Etiquette at the Ditch (a tutorial)

[Piscator]

Originally Posted by WESTPORTMAFIA

I love #^&#^&#^&#^&head posts! Btw boat fishing is for #^&#^&#^&#^&heads. We are launching tomorrow at 3:45 for some #^&#^&#^&#^&head boat fish that don't count. Lol
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

You better not be fishing on my numbers!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[AL617]

Is that the big river on the way to the vineyard??
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[tysdad115]

Originally Posted by WESTPORTMAFIA

I love #^&#^&#^&#^&head posts! Btw boat fishing is for #^&#^&#^&#^&heads. We are launching tomorrow at 3:45 for some #^&#^&#^&#^&head boat fish that don't count. Lol
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Pudding head!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by tysdad115

Pudding head!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

x2

[Chris The Greek]

for me I practise the same etiquette anywhere ... it starts with self respect and then respect towards other people. I do not do what I do not want done to me - regardless of the "excitement" level.

[TS_Morgan]

You would think alot of this stuff is common sense but not for everyone I guess

[clcharette]

Originally Posted by WESTPORTMAFIA

Or if you decide to toss an eel that is over 3 feet long and weighs a good 2 pounds with a 3/0 Gami and for some strange reason don't catch a 100 pound bass. Take your MAN EATING EEL HOME OR THROW IT IN THE WATER not at the top or the herring run for everyone to see and smell. Taking the hook out of its head would have been a good idea too.

There was a time 30 years ago that we would catch our own eels and we wanted the biggest we could catch up to the point that they were near impossible to cast can't tell u how many really big fish we caught but still have the memories burned into my head.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[StriperZ]

Same thing applies to the outer cape. The fisherman up there hate the people who come to fish 'their' waters and, heaven forbid, make a post on a forum about it.

I don't think it is a good idea at all to report what you do, where you go, what baits you use, or what you caught. Why even have a forum?

Property damage was threatened, and that makes the whole thing not fun. Why do any of you guys ever make reports at all?

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by StriperZ

Same thing applies to the outer cape. The fisherman up there hate the people who come to fish 'their' waters and, heaven forbid, make a post on a forum about it.

I don't think it is a good idea at all to report what you do, where you go, what baits you use, or what you caught. Why even have a forum?

Property damage was threatened, and that makes the whole thing not fun. Why do any of you guys ever make reports at all?

Forums exist for free flow and sharing of technique tactics to share each others joys and frustrations in this world. At times it helps to get people on the same page and educate regarding topics like these. I know there is some playful banter that occurs but overall people who frequent these forums take their fishing seriously. I think you would agree. For the most part if some one can tell you are putting in your time and still being frustrated I am more than Willing to bet there is more than one individual that would shoot a pm or respond to a thread of an individual who is having difficulty grasping a concept or a specific technique. Or help out someone who is living through a continuous skunking. This forum
Is not to provide pole numbers or specific locations of fish caught etc.

As far as the lower cape goes. Well there are a few in every crowd. If someone threatened you on a forum chances are they wouldn't act on it they obviously like to threaten with a keyboard an act
Like a tough guy. I have spots out there that I don't talk about. I share them with a few and for the most part when I fish at night I see no one until first light. If you were threatened in person I would report it to some one. No fish is worth injury or that type of behavior
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[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

[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

Forums exist for free flow and sharing of technique tactics to share each others joys and frustrations in this world. At times it helps to get people on the same page and educate regarding topics like these. I know there is some playful banter that occurs but overall people who frequent these forums take their fishing seriously. I think you would agree. For the most part if some one can tell you are putting in your time and still being frustrated I am more than Willing to bet there is more than one individual that would shoot a pm or respond to a thread of an individual who is having difficulty grasping a concept or a specific technique. Or help out someone who is living through a continuous skunking. This forum
Is not to provide pole numbers or specific locations of fish caught etc.

As far as the lower cape goes. Well there are a few in every crowd. If someone threatened you on a forum chances are they wouldn't act on it they obviously like to threaten with a keyboard an act
Like a tough guy. I have spots out there that I don't talk about. I share them with a few and for the most part when I fish at night I see no one until first light. If you were threatened in person I would report it to some one. No fish is worth injury or that type of behavior
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I was surprised but not shocked to see an entire post I submitted which outlined some of the better times and conditions where fishing the canal is most effective. Not a single spot was mentioned,very general information. Kind of made me wonder what the forum is for;Thanks for clearing it up.Looks to me as though the site is in a death spiral which is hard to do given the growth of the sport but with the attitude towards newcomers it gets as much attention as the backbeaches do recently.Too bad, it is a fun place and I have met some good eggs here. I am happy to point folks in the right direction if they are curious enough,send a PM.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

I am happy to point folks in the right direction if they are curious enough,send a PM.

Thanks Dude!

PM Sent.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Piscator]

Ok Guys, time to sum this post up. Lots of good advice but mostly all common sense. Top things to abide by when fishing the canal (or almost any other place for that matter) All info from participating members of S-B.com:

#1. Have fun

#2. Talk to the guys next to you

#3. When you tangle with someone, say you are sorry or accept their apology gracefully

#4. Don't take it too seriously

#5. Treat other fishermen as you want to be treated. It starts with self-respect and then respect towards other people. I do not do what I do not want done to me - regardless of the "excitement" level.

#6. Try to help and educate new guys

#7. If you’re not sure of what to do or when to do it- like casting in order with everyone else - when its ok to cast when someone’s 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.

#8. Please take your trash with you. This includes all wrappers, boxes and even any fishing line you may discard.

#9. Do what the law requires and take your fish home to clean. Don’t throw the racks on the rocks or toss them in the bushes or woods

#10. 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.

#11. If you see someone hooked up, WAIT until they have the fish under control THEN start casting.

#12. If you are the first one to a spot, do whatever it is that you want, chunking, eels, jigs, swimmers, top etc. etc.

#13. If you are not first and have decided to set shop up near someone else you better first observe what they’re doing. If they are throwing a jig and fishing it all the way down thru the drift or a pencil popper or anything else for that matter you better not be within a hundred yards down current of them unless you plan on fishing a jig or something similar. If you are, then let him reel in before you cast. You then cast and hopefully he will understand you know what you are doing. He will cast after you and the guy up from him will follow etc. etc.. When done properly many guys can fish in harmony and all can enjoy the same spot.

#14. Never ever cast out when the guy up current from you still has his line out in front of you. If you do not only will he be f bombing you he may hook up and you will now surely tangle up with him. This is a sure way to get thrown into the ditch.

#15. The canal is a crowded place to fish plain and simple you need to accept that and try to have a good time. Getting pissed off is not going to change it and will ruin your day. There are going to be people that have no clue and your job is to inform them in a nice a courteous way so they learn and can next time show someone else the correct way to have fun. Have some patience with one another. All everyone wants to do is have some fun fishing. It is always going to be crowded at peak times and info will always be shared and very quickly so relax. It’s only fishing.

#16. Don’t spot burn with specific location etc.

#17. If someone taught you, teach someone else.

#18. Have fun

[ProfessorM]

Perfect
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[mikey99]

Great rules. Always fun to fish with others who are having fun. Doesn't take much