Oct. OTW - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

JohnR · 09-20-2005, 08:05 AM

I'm a little short on time so I can't address this the way I want to.

I have not read the article yet so I can't go into detail on that but I can assume a few things from this post. Sounds like Steve went pretty detailed on spots, that is a shame, his spots or someone else's, its a shame. Someone is going to lose access and someone is going to suffer.

But while you are trashing Steve McKenna now, I guess you need to trash everyone else that talks spots too. So let's all throw Joe Lyons and Dave Pickering under the bus, Canalman, Powers, Flaptail, looks like Zeno has some spot embers coming soon, ooops Charlie Soares has diarrhea of the mouth lately, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& did a few in 5-6 years ago, Daignault - the original mass torch, wrote a book and made $$ by coopting others to burn THEIR spots, Tim Coleman (Sbass - TC is one of the good guys), Bassmaster, Mike P, et all.

Now, when you are done, go blame the Bait and Tackle shops too. I think Captain Don's has sent more people to Q in the past few years than any other source. Ballstons - what shop does not say "Balstons"????

Now that we are done crying, maybe we should address the root of the problem? PEOPLE WANT SPOTS!!! New people, old people, where are the fish at?? This is an over-generalization but you know what makes profit for fishing maggies? Boat and boat / fishing related advertisements, you know what makes people buy the maggies so they can sell the add space? SPOTS!!!!!!

I have talked to a few people (probably not who you think) that write articles for our two heroic local SW periodicals. There are more and more encouraged to write about SPOTS. Sure, give me a How-To, but be sure to add the where-to. SPOTS SELL! Sells magazines, sells books, sells website traffic. SPOTS SELL!!!!

People follow trucks to see where they are fishing because of SPOTS. It's all about SPOTS. Some of the nicest people turn into the shrewdest scum beacause of SPOTS.

What is the negative ramification of all this spot talk? ACCESS IS FOREVER LOST!!!! When a bunch of people park at X and leave trash, make noise, talk loudly at 3 in the morning, we put undue pressure on spots. It is only worse when it is on OTW or NEF just in time for the Friday crowd. And even some of the "smart sticks" from here make more noise than a heard of holsteins with their bells on. Trash, people, noise, disrespect - these are all eroding at our access. But it gets worse when things are concentrated because of an article in the maggie, or a thread on the 'Net.

You want to do something about it? Form a Coalition to stop spot diarrhea of the mouth. Tell the maggies to stop talking spots and encouraging, or practically demanding spot info in the articles. It is the CULTURE that needs to change.

But don't be a complete hypocrate and bash when odds are you have sucked up to people for spots or waited with foaming mouth for NEF or OTW to hit your mailbox and make that magical flight up into the library. Do something about the root of the problem and tell Bourque and Harvey to be far less descriptive on publishing specific locales. Or better yet, invite Gene and Zach to a lot of these spots when the floodgates open.

piemma · 09-20-2005, 08:19 AM

OK, old guy weighing in on the topic. I guess the First Amendment gives all of us the right to say (or write) whatever we want. That's why some of us went to war and fought for our Country.
I think that the issue comes down to one of ethics. Would I do it? No. Steve McKenna is a good guy but I am shocked by the article and the detail he went into. I think, in some ways, he has let down the RI fishing community that has supported him and his employer.
Bottom line, the spots he gave up will be crowded for the Fall run, but they probably would be anyway. I don't think that there is any material harm that has been done. I do think that he has done an insurmontable amount of harm to his reputation among the guys who have know and respected him for years.
It's a damn shame.

choggieman · 09-20-2005, 08:31 AM

As solely a soco fisherman, this is very disheartening. My biggest problem is that he can write this article about the places he doesn't fish and have no reguard to the rest of us that do not have private property to fish on. If he wouldn't talk about these spots ten yrs ago, then why now? Because he has nothing to lose, his spots are safe. But, I have always respected him and listened when he spoke because he is a very knowledgable "old salt", but that respect just flew out the window and he seems to be just another hero....

JoeP · 09-20-2005, 08:58 AM

I agree with Piemma's and Choggieman's take on this.

I have not read the article yet but I can only imagine what it says. My problem, as others above have said (choggieman), is the basic premise that it is OK to burn spots that you are no longer fishing for whatever reason because in your small world those spots are not worth fishing. Nebe said this, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& said this, others agreed, and it seems according to #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& that it was part of Steve's mindset in writing the article. Not trying to start an argument with you guys but that thinking is very close-minded and a little bit ignorant. Don't you realize that just because you don't fish them alot of other guys do? Do you think that because you think those spots are not productive any longer there are not fish there when you are not there? Maybe the reason that you stopped fishing those spots is because they became popular & overcrowded -- which is now even worse.

Sorry, I am not trying to be an A-hole, just giving my opinion & some constructive criticism.

Now, with that said, I have talked to Steve at the shop on many occcasions & seen him with customers and my opinion is that he is just a good guy who has fished alot and really takes pleasure in putting new & seasoned fisherman on fish. I really think his sole intention is to help people. Go talk to him - he is a genuine guy.

It is just a shame that the format he chose to use this time was in OTW and will cause problems at the spots he named. Unfortunately, as Piemma said, he is taking a beating on this.

snake slinger · 09-20-2005, 09:11 AM

i dont blame steve he gave OTW what they wanted its all about sales for them

BigFish · 09-20-2005, 09:51 AM

Choggieman hit it on the head...he gives no regard to the folks who fish there! I don't fish there.....but I have seen a few of my spots torched of late....and one of them is private #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&.....torched in a magazine by the way! You guys who see nothing wrong with this....you only care about yourselves.....cause its not your spot! I don't fish Rhody but I care about the guys that fish that spot because now they have to pay for Steve McKenna's error in judgement for the rest of the season and maybe longer if the place fills up with uncaring jacka$$e$ who make alot of noise and pollute the place....loss of access!!!

Alright...I have weighed in twice on this subject and that accounts for about 620 pounds past my .02 cents worth......I got no problem with giving general areas...but keep the details quiet and let the folks earn their stripes!

fishaholic18 · 09-20-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFish

I don't fish Rhody but I care about the guys that fish that spot :

That's what I say!
We need more of that.

JFigliuolo · 09-20-2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake slinger

i dont blame steve he gave OTW what they wanted its all about sales for them

right, I never heard that excuse before... You know the things someone will pay you for? I guess that makes it ok? What disturbs me the most is Steve seems like a very nice guy. Here's the way I see it:
either:
A. He REALLY needs the money (which I doubt but hey, who knows).
B. He made an error in judgement.
C. These spots were not HIS spots, so, who cares if they get overun.

(My money is on a combination of B and C)

Nebe · 09-21-2005, 04:00 PM

My nj friend will be pumped.plus I won't have to show him all the spots myself.he don't shower enough.now all u guys quit ur bitchin.I never see anyone when i fish ur all a bunch of sandsissie's an wouldn't get out on a rock anyways.its alot of posts complainin like a bunch of women.

That was NIB

Saltheart · 09-20-2005, 10:08 AM

When someone burns a spot publicly (I don't mean you told your friend , I mean publishing it like internet , books , magazines , talks) its because of one of two things. ego or money (or both). Some guys its very obvious , they are chest pounders with no self control.

Some guys , its hard to figure out "why".

If someone who never displayed an ego problem is suddenly " telling all" by doing shows and writing articles , expect to see a new product coming from them , or they are doing charters or they are doing shore guiding....... Get famous , make money!!! Look for the money and you'll know "why".

The morals of it are easy. Yes , you can talk about whatever you want. However , among fisherman , burning spots is like talking about kissing your old girlfriends. Its bad form to "kiss and tell" and its bad form to "burn spots" in mass media.

Striper fishing was nearly wiped out by money as people fished commercially and the stocks disappeared. Striper fishing is now being wiped out by money as people blab to gain fame and the money that can come with it and we lose access to spots do to too much pressure.

ProfessorM · 09-20-2005, 10:14 AM

Glad I got a boat.

BigFish · 09-20-2005, 09:56 AM

You are castrating these "new" fisherman Eben by making it "too" easy for them...as I said give areas and let them earn their stripes....or "get balls" as you say!

Nebe · 09-20-2005, 10:03 AM

look bigfish- steve is not the first person to do this. i could go out and buy Striper Hot spots and go hit the cape tomorrow

Pete F. · 09-20-2005, 08:38 AM

Well, hopefully my OTW will be there when I get home. I for one would love to see OTW do a series on how to find your own spots, A sand beach guide with pictures of various soft structure, rocky areas, esturarys and rivers. Fishing spots are not that hard to find but parking spots are and are in short and endangered supply. For me a good spot will never be the one that is over publicized and crowded, but it might be close to it or even be it at the right time of night. I fish one of those spots in Maine and you should see the crowds come a few hours too late, especially on bluebird days, I don't see them out on the bar on a foggy night though or anytime when it's good fishing weather in my view.

JFigliuolo · 09-20-2005, 08:43 AM

I spend all summer learning a spot to have it "outed" since it's not fished by the author any more. great. I guess when you only fish private spots it doesn't matter to you anymore how it affects others. How would he feel if his public spots were published back in the day? I imagine he would not have been too pleased.

And to those comparing this to tackle shops burning spots... Telling (being generous here) a few hundred people "hot spots" is nothing compared to all the reader who read OTW.

I noticed a slight uptick in traffic after his seminars, now? Christ I can only imagine.

Thanks Steve I really appreciate it.

I guess the only saving grace is that after a few times getting skunked, The googans will go somewhere a little easier to get to (I hope).