

Big Fish,

FYI, I was at the Menhaden meeting in RI this summer speaking on behalf of myself and representing the Recreational Fishing Alliance. I was also at last weeks herring meeting in Fairhaven and before that I was compiling all the statistics that pointed to a corralation between our loss of river herring and the relatively new mid-water trawlers. After the meeting I worked the phone trying to get press on the issue in many of the local newspapers from Maine to New Jersey. Maybe that's why you haven't seen me on this board as much as in the past.... Snipped





I guess that was a big F'U in spades...

I agree with Mike, A lot of guys have ruined this site and run off members by going over board about spots . I am pretty sure some of you guys don't even fish that much. The shoreline is full of fish and you should go and enjoy the process of finding your own places. But the spots that are so well known that they have become generic, does it really matter if you post a report...really? So go ahead and piss and moan and you all can hang out with whoevers left after this latest crisis. :mad:

Mike,
Kudos! I do agree that a lot of the folks around here get waaay too carried away about "spot burning." It smacks of elitism.

Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got til its gone......

The "elitism" that I see as a trend on the spot burning threads is:

1) people who make money off fishing seem to be in favor of spot burning.

2) people who have no spots of their own to share are in favor of spot burning.

3) people who have put in their time over the years to learn spot and don't fit into category 1 are against spot burning.

I also see a lot of complaining by people in elitist group 1 about people in elitist group 3.

I totally understand people in group 2. They want to fish in places with fish and buying a magazine is easier than humping the shore line for a few years to find their own. However , since they have not put in their time , they don't understand the value of a spot and the implications to access lose of publishing spots in mass media.

Mike,
Kudos! I do agree that a lot of the folks around here get waaay too carried away about "spot burning." It smacks of elitism.

Elitism has nothing to do with this - it is ACCESS. It is what we will lose. Spots are meant to be shared, how and where is meant to be shared. But shared among PEOPLE not the internet or a magazine or a book. When you read an article about fishing such and such a place, do they tell you to park here but watch out for this? Or be real quiet going down that street? Or don't put your korkers on until you are there? That stuff about spots is not in the article, it is shared by friends or fellow anglers and it is remembered.

BigFish - yes he does go to the meetings and he does spend time with and for the RFA

"1) people who make money off fishing seem to be in favor of spot burning."

True and doesn't seem to make any sense. I would think that if I made money (even a little) on guiding in the surf , I would not want to burn the spots that I made money on.

In the same vain, you certainly don't see any of the charter captains listing GPS and Loran numbers for their "honey holes".
Must be a different mindset with the surf guides. :pop:

"1) people who make money off fishing seem to be in favor of spot burning."

True and doesn't seem to make any sense. I would think that if I made money (even a little) on guiding in the surf , I would not want to burn the spots that I made money on.

In the same vain, you certainly don't see any of the charter captains listing GPS and Loran numbers for their "honey holes".
Must be a different mindset with the surf guides. :pop:

The people writing articles seem to do a lot of burning. I agree, all the boat guides I know are REAL quiet, except the ones that write articles.

Many boat spots are workable by only one boat at a time if you're working them right, which definitely increases the drive for spots to remain hidden.

Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got til its gone......

The "elitism" that I see as a trend on the spot burning threads is:

1) people who make money off fishing seem to be in favor of spot burning.

2) people who have no spots of their own to share are in favor of spot burning.

3) people who have put in their time over the years to learn spot and don't fit into category 1 are against spot burning.

I also see a lot of complaining by people in elitist group 1 about people in elitist group 3.

I totally understand people in group 2. They want to fish in places with fish and buying a magazine is easier than humping the shore line for a few years to find their own. However , since they have not put in their time , they don't understand the value of a spot and the implications to access lose of publishing spots in mass media.

I was going to make a point about why I disagree with category 3 but it just isnt worth it anymore. :doh:

I have found many spots using topozone.com, google earth and then fianlly mapping software for the closest street areas so I have put my time in but I just dont have time to fish them as much as I want to. Logging onto this site brings me closer to the fishing but with all of the bickering about spots makes me want to stay away...sorry fellas...can we all just get along.

Elitism has nothing to do with this - it is ACCESS. It is what we will lose. Spots are meant to be shared, how and where is meant to be shared. But shared among PEOPLE not the internet or a magazine or a book. When you read an article about fishing such and such a place, do they tell you to park here but watch out for this? Or be real quiet going down that street? Or don't put your korkers on until you are there? That stuff about spots is not in the article, it is shared by friends or fellow anglers and it is remembered.


John,
I have to respectufully disagee. As far as access goes, here in RI we have CONSTITUIONAL right of access to the water. We have PUBLIC rights of way that are open to everyone, to access the water. We have DEM maintined parking and accessways. I trust the DEM and RISSA's Access Committee to fight for an maintain the public's right of access to the water.

If some members are concrerned that littering might shut doen access at certain locations, nothing is preventing them or their club from putting trash recepticals at those spots and emptying them and maintaining them. Bringing out more trash than you bring is is 1000% more helpful in maintaining access than trashing some writer or magazine that has the temerity to inform the readers.

What I see here is the desire of a few, in the know fishermen, to keep the great unwashed away from their favorite spots. That's why I call it elitism, the in-the-know fishermen against all of the other fishermen. The few trying to keep the many away from a public resource, and in the ling run I think it will prove to be counterproductive.

If the vast majority of fishermen or would be fishermen can't find out where these "spots" are, they will be much less motivated to get involved when the legislature cuts the DEM's funding which is used to keep these access points open. Why should they care if a "spot" is closed down, if they can't get there anyway?

As far as writers and magazines go, first of all let me give eveyone else some perspective. yes I write for seveal magazines, but I don't write about surf fishing. Yes, when I do my weekly reports I will name a "spot" if a tackle shop owner tells me that's where the fish are being caught. But I don't tell people any morre than that's where the fish were caught. All my feature articles deal with boat fishing (that may change due to the input I got from this site in an earlier thread). But I understand where the magazines and writers are coming from. People read the magazines to become better informed about fishing. The where to/how to article has existed and will continue to exist to fill that need. Its what the readers want, that is the vast majority of readers who are attempting to become better fishermen. Yes there are other ways to get the same knowledge, but in today's society a lot of the information comes in the form of reading, and the magazines and their writers fill that need by a large segment of the fishing and wanna be fishermen public.

The more fishermen there are the more funding we can get for keeping access and even expanding it. The more fishermen there are the more we can fight for better fishing regulations. Two things give any interest group power in our society, votes and money. The seaside landowners have us all beat when it comes to money. So the only way we can beat them and keep our sport alive is with more votes, and the only way we can get more votes is by expanding the numbers of fishermen. We can't do that, at leasrt for very long, if no one will tell them where they can fish.

I can remember when only a small tribe of people fished Beavertail, when Sachuest point was open to the degree that you could drive all the way around to Third Beach. I'm also aware of areas being closed to the public because of the trash and disrespect shown by others, i.e., Newport Causeway during squid run, URI dock, Sachuest Point, etc.



FYI, The URI dock got shut down b/c its now a federally protected Coast Guard peir/dock. (even though, I always thought the Endeavor was a URI research vessel?) This place has been off-limits since the 911 tradgedy, at least this is what I was told by the security guard 2 weeks ago. It is now a federal offence to fish off it. I was also told if I was caught on the peir again, that a swat team would "take me down". I wasnt even on the other side of the fence, just the pier if ya know what I mean...another one of my favorites taken away. :realmad:

it's all George Bush's fault. :lurk:

And I agree to disagree. I don't think it is elitism at all, or necessarily those in the know. YOU don't fish private spots, fortunately for you, you don't have a resident calling the cops because you are fishing a certain hump or canyon.


If I park my truck in an area that can park one or two cars that does not have a no parking sign but then an article has ten cards trying to jam a 2 car spot - that is uneven pressure. But where do you draw the line? Is it one thing to park at Charletown Breachway where there is a huge lot. I really don't care if people fish particular spots but I do care if spots that can't handle a ton of traffic are overwhelmed because of a report or a book or a website. I know, I used to do it here but did not like to see the after effect. I would probably put more dough in my pocket if I did spots up...

Oops - goota go

MakoMike,

You hit the nail on the head:

The more fishermen there are the more funding we can get for keeping access and even expanding it. The more fishermen there are the more we can fight for better fishing regulations. Two things give any interest group power in our society, votes and money.

That's why I support the RFA, they lobby on behalf of my interests as an angler and the interest of the fishing industry as well...and that spells jobs, votes and political clout. They keep their membership informed when there is an issue of concern and they make particiating in the effort of letting the politicans know that we fish and we vote a very easy task...as easy as filling out a postcard, putting on a stamp and then dropping it in the mail.

Instead of going to war over who's burning what spot, we should identify one or two access areas that are being illegally blocked by nearby property owners and fight to get them re-opened.

MotoXcowboy,

I think that the access situation at URI was an on-again, off-again situation even before 9-11. It had a lot to do with the hords of bait fishermen that would make a pigpen out of the pier. The same folks that would trash the Newport causeway.

MakoMike - we'll discuss this over a beverage soon :cheers: at you know where :) . SpotTalk is a touchy subject and a real P.I.t.A. online - but it needs to be resolved...

On that other thing, still waiting to find out...