Spot Jumpers....Find your own fish!!

[Saltheart]

Was fishing last night. Only Smokey and I and a friend who came with use were there for 3 hours. I finally hook one and from the time my pole bent til before I even landed it , 4 guys were walking down the bank to fish in our pockets. It seems to be the way people play the game now.

Of course , if they could fish at all they could also find their own spots so after about 20 minutes of no fish , they all left.

I gotta say that I find it pretty poor behavior for people to jump a spot like that. Its one thing if they get there before you or even come and fish a while but to blattenly jump on a spot as soon as someone hooks up is disgracefull. I curse them and I feel good knowing that people who let other people hunt the fish will never be good at the game themselves.

[fishweewee]

Mike, what spot were you at again?

[KLMulder]

I would have to agree with you 100%. chaseing blitzn blues with the boat is fine as long as you are not cutting others out but jumping a spot

[justplugit]

Ya Salheart,those are the guys that just started as things got good again and will be the first to give up the sport when things get tough again.

You got either groupies, or poparotzie followin you around.

[new jack]

I was down in the rocks and had a guy on the bike path littlerly cast directly over my head at breaking fish.

The thing that kills me is when a fish breaks directly right in front of you, all of sudden plugs get thrown fron every different direction from guys fishing a pole away.

[Nebe]

Bummer

Everyone is looking for a handout these days... Sometimes it is difficult even talking about fishing to people in person because they want to know where you were catching

[Scotch Bonnet]

I was fishing at Narrow River one night and hook up a barely keeper size bass. I move away to take the hook out of the fishes throat and when I turn around a well known "striper guru" and his young son are standing right in my spot. No class............and I refuse to read any of his articles now Everybodies out for themselves now, thats why I love my boat!

[Joe]

Take a freshly caught keeper down to Hazard Ave in a tropical storm.
Hold it triumphantly over your head, down by where the water shoots up when there is a big sea on - make a lot of hooting noise so the spot jumpers come running over in their no-tread sneakers.
Shake your head in disgust at being crowded, and boogie before the rogue wave comes in.

[jugstah]

I don't know where you guys fish, but I've not had that problem lately. I guess you guys are probably fishing a lot of the commonly known fishing spots.

Well, at least since I've stopped fishing out of the Wareham/Onset area.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Scotch... that happened to me a few times... same people.. same spot 'guru' of the rat sized striper

At the NR one night I was waaaaay out on da bar.. a wet suit night and I notice a red flashing light coming at me.. a boat you ask? no a popper with a red flashing light inside it someone was drifting it down the channel and then retrieving it, all about 20 ft from me...

Got cast over twice (and tangled once) this moirning at a fast moving water spot by people fishing tackle to light to fish effectivly... and then at sunrise had some boat guys cast to the splash my Pencil popper made.... guess they ain't never seen a gibbs before

And Joe... that's just cruel... it' would be like lemmings off a cliff

[redlite]

Big fan of when you are on the beach and get a fish, move up a little to unhook and turn around and there are suddenly two guys standing in your foot prints.
A few years a go we had that happen on a regular basis in a particular spot on an internet popular site. To get the guys out of our spot, we brought a camera out on the beach, went the opposite way down the beach and started flashin the flash off. They all came runnin down the beach as we walked by them at the base of the dunes to our spot and proceeded to knock the crap out of the fish. Suckers.

[Backbeach Jake]

I've had the spot jumpers check out my shoe size, too. Literally in my footprints as I unhooked one. I walked back to my spot said "Scuse me" and cast . Caught another right off, my limit. Sat on the tailgate drank a coffee grinning at the luckless goof.

[chipwood]

That's what you all get for blabbin' your mouths all the time on the net. I've never seen so many people fishing this early ever. The spot I fish, I never see people until the suppers come strolling in about late June but now there's fisherman everywhere and they're experts at that. Maybe I'm just grumpy because my neighbor just woke me up with a power sander @ 8:30. By the way is that kosher to wake your neighbor up when you live real close and bust out the sander that early?Usually I'm up but I had a good friends bachelor party last night.

[Backbeach Jake]

8:30!? the day's half over. Power sanders and self inflicted head trauma don't mix.

[Mike P]

Spot jumpers wouldn't be so bad if they knew how to fish in a crowd.

I've fished shoulder to shoulder with guys who knew what they were doing with minimal tangles. Flap can tell ya about the nights with 20+ guys in a line on the Flats But let one hammerhead join the mix and it's headaches for everyone.

What I do with those guys is, when they move in, I give 'em a good natured "hey, normally, before I let anyone get this close they have to buy me dinner first" Sometimes they take the hint and move a few steps away. If they don't, I'll watch them for a few casts. If they seem to know their schtuff, I'll work around them. If not, on the Canal there's plenty of spots and I don't mind walking away from easy access

[Saltheart]

Its amazing the way they materialize out of nowhere. Nobody around then suddenly four guys within the few minutes it takes to land the fish.

the only thing I can liken it too is sea gulls. ever been way out on the ocean. I mean like 25 miles south of Block Island?? there nobody there and no birds in sight. take out a cracker and toss it on the water and in about 30 seconds there will be sea gulls fighting over the cracker.


These guys are scavengers and garbage pickers , just like the seas gulls.

In fact , I apologize to the sea gulls.

[Ed B]

There have always been spot jumpers and always will be, it's just how some people play the game. 25 years ago when people played the game for money I think it was worse because it was more competitive. Those who came to the Cape from the more heavily populated regions (will not stereotype regions here)considered that kind of conduct as an acceptable way to fish and were more brazen about it. If you were hooking up and they weren't, they might even cast across your line and reel you in to see what you were using. Or flash a light on your fish while you were unhooking it to see what you got him on. You would be surprised at the guys who would do it too. Some who would like to consider themselves.... ahhh nevermind.

It's kind of like any sport really where the wannabees with type A personalities cause the most havoc and the ones with a decent amount of ability are usually the most civil and play the game the way it's suppose to be played.

Although I usually gave them a piece of my mind, which feels good, it's really no fun fishing next to some moron you can't stand. I found the best medicine is to go to their spot from which they just came and pull a fish out. Kind of like hitting a homer off a guy that just tried to bean you.

PS. Fish weeknights and leave Saturday nights to the yahoo's unless you can go to a remote spot

[Flaptail]

The best one on the flats was when some guy came out in barefeet and had two live eels on a scotchmens hi-lo rig and a boat rod. All the regulars were there and finally Tommy K. just couldn't take it and went over and grabbed the guys line and cut it. He told the guy something like, "trust me this is for your own good".

This last week on the beach after midnight has been real quiet as far as people are concerned. Seems no one has the good old habit of fishing in the wee dark hours anymore, thank God. HEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: D

[Karl F]

Saltheart, seagulls.....

I can deal with most, the ones who sit in their buggies and watch, till they see you start to reel one in , then, step in front of you while you are still reeling...... AAAAGGGHHHH, haven't had that happen in a few years tho, so, meybe some of them learned...

Flap, notice that too, actually after 9:30-10, it starts to thin out , but.... sshush

my son and I pulled the cell phone trick one night, and cleaned out an area we wanted to have to ourselves... all but 2 of the regulars hightailed after us, when we got back, they was laughing with us, fish came in at the turn of the tide like we knew they would, and we had it all to the 4 of us, instead of about 20....

[RIJIMMY]

Its funny, I fish mostly in recognized striper spots in RI and I rarely run into anyone. I fish 95% in the night or early am. My spots are not secret, and I fish on weekends.
Am I doing something wrong or just lucky?

[piemma]

Hi Guys:
haven't been on in awhile. I find this thread interesting in that I never have much trouble with the spotjumpers. Here's the secret. Fish in the middle of the night in the worse weather in the most dangerous spot. You get good quality fish with nobody bothering you.
I crawl around in the wee small hours of the night in the rocks, not on the rocks, in the rocks in Narragansett. If I do run into someone it's a guy who knows how to fish and also hates the nitwits that have started to infiltrate our sacred sport.
It is a shame that this is what it has come to. Narrow River now has more idiots than seaweed. Fished it at 2 AM this morning...gee no one there except for 2 guys I know and they know how to fish it. Saturday night at 10 there was a combination of guys on River Rock "chunking" (great spot to chuck with a 5 knot current on the drop. Couldn't hold bottom with an engine block) and what I call "the jamokes" on the soft side. Coleman lanterns, no waders and drifting eels right into the guys out front. I walked back to the right, waded thru a trench and got fish where no one could see me. Had to unhook in the dark as I didn't want to give away my position. These idiots don't even know there's a bar out there.
This is what it had come to...stelth fishing.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Paul.. had two small hits/drops on snakes at that high tide spot we talked about... noone else there 3a-sunrise on a sat gotta love it...
early mornings are great, most guys fish sunset till midnight or so, sleep till 2 and then go out

Paul, email me if you want to hook up this week, I'll be kicking around somewhere

[schoolie monster]

Saltheart, I hear ya. Its different in the boat, but common curtesy should still apply. Obviously, if a pod of fish comes up, other boats will show, but that doesn't mean they should cut right in between you and the fish.

Early this season, that's happened to me quite a bit, and scotch mentions a well known guru... how about long time harbor guides. You'd expect better from them.

Twice now, I've been casting towards a blitz working quietly closer with my minn kota, to have this guy motor right in front of me. One time I had my kid standing next to me... that's crude.

But to be honest, from a transplant into New England some 10 years ago, there is a certain amount of crass, rudeness, abrasiveness up here. You see it on the roads, on the train, in the store... why not on the water.

My experience up here has shown me that most people are nice just like anywhere else if you meet them personally, but the treatment of strangers definitely has an edge to it. Tough to deny that.

[The Dad Fisherman]

I'm a life-long New Englander and wouldn't even think of Denying it. We definitely have an "edge" that you don't find anywhere else in the Country (Except for maybe NY/NJ).

But all you can do is to not feed into it and let it spoil your day.

In the Immoprtal Words of Frank Castanza "Serenity Now!!)

[JohnR]

Piemma - welcome back - pm sent....

[leptar]

Originally posted by RIJIMMY
Its funny, I fish mostly in recognized striper spots in RI and I rarely run into anyone. I fish 95% in the night or early am. My spots are not secret, and I fish on weekends.
Am I doing something wrong or just lucky?

Your just lucky.....

Only day on the weekend i'll fish is early am saturday..... I too fish alot of the recognized striper spots in RI... most of them are scared of lyme from ticks and getting STD's from mosquitios...

If you hit your area's during the day you'll see the "over population" everyone is talking about...

Went for a ride with a friend yesterday to check out some hidden eel pots we got and we witnessed a fist fight over a spot in middletown... pretty sad sight....

[S-Journey]

This is a subject that bothers me more and more every year while fishing, mostly from my boat. I’m going to rant for a minute so respectable fisherman please stop reading this post now.


This year I have decided to take my surfcasting rod out and whenever someone sees me catchin and decides to move in I'm going to mark my territory by casting out a 4oz pencil popper. If they get within the area that I have been casting I'm going to wave my arms a bit and send a warning shot over the bow. If they still don’t seem to understand I’m going to put one right threw their window, or eye depending on how I feel at that particular moment. And seeing how they would be interfering with a fishing operation in progress it would be their fault.

You ^#$h0les who fish with your eyes should be ashamed of yourselves You are the lowest of the low in my book, and you know who you are.

Have some frickin pride would you people!!! I hope you learn something from this.

And yes, if you are that stupid I will hit you with the plug if you get that close. And don’t try to test me, my accuracy is deadly.

Hopefully someone will read this and know how much they suck. Please relize that you are being an as--ole. Give a brother some space and don't forget to have some pride-- don't be a follower.

That’s all, over and out…

I know I've been asked to tone it down before, but this was a very important public service anouncement.

[riverrat2]

I know exactly what you are talking about S-journey. I have had that happen to me at the same spot I bet you are talking about. A boater that is pulling out of the river at 20 knots all of the sudden spots that I am hooked up off of the beach. The boaters than proceed to stop the boat turn around and head right towards me into the rocks. I have seen some pretty funny things happen to this people because they don't know the lay out of the rocks, but they are putting there boat right into my casting area. They have gotten so close to me at times I could of fliped my plug into the boat. I agree with you s-journey, next time it will be a kastmaster to there hull(not a pencil, too expensive).

[piemma]

Years ago on the Cape at the Second Rip, the boat guys would get too close and there was a group fo commercial surf guys from RI that would politely ask them to leave. If they didn't it was 4oz pyramid sinkers right at the bridge of the offending vessel. Seemed to work wonders. True story. Those who know...Lanny, Eddy, Mikey Cigar, NY Chucky know it's true.

[S-Journey]

Was talkin about a different spot near Cohasset, but I think what you are talking about is even worse.

Senario --

You are fishing from the beach, some butthead anchored 600 yards away in a boat sees you catching fish and pulls anchor. He drives up and starts doing zig-zags over the area you are fishing, drops anchor and proceeds to dump a ton of chum in the water. All of a sudden all of the fish you were catching are now behind his boat enjoying the nice free meal of chum while your wood goes untouched. Had that happen earlier in the year and it was very painful. Caught almost 20 fish over 34" before he chumed, and 0 after. If the guy didn't have kids on the boat I would have given him hell, but instead I just noted the boat and will make sure to do the 35mph driveby on his chum slick when I see him when I'm out on the boat.

And good idea with the castmaster, less expensive and more damage. I think people will get the idea with the warning casts, if not I hope they have good insurance.

I think this year I might just go at night 100% of the time, might save me from having a stroke:-)

Originally posted by riverrat2
I know exactly what you are talking about S-journey. I have had that happen to me at the same spot I bet you are talking about. A boater that is pulling out of the river at 20 knots all of the sudden spots that I am hooked up off of the beach. The boaters than proceed to stop the boat turn around and head right towards me into the rocks. I have seen some pretty funny things happen to this people because they don't know the lay out of the rocks, but they are putting there boat right into my casting area. They have gotten so close to me at times I could of fliped my plug into the boat. I agree with you s-journey, next time it will be a kastmaster to there hull(not a pencil, too expensive).