Can Fishing Bring Out the Worst in You?

[onecastmike2003]

Karma is a bitch.... give it a few months or next year. so his gaurd is down...... and then Its pay back time when you least expect it.

[DZ]

I’m pretty easy going when it comes to my favorite pastime of surfcasting but that wasn’t always the case. Many tides ago when I fished for money I often found myself pissed at other fisherman. Each hook-up was $$$. Fishing for $$$ brings out the worst in fishermen.

I’ve witnessed the gold rush shantytown atmosphere on block. Hand guns bandied about, fistfights in the wash, police called down to southwest point to settle disputes. Surf fishing back then was anything but relaxing and not for the faint of heart. But I was hungry for bass back then – if you weren’t aggressive you sat on the beach and let others catch the cows.

I tend to fish mostly alone unless I cast certain spots that have always been what I consider “picket line” locations like lining up on a cobble bar. I would consider the canal such a location where fishing in a crowd should be expected as the norm – especially during daylight. I do like casting in the company of a few guys on this site, Tagger, TattooBob, PaulS, to name a few, as they are good company and very considerate.

Not much “gets my goat” nowadays – although lobster gear buoys are my demon – if I had any guts most wouldn’t be floating “attached” where I fish – but my cooler conscience prevails.

What I’ve also found is that many of the younger casters (and a few of the vets) tend to have no consideration when surfcasting. I attribute this to the fact that many of these new guys didn’t start surfcasting in the more traditional ways of the past. That is starting out with short boots and splash pants, graduating to chest waders, then onto a wetsuit if desired. This gradual transition forced surfcasters to learn how to fish the shallow littoral areas where bass spend a good amount of their time. The younger generation now tend to jump right into a wetsuit and want to swim to the farthest perch they can see, completely ignoring the littoral zone. Because of that many have no clue how to catch shallow water bass in the first two waves and in fact swim right through the bass on their way to that off shore rock in the domain of boats – I call them “I wanna be a boat” casters. This is fine as long as they use some consideration and do not swim right in front of other traditional surfcasters - but many do. They just need a little education.

As I get older I see this surf casting game changing and it’s pretty fascinating to say the least. But I worry that this new generation doesn’t seem to get involved in the issues of fisheries management, public access, etc. This does not bode well for the future of surfcasting.

[bloocrab]

...and in fact swim right through the bass on their way to that off shore rock...

So many take this for granted Dennis. While out in the distance, I've caught fish latterally as well as behind me. It's always good practice to cast before entering your zone. You just never know.

I also feel that this newer generation who have read some of the old-timer writings, simply want to slip into some type of status-symbol. Your actions create your character, your character defines your soul. God does not sleep. We all need to be better examples, not only for our children, but for our peers as well...far from an angel, I too aim for this goal.

[Mike P]

This year, after a number of family crises, I decided that fishing, while still important to me, isn't worth doing unless you're having fun. And having fun means just enjoying it, and what you catch, without worrying about what others are doing, or whether they're catching bigger fish than you, or more fish, or in a spot where you wanted to fish, or even whether they set up too close down-current from you and screw your fishing up.

[Krispy]

Some things you just dont do.
Like scope a guys regular spot then jump it at every opportunity and fall back on "I got here first" BS. Then drag all your buddys there cause you dont care, its not your regular spot. And not expect it to come to a head after years of pulling that. And then to cry about it here!? Aw, poor guy
Everyone so quick to look down their nose, but you reap what you sow.

[Montyfishing]

I have known Rick for at least 7 years now and have learned a ton, I only wish I could fish like he does. I do not think I will ever be as talented as he is doing something we both love. He is a stand up guy. I am honored to consider him a friend. I wish there were more people like him in the world.

I was not there the night it happened, nor do I know both sides of the story . Rick has been fishing that area since he was a kid. Most people with common sense would just move to a different spot rather thank confront someone thats on "his rock". To assume that Rick showed up and took his rock is an assumption. So do we have assigned poles on the ditch, no I dont think so. If I want to fish pole 100 but someone is there, there are plenty of other poles to fish and not cause a scene.

Would it make me angry if I showed up to fish said rock to see someone else fishing, maybe. Would I make a big deal of it...no!

Move on and find another spot. Its not worth loosing a friendship over it, but then again this was not the first incident! It's a sad day when things end this way.

I am not judging the other person that was involved, but you have to wonder, did you think by throwing things at them was going to make them leave? Just think about that....


Monty

[rickhern]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Some things you just dont do.
Like scope a guys regular spot then jump it at every opportunity and fall back on "I got here first" BS. Then drag all your buddys there cause you dont care, its not your regular spot. And not expect it to come to a head after years of pulling that. And then to cry about it here!? Aw, poor guy
Everyone so quick to look down their nose, but you reap what you sow.

Let me clear something up for you. The spot in question is far from my favorite spot and never my first choice, partly out of respect for another fisherman, and partly because I find other spots more productive. There has NEVER been in occasion where I knew that he was going to be heading there that I tried to get there first. NEVER. We had an incident last year, when we were into them for the third straight night without his presence and he shows up and demands I move. Sorry, no. He set up next to us and everyone caught fish. Saturday night, after getting the hook out of my hand, and after he left, I made a few casts from the spot. That was the first time there this year and I have fished the island a dozen times. Tuesday night, we hit the spot on the way back after fishing several other spots. Am I not allowed to fish a rock even if nobody else is around? Again, I have given him plenty of respect here. Now, on the other hand, do you think he ever came over and moved in on us when he saw our lights flashing and his spot was dead? You bet your A$$. No problem, plenty of room. Had he simply asked how long we would be or done anything more than be a complete ^&^$ maybe it would have been different. My understanding is that he is pissed that I bring my friends out to a spot that I have been fishing since before he had hair on his nuts. It's a State Park, I will fish when I want and bring who I want.

This much I know. If there are more incidents out there, the State Police will simply shut it down instead of dealing with the crap.

[tysdad115]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Some things you just dont do.
Like scope a guys regular spot then jump it at every opportunity and fall back on "I got here first" BS. Then drag all your buddys there cause you dont care, its not your regular spot. And not expect it to come to a head after years of pulling that. And then to cry about it here!? Aw, poor guy
Everyone so quick to look down their nose, but you reap what you sow.

Your insinuating Rick scoped the spot?? Real strong words, being where it is located . And IMO if he was there first that night, he had every right to be there and stay there. Not sure why the rest happened but it did. Maybe there's something the rest of us don't know but your making it sound like Rick was following him specifically to steal "his" spot. I would think we all have more to do in life than stalk someone for a spot.

[Renegade6]

I could echo the nice things Gilly and Monty ( and doubtless countless others) say of Rick, and and a lengthy list of my own.

But really, it takes away from the point. This isn't a contest to line up people to say nice things about one of the people involved in order to build credibility for either one of them. Im sure the "supa-visor" of the spot in question could have people line up to say wonderful things about him as well....

The point is - if ANY of the long list of actions taken by the offending person in this encounter is true.... they are well beyond the bounds of reasonable behavior, especially towards a brother surfcaster....

I defy any reasonable person to justify any of those things to me as "ok to do" for ANY reason.....

I'll give anyone a "bad day" or poor singular outburst.... but this?

Pull that stuff in a public place where a cop is standing- and youll be calling the number on Prevost's business card.....

Numby's right - this is learned behavior. you do stuff like that because it get results. The problem is - eventually you will run into someone who isnt smart enough to be the bigger person and see whats to lose vs. 5 seconds of feeling good after throwing a punch. Apparently this person has avoided that experience til now.

Like Derek says... there's ALWAYS someone bigger and badder than you out there, you just dont know when you are going to meet them.

The other problem is that by doing the correct thing ( a la Foley and Hern) and not letting it devolve into a physical confrontation.... you are conceding a principle that all have equal access to a spot- first come first served...

and I think thats the part that rubs reasonable people the wrong way - caught between " wanting to stand up for the correct principle" - and the reality of " i'm too old and have too much to lose to be getting in a fistfight over this like a 7 year old".....

I will always stick up for the principle - but not at the expense of putting my life, livelihood, loved ones, liberty and property at risk.....

Let's try to keep it in perspective - it's fishing..... and respect is a two way street.......realize when you have been shown some, even if you don't necessarily see it "your" way all the time....

I've learned in 20 years of Fire, EMS and Emergency Medicine: you cant fix crazy, or stupid... you can only manage it situationally as best you can, and move on.

[piemma]

Look why don't all of you let this rest. It's between Rick and the other party. Let them hash it out.
Opinons are like &^%$#@. Everybody has one and they all stink.

[FoliFish]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Some things you just dont do.
Like scope a guys regular spot then jump it at every opportunity and fall back on "I got here first" BS. Then drag all your buddys there cause you dont care, its not your regular spot. And not expect it to come to a head after years of pulling that. And then to cry about it here!? Aw, poor guy
Everyone so quick to look down their nose, but you reap what you sow.

First and foremast, Rick doesn't need to "scope" spots. He's put in his time, and its paid off.
Secondly, anyone that's ever walked by this spot has 'scoped" it....its in the wide open!!!
Scoping a spot is hiding in the woods along the canal, or hiding in the dunes at Sandy Neck watching high liners over a period of time.

We fished 2-3 spots in that area for 2.5-3 hours before this incident occurred. We stopped there on the way out and planned to make a few casts before calling it a night. The place was empty!!! A spot doesn't belong to "anyone" until "anyone" is there.

If we had gone down there to jump the "better fisherman's" spot, we would have set up there first thing. All the kid had to do was ask how long we planned on being there, or just move on and return. Instead he goes off on a tantrum ch#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g eels and rocks. I can't see how anyone can defend that...period!

I had no clue who this kid was before Mon night (Tues morn), but you can bet your a$$ I know now.