Public Forum Spot Giving Poll

[Sudsy]

Originally Posted by dartman2009

I even downloaded all of my waypoints for a man and his son who I barely knew because they were ready to quit fishing due to a lack of success. These two are now my friends and over the years they have now started to give me some very good spots.

Many of us, including me, will agree with this.

However, the question has to do with posting a spot on a public forum on the internet which is a VERY different thing than giving a spot to a single person or to a few of your fishing buddies. When you post it on the Internet it's there for all eternity - over time thousands of people will see it.

There's a huge difference between sharing a spot with a few people and sharing it with thousands. If it's a spot on a small lake, giving that information to thousands will mean that the spot will be probably end up being fished out.
So before answering the poll question you need to consider that difference.

[breacker718]

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum; but I have to admit I have trolled it several times for tips. I noticed this a touchy subject here and I just wanted to add my certain perspective to anybody willing to listen. I'm new to fishing and yet to go fishing for stripers (I'm looking forward to it). I started on my own, I never had anybody to take me fishing and had no idea (and still don't) what I was doing. I would walk up and down the shoreline of a lake for hours, studying local maps, getting tid bits of information from many sources trying to find fish and catch them. If I wasn't so stubborn, and persistent and also dreaming of giving my nephews the opportunity to do something other than play video games; I would have quit two years ago. Whenever I'm shore fishing by myself on lake upstate I didn't mind coming back empty handed since I'm still learning and never go out with any expectation other than learning. When i do go out with my nephews it sucks taking them out and not having them get on any fish and these are times when this information would be helpful. As I'm writing this I'm trying to plan out a trip to go fishing for stripers with them, and I'm using google maps to check out the shore line for details with not much of an idea where to start (I'm still reading the newbie thread about reading the surf) with out physically being there. I haven't caught many fish over the past 3 years, and I have no way of really knowing what I'm doing is wrong other than the fact I have caught no fish. How do I really know if I what I was doing is right if I have no idea fish are there? If someone told me yes something is in there don't give up, I see for myself, or landed a fish and lost it because I didn't know how to set a hook. It doesn't always hurt to know where the fish are since the second step in fishing (at least from what I learned) is finding the fish. You still have to have the right lure/presentation for the type of fish/water. Anybody lazy just looking for a quick bite will always ignore the first step that a loner who has ever gone fishing learned the hard way. Always check your equipment and prepare (that includes tackle and location). Having the general or specific information available to the public wont hurt as much it would help. If someone chose to post a spot in good taste it's not detrimental. If it's done in poor taste then it's just wrong, say for example someone gave a spot in private and then that spot was posted to the whole world to see. I believe it should be handled on a case by case basis. I just wanted to give my perspective, it may be unique; but I'm sure I'm not the only one out there trying hard. I do appreciate you guys taking (and the many others on the web and print) the time out to write the tutorials and passing information on, it will keep the sport alive for many years to come.

[Striperjim]

Originally Posted by breaker

available to the public wont hurt as much it would help. If someone chose to post a spot in good taste it's not detrimental. If it's done in poor taste then it's just wrong, say for example someone gave a spot in private and then that spot was posted to the whole world to see

Im confused.
I totally disagree and agree. What is in good taste thats not detrimental If 100 people show up where you are trying to fish because spotburn.com posted gps coordinates where the hot bite is? - We PM each other with sensitive info. If it gets posted on the net somewhere else so be it. We arent here to police the net. But we wont be known as spotburn central as long as I can help it. There are dozens of publications that give away coordinates. That isnt our style. The reason we exist in the first place was to teach and learn and to try to help the new guy become stewards of our resource.
The "take two with you" idea is ingrained in our heads thanks to members like Joe Wiz.
Always take away two pieces of trash when you leave besides your own.
Thats much more important to us than letting the lazy fat asses know where the bite is happening. We try to get out and make our own reports. No-one has to tell the vets where to go to find a fish. Do they know? Definately not all the time. Where they are likely to be found at a particular tide and weather condition has to come from log books and experience on the water.

[jerseystriper]

Originally Posted by dartman2009

I am relatively new to Striper fishing but I have more than 35 years experience fishing LM and SM recreationally and in tournaments. I have no problem sharing my spots with other fisherman even though I have worked very hard to find some of them. I even downloaded all of my waypoints for a man and his son who I barely knew because they were ready to quit fishing due to a lack of success. These two are now my friends and over the years they have now started to give me some very good spots. Sure many newbies will eventually figure things out on their own, but many, many more will not be able to in a short enough period of time, especially if kids are involved. Kids and even some adults will give up fishing if they never catch anything. I'm not saying everyone should give up their best spots, or all their spots like I did, but maybe give up a so so spot where at least newbies can catch a few fish and learn to apply the lessons learned at the so so spot to find their own. JMHO

You hit the nail on the head dartman. I myself growing up in MA and spending my summers on Cape Cod or in Maine I knew most of the spots and shared areas here and there. I did have many spots that I developed though, fresh and salt water that ended up getting over run and destroyed. On the Cape I would usually ride my bike as it was easier to hide but had a few real good spots that were of the beaten path destroyed by folks that don't care. On a few occasions I even had some folks following me after leaving a few days before with a biggin.
Well then I moved to NJ, and had no idea where to fish. Folks looked at me like I had 2 heads when I asked just for an area. All this did for me was to kill my need to fish. I had not fish the Salt for years except for a boat here and there. Back when I moved there was hardly any internet so finding places was hard and working 60+ hours a week did not give me them time to hunt them down.
Well then I met my wife and move to a Lake and now the fishing bug has set it's hooks again. I have always though and even more now been very willing to help most folks and at the very least send them in the right direction. The last I would want to see is some lose the itch like myself due to time or any help what so ever. And trust me I have put in the time, it's just that my time was spent in a different area.

[Striperjim]

[Sudsy]

That there is the real deal and is what can happen when a bite gets posted onto the Internet.
The word leaked out and the place went nuts.
The boardwalk behind the jetty had a crowd of fishermen on it every day for two weeks. If some bait showed, or, God help him, someone caught a fish, the entire mob would go racing down to start casting - total mayhem, dangerous, unfishable mayhem.

I know because it's one of my regular spots and I took the picture.
Sure as Hell didn't fish there that day, took one look, got disgusted, took the photo, and went off to try and find fish elsewhere.

Went down with my wife and kids just to go to the beach a few days later. Took this picture
Click on it to see it full size.

[BACKBAYJ]

Originally Posted by sudsy

that there is the real deal and is what can happen when a bite gets posted onto the internet.
The word leaked out and the place went nuts.
The boardwalk behind the jetty had a crowd of fishermen on it every day for two weeks. If some bait showed, or, god help him, someone caught a fish, the entire mob would go racing down to start casting - total mayhem, dangerous, unfishable mayhem.

I know because it's one of my regular spots and i took the picture.
Sure as hell didn't fish there that day, took one look, got disgusted, took the photo, and went off to try and find fish elsewhere.

Went down with my wife and kids just to go to the beach a few days later. Took this picture
click on it to see it full size.

Attachment 12926

sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[striper774]

no,fishing spots should never be given out in detail.pm or email is the best bet in my opinion.the pictures posted speak for themself.if giving location detail wouldn't be abused it would be a first for me to see this.i've seen in a few cases where someone is having a good time fishing bringing striper's in.when people see this they houver over to the area where the fish are being caught.to the point where it becomes almost impossible to cast your bait or whatever.just my opinion,thanks

[Joe Schmakapop]

I think spots should be kept off any forum. Im pm or face to face that is on the person giving it out.

Unfortunatly I learned fishing the hard way no one in my family fished.gave it up around 10 out of frustration. 2nd go around I payed attention to what everyone was doin what they caught their fish on.

I had to find all my spots on my own.Perfect my presentation

Now that I started striper fishing Im sort of back to square 1. I personally find that the enjoyable part of fishing myself.

I voted never on the forum. who wants thier spots taken away or have some amatuer fisherman ruin it and trash it up.

[fishincrazy]

Spot burning is an issue for the ages!!!!Being a sand bound fisherman the burn can really hurt when the fish are moving.Any of us who hit the beach hard and find fish during the run see the effect of the burn.It turns a beach into a mall.I'm against specific locations being posted but I will tell a friend where I caught.A little illustration........

Thanksgiving day 2009 Brick beach 2 we slaughtered bass for 2 hours straight on the middle of incoming.Man if we caught 1 we caught 70.T-hex and teasers sometimes 2 at once.The next morning my buddies who I was fishing with went back and viola there was like 100 guy's there.Now only 2 guy's knew we where on the second bar and knew exactly where we where fishing but for the love of [email protected]##@%$##[email protected]%%^!!!

It seems somebody who saw us fishing posted it somewhere and totally lit it up!

The whole issue is insane especially when dealing with migrating fish.The golden window of opportunity is often fleeting and to chase yesterdays news is often fruitless.You should have been here yesterday!!!!!!
The battle cry of the sharpie!!!!

FC

[73surffisher]

I too am a sand fisherman. I have caught stripers from the beach, only to then be mob by others throwing lines in the water right next to me. Yes this is frustrating, , , extremely frustrating. I simply pack up and move, the quick strike guys arent fishermen, most of the time they are i'll equiped or have no clue as to they are doing, , Sand fishing is different than river beacuse whats there today, isnt going to be there after a tidal changes or let a lone the next day. I have surf fished many a sand tournament and the results from one session to another are profoundly different, a spot that is hot for the morning session produces nothing in the afternoon. River fishing, yes you have humps, holes and structure that are static so i understand the PM or face to face about that information. When I beach fish I'm willing to bestoy knowledge to kids or father son / daughter teams if the father is not an @#$% and trust me there are alot of them out there.
I dont specifically say throw it here or there, more of technique or bait being used. I have had father and son / daughter stop and chat, had a strike and let the son / daughter reel it in , , , the look of excitement, the smile on their face says it all, , , , they are hooked for life, , ,

River spots, , I can understand not releasing specifics, , ,
Beaches, , learn to read the beach, bait and patterns

take a child fishing, ,

[richtrox]

Broadcasting spot specific information is the quickest way I know to make enemies. It's not even about what you do to yourself, and it's not about being selfish, it's about what you do to other people when you open your mouth.

Fishermen who have spent years figuring bites and patterns don't deserve to get run off their spots by the lazy masses of Internet fishermen, just because somebody wants to be a hero and "help" everybody.

Even when you think you are being general (read clever) you still can't be sure that you won't ruin it for others. I had this happen to me years ago. I posted a report and used the general location dropdown. I was in the bay, about half a mile from the inlet, but when the report was read, all the report chasers assumed I was talking about the inlet. The guys fishing the jetty there (and on a good bite themselves) weren't too happy with me. For 3 nights the rocks were crawling with those ill-equipped to fish them and the regulars were crowded off the rocks and unable to catch the fish that the chasers couldn't.

Never posted reports after that. I have too much respect for the surf fishing community to risk screwing it up for others. So once again, it's not what you do to yourself, it's about what you do to others and being accountable for your actions.

If you really want to help, mentor a few young guys, and teach them the right way and make them leave their iphones in the truck while fishing LOL.

[Doublerunner]

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[JakeF]

Originally Posted by Doublerunner

Geesh and I got reprimanded by mods on here for NOT giving away spot burns to a 1st time poster

That is not true John. You know that's not what the reprimand was for. The reprimand was for how you told the guy to not ask for fishing spots, not that you didn't give him any. New guys sign up and ask for fishing locations all the time. There's a polite and respectful way to respond to them without burning any spots.

[natsgrampy]

I would never, nor expect others to openly post hot spots online. I agree this is just a terrible idea. Posting the spots, only creates a dangerous and unfun day.
I am new, again, to Striper Fishing and relearning all the ins and outs. I am originally from the North Shore of Boston and knew many spots from Plum Island to Buzzards Bay. I am currently living in the Hartford, CT area and have spent most of the past few years fishing inland for trout and Largemouths. The end of last season I purchased a 21' boat and have been trying my luck at Stripers. I have been working at it this year and have only one non-keeper to show for it. I will not give up and will continue to search for my spot.
I appreciate all the "advice" I find here and other places. My grandson and I are still hunting the big one and hopefully soon will post pics of that cow we worked so hard for.
As far as giving others hot spot information, I would say I will take you fishing with me and teach you how I play the game.
Great forum here, keep up the good work.