If you want to fish Cuttyhunk.... you better start exercising those legs.

[chris L]

dont walk down my drive way to fish !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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there is no water there except a toilet

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

I believe pretty much the entire western half of the island is private. You should not be on that road, ever. I think it belongs to the Spaldings (sports equip mogal). There is a modest house at the end, I thought that road was his.

From just past the bass club down to pigs is all Forbes property.

And they certainly aren't just rich people who just happened to land there because it was 'nice'.
The family has been on those islands since the mid 1800's.

Do unto others as you'd have done unto you.

[Back Beach]

what is the point of this thread?

One more question, does anyone know if Jesus ever fished there?Maybe he put the wire up?Wow. Maybe that's why some call it God's Country.Is the wire now down across the path because Andre the Giant actually did try to step over it and caught his leg? If so, he should have been prosecuted. He could probably get out to the home stand without a wet suit. What an island. I gotta get out there next year.

Happy holidays to all you guys.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

what is the point of this thread?

To point out the difference between the (access) Haves and Have Nots

That's OK, Fat Man Walking (on the rocks)

[Finaddict]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

I believe pretty much the entire western half of the island is private. You should not be on that road, ever. I think it belongs to the Spaldings (sports equip mogal). There is a modest house at the end, I thought that road was his.

Technically speaking, in MA, even walking along the beach is considered tresspassing. Property owners actually own (and pay taxes on) the land that goes out into the water aways. Don't ask me how it became that way. I am strongly oppossed to this but that is what I have been told by owners of waterfront land. It is not like BI where the public can walk along the entire shore anywhere without any problem.

There is a 1600 something (or really old) "law" in MA that says if you are fishing or fowling you can walk along the shore in the water below the low tide line TO GET BY but technically your feet have to be wet to do this. Some refer to this as the "wet feet" law. Also, I am not so sure this "law" of that age will hold up if really pressed. I don't have a copy anymore but think it says you may only pass-by to get to a spot, not actually fish or hunt there. I think many owners of waterfront land have been there for a long time and understand the desire for fishermen and locals to access to fish and hunt and generally allow it out of the goodness of their hearts. But I tell you if it were my property and I saw 20 guys coming over for a commando trip contributing nothing to anyone, I would press the issue...but that is me and I don't live on waterfront land. From experience, it is best to maintain a "low profile" anyplace you fish esp on or even NEAR private property and don't bother ANYONE. You might consider asking for permission instead of just doing it. If you just do it without asking, go in with no more then 2 fishermen, go in late and come out early and don't tresspass near any homes, don't PO anyone, act like a gentlemen, respect their property...after all it IS theirs, and don't act like a whacko if you ever want to go again.
But that is just my advice.

Agree ... this is right on the mark ... this is the best philosophy IMHO.

[MartinD18]

http://www.ago.state.ma.us/filelibrary/beachacc.pdf

[tattoobob]

Martin,
that pdf is the same thing I posted

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Raven

are not that expensive at Sears
i was lookin at them this afternoon...
i need a new pair
...mine are kinda worn out now...
from cutting locks
SO.....combined with a battery powered sawz- all
and my forty foot heavy chain, plus a four wheel drive
they will cancel out any gate in no time....
------------------------------------------------------------------
if silence is required instead........i'd just pour corrosive chemicals
on the fence combined with rope & potatoe sacks
filled with big rocks...or heavy garbage bags filled with sand

and totally melt it ....and make it all sag...over night
it's all play time.....

and thats only if my key collection didnt work
i hate all that private- world CRAP

See. Just listen to me. BUY A BOAT!!! They you will be done with all of this crap

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by piemma

See. Just listen to me. BUY A BOAT!!! They you will be done with all of this crap

[Grapenuts]

If you take a minute and think about it....has the internet awakened a sleepy island?...were once only word of mouth kept the crowd's down to a dull roar...now how many people know about this place because of threads like this one and others that came before it....do you really blame the owners for clamping down when they see as someone said the gangs coming over the hill?? we humans have a way of burning spots all to often and then piss and moan when the owners shut us out....we only have ourselve's to blame.

[chris L]

Im not a human being ..... Im an animal

[Mr. Sandman]

I thought all of the Elizabeth Islands except Cuttyhunk and Penikese are privately owned by the Forbes family. I took a rather formal tour of all the Elizabeth’s including CH a number of years ago and the historian narrated the entire way speaking of the Forbes and their history on all the islands on the way out, however, when we arrived at CH he mention that ½ of CH was publicly owned, but the western half was private. I asked him about this and I thought he told me Spalding owned that house on the end and that half the island was pretty much his.

Maybe Spalding gave it to Forbes? I don't know for sure it was a while a go that I took this tour (10 years?) and I am losing my mind now. Lord knows, I have been wrong on other things.

I do agree with you and think that it is quite impressive that Forbes has kept the islands pristine and it is one of the few places left that when you approach by boat, that IS the way it look hundreds of years ago. I know you are allowed to hang out on a couple beaches during the summer but I still would like to walk its shores with rod in hand. IMO some of the coves on those islands would be simply outstanding surf fishing spots...as good or even better then CH

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Islands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naushon_Island

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuttyhunk


BTW, technically the town of Gosnold is part of Dukes county, which means MV is in charge!!! LOL!!! HEY!! THAT IS MY ROCK!! GET OFF!! LOL!

[likwid]

Sandman: Half of Cuttyhunk is owned by the Forbes.

While the fishing is great from the beach there, by boat its even better.

[baldwin]

True, the Spaldings own the whole west end. That chain is often closed, keeps out the jeeps and golf carts. This isn't really anything new, they've been closing it for the last few years. You can go the northern trail, go around the shoreline (ouch), or just quietly walk down. This is the trend all over the striper coast. I guess it's an inevitable part of the island getting more fishermen than previous years. I'd rather see few fishermen down there, anyway. Take a hint if you have special places you like to fish. Don't publicize them. Yes, it's a great spot. Yes, we love to fish it. But, if we post places like that, they'll receive more traffic and people will eventually ruin the access. Ideally, it shouldn't happen, and the spots should be open for access until eternity, but this is the real world. Keep those spots quiet. It'll delay their closure, and you won't have as much danger of making the long hike to find someone fishing your favorite rock.

[eelman]

It did happen on Block but, it took many years..many...Thats the big problem with the Internet..It only took cutty two seasons to be destroyed, way to many people out there and everyone knows about it and they all found out to fast..You have to ask yourselves how many people read this site and how many trips were organized just from this site alone?? Before you guys made a private cutty forum etc...even still..the forum reads "cutty"..Talk about the "spot burn" that place was burned right here and no one noticed???? give me a break?? Evereyone had a hand in the demise of that place, it has become the gen-x hotspot..The tough thing is that likwid is right, the place is PRIVATE..No matter how you slice it, you have no right whatsoever to be on that private property..None...Block is different, there are many places to fish which are not private and the place is ten times the size..And then you have the stories about the place...A certain person I know got mutilated for writing about spots yet, it seems it bothers no one that cutty has been written about...It was also featured on television.

Evereyone is going to lose on this one, that Island is just way to small to handle what has come there way and, from what I hear the bass club is not going to be around much longer.
Piemma is right either get a boat or stop complaining, private property is a fact of life in surf fishing and access..when a 50% private Island gets overrun in a season or two, people are going to take notice..

When Block Island was hot, there was no Internet or lighting fast communication like there is now, there were no "big" club organized assaults on the Island like what goes on on cutty..Not saying its bad just saying its very different, plus the place is just so small..How many clubs and people are already booked for next spring?? yikes...I would rather fish the mainland...everyone on that place wants to crowd and squezz in at the pigs..

Cutty is a victim of to much way to soon...

[bart]

well put

[eelman]

When I went there in the spring there were fishing clubs from NY,CT,MA,RI...You name it. lots of guys could not find fish at Block etc..so they decided to give cutty a whirl...In my opinion haveing fished both places, Cutty is easier and thats what everyone wants, its much smaller and fish are concentrated more out there. The fishing is great no doubt but still , save for the walk from the club to the pigs, I dont think its anywhere near as hard as Block is, at least from a fish finding point of view. When I went out there last spring there were guys from NY,CT,MA,RI..You name it...It seemed like alot for a 2 mile Island...you could see that the writing would be on the wall as to just how much tolorance there would be for hoards of fisherman out there, especially since the place is half private...The mentality is different and they just dont want to be overrun, I dont think its got to do with trash or anything else, its just privacy...simple as that.

When I was there the NY guys told me that the CT. Surfcasters told them about it, I know those guys had been going there for a few years or more and they thought anyway that no one knew...people knew because there is always someone in a group that talks...Obviously the word spread that the fish are stacked up out there like cordwood...duh?? of course they would be! Its in a perfect spot and its small...not alot to learn about that Island...its fairly easy for someone who has any brains to walk off the boat and know where to fish after a couple hour walk.

Now I see that from my point of view and really there is no dening this fact....This is definatly an Internet born spot burn. No question about it, Its the new 21st century way. Just because its an Island does not mean it can be freely talked about and then think no one is going to go there....Most of the new guys are so hot up to catch fish they will go to any length to get to a place and spare no expense.Then, when an instance like this comes up they say stuff like, "I will go anyway" I will bring bolt cutters" "screw the owners" makes me laugh. The very people that had a hand in it are now whinning.

If the people who own land or the whatever decide to turn a cold shoulder to fisherman out there , just remember and search back here and on other boards and look at how much that place was talked about...Then look at the new concept, instead of going with a couple friends, now its an all out party with grand plans and groups of 10 guys or more plus boats and rooms and tons of food.. That wont last forever no matter where it is. Block Island never had that , nothing like that. You never saw groups of 10 guys heading over together.

I dont have tons of time out there , I am just stating what I think is going on...My prefrence has always been the Block...Which by the way still has plenty of fish..

You guys slammed someone I Know well for "spotburning" and all the time your lighting a match and tending a fire of your own without even realizing it Burning yourselves........

Remember to, that just because there is a bass on the church and bonnie hugs everyone who gets off the boat with a rod in there hands doesnt mean the private land owners feel the same way...One thing is for sure...She and the club (Acually hotel) are not there for free they are buisness people who are in buisnesss to make money...thats why they charge for the rooms...money drives everything....The forbes or whoever else owns land doesnt need surfcasters money but the club does..She doesnt own the club and the current owners have in fact discussed selling the place in the near future..There is always more to things than meets the eye...

Would I still go there? once a year sure, but when its over its over...sooner or later one of the private owners hirs will want to do something with or on there property..and I dont think surfcasters are tenants that they have to keep.

Carry on, book your reservations now for huge groups next spring...cause it wont last forever...............

[piemma]

Bill is right. The internet is a great tool but can cause huge problems such as the spreading of information at frightening speed.

Back in the "old days" (late 70's thru late 90's) no one ever spoke of Cutty. We knew the boat guys hammered fish out there but there was too much good fishing on the Cape. The Back was still hot. No seals to speak of and very little closure problems.

I think the Cutty thing started to get big the last 3 years. There were a select few who were quietly doing a number out there but weren't talking about it. Then there were a few posts here and on a couple of other sites and the next thing you knew there were more trips being organized to Cutty than to all the other destinations.

I also think that the down turn of fishing on the Back, the lack of big fish on the Block and the access difficulties there (i.e. no access to SW Point without a long walk). The costs and access problems on the Vineyard and Nantucket and the other exotic destinations that were "trips" back then. All of these things combined with the great fishing have made Cutty the destination of choice for the better than average surf fisherman.

Access there will become more difficult. The Forbes family will put tighter controls on the chain of islands and then the place will become less of a favorite destination.
Personally, I think that if the Feds can cooperate with the fishing community and resolve the access and seal problems on th Outer beaches, the fishing will return to what it was in the past and the presuure will be decreased on the Islands.

[JohnR]

Bill is wrong in this parts of this case. "This site" ruined Cuttyhunk? Give me a effin' break. I think you are again over emphasising the reach this site has in the negative. It took two seasons for Cutty to be destroyed - by the Internet? The Internet can have a negative impact, surely just as monthly and weekly magazines and the "Fish Here" articles in them, weekly fishing reports in newspapers, "Fish Here" books, and any other "source". I believe S-B strikes a good balance when it comes to direct and indirect pressure - though even maybe tooo restrictive but better safe than sorry. We CERTAINLY have less coverage than OTW or the Fisherman, and therefore far less pressure.

The specific items in this thread in argument on Cutty are the access to the SW corner of the island and the chain put at the end of the access road. This has been going off and on for at least 5 years I know of and was the case the first time the "S-B" group went over several years back.

The past decade has had two large fishing bed & breakfasts on the island catering to fisherman, the docks have their charters that cater to fisherman. Clubs and individual anglers have been going to Cutty for years to fish from shore. The fact that 20 people from this site & a few others have arranged 2 trips over there have had little impact.

Cutty is being written about in Maggies from both shore and boat, it is known in an historical sense simply as where the big gals go (hence Church & Cinto). Cutty has a lot of pressure For It but it also attracts some of it's pressure by design. There are many on the island that need the Tourodollars to survive.

And yes, you are absoultely correct to state that the few land owners over there want to keep their deal private but at the same time some of the residents over there need to keep down 4 jobs to make it. Not many places you'll have someone as a charter guide, fireman, and three other job descriptions.

So which is it? S-B burns places toast? Or we're too hard on people that talk spots? That everything is given away on a silver platter? Or too many thumping their chest?

Is there too much pressure on Cutty? Probably. Are we - S-B - the source of that pressure? Uh, I don't think so. Certainly not in a significant way. And certainly at a much lower pressure than other methods have on other spots.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by likwid

The high dirt road around the back to pigs is closed.

Naushon Island Trust private property.
They will not be allowing anyone on that road without permission.

Wow has this thread evolved
I guess it stirred up some more conversation and speculation.

Sounds like your statement is not anything new likwid, it's been closed. What is your source for who owns it? Baldwin and Sandman seem to think it's not Forbes but Spaulding. doesn't matter anyway.It's their land and they can put up fences or signs or whatever.


Ever since I saw Cinto's fish on the cover of OTW back in the 90's , I always wanted to catch a cow there, I even bought a boat in 97 to do that, never made to pigs though since I had nobody to go with that knew it and I wasn't stupid enough to try it. Plenty of good fishing all over, fish have fins, they swim.

Bill, not all of us on this site blasted your friend Steve for his article.
And the bolt cutters thing was meant for you to laugh I'm sure, don't take it all so serious, or do, I don't care.

Merry Christmas

[eelman]

John, I never said it was only this site only and, again I am not alowed to make a point, I am sorry but once in a while its good to take a little responsability...How many lurkers are there out there that read the site or sites that have to do with fishing? And one other thing , Not everything is an attack John, The truth is that Cutty has been talked about alot here for the past few years. 20 guys on that Island twice a year is alot in my opinion because the place is so very tiny...While it did not have everything to do with the overcrowding...there is no way you can say it had NOTHING to do with it..........You may not have the rach of a Magazine but , its time to stop saying no one reads the site, It has become popular.

Why should the SB trips be any different than any other clubs trip out there?? It all contributes, doesnt it? Sure you may not have the reach of OTW but, you certainly have reach.

The thread got huge, I read it and then gave my opinion. You have a policy of no spot talk and zero tolarance for it but yet its ok to talk about Cutty and have a forum dedicated to it. I am just confused, thats all.Seems to me thats spot talk

Fishing there or anyplace else where there are private owners is a privledge not a right. They can do what they want.

No matter what anyone thinks of my opinions , one thing is for sure .That place has recieved a huge volume of press in a real short time.

Your right, people have fished there for years, Tim went there in the 70's However info was not spread like now, it was a slow trickle at best.

"So which is it? S-B burns places toast? Or we're too hard on people that talk spots? That everything is given away on a silver platter? Or too many thumping their chest?"

Your dragging stuff into this that isnt nessasary...However I say again, you yourself instituted a rule of no spot talk...you speak freely about a cutty all the time...Thats a double standard isnt it?

Maybe the better thing to say would be that everyone has some blame to take for instant rise and fame of cuttyhunk...I was just as guilty posting things about my trip !

Hard on people who talk spots?? you bet...mention the west wall on here and the thread gets edited....Mention cutty and thats a green light..........

I just looked, there have been over 1000 views on this thread already...Thats alot of traffic.

I re-read what I wrote John, I did not out and out attack this site at all. I just said that the plca e is talked about and that tripes are orginzed ..then those tripe are reported on and 1000 people read those reports..Thats all true


Was not an attack John on you or the site..

[Slipknot]

"
No matter what anyone thinks of my opinions , one thing is for sure .That place has recieved a huge volume of press in a real short time."

Yep, you're right about that it seems, and it's only gonna get more it seems, too bad

"Fishing there or anyplace else where there are private owners is a privledge not a right. They can do what they want"

We mention the canal all the time too and there are private owners there also, but we don't talk pole numbers usually so it doesn't burn the canal by speaking of it. And the owners do do what they want, including dumping grass clipping over the fence onto you right MikeP?

time to buy a boat soon, the surfcaster is going the way of the dinosaur sad I'm more comfortable on shore and like the challenge better, I guess I'll stick it out and fight the seals and plovers and mung and private access issues.............

[beamie]

Boy this thread is churning some opinions.

Just think about the numbers of people who read the stories of Cutty whether recent stories on the net or from an oldtimer at the shop. The number of people who hear and read about the stories but never do actually go/get a chance to fish there far exceed the number of people who actually do.

So is it ok to finally go make the trek to Cutty because you read the story and saw the pic of Churchs bass...or talked with Otnic at a meeting about his fish.....but you can't if you happened to read about it on a site.

This thread is reading this way........I have been going there on and off for years and the internet ruined it.......So you have yours and no one else "new" can try it?......Where and how did the people who went there in the past hear about Cutty.....but that way was ok.

The fact is that fishing is popular and is on the upswing of popular since the recovery of the bass numbers. People have a little money in thier pocket and want to make the trip out there....so be it, you can't change it, there are no grandfather rules saying I heard about this place before you so you can't come.

When the day comes where the bass cycle is on the downturn and fishing is real slow, the number of people going out there will drop, internet or no internet, high gas prices or low gas prices, eels or no eels.

Merry X-mas

[RIROCKHOUND]

F____ It
I'm staying in SoCo

[JohnR]

Bill - I partially agree. Yes, Cutty has been talked about an awful lot - IMO too many spots are talked about online and in print toooo much. Believe me I've taken a lot of hear for that. Talking in generalities I think is more acceptable. Talking in reports is what I feel does the most damage. You've seen what can happen when that occurs.

I do think that specific spots and reports should be better handled mouth to mouth, over the phone, and between club members. ALL of the pertinent information can be handled that way - not just what the writer choses - and imoprtant things like access, parking, when to be quiet and such can be discussed angler to angler. That is IMO safer for our sport.

Fishing reports and specific spots are sexy and they sell. Personally I think the potential for damage is not worth the sexiness of running reports. I think we as anglers need to be more responsible with that so WE don't loose the access we have. I'd rather err on the side of caution than make the Report buck. I think that is responsible.

Has S-B worked Cutty? Yes. Are we 5% of the talk about Cutty? Maybe. Are we repsonsible with how we talk ablut Cutty? I think so, perhaps as not as much as we could. That goes the same for a lot of places. But I do believe we are far more responsible with specific spots AND reports than just about any other "media" source.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by piemma

Bill is right. The internet is a great tool but can cause huge problems such as the spreading of information at frightening speed.

Back in the "old days" (late 70's thru late 90's) no one ever spoke of Cutty. We knew the boat guys hammered fish out there but there was too much good fishing on the Cape. The Back was still hot. No seals to speak of and very little closure problems.

I think the Cutty thing started to get big the last 3 years. There were a select few who were quietly doing a number out there but weren't talking about it. Then there were a few posts here and on a couple of other sites and the next thing you knew there were more trips being organized to Cutty than to all the other destinations.

I also think that the down turn of fishing on the Back, the lack of big fish on the Block and the access difficulties there (i.e. no access to SW Point without a long walk). The costs and access problems on the Vineyard and Nantucket and the other exotic destinations that were "trips" back then. All of these things combined with the great fishing have made Cutty the destination of choice for the better than average surf fisherman.

.

No doubt it is the "IN" place right now. Every place has its turn. When the cape was good, EVERYONE went. You would see MA,RI,CT,NY,NJ plates parked bumper to bumper on a Tuesday night. How crowded was it? People had to save spots for one another in the afternoon so you would have a place to stand at night.This was all well before the internet. People gravitate towards the easy, or presumed sure thing when it comes to surf fishing.
Seeing the cape sucks,NY is too far, NH has no fish,Rhody has no access, and the only thing you can catch in CT is lyme disease, everyone puts Cutty on a pedestal right now. This too shall pass when the fad wears off, leaving the real die hards with the place all to themselves, just like all the above mentioned locales.
Most of my fish are still caught in little "hole in the wall" spots nowadays, because I never got a good return on my efforts by chasing the "fad" spots.If you are smart, you will learn to fish the places closest to where you live really well, and you will produce better than average results with good consistency.

[eelman]

Back Beach makes a good point, Its is a fad and fads come and go, its this genarations Block Island. I think the discussion on how fast Info gets around is a good one, there is no doubt that its a lightning fast world now. I still think that an Island that small is going to come to a breaking point sooner or later.

I see lots of guys here do great things etc.. your all good friends and all that and its a great place to hang and chat etc... But Still discussions go on about places no matter how inocent and people learn where they are talking about very fast. Comes with the territory.

[fishaholic18]

Bill, how did you learn about Cutty?
I know how I did.....
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander???

[Canalman]

Billy,

I'm not trying to start a huge battle or anything, but you really played a big part in ths "blowing up of cutty" check these out...

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ighlight=cutty

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ighlight=cutty

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ight=cuttyhunk

With the things you say in these threads... who wouldn't go? That said, I wouldn't know half of what I know about cutty if it weren't for your whispered secrets... like I said... not trying to start a battle... just pointing this out.

-Dave

[piemma]

John:
I never meant to imply that it wa S-B.com that caused the overfishing at Cutty. I stated that it was the Internet. I meant that as a generalization. I still believe that the Internet in general spreads information at light speed and, as a result, things (good and bad) happen at a faster rate than back before the .com era.

You know that I am a huge fan, a loyal board member and a friend. I meant harm to our site.