I think that reasonable people can disagree about this, and most of us will agree that it's the haters that brought down Noreast. At least that's what did it for me. Unfortunately, the "What is spot burning?" issue lingers, due in part to zome misunderstandings. Arguments against sharing fishing info - and different places naturally lend themselves to different methods - fly in the face of the very purpose of sites such as this. So why people log on to websites to get fishing information and then complain about getting too much of it is beyond me. I try not engage in spot burning debates. While there are certainly plenty of small, specific places that hold fish for a while, that's more the exception than the rule. Fish move. They feed on different bait at different times and sometimes they don't feed at all. I think it's incorrect to assume that there are a static number of fish that don't move and will be "used up" if more people (or different people than those "in the know") attempt to catch them. And I'm sorry but I've been fishing those waters for over 40 years and to assert that there is only one place at either Moriches Inlet or Shinnecock Inlet to fish is just plain false, and it's unfortunate that fishermen would have such a limited view. It's precisely those (fluid) factors that separate the casual anglers from the more dedicated ones. Neither here nor there.
My guiding philosophy is a simple one. I'm a teacher, so I think that as people with knowledge and the ability to help others, why shouldn't we? Because it's "my" spot? Seems selfish to me because it treats knowledge as currency and assumes a zero-sum situation wherein my catching (and releasing) a fish will deprive someone else of that opportunity. And if they catch a fish there then they must be taking it away from me. That's just not how I think about it. Again, reasonable minds can disagree, but there must be room for discourse. The more "informed" that discussion is, in my opinion, the better.
I would never speak for him, but I suspect that's why George does this.
Mitch, thanks for the support. Eloquent or not, you're a class act.
Just a quick opinion as you seem to have included some part of my post for your discussion. For me, it's never been about "my fish". I don't own the fish. You seem to equate providing knowledge and helping people learn to fish, with providing every spot you fish to them. Knowledge and spots are two entirely different things. I would also respectfully disagree with your comment "While there are certainly plenty of small, specific places that hold fish for a while, that's more the exception than the rule." The bulk of my fish have always come from a series of small specific spots that vary through the season. This doesn't exclude me fishing something like a monster sand eel bite on the beach, which I consider to more the exception than the rule. I would also like to correct your perception of my description of Moriches and Shinny. I never said that there is only one place to fish there. I said each inlet jetty (Moriches west and Shinny east) has a primary hole that draws fish and a crowd. I specifically stated that there were other places to fish, not only along those sides, but on the opposite jetty of each inlet as well, and also several on the backside. I only used these as an example because they are difficult and dangerous to fish, and that drawing inexperienced people into that mix can have a negative impact on everybody, but most of all those who get hurt. You ever see a person take a header on a jetty and get knocked out. It's not pretty.
On a lighter note, I find it funny, but not particularly strange, that the viewpoints expressed all through the spot burning discussions directly parallel our current, highly divided, political viewpoints, where no middle ground and common sense exists. The posting of spot specific reports could be considered a form of Socialism. Those that oppose it could be considered Republicans (or the right), where nobody is "entitled" to anything and Socialism is evil. Those in favor of it could be considered Democrats (or the left) where Socialism equals a voter base. But as in politics and spot burning discussions, never any middle ground or comprimise.
I think George summed it up pretty well. Weakfish showing the GSB is a far cry different than the small little secret piece he has for catching schoolies. He's not obligated to give up his spot, nor is anybody else, for the percieved notion of the greater good. Why? Because a specific spot is not knowledge. Knowledge is what you use to find those spots, through the process of learning through the years. It could be considered recompense for years of hard work and effort. You don't give your paycheck away, or open your house to strangers do you? So I'd have to also respectfully disagree with your "Seems selfish to me because it treats knowledge as currency,.." statement.
The short version. Knowledge and spots are completely different things. Reports can be provided with a lot of useful information without providing specific locations, and that's to the benefit of all. I'm all for that. That's middle ground. Posting something like "tons of grass shrimp in the back of west end bays with fish on them" tells me I need to bring teasers to the game, "Bunker schools on the inside of Moriches" tells me I need to bring my big profiles. This is all very useful info and as George said, anybody who knows how to fish, and knows the area, knows what to do with that information. Teaching people what that information means and what to do with it is providing knowledge. But providing knowledge and providing spots are two different animals, so let's get back to talking about how to catch fish. If you know how to do that, then the rest will take care of itself.
Hmmmm, the wind down here is supposed to turn easterly tonight and schools of big red drum have been spotted by the boat guys just off the beach. I'm thinking north VB at around 1:00 am. I'm going to need a nap today lol. Have a good spring everybody.
