What has happened to the birth place of SOT fishing?

[Aaron&Julie]

Originally Posted by Fiskadoro

If it was just about guides it would be one thing, that makes sense, but that is not only what it's about.

What get's me about the whole report thing is the double standards and how some have used this issue to attack others they simply do not like for one reason or another, and in the process kind of ruined it for everyone.

Bashing people for sharing info become a way to put down newbies or enforce the somewhat highschoolish clique mentality.....

You know that, we know that, and others too. Put once the food is spoiled there's not a whole lot you can do about it, it won't taste the same.

Not succumbing to peer pressure is difficult, no doubt most difficult to newbies. When an experienced 'yaker will show them the ropes so their learning curve shoots up, but is told to keep their success quiet to prevent an onslaught of others to ruin the fishing, what are they likely to do? They do have a choice: #1 join with the clique/experienced 'yaker or #2 say "screw it", I'll do as I please. Odds are 98% of them will go with #1. We're happy to be the 2%ers and do #2 (please no potty jokes) that still enjoy openly trying to help out everyone. We are happy to give feedback, when sharing information on the beach, on the internet and OTW, too. That is if you don't become a barnacle and cling to us where ever we go. Not many want that, that's one of the things guides are for, and one of the niceties of 'yaking on the ocean, some solitude. We've had some barnacles in years past, it was a bad as trying to shake a big "dog" from stealing all of your mackerel. Sure it's nice if you see rods bent in the distance or an experienced 'yaker out there and head in those directions. No one wants to miss a hot bite. Just be considerate enough not to follow them everywhere they go.

When we started this great sport 10 years ago, we received excellent beginners information through open communication on the websites we visited, mostly from the DPKFM website and guys like Quietman, Piranha and Yani. We received good info on this website as well, about fishing high and low with macks, and timely reports of fish being caught.

We never received a PM about a hot bite. We haven't modernized to fish finders or peddlers, yet. (Probably be bashed for mentioning that one). We put in our time, more time, more time, and still do. Our 4 trips in the last 3 months (only ones in 1.5 years) returned some good eating bottomfish, and a 23lb yellowtail. Not great, but it's time well spent, because we both love everything about kayak fishing, which includes helping out those just learning the game, openly and without discrimination. Some people just aren't with the program anymore on that last part. Eh, what are going to do #1 or #2?

This thread went from a very constructive discussion, to zeroing in on JUST Fish Reports. The topic of posting ish reports has been debated way too many times since I've become active on this forum. Why do we continue to talk about the same topic? It always ends in a closure. Have we learned nothing?

[Smthtnnr]

Wow this is one dead horse. I think the posting situation is good as it is, not too many people post reports so no hot bites are really given away, but there still are occasional reports that are helpful.

[Aaron&Julie]

Originally Posted by Smthtnnr

Wow this is one dead horse. I think the posting situation is good as it is, not too many people post reports so no hot bites are really given away, but there still are occasional reports that are helpful.

You're probably the most correct on both your points. But as Adi implied there is a trend, a trend that is quite different than it was 10 years ago, for those that that have followed BWE religiously, and fished LJ for that long, and remember what it was like back then.

That trend is across the board on ALL SoCal kayak fishing websites. All you can do is just make the best what you can get, and put your time in.

[dbarnett66]

I spoke with some kayak guys about BWE on occasions when visiting the local lakes and they seemed disinterested because they spent the majority of time on freshwater. A couple of guys told me that BWE didn't really appeal to them. Could a dedicated freshwater forum be added to appeal to another sub-group of kayak angler? It could boost the membership and educate the others to transition to saltwater.

I am still trying to lose more weight before I get out past the breakers. Eventually I will get there.