Why keep a secret?

[Canalman]

I don't tell anyone

If it happens, it happens with my fishing partner and me, and that's it. I don't say anything until it's over and that's the truth.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Canalman

I don't tell anyone

If it happens, it happens with my fishing partner and me, and that's it. I don't say anything until it's over and that's the truth.

And he learned that the hard way....

I do the same ......

[Canalman]

Sho 'nuff did

[vanstaal]

this is weird

[sokinwet]

Like most guys I have a few close fishing friends that I "consider" telling but...I have found that they sometimes tell a close friend..who tells a friend...etc. and there goes the spot. It all depends on the nature of the spot...and if it's commercial season I only tell family....sometimes!
A funny story from back around 1970 shows how far some guys will go to get your spots. I had been hammering big fish at a Harbor UDL and a group of guys on vacation had seen me getting bait in the AM and bringing in fish later to the ramp. They asked the usual "where'd ya get em" question and as per my usual practice(my dad taught me how to lie at an early age), I always told them a good spot to try...but not my spot. The 2nd day at the ramp they tell me they went where I told them and I was no where to be found. ..and they were mad! The 3rd day I arrived to get my bait and these guys and another boat were waiting for me; when I left with my bait both boats are hot on my tail. Well a 16 ft. alum. Starcraft w/a 55 Johnson can go pretty quick through some skinny water and I managed to lose them but I feared for my 19 yr. old hide when I went back to the ramp later. Luckily they weren't there...and I'm still here. If "don't ask..don't tell" is good enough for the military it's good enough for me!

[Slingah]

Mike BB...you start the great threads...I think I said that before...food for thought type stuff...
Just like the tourney thread, I am done with the secrect squirrel stuff...I just don't care anymore (this is subject to change, obsession may kick back in.... it is winter after all )
I have a great circle of friends that will give me a nod if need be and visa-versa... I would never give someone false info...that is just wrong i.m.o. ...

[JLH]

One buddy who rarely fishes from the surf and my dad are the only ones that I would share all the specifics with. Aside from them I’ll generally try to point people in the right direction and might offer some well known spots & techniques to try but that’s about it.

Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a couple more people to fish and share more than just general info with but its tough knowing who to trust.

[Tagger]

sorry Mike ,, hate to break it to you but your spot is not a secret anymore.. all this eel talk and big fish pics have cast the eyes of many upon you .. Oh yea ,, expect shortages in eels also. Might as well build bleaches down there.. hate to be the bearer ,but he told 2 friends and he told 2 friends ..

[MAKAI]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

An interesting thing to note is much of what is dicussed on this board used to be considered "secret" believe it or not. Hook types, knots, plug building info,how to hook/rig eels etc. Some people would even lie about certain beaches being closed to keep other vehicles out and thus reduce competition.

People seem to confine secrecy to spots only, but there was much which was not shared in years past.

Some folks would go out of their way to mislead you, in fact. I remember one of the first "tricks" I learned was taking off the lure you slammed fish on the night before and putting a stinker on the end of your line by day while the rod sat spiked on your bumber. Making phony drag marks was another good one too.

Or take out your camera at nite and flash it a few times then leave. You'll have 10 trucks there in no time.

[gone fishin]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Frank Daignault states in one of his books, "You might be a member of the secret surfcasting society by day, but you won't be alone tonight."

Its one of the best surf fishing quotes I know and it goes to show most people will spill the beans to their confidants about where and when. Under what circumstances do you share info...in other words, how do you decide who gets the manure and who gets the oats?

He should know - he was chased up and down Nauset during the days when we fished for money

[BassDawg]

i will have to agree with the
no secret SPOTS sentiments,,,,,,,,,

yet the thing that IS kept SECRET is
the where and the when of the BITE.


most spots that i've been told about were
places that i would've found out about, anyways.

the best part of this "secrecy dilemma" is that my biggest producer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

i DID find on me own and i've had the thrill of my surfcasting life
discovering it a little bit more with each season, while improving
at this surfcraziness we DO because of the consistent opportunities to catch!!!

GOOD GOD!! i shore do LOVE this thang that WE DO!!!

[Adam_777]

Why keep a secret ?Loose lips lead to crowds,aggravation,trash,beach fires,drunk people,ignorant people,fences,combat fishing.It's fine to tell random people you've been catching big fish.If they ask for location you just tell them a pre determined place.I hate to lie but I've seen full blown spot burn and it's consequences.I say nothing or lead the crowd in the wrong direction.Its a touchy situation with me and always will be.To each his own.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Tagger

sorry Mike ,, hate to break it to you but your spot is not a secret anymore.. all this eel talk and big fish pics have cast the eyes of many upon you .. Oh yea ,, expect shortages in eels also. Might as well build bleaches down there.. hate to be the bearer ,but he told 2 friends and he told 2 friends ..

Not sure what you mean Ed, but most of the places I fish are usually bustling with people at some point. Sometimes you just have to take a number and wait or try to stay out of step with the crowds. I usually find fishing the 11pm to 4 am shift makes just about every place "secret."

As for the he told 2 friends, so forth and so on, I've experienced that since day one 20 plus years ago. Kinda what this thread is about....I don't play the secret game any more, at least with guys I'm friendly with. They're only fish for christ's sake....

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

They're only fish for christ's sake....

exactly. Problem is... when people start surfcasting for reasons other than simple enjoyment, issues arise.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

I don't play the secret game any more, at least with guys I'm friendly with. They're only fish for christ's sake....

Thats true.
If you fished closer I'd mug you every night

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Thats true.
If you fished closer I'd spoon with you every night

IM CRUSHED!!

[RIROCKHOUND]

Luv ya to. hows philly?


not to completely hijack I think the secrets game is dangerous, who do you tell, who do you not.... I've learned to keep it to a select few friends, who fish similar spots, techniques and hours I do, and I trust. Otherwise, I'll show ya the slips (done in my best Framingham Mike accent

[JoeBass]

This is a in the same vein...I took my brother-in-law fishing for trout in Vermont. I took him to one of my favorite "secret" stretches. We have a field day....browns a brookies and keep afew nice ones for dinner.(I only keep 2-3 dinners a year) On the way back to the car we pass a house with 3 guys sitting on the porch. I say "let me do the talking". So they ask and I say "a couple real small ones". "that's too bad, that river hasn't really produced in years" They say....at which point the bro-in-law can't help himself and jumps onto the porch to show them our fish. Right on the spot they start planning their trip for the morning and talking about the guys they have to let know the river is hot again. Never took him fishing again.

[The Dad Fisherman]

In-Laws

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Thats true.
If you fished closer I'd mug you every night

You know where I like to hide. When I tell people they don't believe me though.
Its a stigma(secret squirrel) from years past...I really do tell guys what's up, but they either keep their distance out of respect, or simply think I'm misleading them.

BTW, its FRANKLIN....

[DZ]

Good thread - Lots of lessons learned with this topic over the years. Been burned by some very good friends - they're still good friends - just no longer grapevine worthy.

Here is one scenario where a "secret" good bite was ruined by a trusted friend.
Many years ago we had a great bite in an area just over an hour's drive from my home. We discovered this new location and fell in love with it. It had everything, off the beaten track, consistent action, quality bass, and we never saw ANY other casters while fishing there. Four of us, all plug/eel casters, agreed to keep our yaps shut about the place.
Next season we start poking around the area again. One night I take the long drive over, park where the buggy can't be seen, walk 15 minutes, wade 100 yards sweating my ass off, look up and there are three guys (that I know) bait-fishing on a large rock perch. Two of them ran a bait-shop where I lived. One of my other "trusted" friends had just started working part time at the same bait shop. I was fuming as it was easy to figure out who spilled the beans.

Normally I could share this spot with other pluggers as plug casters tend to move around - but bait guys tend to sit in a spot for hours. By the next week there were a half dozen guys chunking there every time I took the drive over. It became so crowded that it wasn't worth the 2 hour roundtrip drive anymore.

Secrets, keeping them (and figuring them out) are part of the surfcasting puzzle - without them it wouldn't be as much of a challenge. There are guys who've shared valuable intell with me over the years and I'm always grateful for volunteered info - the unwritten code for this type of help is not to share it. When I do go to a location that someone has shared with me I always seek their permission - if I get there and its occupied or if the caster that clued me in arrives I vacate the spot so he can fish it.

As far as secret methods/techniques are concerned: I'm happy to tell you that they do exist. As far as sharing techniques with others it comes down to what the motivation is for the person that asks me. If they are going to use it for the purpose of filling up a bass coffin it is a red flag - I won't share info willingly with someone who kills cows consistently. If I know their ideals/ethics are closer to mine I'll willingly share info.

I'm much more impressed by a casters ability to keep a low profile than how many cows they hang.

DZ

[ProfessorM]

If a friendly person asks I will tell, if I know. But I usually won't go out of my way to offer info to strangers. Grapevines are very important to me as I haven't lived across the street from the ocean for a long time. I have several long time friends, retired and non retired , and talk to them weekly and sometimes daily about conditions and their input is invaluable. Gets me in the ballpark and that is all I am usually looking for, not looking for their exact rock, gps position, or stretch of sand, although most of these people will offer me much more than that usually, their good friends. I won't give out anything I get from them if they say so , but rarely do. My goal is to try to supply as much recon in return as I receive and to be honest I get more satisfaction giving them good info then I receive.

[Sea Flat]

Originally Posted by Rappin Mikey

You scratch my back and I'll scratch your's. Thats how I roll.

I second this.

[RIJIMMY]

I have 2 secrets that will blow your mind,
1. Fish eels at night in rocky areas or current
2. Hook bunker in head, let swim near rocky shore.

Other than that, its mostly logisitics for me. Where can I park, will I get mugged, can you wade there, etc. I reached out to a few folks last year on some canal info, I wasnt looking for secrets, having never fished it, I wasnt sure if I should wade out in the water, or if it was a dangerous area to fish. With limited time to fish, some basic info could save wasted time.
From the boat, any idiot with a basic understanding of teh fish can find good spots by looking at the map, but just like from the surf, sometimes they're there, some times they're not. I will give info to those I feel are decent people, either who I met or conversed with on the site.

[JFigliuolo]

I don't live close to the ocean... thusly I work hard for everything. I share info w/partner and... no, that's about it.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by JoeBass

This is a in the same vein...I took my brother-in-law fishing for trout in Vermont. I took him to one of my favorite "secret" stretches. We have a field day....browns a brookies and keep afew nice ones for dinner.(I only keep 2-3 dinners a year) On the way back to the car we pass a house with 3 guys sitting on the porch. I say "let me do the talking". So they ask and I say "a couple real small ones". "that's too bad, that river hasn't really produced in years" They say....at which point the bro-in-law can't help himself and jumps onto the porch to show them our fish. Right on the spot they start planning their trip for the morning and talking about the guys they have to let know the river is hot again. Never took him fishing again.

Just where was that spot in VT

[JoeBass]

Just where was that spot in VT (asks Pete F)

Well Pete, you just make a left a the big 'ol barn that burned down 11 years ago and it's up on the right a bit down the road.

[steve]

A secret is a secret. I once kept a spot secret for 16 yrs. because my partner showed me the place and we crushed the fish there for years. He got a 50 which made it even more prized. Well anyway, one day he told me I no longer had to be mum about the place so now I will tell. That's the way it goes. Secrecy is nothing today compared to years ago. Back then the $ was involved and nobody said anything, even about methods. Today, it kills me, and I see it alot, an angler comes in the tackle shop to weigh in a nice fish and inevitably some one asks the dreaded ? - where did you catch it and on what. Usually the fisherman with the prize says nothing or lies which one should never do. If you don't want to tell, just say so. People should respect that. It's just surf fishing etiquette. If someone tells me they caught bass I never, never ask unless they tell me. And if they do I will never jump in their spot that night unless they ask me.