You all should feel very lucky, but.....

[crash]

Howdy,

I've been visiting this board for a while now and I have to get something off my chest.

I freqent many fishing forums, boards, message rooms, whatever you want to call them, and I always come back here to have intelligent conversations and learn more about my passion.

One board in paticular covered saltwater here in the north east. Saltwater is very scary place indeed. These people are cut from a differnt cloth I think. Theres no cooperation, you don't dare point out to somebody that his catch is a short because you never know if he is a career poacher and will shoot you. Party boats will pull right up on you while your on a spot and if you don't move they'll drop an anchor through your hull. If your boat breaks down? ONE: nobody will offer to help, TWO: If they do stop they'll want you to give them $100 to tow you or they'll just leave you there.

Management and enforcement? NON-EXISTENT!! I'm not sure if anybody is familiar with the plight of the Stiped Bass here on the east coast but, It got so bad they had to issue a moritorium on Bass altogether. Did that stop anybody? NO. And now that they've made somewhat of a comeback (because they banned commercial fishing) and they opened the season agian its way out of hand (get this, the season opens when the spawning run starts! thats going to help the spawning stocks!!)

OH THE FIGHTS!! 5 Guys wanted to jump me because I threw back a short instead of giving it to them. Bait knifes are just a form of self defence. You snag somebody's line (because these idiots feel that you know where the fish are at and insist on casting right next to you.) they'll cut your line and steal your lure!! Boats will run right down the beaches just to see how many people they can piss off.

Whats this got to do with Walleye?

Alot more than you think.

We all should count our blessing that True Sportsman are very dominant in freshwater fishing and its management. We have a very large orginization that covers everything from teaching the kids how to cast, to providing handicap access so the less fortunate can enjoy our outdoors too.

Latly (is it the heat?) everybody has seem to be a little on the short tempered side (myself included) For petes sake we've even got Ness standing up screaming "can't we all get along".
I just wanted to give you a little peak into what our waters could of been like if it wasn't for our cooperation, management, and just plain ol' respect for your fellow humans.

Please remember that it could be alot worst, unfortunatly I have to live with this stuff every day.

So debate morals, ethics, and the what not, just keep in mind that WE are going to be the ones that will show the rest of the world how to manage their wildlife and in this big ol world its going to be a long fight, so we better remember who our neighbors and friends are.

Your pal
Crash

[Eyesore]

I'm guessing Boston right? New Jersey is my 2nd pick. This is why people visit the northwoods and not the east coast. Get out while you still can, man.

[EAGLE EYES]

I agree with Eyesore 100%. But that's easy for me to say I already live in Minn. Too bad people have to be that way though isn't it?

[crash]

n/m

[crash]

You where close, New York City, although Boston is a close second. New Jersey is actually pretty good with its regulations and enforcement.

[Fin Addict]

I was fly fishing in the Catskills one evening and got quite a ways back on a stream when it turned dark. I had my headlight on and though it took quite a while to get out I did so without incident. When I arrived at my rental car ther was a local law enforcement guy standing next to my car. He asked if I had a gun. I replied that a handgun was not part of my typical flyfishing gear and laughed. He told me that they had had several muggings at the entry and that it was very unsafe to fish after dark there esp if returning to a rental car. Beautiful and quite remote feeling stream so the naive MN boy in me did not worry in the least. I feel for anyone that has to deal w/ these idiots routinely. While there are several public launches here that I will not use due to fear of vandalism or theft, I rarely fear for my personal safety. It's a shame because there is some fantastic fishing in your neck of the woods. I know I was very surprised.

[harv]

I don't suppose those guys in austin worried about it either.

[Ness]

Well said, Crash. However, I did not scream.
Check the post... no caps....Lol

[duffyd]

Crash,

What are talking about? I live in NJ and the Striper regs. are takin very seriously!!! The fishing this year is the best in years due to regs. Most people observe them and most people police each other. The party boat fleet does a great job in policing their customers on the stripers and fluke. There are good people in the Northeast with a real respect for our fisheries and for you to type cast us unfair. There are idiots every where you go even in MN but that does not mean that everyone in MN is a poacher. You talk about being kind to your fellow human and we should but you think it only happens in the northeast. Have you heard about the random acts of kindness when out of staters try to fish in South Dakota? Again, there are idiots everywhere!!! As for the muggings (eyesores post) in the catskills, I think your dreaming. That area is beuatiful and safe and I encourage anyone to come and enjoy this resource.

[crash]

I know Jersy is good , I said it before,. Ever try saltwater fishing in New York? Everybody knows it can't be compaired to anywhere else. And I'm sorry this "coalition" or what ever they call it that runs the saltwater fisheries on the east coast is the biggest farce I've seen yet. I guess when you've lived here all your life you get use to it. I grew up on the Great Lakes, moved here and its shell shock for me to see things happening this way.

Please understand it's not the whole area, there are a few places that I go the are peaceful and you can leave the madness behind. You should know of Island Beach State park, and Gateway National Rec. Area (Sandy Hook, Breezy point and Floyd Bennet Feild). Those are the only places I'll go Saltwater fishing. Ever take a Party Boat out of Brooklyn? It a circus, I've seen guns drawn out there, and I don't think they were NRA members excercising their rights.

Only in New York are you not considered a true saltwater "sharpie" untill you've found your first dead body on the beach.

I can understand (not agree with though) the feeling towards out of staters, but here they go after anyone, including their own kin...

I spend every weekend up in the Catskills. Its where most of the NYC reservours are located, and I consider them my "home waters". Everybody knows that theres certin places you can't leave your car because hoodlums will come up from the Bronx and break in. Nobody leaves anything of value with their boats because it won't be there when you come back.

Maybe where your at in Jersey is better (see I said someting nice about Jersy, that should prove I'm not a native New Yorker...lol), I can't imagine it being any worst than here.

[duffyd]

Crash,

I guess I would agree with you regarding the party boats out of Brooklyn. Thats a tough area and I can only Imagine who and what comes on those boats. I have three reccomendations for you when you want to go saltwater fishing:

1. Go to Atlantic highlands or Belmar in NJ. They are both about an hour and 15 minutes from the city. Better people and much nicer people.

2. Go to Montauk on Long Island. Once you go to Montauk you will see what NY saltwater fishing is all about. Great people, beautiful area, great fisherman.

3. Stay the ##### Away from the inner city boats.

If you need a reccomendation for party boats in either area, let me know and I will be happy to give you them based on the species (fluke,bluefish,stripers,tuna, etc...) you are after. Good luck and keep the faith.

[Den]

Ness, but i will bet you was typing standing up, and maybe even jumping too. lol
Den