Etiquette at the Ditch (a tutorial)
 

Lots of talk lately (and always) about etiquette at the canal. Guys having no clue what they are doing down there. Seems like there is more complaining (probably justified) but no real list of things to abide by. I know it’s mostly common sense but what would be your top 5 or 10 things for new guys to follow at the canal?

Since they are all reading the info and spot burns on here :) , might as well tell them (nicely) what the expectation is when they try to learn to fish it. Think of it as “The Canal for Dummies” Might do some good in the long run......

There should be a "Surfcaster's Code" as well.

Should have titled this "canal fishing report". Would have gotten twice the hits :hihi:
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So Casting From the service Road with My Jig Between two people throwning pencils is a Bad Etiquette:smash:

If you want a spot, get there early and CLAIM it. Don't come down right when you know it will go off and crowd the people that have PUT IN THEIR TIME and got there early.

If you get there and someone is jigging, don't throw dannies over their line and F up their drift.

If you see someone hooked up, WAIT until they have the fish under control THEN start casting.

Finally, STOP posting anything about the canal, even if you wait 3 weeks to say how good it was. People will still go down thinking it's going off, and it very well might that day, so KEEP IT QUIET.

Yeah no crap! I hate when people try throwing pencils when I'm jigging from the road.:rotf2:

#1- If your not sure of what to do or when to do it- like casting in order with everyone else - when its ok to cast when someones on a fish, or if you think you might be too close-you are. Please ask, we would rather tell you how to do it instead of yell at you. We would much rather show you how to do it and have a good time fishing responsibly than piss and moan on-line.
#2- Please take your trash with you. This includes all wrappers,boxes and even any fishing line you may discard.

rule #1: don't talk about the canal

I love the "Path Casters"!!!:fury: Then there was the one the other morning I saw on the side opposite me getting......a "running start"!!!!:rotf2: Little did the puddin' head realize his momentum ends when he planted his feet to cast!!!:rotf2::rotf2:

#2 - ESPECIALLY your fishing line. Braid takes a long time to degrade and is a hazard to critters and fisherman alike. My cruiser was having problems shifting. I found about 50 yards of powerpro wrapped around the rear wheel sprocket and bearings. Took me a couple of hours to dig it all out. I wasn't missing any line.

If you want to have success at the Canal PM me I am usually a day early or on the wrong side. I can make it easy for you if I am fishing pole x on the cape side go to pole x mainland guaranteed big fish every time. Or if I am going fishing on Tuesday be sure to be there Wednesday. Sure fire way to go large.
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That's the Happy Gilmore Cast.:rotf2:

I like to impress people by having my buddies go on the other side of the canal while I am casting and then pretend like my plug is going to hit them after I cast! :hihi:

Pudding head lol
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Yup:rotf2: I'll be calling some people puddinghead for sure:biglaugh:

Yea those are all good and valid points, but in a way you can't blame someone for getting so excited when fishing is good! After all those are the days that we all want. What really pisses me off is when you catch a fish and someone walking by asks "Hey are you going to keep that fish?, if not I'll take it" or when you see someone catching and keeping more than the limit of 2 fish by going back to their car and stashing them.

how NJ feels everyday, if it goes of at x st. at 4pm tues, it must go off same time wed. 300 guys will be there cus everyone talked about it

The solution is easy.... don't fish the canal. It's too easy that is why people fish it. You drive/walk/even bike right to your spot. Intel is easy to come by. The region is lined with mile markers. You have to expect this.
I would suggest you continue to post how great the canal is and post a lot of photos from years past. Then, fish the beach someplace else. You will have everyone and their mother fishing the canal and the beach will be free and clear.
Think of it as as sacrificial spot. Kind of like a "Zinc" for fishing spots. I just a soon have them all fish next to each other there.

Posts like:

The Canal is smoking hot right now!! The area near marker 48 had fish to 48# all night long last night. catchemup!!


I got this idea from watching the "Wicked Tuna" show where the so called "pros" send their "good friends" to other places where they are not. (talk about lack of etiquette!)

I should just delete this entire post


"too easy" huh? ya sure, 3 times in the last 6 years it was easy :rollem:
maybe the canal has gotten to be like boatfish, they don't count:fishin::biglaugh:

"the beach will be free and clear" got news for you Jim, they already are.





when the daylight fishing slows, the crowds will go down and jigging at night will be good

UNCLE!!!!!

I was wondering when you would come out of hiding.

Everyone should fish Pole 500
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The canal has a lot going for it. Deep water, riprap line shoreline, herring run, relatively easy access, the fish now migrate thru there every season, so it almost like you have a semi captive body of fish near by. Heck when you can cast from the road to deep water, that is relatively easy. It is not like boat fishing but it is more akin to pier fishing from a man made structure. This is why it attracts crowds.

I don't have a problem with folks fishing the canal if that is how they like to fish. It certainly is big enough to accommodate a lot of people. I tried it a few times and even caught a few fish. I found it to be an interesting place to be left to others to enjoy. But if it was in my back yard I probably would fish it often as well.
Be all you can be.
My previous post was kind of tongue in cheek and not meant to inflame anyone. You guys are really touchy about the canal.

peace.

21 reply’s and 451 views and the only one that really had a good reply to the original post was tysdad115.

#1- If your not sure of what to do or when to do it- like casting in order with everyone else - when its ok to cast when someone’s on a fish, or if you think you might be too close-you are. Please ask, we would rather tell you how to do it instead of yell at you. We would much rather show you how to do it and have a good time fishing responsibly than piss and moan on-line.
#2- Please take your trash with you. This includes all wrappers, boxes and even any fishing line you may discard.

I haven’t fished there since I was a teenager, pretty much a boat guy now (I know, doesn’t count). I would probably only go fish down there now with friends I’ve met mostly through here, then again maybe not since it sounds like a soap opera down there. Boat guys and surf guys have similar issues that the canal guys have with disrespecting people, people with no common sense, crowded areas and guys who only care about themselves. Everyone shares info to some degree but how you do it and who you do it with is the key.

Original post was not a “where to fish the canal or how to catch fish at the canal”. It was “How to fish the canal without pissing everyone off” and out of 451 views there was only 1 reply to the subject.

That is so true. Way too many times I view fish being bailed from across the ditch. It always appears as if the fish are breaking right at their feet as well! Optical illusion or the karma police having some fun?:confused:

Wow..you know it's bad if I'm the only one making sense! Talk about being bottom of the white bucket !:rotf2:
This was my favorite part of it anyways : "piss and moan on-line"

I A-Scared :shocked:

I have a new rule proposal, "no new #^&#^&#^&#^&ing rules".

As soon as thgis occurs, on his second cast I throw my line over his and screw him up.

It's far easier to screw him up than having to cast over his line. Lol
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Thought the magic pole was the one with the green sign indicating 495? Man i got bad intell no wonder i cant hook up.
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