be careful when fishing alone

[EarnedStripes44]

A concealed firearm, although an excellent deterrent to any would-be robber(s), is a serious liability to any fishermen carrying it and considering the rarity of such events, are really not worth the bureaucratic hurdles and paperwork required for firearm licensing (at least up here in Massachusetts). If you are nuts about fishing like me and you are out lobbing those clams or pogie chunks to those linesided ladies in the earliest ours of the morning (also like myself), you better darn well know the area you are fishing. Scout it out, do some reconissance trips without your tackle before you even begin fishing. Note if there are teenage gangs loitering around those rip raps or boardwalks and then decide accordingly. After all this is said and done, and you find yourself out late at night and some suspicious person(s) appear, remember; they probably have not noticed you (yet). Stay light and mobile, minimize flashlight usage/ glowsticks/ other luminescence, this is a giveaway to all those fishing for things other than Striped Bass and Bluefish. As far as weapons are concerned - yes, indeed it maybe our best bet - but for many of us a gun is not always the most appealing option. Think small. A bat is good if you are confronted by one or two robbers, but it won't do much good if you find yourself in the company of robin hood and his not-so-merry men. The first thing to do if approached, is to assume control of the situation by feigning fear (dramatically) and hope things blow over smoothly, surely your life is not worth your empty wallet (it should be empty, because your not shoppin, your fishing). The good thing about knives and screwdrivers is that they are easily concealed and if things get physical you can use them with a fair degree of stealth - especially if they perceive you are already scared hence "unarmed". Additionally, if it is a group of them and you get jumped pretty good, those hooded adrenaline intoxicated gangbangers won't notice those screw driver punctures or knife wounds until they are in the getaway car and the leader passes out in the passenger seat. Once again, awareness coupled with a low profile saves lives. It helped my 155 lb, 18 year old cousin survive 4 years in prison.

[RedHerring]

Those kids have to be idiots attacking fishermen. Might as well attack a bunch of Marines. I always thought a great defense would be a big danny or reverse at the end of the rod; mine have needle-sharp hooks. I would love to set the hooks into some of those punks; the screams of pain would allow you to get away.


Gawd, Gooseberry sucks in so many way. I live right down the street from it; almost everytime I fish there I promise myself never again, but there I go again fishing there. Like two nights ago. Garbage all over the place, dog and human feces aong the paths, bad footing, shallow water, yahoos motoring along the causeway. The extreme tip is accessible at low tide, but almost suicidal if you let the tide comes in. And the fishing is nothing compared to Quonny, Narragansett, Jamestown, or Newport.