Although I have found the wonder that is fishing late in my life, I cannot express the amount of pleasure it has brought me. However, it is sad to see that the uglier sides of human nature have also found their way into angling.

It seems there's a lot of justifiable anger and frustration from some of the more experienced anglers. From people who don't clean up after themselves, newbies without a clue about fishing etiquet, people who don't speak english not knowing the regs, people who speak english - know the regs but don't give a sh*t, crossing lines, mugging spots, etc.

So being a newbie myself and wanting to learn, I thought it would be beneficial to post a Angler's Code of Conduct for all to see and maybe even somehow standardize a list all over the interent. Someone once mentioned a code of conduct system like in skiing.

I know it doesn't solve all the problems by any means, but I definately think education and getting the messege out is a step in the right direction. Can you imagine if all major fishing sites, B&T's, etc...had the same code of conduct printed on the homepage? Rules for surf and another for boat? Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but even if we change even one SOB angler to an angler who's a pleasure to fish next to?

Here's my list of things I've learned, please feel free to add.

[list=1]
If you're fishing from surf, please give at least 30 feet of space from other anglers. (Heck, I'd take 10 feet sometimes) If there's a lot of space, give at least 50 feet. especially if the angler is catching fish!!
Don't expect people with the proper gear (bait, lures, nets, gafts, rod, etc...) to help you. You should be prepared when you go fishing.
Pick up garbage! Yours, his, hers, doesn't matter. Every little bit helps.
Don't be LOUD. Especially if you drink! Drink sensibly. For fishing as well as the residential community that may be surrounding the spot. Wonder how some spots are lost?
I'll leave the rest to the web community.
[/list=1]

These issues will not go away by themselves. Left unchecked, fishing will no longer be a peaceful, spiritual pleasure. Rather, it'll become like the roads we drive on. I think anything's worth a shot to save the sport we all love. Who cares if it's only one transformed angler?

justmy2

This is an excellent post. I don't mind helping new people learn, I am still learning all the time. My biggest pet peeve, is the posting of specific spots on the internet. Remember that most of us lurked on these boards, some for years, before posting. We also have to remember that most spots can only take so much pressure. Too much and the next thing you know the place is closed down. One example is Moon, and Long Island in Boston Harbor. There is some great fishing around these islands, unfortunately they no longer let you fish out there. when I was a kid we used to go there with regularity with my father. He caught his 53lbder out there. Eventually so many people had heard about it that the wrong kind of fisherpeople went out there. They started drinking beers, leaving trash, and even giving beers to the recovering Alcoholics at the Hospital. Next thing you know no more access. This is why it is important to not post exact spots, maps with directions, etc on the internet. If you want to give some one a spot, email or pm it to them. Another spot that is getting badly burned is Nut Island in Quincy. A few guys get a couple of fish, it goes in the papers, and other fishing mags, now you go there there are 60 poeple no place to park. People are drinking, as a matter of fact I was down the riprap fishing plugs, when a beer boottle came flying down the hill smashing on a rock 10' away. I went up the hill and a couple of guys are walking away with beers in their hands. There are trash barrels all over the place. Sorry for the rant, you get my point.....

Hey,

Yes, good post.

I went up fishing at Great Point last night. Left at 6pm, nice night, fishing should be steady. I had prayed aloud for a small crowd as I put it in 4wd. It would be a busy night up there (nearly a 10 mile trek) and that I should first hit some of the secret spots that I frequent and then get up there by 10:00. Bluefish should be done eating but I would have to prepare myself for the Saturday night weekend warrior crowd that makes night rips fishing such a joy.
I arrive on schedule to only find one truck. Stoked. On Saturday night no less. It's a couple of great local fisherman and we rig up and start getting bumps and pretty soon we are landing good 30's when lights appear. 3 trucks, booming music, it looks like a bunch of college kids out partying. Before we know it there are 6-8 rods packing around the point with a lot of Spanish being spoken.

Right there a lot of us would have got a little uncomfortable and it wouldn't have been long before one of them "Did it wrong" and we had some words.
Well these guys were not only cautious, albiet pretty clueless, that when they started landing fish and hooting and hollering, we didn't care what the heck they knew about good manners. They were having a blast and not really bothering any of us. We had some laughs between us and I conveyed the 1 fish limit info to them (HeeHee). I am happy I did. They had no clue and would have taken as many fish as they caught. A kneejerk reaction would have been that he was full of it. I was there. He had no clue. Imagine the sadness and the absolute innocence that they would feel if they got busted with
too many fish and probably some shorts.
Addict, I agree with your points and comments but I am not sure about the noise comments. These guys were having an absolute blast. Maybe the wind and weather had something to do with not being subjected to the loud music or the remoteness of it all doesn't make it a great example for your cause.
Regardless, it was a memorable evening of fish and laughter.

A diamond in the rough compared to a lot of the situations that arise at most competitive, popular fishing holes.

Let's keep talking.

You can post all the fishing etiquette threads that you want, and I am all for it, you will not find a more thoughtful fisherman than myself, however if people who already fish do not already treat other fisherman with a certain degree of respect then they never will. Any aspect of life is filled with rude, beligerant people who care only about themselves and the heck with the other people.
Just govern yourself accordingly, teach those you bring along fishing, your children, friends etc. to be thoughtful of others and the environment in which they fish and it is my belief that this is the best you can do. I have always said, "it does'nt matter where you go or what you do, there is always some jack$&* there to ruin everyone's good time". Not to pat myself on the back, but when I go fishing, I police not only my trash but any trash that I am able to carry. As far as other fisherman being newbies or unprepared, I always have time to help someone, a young person, a family who might be struggling to do some fishing with their children, or if I am hooking up and the guy next to me wants to know what I am getting them on, I am more than willing to help that young person along, or that family enjoy some fishing, or even tell some guy what kind of lure to use if he asks. A few times I had a couple of out of state visitors who were not hooking up in a blitz, I took a moment to help them along even going so far as to GIVE them a couple of the metal lures that I had been catching fish with. I am always having a great time when the people fishing around me are enjoying themselves and also catching fish. This is the only way that people learn these things that we are discussing. Education and taking the time to help. I share your frustration often, and I know of what you speak, sometimes we must just be the better person.:uhuh:

Very Good Thread By The Way. I agree with you 100%.

Spec's,, funny you said burning spots, well I was in a local tackle shop this morning on my way home, just pokeing,an 6 guys walk in, as I was standing there looking at goodies, the guy's were asking where was a good spot to try in pleasent bay, they had boats in toe. the store owner started pin pointing all the best holes an places to go. now these spots are where the locals liked to fish an tried to keep the locations from the public , now these 6 guys know just where they are an you know they have friends. It's not only the internet burning spots, but your local tackle shop as well.

Just curious how most of you guys found your fishing spots? Did you discover them yourself? Doubt it. I am sure you showed these spots to a friend and they showed two friends and so on and so on. You are kidding yourselves if you think these spots are secret. Besides, these Bait and Tackle shops keep thier doors open by servicing the fishing public. That includes telling them where the fish are hitting.:fishslap:

Also as far as spots being "just for and exclusive to those LOCALS"....then maybe I should stick to fishing for stripers in Abington, Mass. In case you need to look that up, there is no salt water in the town where I live.:smash:

capesams, are you gonna share those spots in the bay with me? :D:smash: ;)

I try to enjoy every moment I get to fish and maybe if more people were able to excercise common sense,then we would all get along. Sometimes people aren't trying to be jerks, they just don't know any better so ya might need to educate them a bit, and that should include tackle shops.

most of the guys that run the older shops won't tell people who got what where, thats how they keep the regulars coming back, word gets around fast if they find out the owner has been talking, an they loose customers fast. It's the new shops that are trying to build up a customer base that do all the blabbing. around here you show someone a new spot that's hot an the reg. see you with someone that they know would never find it on their own an your dog crap, that's the last time anyone will call you an say the fish are biteing at ???. your on your own from then on.

BIGFISH
We have many spots over in Whitman also..We should get togeather....:D

slip,,I'd be happy to put an x marks the spots on a map of pleasent bay for you the next time your here, no problem. now the only thing is we need fish to put in them. I had along with 2 others a spot that for for 21/2 seasons by ourselves, more fish than anyone could dream of, we'd wait till it got dark then park well aways from it, as not to let anyone see where we were. one night someone else was walking down as we were comeing off with our nights bounty, we ran with fish into the dune grass an layed down so that one person never knew we were there, then as he was well past we got up an snuck to the trucks, little did he know he just missed the best part of the tide an would get nothing for his troubles..we spent over a week finding just when the fish came through. then at some point later someone in a boat found the same spot in the daytime, this I know because I was working near by on a house we were building an watched the guys catching fish on just the right tide, other boats saw this an you know the rest. the next night we went to the spot [atnight] there were guys lined up , the next thing I hear someone told someone that works at the boston globe an they printed it in the d.. paper........headlines the great rock wall in chatham has the best stripe bass fishing around..not anymore.

Larry we all learned our spots many differant ways. My dad showed me some, some guys here showed me some. The point is telling one or two ayear does not do as much harm as telling 100or 1000 a week. I remember when Nut Island was 10 people at most on a friday night, now it's more like 40 or 50. When they lock the gates down there everyone will cry. I don't care as much as I only fish it in the spring with live herring.

I cleaned up my favorite spot of trash on Tues last week, 1 very large trash bag full of tackle packs,30 packs of beer, worm boxes and cups,etc you follow what I'm saying. When I went back friday I had to do it all over again, it really gets me, how filthy some fisherpeople can be.

you have to understand those that make messes on the beach WONT stop . no matter how much we sqawk about it . there are ignorant people in the world and they breed so it wont stop anytime soon .
As far as tackle shops burning spots its all about the monies that can be made on return customers . "If I give up a spot to these guys they will come back for more gear and bait . I dont care I dont fish there " . " but the return customer will be happy to buy all my junk and bad bait next time ". we in the money !

I find most of my own spots , others have invited me to their favorites . Some times I hit the nail sometimes I hit my head !

If you are at the end of any given Breachway during a bluefish blitz, DO NOT elbow your way in and throw your 3oz sinker and frozen herring into the rip. Bucktail, popper, Kastmaster, etc.... anything but chunks.

Wow, each post has a long paragraph of individual's words. I, for one, would like to add something to this...
Since I was new to the board. I learned a lot of lessons last few months, even though there were some ups and downs around here. Neverthless, I still benefit valuable lessons from JohnR and the rest of you people:
1) DON'T and NEVER ask someone else's sweet spots, especially from a B&T dealer or any angler. That was the most stupid thing that any newbies can do. Otherwise, you will lose respects from others.

2) Always do the legworks and don't depend others to help you. Gain or recieve some knowledges of angling on a general topic, not specific like sweet spot or something, and contribute to yourself and community. Pay your dues.

3)Don't spend anything rashly. Plan your budget accordingly.

4)Nationality, disability, or whatever don't matter, as long as you try to learn about fishing or enjoy fishing.

5) Ignorance is unjustified.

6) CONSERVE species.

7) Set up a goal for yourself one at time.

8) Respect people's spots and environment in general. Sometimes, the wind can blow your garbage into the sea on occassions and you don't mean it, that's alright. Just put a couple of sinkers in your plastic bag and so it won't blow away your trash. I always clean up after myself.

9) Never let a beginner takes advantage of you, for example, my cousin and my Uncle Rick, they made me do their dirty works and I don't get to fish. And after that, they boast their catches to other strangers and make me look bad, since I have a little more experience in fishing than they do. And they fished with me more than once. For one time thing, that's fine, but more than that, FORGET IT. If your friend, relative, or whatever keeps making you do things for them and spoil your fishing day, just toss them a small booklet or a stack of printed angling basics from website you found, and make them do their legworks.

10) Try to enforce the laws to other anglers who are doing illegal acts in public when law enforcements aren't around.


For now, I am new and still have a long way to learn. I want to be able to find my own serect spot like you guys, but I gotta stick to the basics first. I am not always perfect, you know?

Leave your trash, keep your shorts, throw your bottles on the rocks. Hoop and holler, carry on, flip me off and shout.

But, boat or shore, one favor...it's night...put your #$%&@*$ light out!

Shield your lantern or, better, enjoy the night.
B.L.

Originally posted by BigFish
................Did you discover them yourself? Doubt it. I am sure you showed these spots to a friend and they showed two friends and so on and so on. You are kidding yourselves if you think these spots are secret. ...............: [/B]

From my post on another board:

I think you guys have just about covered it all. I agree, there just arn't any real secret spots out there. We all know where everyone else fishes. Access is a different story. Getting to these places is getting more and more difficult. I go digging clams with my friend Tony. He has permision to park in a private driveway. It's nice, walk over the lawn, down the dock, then put on the boots, makes for easy walking. The actual digging is only about 100 yards from public acces. I have gone there without Tony, but would never presume to park in the lady's driveway. The point here is, everyone knows about the area, it's the access. My .02 worth is, if you have access over private property, respect it, permission was given to you not the rest of the world.

Now for "secret spot" no 2 Pilgram power plant, it's been closed since 9/11

I agree with what has been said about fishing manners. In spite of what we think ther really is plenty of room for all of us. You may not get you favorit spot today, but so what, tommorw it will be yours.:)

ahh, my favorite thread. seems like this one comes up every year or so. where to begin...

specialist, i agree and have been saying the same thing for years on these boards. posting of fishing spots is not needed. those that post the most are usually still pretty "green" and looking for instant credibility and attention. respect is earned! many spots that are posted seem to be those regarded are sacred by some anglers and those angler protect them that way. they were taught these spots by friends, learned them on their own, or were shown them by old salts who told them to not talk about the spots. some, look for the first moment they can to talk to try and throw some weight around. more common spots will always be talked about, but if you want more people fishing spots you like, keep posting the info, especially when there are fish around.

tackle shops will always print or give spots away. they do have a business to run. but, it's the spots they give out that could be their downfall. more common spots where fish can easily be caught is one thing. but, again, putting a lesser known spot that some regard as sacred could lead to less business by those anglers at that shop. i've seen it happen.

trash is always a problem. but, it's not the "fishermen" that are the problem. unfortunately, labeled as we are, we get the blame. luckily some courteous anglers clean up these spots by their own choice. thank you! some spots could easily be closed down to trash and then you want to hear those people complain.

and yes, turn off that light! if you must turn your light on, turn away from the water and shield your light. wait until the last second to turn it on if you are helping someone with a fish. if the fish is 100' out there, i don't want to see your light on for 10 minutes! lanterns make for great footballs. if you need a latern, you should be fishing in the daylight. the boogie man comes out after dark.

crowded spots during a blitz is common. seeing 10 or more people jammed in a spot to make that cast to breaking fish can be dangerous. hooks are flying close to anglers heads. many are too careless to consider what could happen or who may be in jeopardy because they need to make that cast. relax, look around you, and be careful. courtesy in this situation can go a long away. it may keep you dry too.

having a boat come within 10' of our boat when the whole ocean/channel is open and seeing the "captain" wave like nothing is wrong kills me. thanks for the wake! especially when they don't slow down when approaching you. how does my sinker sound against your hull? again courtesy, plus is the law!

take a kid fishing and help them out when you see them. they are our future and if they are brought up right, they are our next conservationists and protectors of the species we cherish.

Nice thread - I'm sorry I waited so long to read it :rollem: ...

Angler Ethics - Man I wish it would work!

Spots are what a lot of people, especially the newer anglers, crave to hear. A lot of people get peesed when they ask for spots and don't get them and in return give a "what gives you the right to hold out on me" attitude. Spots are the bane of anglers. Spots are probably the biggest division among anglers. To me it's fairly simple, most spots, many of which are good, are already well known courtesy of B&T Shops, WordAMouth, Internet, Books, Newspapers, yadayadayada. Most of these places are right next to better access a/k/a parking. These are the spots that should reluctantly be mentioned in private to people. I personally think only general areas should be mentioned. Like town names or general areas like South County.

I've learned spots on my own, been shown spots by others, & yes I've read spots in print and online too but like everyone else here, I never created a fishing spot - no one has - but I have worked out the access issues before and that access would be lost if I told someone my favorite spots. Some people have even had the cahones to e-mail me asking for my favorite hidden spots and saying how they wouldn't tell anyone :rollem: . But when it comes to a B&T, all I asked for was a point in the right direction... "I'm looking for "this" type of place with "these" influencing factors - "Can you point me in the right direction?" and the B&T guy pulled out a map of a good AREA to try and said good luck. So me and a friend spent some time learning an area...

Oh - this was about ethics not just spots, right? Dang...

No lights

No trash

Be quiet

No Booze

BE VERY QUIET IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA

Don't Blab Spots!~!!!!!~~~!!!~~!~!~!~

give guys their room. i get angry when someone invades my space when im catching.

i dont fish nut island anymore cause its so bad there. its just a place for people to get drunk now. i dont even consider it a place to fish anymore, people just throw their $hit everywhere there. i began fishing that spot about 3 years ago and there was hardly anyone there then, it was pretty clean too, now theres tuns of people and trash and its just gross. another thing that just makes me want to hurt someone is what they do with skates, i know we all hate them but why leave them on the pier to rot. its gross and stupid.you dont have to kill the thing just because you dont like em.

I've been saying this for years, and been saying it on the onternet since I got online---"how to fish" is about 100 times more important than "where to fish".

I could take you to any number of spots I've been to, even put you on the right rock, and you still wouldn't catch nearly as many fish if you weren't fishing it right---right method, right stage of the tide/wind/moon.

Spots are a very small piece of the puzzle. The best fishermen I've ever fished with catch fish anywhere they go by reading the water and figuring out the drill all on their own.

I think yall cvered it all. I would agree about not giving up spots. If some one asks send them to the most widley known spots. You can catch fish there and you can get skunked at the best honney hole in the world. Its about learning how to fish not where to fish. Also I would agree about not leaving junk fish on the rocks, beach dock or any where else aka dog fish skates bass racks, take them home cut them up and grind them for chum (free chum what a great idea) if you dont want to do that throw them back. I hate going fishing on a still summer night doing all my homework about tide, moon weather to pick out where I am going to go to get ther and smell @%(*%$#@ for 6hr.:af:

Thanks to all that have chimed in. I'm going to edit this thread and put the list in one post. I'd appreciate any feedback on what should be included and what can be excluded. I don't want to cover every little thing, so I'll hopefully put together a reasonable list. I'll post the code in a few hours and hopefully we can have one more edit before making it final.

Angler Code of Conduct

DO:

Know the legal sizes/limits for all fish. It's the LAW!!
Release all unwanted fish unharmed and revived.

DO NOT:

Don't give away fishing spots, be general about locations.
Don't jump in next to someone fishing. It's RUDE!! Give space!!
Don't cast before checking around you. Be SAFE!!
Don't leave your night light on. Use it and turn it off quickly as possible.
Don't LITTER
Don't get DRUNK
Don't be LOUD in residential areas.


Don't be the angler people hate. Use common sense.


Brought to you by AFUWA

"Angler's Fed Up With A**holes" :wall:


ps: Any more input? I'm going to take this to other sites when we're done. I purposely kept it as short a list as possible. I know this doesn't cover boaters. Let's try one at a time.

Here - add this:

Do drive a long & confusing path to where you want to fish - cuts back on those that follow you when your vehicle is spotted when going to a spot :D

Oh Seriously - Ahhh - my brain is a little too fried to think and add coherent content right now but I like the list - now to translate it into 152 languages and post it on all the secret spots :)

Hey Addict,
Nice work on creating that list. A good effort. Now, I only comment because you asked. The "light thing"...it's not just about "turn it away from the water."..it's about "turn it off!".

I don't mind if someone gets the kid in them and sprays the water with light to "see what's there". I don't mind if someone uses a light temporarily and (oops) points it at the water. No biggie. It's the guys with the lanterns that set up a light that's hundreds of yards away from you. It's just plain blinding and you can't get away from it.

I don't mind if someone decides to have a light on all night and play cards or whatever (though I don't get it)...shield the light from other anglers (more so than the fish). On a long coastline you can get to an area that the fish aren't bothered by the light, but it is still annoying to the angler (plus that lighted angler is missing out on a big piece of finding the night).

Pet peeve, big time. Guys who take shorts and dump trash and smash bottles on the jetty are not going to change their habits based on a web site, but good anglers many times unknowingly do the light thing and don't realize what a drag it is to be (say) one of only 2 or 3 guys on the beach and you leave because you have the high beam syndrome. THis is a big problem on the north shore. Heck, I don't own the ocean, if you come steal my "spot" or invade my "space", I'll grumble and move down shore...but those halogens often mean you can't get away from them.

Pet peeve. AHHHHHHHH. How about, "anglers: do not keep a light on the entire time you are fishing unless you shield it from all sides such that the light stays in your area (pile up sand or use an aluminum foil shield)."

A long boring post, I know (yawwnnn), but if one angler dowses their light then it's worth it! Again, don't worry if you accidentally shine your light the wrong way or at the wrong time or or or...just dont' leave it on continuously.

Maybe this: "be aware that others are bothered by your light....use it judiciously".

I HATE LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!

B.L.:af: :smash: :mad: :p

Well, I've made the change re: light use as requested.

If there aren't anymore ideas/input - I'm going to take this list to some other boards and maybe the publishers will post it on their sites. I'm also going to speak with a few local B&T's around here and ask them for their thoughts on posting it in their shops.

I'll keep you folks posted and thanks to all who contributed.

Addict,

I think you should go right to the statehouse with it. With your persuasiveness it should have no problem being debated for the next few years.

Who is your local Rep ? Is he/she a fisherman ? You both could get up there and clammer for more awareness and educatiion.
Maybe the will create a "Bass" officer position and the beach nazi roles will be expanded to root out any "pockets of resisitance" that may appear along the way ? They could repo all the egar from the guilty parties and re-sell it to help with the budget deficit.

I mean we could realy be on to something here.

Keep me informed.........

I think MikeP says it best, true words of wisdom

As far as the lights go, just bring a BB gun. aim low, if you hit somebody they usally just think it was a bug or something:)

If anyone wants fishing spots I will be glad to ramble of a few hundred or so. I think that anyone that complains about "spots" should really grow up.

Your suggestions are well-intended I'm sure, but I didn't read beyond the first one because friend you have never fished Wasque, or the Chappy side of Edgartown Harbor in the fall during an alby blitz. Fisherman/woman are lucky, very lucky, to have ten feet. Sometimes it is the close quarters that makes for a warm rapport with your beach buddies. You know a kind of get to know your neighbor.

:claps: :jump:


One good cast deserves another

> Your suggestions are well-intended I'm sure, but I didn't read beyond the first one because friend you have never fished Wasque, or the Chappy side of Edgartown Harbor in the fall during an alby blitz

Wasque, no, Chappy yes and everywhere else from Monomoy to buzzards bay to P-town to Boston. Do you think that all of those people that are 10 feet away from you don't have friends?

Everyone talks, there is nothing that can be done about it, so there is no use complaining.

Do what I do. Pray for lots and lots of wind, keeps the skirts at home.

One more thing...

Bristol Bay during Salmon season makes Chappy and any other fishing spot on the east coast look like open ocean.

Like all good fisherman, you need to adapt to your surroundings.

Yep,
I agree with you guys. Be clean, don't let anybody know that you've been in a spot unless you're looking at my tire tracks or footprints.
#2. I always give away my extra bait if I don't plan to freeze it.
#3. Give everybody plenty of room.
#4. Never brag about your last fish.
#5. If I'm having a beer while fishing, you'll never know it. Stow all the empties in a clandestine place and don't get drunk.
#6. I don't have too many secret fishing spots, but if I did I wouldn't burn em.
#7. Lights off...this means you Mikey!!!
#8. I'll be the first guy to help you if you're in trouble, and I'll speak my mind to help you not get there again.
#9. You guys are going to blast me for this, but I turn most of the bass back...I only keep them if I know I'm going to eat them that day or night.
#10. I always help the most inexperienced one among us hook up; they most often offer to pay for gas, bait or beer in the future.
#11. Always realize that fishing is just fishing...Fights are for bars...who knows what kind of stuff the monkey next to you has in the sand sled.
Anyhow, that's just me.
It's fun every time I fire up the Suburban or Formula, or Mikey's boat for that matter...whne it runs.
Later,
Rick

Rick,

You got it ! The me first attitude is for most, but the best way to get along is to MAKE THE EFFORT AT BEING CIVIL. It just isn't in many peoples minds when it comes fishing elbow to elbow ( or rail to rail for that matter).

I release nearly every fish I land. Particularly the large ones. I've only been a member of this site for a month or so. Last year I released more than 20 fish over 30 lbs. This year the camera is with me. I hope you guy's can enjoy the fact that the big fat bastard that finds my hooks will live to be slaughtered by someone else. The 28-34" fish are more appropriate for eating on my plate. But that is me........

Just an angler wasting his time on an island that really doesn't have any fish.

I'm a boater so my biggest pet peeves are different.
A major one is when I'm anchored, casting into a rip and catching fish, some other "fisherman" will see me getting the fish, and drive his boat dangerously close to mine for a few casts. In the process they drive over the point in the rip thats holding fish! (and the fish come back after about 10-15mins, just in time for some other idiot to repeat the process) I usually just put my arms up and wave and yell for them to get out of my spot. Some people realize their mistake and find some another spot; most don't. Last year 1 guy was so careless he ran his boat into mine and his motor was smashed on my pulpit. These people don't realize that there are about 20 other points on the rip just like where I am to fish.

I think its less of a hassle to get up at 3 am and fish when no ones awake than deal with all inexperienced boaters who get out there around 7 am.

I guess the point of this rant is for boaters: If you see some one catching fish, be it drifting or trolling over a specific area, or anchored and fishing a specific area leave them be. Don't crowd them, don't drive over the area they're fishing, don't try to sneak in for a few casts; watch what he's doing to catch the fish and try to find similar conditions elsewhere and apply what you leaned.

Hunter-Gather

I am not sure what the friends part of your reply refers too. Regardless of how many people I have ever fish with at either Wasque or Chappy most all were very nice people and I new most of the people next to me also. My only further comment in regard to your code of conuct post is that we have enough rules to follow now, and I believe every one of the rules you and the other fine people wrote in their posts have all be written somewhere before...............

One good cast deserves another and............another