Is the old guard losing it?

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Since there is some access discussion in this thread, I'll also add that Castle Hill in Newport has been lost due to trash...

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

They're taking it seriously for now, complete with a security guard. Maybe come September or maybe early in the spring he won't be there, but for now no one can get in there.

[Squibby17]

Lots of great stuff posted on this thread.

I agree with most of what has been said. I 100% agree about spot burning. You would have to be crazy to post the size of fish and the exact location of your success. I have had my favorite hole get much more crowded in recent years and I'm not happy about it. I look at this site and think its very usefull in several ways. I gain lots of knowledge and different perspectives on fishing. I also think that just talking about something we all love makes me excited to throw my line in the water the next time.

In some ways younger anglers like myself can be bitter. I'm 24, I missed the glory days. In the early 90's It was difficult for me to get my first keeper, seeing the size had to be 36'' and the Striped Bass stocks were in troubled times. I honestly had to work a lot harder to get nice fish than many of you did in your youth. I don't see an older fisherman and think, "hey your almost killed the striper industry with your lack of conservation", but its something to think about. That said veteran anglers can pass on knowledge that is usefull to first timers etc. Most notably to respect one another, don't leave trash on the beach, move when the guy next to you has a nice fish on ... etc. There is a right and wrong way to surf fish.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Squibby17

Lots of great stuff posted on this thread.

I agree with most of what has been said. I 100% agree about spot burning. You would have to be crazy to post the size of fish and the exact location of your success. I have had my favorite hole get much more crowded in recent years and I'm not happy about it. I look at this site and think its very usefull in several ways. I gain lots of knowledge and different perspectives on fishing. I also think that just talking about something we all love makes me excited to throw my line in the water the next time.

In some ways younger anglers like myself can be bitter. I'm 24, I missed the glory days. In the early 90's It was difficult for me to get my first keeper, seeing the size had to be 36'' and the Striped Bass stocks were in troubled times. I honestly had to work a lot harder to get nice fish than many of you did in your youth. I don't see an older fisherman and think, "hey your almost killed the striper industry with your lack of conservation", but its something to think about. That said veteran anglers can pass on knowledge that is usefull to first timers etc. Most notably to respect one another, don't leave trash on the beach, move when the guy next to you has a nice fish on ... etc. There is a right and wrong way to surf fish.

Man, what a great post!!!!

[BassyiusMaximus]

. . . from a kid whose father used to take him to spend entire weekend days fishing from jetties to catch scup and an errant bluefish, and on bridges on cold fall and spring days to catch what used to be endless winter flounder.

Those were the days.

A good number of topics are raised in this post. One is of pics and I have a couple of views on them since I just learned how to post them and have been doing so. I know some don't because they know they catch fish and don't need to share their image or post a fish for the world to see. Some don't want to or can't take the scrutiny involved, like Manny Ramirez who doesn't like people prying into his private life, some can't take reading when someone challenges them on the size of a fish or that they weren't wearing their PFD, etc. Some don't want to potentially harm the fish by taking the time to set it up and take the shot which humors me because they are harming the fish in a way just by hooking and tiring and fighting it so is the little time really doing anything in the big-picture? For all intents and purposes, a fish fighting underwater is no different than either snagging the bottom or having someone stand and pull on the end of one's line and reeling and tugging with the rod, but don't get me wrong, the thrill and uncertainty is what has us hooked. The main reason I see for posting pics is for other people to look at and to see what other people are doing, it is a very pleasant escape for some. Imagine sitting inside, like all us internet users do and be able to go online and instantly be transported to someone elses world, with a picture? It is why Hollywood exists as well as magazines. I post pictures because my neice and nephew as well as friends, relatives and all their kids can look and get so happy when they see either themselves or me with fish on the computer. They tell me to post the pictures so they can look at them and long for the day when they are old enough so I can take them at night to go fo the big ones.

With regards to spot-burning, aren't we supposed to share, to a certain extent? I know that I've gone to all my spots and in all my years I don't ever see anyone there when I go there, so I guess from my rose-colored boat-view I don't worry about a flotilla showing up if I give up where I'm catching and on what tide and time of day/moon phase, this could be vastly different from the shore/surf/pier/jetty fishermen but I'm solo and don't mind helping others get "close" to a good spot and getting some luck.

As with all the things I'm into, and being single and kidless, all my buddies who got married, had kids, gotten injured, there are so many factors as to why they can't go and do all the fun things they used to do it is hard to nail down.

I think most importantly that the number of people who fish and who go on these sites is so minimal that it makes almost no difference, at least in my eyes. Remember in the late 90's at the height of the dot-com/dot-bomb and " . . . the internet is going to change the world . . . " and that everyone would be online, well how wrong were they?, the vast majority don't go online and expecially fishermen, none of all the guys I know who fish check out any fishing sites, same goes for all the guys I know who snowmobile or dirtbike, while the forums are most interesting and informative for me, they could give a Bass's-behind about what is on the World-Wide-Web.

All in all this is interesting and I'm glad that sites like this exist. When it comes down to it it reminds me of a Law and Order episode where this mother against a "Shock-Jock" goes on to shoot the "Jock" and in the final scene it shows the lawyer just going over to the radio while the other attorneys/detectives were listening and just turns the radio off, the scene went right to black after that, the point being, if you don't like it, you don't have to listen/look. There are enough people getting offended by this that and the piping plover, no one wants it here.

And that's all I got to say 'bout that.

[capesams]

there was a time that surfer's were so tite lipped you could hear a frog fart under water 3 mile's away...not today,, ....information? deep dark secret's? my god men there's the internet/countless book's/mag./video's/fishing club's. the info. is endless.....and nothing has changed as to how to catch a fish...so where is all this nobody tell's us anything crap coming from...???

[vineyardblues]

I have to jump on this one

Burning a spot: A quick story from 10+ years ago, I was in a B/T shop (on MV) talking with the guys,when the old question came up.you going out tonight? Sure am, Well he told me to go to xyz "tons" of fish

Well I never did go to xyz spot I went to another one,and guess who I ran into in the middle of the night? The island guide who told me to go to another location! lol true story

Young fisherman taking over? Not in my book, Just that the older people have died . lol And them young kids can type a lot faster on the internet!

And lets all remember luck has a lot to do with fishing

VB

[Krispy]

old people smell funny

[vineyardblues]

KRISPY, NICE LURE

[piemma]

use to meet guys on the back and say where's the fish? Oh, we killed em down at Highhead. Run all the way to Highhead and there's nothing but Mung!

[Mike P]

I never believed in handing out snow jobs, altho many of my old crew did. I figured I'd get less grief in the long run by not saying anything than by sending people on a wild goose chase. At least I acted that way with the regulars. Pilgrims, well, yeah, I will admit to screwing with them a little

Years ago, some of my crew hit some nice fish (35 up to 50) at the opening to Edgartown Pond. The late Clyde the Guide was pushing them hard to get them to tell where those fish came from. They told him Pogue Light on eels

Sometimes you could tell people the truth and they wouldn't believe you. I stumbled over a pile of fish from mid-20s to low 40s bucktailing Wasque late at night. I kept one 38# for the table (we had about 15 of us staying at the campground), and even my best friends didn't believe me when I told them it came from Wasque

[outfished]

I catch stripers in Waldon pond all the time, doesn't anyone else?

[t.orlando]

Originally Posted by piemma

1) It ain't over till the fat lady sings.
2) There are still a few of us "hardcore oldtimers" still out almost everynight. We are just quiet about it. In the old days before the internet no one except the "insiders" knew who was taking good fish.
3) Most of us DON'T post our success. You think I want every newbie standing in my bootmarks after I slam the fish?
4) Aside from my partner there's not 3 guys on this board who know all the good spots where I'ver been crawling. Why give up the keys to the kingdom.
AND finally....
5) While I haven't got a 36# bass this year. I have 30 fish over 15 and 5, 20# or better. All from shore. In the last 10 days 2 in the 20s and 6 in the mid-teens. 2 of those in the last 24 hours.You see any pictures or posts about my fish? NO.
You see the oldtimes like to stay low profile. It doesn't do us any good to advertise our success.

Nicely said Piemma. Some not so oldtimers can keep it quiet too. Does a fish count if you dont post about it.

[ThrowingTimber]

No T. you need pictures

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

No T. you need pictures

you do if your in the plugathon

ohhh the thought of 42 custom plugs

[ThrowingTimber]

[Nebe]

Excuse me, 48

[TheRattBoy]

I'm old school and having said that I will tell everyone ...NEVER believe me when I tell you where I caught the fish...just the way I was taught . johnny

[Bernzy]

Originally Posted by Eben

Excuse me, 48

I havent had my turn yet

Sept. 21-Oct. 2

Bernzy

[ThrowingTimber]

Young bull.... Old bull...

[JohnR]

OK - this turned into such a good thread (never was really a bad thread, I may grabbed the wrong one ) that it's going back upstairs

[eelman]

This thread wsa supposed to be a funny topic because of ebens fish I am glad it turned into something usefull.

I want to be honest without being nailed for it so here goes. I have tried to warm up to people and take them fishing, It always turns out bad, always, they burn spots, take tons of friends and cant keep there mouths shut. Maybe if they showed some respect, they would get some and a little more knowledge. I am very, very, very carefull now who I would take if anyone, I fish with Steve and thats it. I have come to know PIEMMA And I really feel I can trust a guy like that, I would never lie to him, he has fished with some old timers That I have the utmost respect for and, I dont have that for many people. I act like a total Ahole at times and well thats 70% for fun on these boards but make no mistake, I take fishing extremely serious and I have worked very hard and lost thousands or hours of sleep to get where I am at now, I am scared to ever risk it.

A very few people here now where I fish and that scares me! so far no one has burned me and I respect that. I just feel that evey newble I have met is either and instant hero, wants a 50 yesterday, or is basically not willing to listen, but worse than all that all they seem to want is spots nothing else! I hate that, in my opinion thats what I call a "suck" Find your own fish is my attitude now but look, wouldent you feel better if you did it that way?

So overall? I dont care to much for the new guard I have met, there are a couple but not more than that. They have no idea that we who have done this for 20yrs or so have seen it all, guys who go all out and then quit after a few seasons, guys who resent you because you wont take them to your spot etc, I have seen and heard it all!

The whole attitude now is different, I will stick with the old timers, and the steves of the world, they just get it!

[Nebe]

Bernzy..... game on!

[afterhours]

i love the oldtimers, learned so much from them. i am also impressed with some of young guns there i have met, true students of our sport. i feel that these guys will carry the torch well!

[Karl F]

The old guard ain't lost it, the new guard ain't found it, for the most part, and if they did, that might miss it.
Several good points in a lot of the posts here, lot to sift through

I remember in the late seventies/eary eighties driving several miles out on the beach, pull up to a post to drain the kidneys, and out of the dark a fist finds my nose! "WTF ya doin!???!! Ya pissin on my fish!"... Me, I'm like "What Fish?"
This guy had a few buried in the sand near the post, (a common practise with comms, back then)...... he saw me stop and came over as some folks had been stealing the buried fish back then, one noteworthy surfcaster was caught red-handed doing just that and threatened with loss of life if he ever showed up again... me, I just had to relieve myself.. and goofed up... was forgiven, as I wasn't a comm, just a googan.... now, I see guys come and park right on top of folks and set up enough lights to land small aircraft, and start casting right on top of ya... BBJ and I had one earlier this year do that, guy had no sticker to boot, and even told us of that, as he was pumping us for who what where and how many... good thing we had no clue
More info now a days for sure, how much of it is BS ... welllll.......


and like BM says... "Write your own reports"
sorry if thats copy protected Dave

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

This thread wsa supposed to be a funny topic because of ebens fish I am glad it turned into something usefull.

I want to be honest without being nailed for it so here goes. I have tried to warm up to people and take them fishing, It always turns out bad, always, they burn spots, take tons of friends and cant keep there mouths shut. Maybe if they showed some respect, they would get some and a little more knowledge. I am very, very, very carefull now who I would take if anyone, I fish with Steve and thats it. I have come to know PIEMMA And I really feel I can trust a guy like that, I would never lie to him, he has fished with some old timers That I have the utmost respect for and, I dont have that for many people. I act like a total Ahole at times and well thats 70% for fun on these boards but make no mistake, I take fishing extremely serious and I have worked very hard and lost thousands or hours of sleep to get where I am at now, I am scared to ever risk it.

A very few people here now where I fish and that scares me! so far no one has burned me and I respect that. I just feel that evey newble I have met is either and instant hero, wants a 50 yesterday, or is basically not willing to listen, but worse than all that all they seem to want is spots nothing else! I hate that, in my opinion thats what I call a "suck" Find your own fish is my attitude now but look, wouldent you feel better if you did it that way?

So overall? I dont care to much for the new guard I have met, there are a couple but not more than that. They have no idea that we who have done this for 20yrs or so have seen it all, guys who go all out and then quit after a few seasons, guys who resent you because you wont take them to your spot etc, I have seen and heard it all!

The whole attitude now is different, I will stick with the old timers, and the steves of the world, they just get it!

ouch...

[bassmaster]

i did not see no one on the sand last night................

[spence]

You guys kill me...

I'm 34, raised in Iowa and before a few years ago had never seen a tide chart in my life. I got into surf fishing when I discovered you could catch stripers from shore...had no idea...although I had caught many from boat.

All my gear is new because I've only been at it a few years.

I try to get out 1-2 times per week...and know very few locals who fish the same waters where I live. As such it isn't easy to learn the nuances of the spots or even new techniques.

Granted, I've never known the shore access of old, but it takes only a few seconds to realize how prescious what we have today is, and what a few irresponsible keystokes could do.

People like Piemma, RIRockhound and Eben have shown me a lot, and never asked for anything in return...except for Eben

These issues of burning spots, not respecting locations or people etc...have everything to do with immaturity and a lack of class...and nothing with the new guard of surfcasters...

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go polish my Versace wading belt.

-spence

[cheferson]

Originally Posted by spence

These issues of burning spots, not respecting locations or people etc...have everything to do with immaturity and a lack of class...and nothing with the new guard of surfcasters...-spence

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by spence

People like Piemma, RIRockhound and Eben have shown me a lot, and never asked for anything in return...except for Eben

dude, you got a hot wife... whats wrong with a couple of pictures