Etiquette at the Ditch (a tutorial)

[Piscator]

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......

[rizzo]

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

[JackK]

Should have titled this "canal fishing report". Would have gotten twice the hits
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[the point]

So Casting From the service Road with My Jig Between two people throwning pencils is a Bad Etiquette

[bart]

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.

[FinS 32]

Originally Posted by bart

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.

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

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Originally Posted by the point

So Casting From the service Road with My Jig Between two people throwning pencils is a Bad Etiquette

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

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by the point

So Casting From the service Road with My Jig Between two people throwning pencils is a Bad Etiquette

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

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

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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[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 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.

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by 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 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.

#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.

[Rockport24]

rule #1: don't talk about the canal

[BigFish]

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

[the point]

Originally Posted by BigFish

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

That's the Happy Gilmore Cast.

[cow tamer]

Originally Posted by Rockport24

rule #1: don't talk about the canal

Reminds me of a line from "Fight Club"

rule # 2: don't talk about the canal

and rule # 3: don't talk about the canal

[Jackbass]

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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[SeaMule]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

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 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?

[Rockport24]

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!

[Jackbass]

Pudding head lol
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[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

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

[maxum16]

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.

[Mr. Sandman]

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!)

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

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
maybe the canal has gotten to be like boatfish, they don't count

"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

[Back Beach]

UNCLE!!!!!

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

UNCLE!!!!!

I was wondering when you would come out of hiding.

Everyone should fish Pole 500
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[iamskippy]

Originally Posted by piemma

Everyone should fish Pole 500
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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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[staltershoal]

Originally Posted by iamskippy

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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Lol.
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[bloocrab]

Seems to be a lot of people on here who know the right thing to do...Perhaps someone can share their thoughts on the matter a little deeper. I'm honestly curious about the consensus on here....

When you set up at a spot, what radius do you think you own? Does that radius tighten as more fishermen begin to surround you or because of your time of arrival to that spot, they are expected to keep proper distance from you?

In this thread, I think I am reading that if someone gets there at 3am and sets up camp, they have some rights...so when a biker shows up at 4:30am and there are breaking fish slightly to the left of the camper (w/No bike), they don't have the right to cut him off to the fish because he was there earlier. Is that correct? Or does the school have to be directly in front of the camper in order to receive that respect?

Does that mean that a fisherman on a bike is exempt from certain etiquettes? Leap-frogging, as I call it...happens all the time with Canal-Bikers, is that considered wrong to someone who set up camp, especially if they get cut-off from casting due to someone pulling up on a bike who's only staying while the fish are actively out front? What if it's a Canal-Cruising Gang? Should the camper just reel in and wait until they move on before casting?

No seriously, how much area do you own when you setup and make your first cast?

...and lastly...Is this all spot dependent? Meaning that it only relates to running current? ie: Canal, Jetties, Breachways, etc///...


Disclaimer: Over 5,000 posts and still haven't added anything of worth.

[Sgt Striper]

Originally Posted by iamskippy

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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Is that left to right or right to left of the magic pole?

[iamskippy]

Originally Posted by Sgt Striper

Is that left to right or right to left of the magic pole?

depends on which direction you are going don't confuse me i almost have it figured out!