When it comes to a discussion on spot burning, I'm more inclined to take the advice of good fishermen.

"Most fishermen swiftly learn that it's a pretty good rule never to show a favorite spot to any fisherman you wouldn't trust with your wife" - John Voelker

That is a great quote but some spots are so well known that you would never take your wife near:eek:............Gary

I've seen Shawn's wife; I don't know why the man ever goes fishing:D.
5th (Marty)

I think there has been an over sensativity towards the rips this year. It is understandable as it is an area that has gotten a lot of attention as of late. Lets face it, a boat sunk there getting a lot of attention and the advertised fishing has been the best it has been in 15 years according to those who work it on a regular basis. Now combine this with the fact that more northern discharges are not producing nearly as well and the attention focuses on the area. Those that earn their living by taking people fishing should be advertising the business. Some are using newsletters, craigslist ads, facebook pages, or even forum posts. You can say that they should have more discretion but lets face it, they have to give an area to where they are fishing so their clients know where they are fishing from in order to book trips.

While the increased attention may lead to an additional boat or two, I dont think it will result in over-crowding the location. First of all not many people are going to fish it in Jan and Feb because of weather and the fact that it is an out of the way area. It is nearly a 20 mile run from Chesapeake Beach or nearly 15 miles from the solomons ramp (breezy is closed). This time of year it likely that we have a decent day weather-wise for half a day. Even the last time I took my boat there (because Pete was booked) we had a nice morning weather-wise but had to run home in winds gusting well over 20 knots with solid 2'-3' seas for nearly 20 miles and we left by noon. We also had to break through 3/4" ice at Ches beach just to get out. The trip can be dangerous with the water and air temperatures, espcially in a smaller boat. Now combine the longer run, weather, safety risks and the fact that most are winterized and it generally is only the true die hards are willing to make the trip. Even for guys like me who dont winterize, it is often much easier, safer and about the same cost to take a charter trip with someone like walleye pete or another local guide.

The attention may be upsetting to some who put the effort forward to fish themselves but I am glad for guys like Pete who seems to be doing well already this year after a tough fall due to a lack luster CBBT season. I am sure as March approaches and we get more breaks in the weather that more catch and release fishermen will be on the water (still at relatively low participation levels). By then, there will be other fishing opportunities that people can take advantage of. Trolling will become effective again and the flats will begin to produce larger rockfish. These other opportunities will dispurse the potential for increased pressure. I know once I can start taking weekly trips in my own back yard, the longer trip down south will be less appealing

Who are you trying to fool, the Northern Discharges are, and have been on fire and producing some great fish. Now, they havn't had people talking about them all the time, but give me a break. I will not say which ones, but the people that know how to fish them, and fish them regularly know they are producing just fine.

Greg, I believe last year someone took you to one of the northern discharges, and you reported on it but didn't burn the spot. A lot of people, myself included congratulated you on your nice fish. Those same people would be doing the same this year if you used more discretion. It doesn't do any good to point to somebody whose livelihood depends on chartering as an excuse. When you burn spots you disrespect your fellow fishermen who fish those spots. Continuing to defend it just makes you look worse. It isn't about who says the most words and talks last. It's about mutual respect.

Shawn, if you look at the same thread on TF, you will see that I didnt mention the location anywhere in the post. I only mentioned that I fished with Pete and how comfortable we were on his boat for a day that didnt go above freezing. I even did so after a discussion with Pete. The photos we took were also not disclosing anything either. (same photos as here)

I did mention the location here on CB angler as very few read this board and everyone here knows where pete is fishing. Since it is of obvious concern to you and some others, I will not mention the area here in the future either and plan on using more discretion..

It's a lose-lose argument when you talk about spot burning. Everybody, pro or con comes out looking like a bad guy. Some mailing lists have rules against it. Brandon has endorsed it on TF. I would report a lot more on CBAngler if there was a no-spot burning policy.

Pete has been fishing the rips ever since he learned to fish (this area)from Pete Dressler.

He used to get yelled at quite a bit for anchoring in the flow and blocking people's drift. There were 3 or 4 that had a habit of doing that.

More then 3 boats fishing the drift and the fish soon get spooked.

Mr Kimbro, It's a losing battle. As long as he gets to mention Judge he could care less. I was fishing Brandon Shores in a Sea Hunt cc the other day below freezing and was quite comfortable! Is it ok now BFaithful? 9 boats at the rips the other day. Normally this time of year it's 2-3 boats if that. This is all due to the reports on here and Toilet Flush and the fact you all love to continue to point out it's no secret. The big fish bite is dead because of the traffic, and Reds nailed it on the head. Pete is a liability there for reasons mentioned above and he runs that loud Honda the entire time.

The spot has gotten more attention than it should, no doubt about it. The name calling and trollers BS started well before this post and is not helpful. There needs to be respect going both ways, and this has not happened. I agree that everyone needs to be more repectful of one another, and hope this happens.

Another thing I did learn from this experience is that you like something that is clear and comes in a mason jar. Hope to be able to share some of Virginia's finest with you one day, just happen to know a little something about it. Let me know when you get a cold, we only break it our for medicinal purposes :rolleyes:.

Biggest rock fish I ever caught on light tackle, was at Brandon Shores. 48 inches.

SPOT BURNER!!:mad:

No, I didn't use spot. I used a lure.:D:cool:

Just to add something - I fished with Pete (and some fellow TF / CB anglers) last Wednesday at this location. SE wind, (calm at the spot), and we saw...zero boats. Caught a ton of fish too. So in my experience lately, there is no spot burning. And, according Pete, the flow stopped and that's why the fish have thinned out.

Who's right, you or me? Who cares. This is an internet forum where people can say whatever they want, lie about whatever they want, brag about whatever they want, share as little or as much information as they want. No one owns the bay or any particular spot, no method of fishing is better than another, and no person is more important than another.

How about this...if you don't like people posting info on specific spots - don't read reports. You'll show up at your favorite location like you did before the internet, there may or may not be a lot of people there and if there are, you'll wonder, "hhmmm, why are so many people here?" You'll never know why and you'll be a happier person.

And...if you don't like people giving you crap about how much info you post, don't read their posts or private messages in response to your posts. Post what you want, feel whatever way you want, and go on with life without even giving it a second thought.

Fishing is fun. Catching fish is fun. Learning to fish is fun. Enjoying the outdoors is fun. If you aren't having fun doing this because of what is said on the internet either way, I suggest you reevaluate why you are fishing in the first place. Enjoy your life and feel blessed to have the opportunity to fish at all. I think after reading Gary's posts (Crabby and Son), anyone who is worried about spot burning either pro or con, should probably think again about how important it really is in the grand scheme of real life. Life is good for all of us right now.

Just my 2, dumb-a$$ cents.

Cheers,

Bob

Changed my mind

I talked to Greg via PM and on the phone and I thought we had things straight before this last flurry. Greg and I are friends who just happen to disagree on this. Like I said, nobody wins.

Amen.. and I dont think we are too far off on this topic as even on CBAngler, I plan on using more discretion to the exact areas in fishing reports (not that it is probably too difficult for those here to figure out). I made no reference on TF to where we were fishing since so many eyes watch. However I am sure it was easy to figure out where we were as a boat sunk the next day in the same area giving it a lot of attention.

Jigstix, I was at brandon shores a few weeks ago on a sea hunt cc myself and froze my toes off. You must be tougher than me. Fishing was tough for us so you are a better fisherman than me too.

Reds, you actually made a funny!

What's funny is, you guys think you have secret spots.

The secret spots were used up long before some ever got to Maryland.

fishing chesapeake bay has been my secret spot since i was 4?

i was in tackle store talking about kayak fishing tv episode where they're eeling at concrete ships. guy comments that ches fishing could be promoted and be a lot bigger than it is. somehow caught me by surprise - what could be worse? way too many boats in my secret spot already.

the good news - after watching the wfn fishing channel for year or so since i got it, i have only seen one show where they couldn't get fish. a full 1/2 hour of skunk - it was on the chesapeake:)

spread the word - the fishing in Florida can't be beat!!!

A guy who owns or works in a tackle shop wants to sell MORE tackle/bait, etc.. NOT talking about and pushing any fishing spots they hear about is at cross purposes with their business. Most of them will make up reports if they don't actually hear of any.

Yeah, and I yelled at Kevin about that too! :D

Got a story... when I first moved here a lot of people helped me learn to fish so I felt like I needed to return some favors and burned pretty much every spot I found. I got a Pmail one day from a guy who politely asked me to be more discrete. It pissed me off. The nerve of this as*h**e I didn't even know telling me what and what not to write online. But something he said in that message started nagging at me. He said, "I used to fish that Upper Bay spot, but the last time I tried there were fourteen boats there running their radios, engines, and shouting back and forth."

It hadn't occurred to me that for every boat I put on the fish I had ruined the spot for just as many or more good fishermen. For me, it was an "aha!" moment. I stopped being so specific and next thing I know, people I never even heard of were calling and pmailing to share information with me. My fishing success improved tenfold and I made it a point to always return the favors. One of those guys who shared with me was the same as*h**e who sent me that Pmail that pissed me off so bad. It turned out to be Jamie and we've since become very good friends and fishing partners.

Please take it in good faith, guys. Do what you think is best but there's nothing more valuable than a good fishing network and friends on the water are priceless.

:D Shawn - never forgive you for telling people about the Sewer Pipe.

No one would ever have thought a huge pile of rocks sticking 6 feet off bottom and running 90* to the current would hold fish - until you told them :D:D

Spring is close - saw a Robin today. It was dead and frozen though.

Robins stay here all Winter. They roost in my Leyland cypress trees every evening.