What not to do...

KayakFisherman

Angler
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Rough night at the bridge. I looked at the Point first, but the break was too big and to far out to run that gauntlet (break-to-shore) with confidence. So I chose Ponquogue Bridge, knowing it would be a little over-populated on a holiday weekend.
Nonetheless, I set up at a leisurely pace and got into the fish pretty quickly. I have six schoolie bass in about 20 minutes. Right away, I had some drunken jackass yelling at me because he said I wasn't showing him "respect" by landing my bass within about 150 feet of him. I was hooking them about 500 feet away. I ignored him, so he cast a lure within 10 feet of me.
I reacted differently to that, briefly explaining consequences to him if he hit me, then doing my best to avoid him. There were more boats as the incoming reached its peak. But then I heard loud voices emerging from the darkness toward the south launch. I could make out three different voices, and eventually their shifting silhouettes against the confusing backdrop of lights. Any other night I'd feel compelled to advise against them heading further into the channel without 360 degree anchor lights, and to quiet down a little, but they were heading straight toward the assholes, so I simply chose to leave entirely. I ended up catching almost 30 fish. Great night for me because of the obstacles I had to avoid: lots of boats, pilings, structure and now unlit kayakfishermen. Great practice with both directions of the changing tide.
My concern are the more lasting effects of the whole night: another BWI that got away with it [From what I could make out later, when he was trying to following me, he had his silent and compliant wife with him to take the wheel should I call the cops.] and a bad rep for kayakfishermen at the bridge.
Can YOU make out the three kayakfishermen in this picture? Me either.
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On this subject, my boat is at a state dock where the launching fo Kayaks is permitted. It's been a while now, but you can sit there all day and count the number near misses. You have a boat ramp, kayak ramp, and a marina, with not of room to get around.

On my last trip out I watched a pit bull jump off a kayak and head to the marsh. The dog was lucky in that it found the 1/16 of an acre that you can actually stand on. But the kayaker wasn't as lucky as he ended up in thigh deep mud trying to get to the dog. I had to go over there, after tieng up my boat in the slip mind you, and rescue the dog and the kayaker.

The kicker is he tried to go back out again and this time the dog jumped in and swam to the parking lot side where it was safe.
 
On this subject, my boat is at a state dock where the launching fo Kayaks is permitted. It's been a while now, but you can sit there all day and count the number near misses. You have a boat ramp, kayak ramp, and a marina, with not of room to get around.

On my last trip out I watched a pit bull jump off a kayak and head to the marsh. The dog was lucky in that it found the 1/16 of an acre that you can actually stand on. But the kayaker wasn't as lucky as he ended up in thigh deep mud trying to get to the dog. I had to go over there, after tieng up my boat in the slip mind you, and rescue the dog and the kayaker.

The kicker is he tried to go back out again and this time the dog jumped in and swam to the parking lot side where it was safe.

Yup, you sure can't fix stupid...

A favorite Summer Sunday Afternoon past time of mine was going doing to the Cedar Beach ramp, set up a lawn chair and enjoy all the stupid human boat ramp tricks...
 
Yes. when he was deliborately trying to troll where I was, I let him get close, then I led him with the outgoing current slowly between the north side of the channel and the first set of "6-pack" pilings where I know there to be a really gnarly piece of structure. It feels like cement and twisted rebar when your braid rubs against it. And that's the last thing you feel before it rips your lure away from you. He only tried that once... freaking hilarious to hear him cursing behind me.?
 
Sorry but the S</t I have seen sooo called sportsman do for striped bass and now that its oct whitetail deer left me stunned and shaking my head many times
 
Im not a diver but have been following this from the day after sandy wiped it out. If it was not for the divers this reconstruction would of never made it off the ground.Plus its the divers that over the years have put me on to alot of bass
 
Im not a diver but have been following this from the day after sandy wiped it out. If it was not for the divers this reconstruction would of never made it off the ground.Plus its the divers that over the years have put me on to alot of bass

I agree. The best maps of the bridge were made by divers. There's never by-catch from what they do. They nearly always properly mark their spot with a flag and have a spotter in a boat and they otherwise stay out of everyone's way. Their bass filet even taste better, according to experts, because the sudden shot to the head eliminates the adrenaline dump that occurs during a fatal struggle... which affects the taste. We should all be harvesting like divers.
 
Plus when they are in the water during periods of slack tide happend to coinside with the worst fishing of the tide .When they come out of the water stop by them and have a chat they will tell you whats down there and if you ask nicelly , where
 

I'm going to go out on a limb here, because I am opinionated, but about as apolitical as you can get. For me it's about who's trying to help. My friends Scott and Bill (and Ed Warner) had a lot to do with saving the remains of that bridge and making it a viable place to fish again after Sandy. Similarly, I have nothing but good things to say about Schneiderman, who not only threw his weight behind this project, but also traveled with my dad and 40 other veterans, down to Washington DC a couple of years ago for a tour of all the memorial monuments. It was pouring rain and I have a great picture of Schneiderman holding an umbrella above my father's head, my father completely enthralled and oblivious to the weather. That's not political to me. That's personal.
 
I'm going to go out on a limb here, because I am opinionated but about as apolitical as you can get. For me it's about who's trying to help. My friends Scott and Bill (and Ed Warner) had a lot to do with saving the remains of that bridge and making it a viable place to fish again after Sandy. Similarly, I have nothing but good things to say about Schneiderman, who not only threw his weight behind this project, but also traveled with my dad and 40 other veterans, down to Washington DC a couple of years ago for a tour of all the memorial monuments. It was pouring rain and I have a great picture of Schneiderman holding an umbrella above my father's head, my father completely enthralled and oblivious to the weather. That's not political to me. That's personal.
It's so great to see people believing in something and then getting it done. I appreciate all of our militaries and that they should never be forgotten. I honestly believe it's the constant news cycle that feeds the political drama and I believe that when push comes to shove most Americans support Americans, no matter whatever side of the aisle they're on.. Just as we all displayed after 9/11.

My father is 92 and has a purple heart as he served in US Navy. Congratulations. We need as much access to fishing as we can get.
 

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