The West Wall backflip
 

Amazing sight at the West Wall over the past week.

Small bass were being yanked up onto the jetty by high-test braid, and then -- as if by magic -- they were twirling backwards through the air in speedy little circles until: splashdown!

Is that the triple lindy? How many points for a 360? The real question: how good is that release for the striped bass, a species that's already taking a significant beating from pollutants and overfishing?

It's exasperating, but there is not much you can do short of confronting someone over a fish. I'm not game to play fish cop, but it's your nose.

There used to be a old guy who fished the WW that they called Metal Lure Box Man, he would stuff short fish into a metal lure box, and slam the lid shut. He's long gone now, but the fish are still here.

....and there's one of the many reasons I gave up schoolie fishing in the Spring. Between the jamokes who fish with a gang of treble hook, don't know how to release a fish, kicking fish back in the water on the beach or throwing them off the WW it had become so much of an aggrevation it wasn't worth the trip.

The upside is that, apparently, most of the small fish survive despite what these complete imbeciles do to them.

Or Kick the fish down the beach in W because they don't want 'fishy hands'

Don't partake either for the same reasons. I'd be in jail by now...

Yeah I can't see myself fishing for the little ones.I went out for Tog's yesterday and got skunked.Not even a nibble.Soon some bigger fish will move in.I'm still trying to shake the winter off.

What I dont get about the west wall.... Is when I drove by there yesterday afternoon, there was a ton of vehicles there on the side of the road. Now one was distinct to me cause of a SJ sticker, That being said... I dont get why people act the way they do, My self and Thumper went there other day... I got odd looks cause I was testing a rod, and he for his reel... But all we saw was people with short rods and little stuff catching small fish, didnt see backflippin bass. Again though the crowd was not big either. I as usual will go with out catching fish to fish areas were I do not have to deal with people seriously. Hmmm I miss my wellcraft more and more...:rotf2:

Went out for the little ones with my son yesterday (not to the wall though conditions were good for fish there). Glad he did not get to see that.

Some people just don't give a bleep.

I saw the same thing last week. guys catching 11" bass, reeling them up to the top of the wall (where they were standing in sneakers), and then flipping them out to sea. I wanted to give the guy a kick in the ass so he could see what it feels like to hit the water from that height but I swallowed my disgust.

please don,t judge all & give [your] reasons of why you don,t schoolie fish ;;:uhuh:
to each their own ;:uhuh:

I try not to put down anyones fishing enjoyment down or how they choose to fish :fishin:

ie: boat /shore >> plugs/flies/ bait/ troll ....... if one enjoys how their fishing >let it be ;;

Thanks Clammer ............. I wish I could say [SCHOOLIES FOREVER} but I have mt doubts :wall:

Yes, enjoy and participate in whatever type of fishing but maintain RESPECT of the fish.

I'm amazed at some of the fishing shows with "pros" releasing fish like discarded trash.

Mike we've beat this to death, and I know you handle fish properly.
Backflipping 10", 10" or 40" is not good no matter what your fishing style!!!

I got my first yesterday in Westport on a bucktail.Threw it back like a boomerang.I'm done with schoolies,it's back to groundfish for a few weeks and then after May 15th I will be hunting for the monthly prize winner.

Does that mean it came back and hit you in the face?

I know Bri .

Should know better ;;

I saw a sight a few years ago & if I had a video .& chose to do so ........... It would change most peoples precepition of a true fisherman & surf highliner ... surfice to say .I left to go else where /But told another [very good] fisherman where some fish had just moved on the beach .......... he went & he called me to come back . no thanks //I saw enough .he called back shortly after / stating he too was leaving ,the scene was disgusting ;;
to be honest I never really cared for this guy / but I {did] consider him a good fishermen ........ now / personally , he is neither good fisherman or a good person ;;:devil2:

it other words IMO his name is now %$%$%$%$%$%$%$ :smash:

I watched a show on NESN the other day which I care not to promote but occasionally I give it a few minutes. He was tossing small mouths over his shoulders and laughing about it!:fury: People see that and think it's cool! :wall:

MC

he,s a AH :uhuh:

Mike, you know I wasn't referring to you:love:

I know Paulie //

I wanted to go late afternoon til sunset / but the f #$%^&*( wind swung around to the S/E ;

got about 1.5 to see & them make a descion ><><

Good people only torture bluefish I guess.How is it good conscience to abuse one species and treat others with respect?There are certainly more bass around than blues.Hypocrisy......I guess this site will never be bluefish.com. I just don't undersand how it becomes a running joke to stab,torture and disrespect one species and then ride a white horse regarding misteatment of another.Whatever makes you happy I suppose.

What a lame thread.

I guess those of us that fish for early season schoolies on light tackle and properly return these fish to the ocean are some how defficient to you mighty trophy big-bass hunters.

:hs::rolleyes:

No. thosethat fish for early season schoolies on light tackle and DO NOT properly return (I.E. THE backflip FROM 20FT) these fish to the ocean are some how deficient to you mighty trophy big-bass hunters.

The wall in Narragansett is just as bad....

Dont try to stir up %$%$%$%$

Ain't stirring up %$%$%$%$ Bryan.I just don't go for the elitist attitude that some how people like me are killing fish because we fish the early season schoolies.

I might ONLY be 41...maybe not quite as "experienced" as you but I am damn well not an idiot.Please don't play me as such.

I agree Norman, that is how I perceive it.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Now now, they're obviously far superior people in their torturing bluefish.

Hopefully they'll teach their children to do this so they can be just as superior and awesome.

I wonder if anyone owns monstershallowwaterbluefishtorture.com

Funny, I didn't read it that way.

Imagine that.

Still trying to find out where anyone was blasting people for fishing the correct way? While I don't condone what some people do to bluefish, I think the reason there isn't the outrage about that is because of the decline of stripers in the past, while it seems blues are always around.

Now this is getting redundant... Wether ya fish for schoolies or "trophies" your always hoping for a big fish.. Thats reality.. In th end the old saying is true.." Fishing is a jerk with a rod and line in the water, waiting for a jerk on the other end.." :wall:

%$%$%$%$.
you're ten years older than me :love:

I originally posted b/c I gave up on the spring schoolie deal because I can't stand people mishandling fish. Take comments however you want. We are all killing fish w/ releasing, whether it is a 50fish day at the ww in april or 3 nice fish on a June night.... HOWEVER! the 'backflip' ups those odds a bit...