I agree with luds. The board was to help people find fish, share techniques, and help with tackle. The board has evolved, and the type of help I thought people wanted was where you fished, what you caught, what you used, and how you used it. The goal being making everyone a better fisherman.

It seems that spot burning has become an issue. Details no longer needed, just say the CCB, using jigs or topwaters. I was not in competition with anyone so I had no idea. Other boards have been better about allowing general locations, specific techniques and lures.

Mostly a lurker myself, just trying to soak up any info I can get here. I would love to meet up and fish with some of the guys here, but my schedule really doesn't allow it. Am FINALLY ready to hit the surf this weekend (I hope) and before long, should be at a couple of our favorite spots with chrisjoe13 and ANY LUCK.

I find this site an excellent resource for local knowledge (not talking spot burning), local techniques, as well as all around useful information and insight. When I feel that I can contribute something useful that might benefit others here on the site, I do so.

This site may suck but just wanted to post this picture collage of what I consider fishing is all about: 3 generations of my family (both grandfathers, me, & son) sharing an outing on the water. Best of all catching my PB on the trip. When the rod bent, I "politely" asked who wants it and no one jumped, so I did! Nice 48", 37lb'er. This is now many years ago but memories are still there.

Isn't this what this site should be about?

weather heat wave sucks and along with not catching from the surf it also sucks.need cooler weather and some shore fish then we can all smile.

sucks is a strong word, but i see what you're saying.

there used to be alot of guys (#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, bassmaster, DZ, crafty angler, steve, to name a few) with tons of experience who were willing to take the time to answer questions in detail based on years of experience. When you got answers and opions from those guys, you knew you were getting something worth thinking about. It was great for guys like Luds and I who came along knowing nothing at a time when there was a ton of great information on here. I know that for me, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& and bassmaster, via this website, were as influential and helpful to me as anything. And I actually enjoyed coming here to read their opinions and I liked that fact that they were a bit crazy and entertaining - despite the fact that I'm just a clown :hihi:.

i think the issue is that there are fewer of those guys around now, and more guys with alot less experience and know how. They mean well, but when you ask a question and get alot of answers from people who really don't have the experience to be answering the question (I know I've been guilty of this) it muddies the waters and starts to make it so that its not even worth asking.

unfortunately, you can't really go backwards. a site like this probably works better with fewer, more passionate members. as the number of members grows, it kind of gets watered down.

as far as having to be an insider and all that, i really don't see it. i think that most well thought out and presented questions get answered, regardless of who posts them. clicky maybe - but that's life. to expect to just sign up for a website and have people want to meet up with you to fish, chat, hangout, sodomize or whatever is asking alot in my opinion. if you hang out for a while and attend some events, maybe you'll find some people you become friends with.

i still like the site and will continue to visit and try to contribute when I can. it certainly beats the alternatives.

In the spirit of disproving the "insider" thoughts... There is a Cutty trip with beds for Oct 8-9. It is Columbus Day weekend. Historically trips are set up, and we have a period where past participants commit on a first come, first serve basis. We have ALWAYS had room so that first timers are included. That said, I'll set August 8 as the date where we'll open up the trip to those that haven't been before. Approx 20 beds, only about five commited at this time. It runs around 340.00 for food, ferry, and room. We bring all our food and drink, all do a share. Also, the Cutty forum is not meant to be exclusive, only to make planning easier for that particular trip, and to keep the search robots out... No deposits for this trip, but if you commit, you are responsible, weather not withstanding. It is a physically demanding island to fish, so be forewarned. Hope this helps. PMs OK, but I won't know numbers until Aug 8. Past participants, you are on the clock....

Bloocrab, do you even read your own posts?


"Jim, to me, the "mark of a man" will NEVER be based on his ability to catch fish"

Interesting, because several of your posts ended with a taunt about "if you catch a 60, can I go fishing with you, please", or something like that.

"If that's how you measure people, kudos to you my friend...."

Again, you are the one who kept mentioning whether or not one has caught a 60, not me. Don't put your inane opinions on me, OK?

Bloo, the funny thing is that I think I agree with you on this issue (I keep the occasional fish for the grill). But unlike you, I listen to those who disagree with me to see if I can learn something, I don't immediately insult them.

Are you saying if I am supposed to meet up with a Guy, with a nickname like The Shocker, InTheHole, or Stiff Tip......on a lonely stretch of beach at 2AM I should be worried.

If I drop my pliers I should kick them all the way back to the truck...:shocked:

QUOTE=tattoobob;779222]Best thing to do is to go to a couple of the fishing legs and meet a few of the people then go and fish with someone there, maybe go to a Cuttyhunk trip you'll meet about 15 hard core fishermen, I've been to about 5, the trips alone is a blast never mind the fishing part.[/QUOTE]

Hands down the best advice you can get on from this thread.....

When I first hit this site I was the consumate Goog....just ask nightfighter :hee:

I went and fished a cape leg at M&D's once awhile back....met a few guys, one of the guys there, who I never met, took me down to the canal to fish. I think most people appreciate the effort of a face to face encounter. your not just looking for the easy answers.

Since then I've been to a couple of other legs, 6 trips to Cutty, 3 Plugfests and a TFCTFN. I have met numerous people that I actually fish w/ now.

another great piece of advice I got off this board was to join a club and get involved. I've met people there that I fish with also, as well as get together w/ in the off season just for drinks and dinner.

Like Clogston said...you can't just expect to pop onto a board and say "Fish with Me" and expect everybody to just bring you along. Get involved, contribute, and make an effort and you'll enjoy the hell out of this place.

I hate politics... especialy when it involves fishing....and IMHO.. that's what this all boils down to.. everyone has an opinion, and they are entitiled to it..

fighting amongst one another solves nothing, if an individual dislikes the fact that an angler keeps a certain sized fish ( or legal limit) maybe their frustration ( for lack of a better term) should be vented at the law makers, not the individual ,that after all is within their legal right, the moral part is up to him (or her) to wrestle with, and if keeping an outsized fish or limit is what they want to do.. it's fine by me.. it wont effect my life, if I dont allow it to ... again it is the law makers that have decided that it is "OK" for this individual to excersice their right to keep a fish..

Normaly, this time of year, I'm too busy fishing to surf the web, I use my coffee and lunch breaks to see what every body else is "up to".... I like everyone I have met here, and to see friendships, weather ciber or physical get strained over beliefs, just doesnt make a whole lot of sense... instead of napping on my break ( I'm getting too old for this 2 hour sleep stuff) I spent the entire break typing this up... so guy's ( and gals) lets not argue over petty stuff, and this stuff IS petty.. fishing season and life itself is just to damned short...


My .02
Roc

P.S.... the site doesnt suck... bickering like school girls sucks...

That depends, how much are the pliers worth? http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...new/scream.gif
:biglaugh:

Holy crap that's funny.

[QUOTE=RIJIMMY;779253. Im much more charming in person than on the web.[/QUOTE]

yup he is:)

I've been out here 7 years. Way, way, way too much time out here. It breaks up the monotony of my day. I've made some good friends out here, I've experienced a TON of kindness from people I dont know. Really unbelievable stuff.
As far as the state of the site or any controversy out here, I think you may be forgetting or not out here long enough. In the past, threads were frequently closed, at least 2 a month. People got way out of line. People were also removed from the site for bad behavior. I havent see anythng like that in awhile. Whens the last time a thread has been closed?
Clogs - I dont agree on the experienced members - I think this place continues to be LOADED with some of the best guys out there. True ledgends. They just dont post about it.

I don't think the site sucks, but it would be nice if someone posted a fishing report once in a while. It seems that no one dares say anything about catching anything because, even if you don't name a spot, everybody knows where you fish so it's still spot burning. It's just really getting old.

For example, the first few responses to my recent thread about the north shore was "there are no fish there" I know some of that is in jest, but it's still kind of annoying. It's like, why the hell are you on here if you aren't willing to exchange experiences and stories? Everybody is just too damn paranoid of being accused of spot burning it's out of control.

The clickiness is was it is, but I've found that if you make an effort, maybe show up to some events or ask questions there are some poeple here that will help you out.

Several years back I used to post recaps of my trips to the cape.

Now rarely do as it seems to be frowned upon as spot burning if you were catching and post it.

He's shorter than you expect too..
and balder... :love:

LOL, still taller than me but at least I got more hair, although grey, but I'll take hair over height.

still better lookin than both of you!

Matt it was just a joke, you and I have joked about that in the past. but seriously there is a lack of good fish up here. it's not like years past when fish were everywhere this year seems like it's right place right time. Sorry

probably, but I'm past my prime. The only thing I am good at now is being grumpy, especially after sitting by myself in a boat last nite for hours and having blufish rip my eels to nutin.

That's all right Paul. Listening to Zappa HAS to count for something.

But all joking aside, the reason I lurk and don't ask a lot of questions is because of some of the responses I've gotten in the past. Not naming names (Hell I can't remember names anyway). I enjoy fishing the surf, and there is a lot to try to figure out and be successful when you are starting out. Read books, observed places at different times/tides etc. and I am still at the noob stage.

Speaking for myself, I don't want specific spots at specific times. While getting skunked time after time is frustrating, I am learning and probably don't even realize it. Just looking for some "Cliff Notes" :biglaugh:

i think there's a new instigator in our midst :uhuh:

Ive been on this site since 2000 and have seen alot of people come and go.... Unfortunately this site had lost a wealth of knowledge from both boat and surfcasters over the years because frankly its not worth it. Those guys are done and wont post ever again... You go back a few years and there was alot more comrodity, guys helped eachother out.... Now its the opposite with alot more people getting into striped bass over the last few years . Most want it easy and its the same old whining, plug fishing is tougher than eel fishing, surfcasting is tougher than boat fishing, coms vs recs, Killing vs Releasing, same old crap to be honest so why bother... This was the last site that I enjoyed, I stopped posting on many of the other sites and some I havent posted in years... Im not to far from stopping here either, all I hear is "Why do you even go on there" from buddies of me...

Shssssssssssssssssh!!!!!!! There are no fish here on the north shore, Cape Ann is dead, fish all gone. The pictures that I post are actually balloons with screened printed pictures of striped bass, the longer the balloon the bigger the fish, and if you want one that looks like you caught a 25 pounder cost $25.00 per balloon.

Just to clarify, I know there are exceptions, people like you Fly Rod are helping!

Bob - no hard feelings at all and it wasn't directed at you. You have always been one fo the great guys around here. I know I've joked like that as well, it's just that we feel like we need to joke like that because of the culture that has developed ya know?

But you are right about the fishing this year IMO

It's THOSE conversastions I'd like to see more of.

I think a lot of it is also just the nature of fisherman, it's all about who'd D&&k is bigger and no one wants to give up their spots, I hear that, but some of it is just taken too far.

Geez, one negative thread because someone kept a fish and now the site sucks????

Since I've been coming here I have been both educated and entertained, which is why I come. Some good times shared with many of the guys here too. I love this site, goddammit.

I never came here looking for the holy grail of striped bass fishing, and thus, have never been disappointed. This site is like many others in that its a social networking site with fishing as the centerpiece. If you come for fishing related stuff only its still great, but there's much more to it than that.

less is more
 

This site is definitely a little more tight knit and friendship based.
With that said even though I'm not apart of it, its still my first choice among the few sites I cruise.

I don't know how it use to be so I can't compare but I still think there's plenty of good stuff flying around here. I rather read five threads with six post of anything fishing, boat, life, plug, tool related then filter through 70 threads and countless post for nothing more then wasted time.

I think fish reports are fine. good or bad. When others aren't on fish it gives you some company in misery and when they are on fish it gives you some motivation and when you are on fish chances are you are not here.

after all its not like we have to subscribe and it pay to use the site.

All this because of a few too many exclamation points???:rotf2: