I didn't know Charlie Levine nor do I read the NE Fisherman (nor the LI Fisherman for that matter), but my 2 cents on these kinds of publications (localized fishing magazines) is they are all having difficulties.
IMO, the net hurt them badly. Sites like here and others allow anglers to exchange info and ideas much quicker and more detailed than a print publication can. Printed magazines can help new anglers and more casual "weekend warrior" anglers. But the more serious harder-core angler doesn't follow them too much.
Most localized publication just aren't going to print the kind of info anglers crave. Specifically, anglers want to know more exactly
where,
when and any insights on
how. Magazines just aren't going to publish that kind of info. It's OK for a national publication to be more on the generalized side, they have to appeal to a wider audience. But local publications have a narrower readership and I think sooner or later people come to say "It's the same old, same old each year".
You really can't blame the publishers or editors. They just aren't going to print detailed info about spots and techniques, especially when it comes to surf casting. No one wants 200 casters in their prized spot that can normally hold only 10 casters at best. Or, the "secret" access down an unmarked private road or along a fence in a posh residential area to be published. Here on LI we even have anglers complaining over articles about fairly well known beaches and spots, saying there are already too many fishermen there.I've seen field editors berated by readers thinking they gave out"too much" info about a spot (caused more than a few good field editors to quite too).
While you're always going to have someone who finds something to complain about, being the editor-in-chief of such a publication seems like a very hard job. So what's left for print fishing media - Tide tabels? Reports? Ads?
I wish I had some better ideas. I'd apply for the job myself!
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