Overfishing

[huZZah]

9 minutes ago, LCG said:

I don't mind people having fun and getting into the sport, but some people I shake my head at.

Unfortunately people are people. Look at a stadium after a game. Look at a movie theater after the movie. Trashy trashy trashy. “It’s someone’s job to clean this up...” Just ridiculous. Just today was watching a guy and his kids fishing just like me and mine. Between us were two guys fishing and throwing bottles in the water to throw rocks and try to break them. 

[LCG]

2 minutes ago, huZZah said:

Between us were two guys fishing and throwing bottles in the water to throw rocks and try to break them. 

That type of behavior infiriates me, especially with young children around. Just a little common decency would be nice. Especially with everything going on nowdays. 

[throttleplate]

1 hour ago, huZZah said:

Unfortunately people are people. Look at a stadium after a game. Look at a movie theater after the movie. Trashy trashy trashy. “It’s someone’s job to clean this up...” Just ridiculous. Just today was watching a guy and his kids fishing just like me and mine. Between us were two guys fishing and throwing bottles in the water to throw rocks and try to break them. 

why didnt you ask them to stop with the bottle breaking?  i dont know what type of water you were fishing but if someone wades out they can cut their foot.

[huZZah]

Oh me and the other guy with kids both called over “hey man, you’re breaking glass in the water.”

 

Im sure you can imagine their response. Called police/warden. Never showed.  Kinda how it goes around here. 

And with my kids with me I’m very careful about conflict. Open carry and all. We have had a couple straight up rage shootings in past year. 

[Vilas15]

3 hours ago, BBuck said:

I agree with most of you in that I see a lot more trash being left in and around the water ever since the pandemic started and everybody started fishing. In regards to some of the comments that seem more about personal annoyances and illegal harvesting activity, if you aren't advising, teaching, or correcting the other issues with either your voice, time, or money then maybe you don't care enough about the problem to fix it. I think it would be helpful if we helped the game wardens by reporting illegal activities, organized clean-ups, gave tactful level-headed advice to those that are new to the sport, etc...

See below. Unfortunately just trying to help can endanger yourself even if you're friendly and good-intentioned.

 

11 minutes ago, huZZah said:

Oh me and the other guy with kids both called over “hey man, you’re breaking glass in the water.”

 

Im sure you can imagine their response. Called police/warden. Never showed.  Kinda how it goes around here. 

And with my kids with me I’m very careful about conflict. Open carry and all. We have had a couple straight up rage shootings in past year. 

 

[Swampdonkey fishing]

My pond was already very over fished, and ever since this Covid thing happed I am struggling to catch a few this is getting on my nerves.

[BBuck]

10 hours ago, Vilas15 said:

See below. Unfortunately just trying to help can endanger yourself even if you're friendly and good-intentioned.

 

 

Yes I completely understand what you are talking about and you also did try to do something about it. No fish or piece of glass is worth getting shot over for real. 

[throttleplate]

16 hours ago, huZZah said:

Oh me and the other guy with kids both called over “hey man, you’re breaking glass in the water.”

 

Im sure you can imagine their response. Called police/warden. Never showed.  Kinda how it goes around here. 

And with my kids with me I’m very careful about conflict. Open carry and all. We have had a couple straight up rage shootings in past year. 

yeah i get it, especially if they attack you the people watching will pull out ther phones and start recording as you get a beatdown and wont help you. At least you tried.

[huZZah]

Irony is I went back last night and there was a guy sitting in a chair cat fishing. His kid was roaming around the water barefoot...right where those two morons had been. I called over and told him and he was like “whatever mind your own business.”

 

Ok dude. Ok. 

[N Florida Mike]

On 3/10/2021 at 12:39 PM, johnsmith said:

Not sure how others feel but with COVID, fishing is getting even more pressure then it already has. Ever since this pandemic it kinda makes me mad now seeing a ton of new people crowding areas you rarely used to see people. Not to mention all these new "anglers" are taking undersized fish and are weighing them when it doesn't even look over 2 lb and calling every bass they catch a "nice" fish. Fish brain is a great example of people weighing 2 lb basses and incriminating themselves illegally taking fish home.

Its been good for the fishing industry. It seems to be less people now out fishing than there was last year.

Where do you live that a 2 pound bass is illegal? 

[Ratherbfishing]

5 hours ago, huZZah said:

Irony is I went back last night and there was a guy sitting in a chair cat fishing. His kid was roaming around the water barefoot...right where those two morons had been. I called over and told him and he was like “whatever mind your own business.”

 

Ok dude. Ok. 

Chump don't want de he'p, chump don't get de he'p

[Biglittle8]

A couple of my favorite ponds are starting to become littered with cigarette butts. All the same brand. I don't ever see anyone else out when I go, which is during the week. Those things don't decompose so easy and they float. I don't mind if someone is a smoker, just don't throw your butts on the ground. 

[Bird]

Unfortunately those that don't care will likely never care.

They simply don't care about the resources they've been gifted but rather the success they pursue. 

 

Respect and morals are taught in kindergarten, many miss the boat and by then......it's to late. 

 

It goes beyond fishing. 

[throttleplate]

50 minutes ago, Bird said:

Unfortunately those that don't care will likely never care.

They simply don't care about the resources they've been gifted but rather the success they pursue. 

 

Respect and morals are taught in kindergarten, many miss the boat and by then......it's to late. 

 

It goes beyond fishing. 

baby boomers, generation X, millinials , covid incognizant

[Guitarfish]

14 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

baby boomers, generation X, millinials , covid incognizant

I'm missing your point. 

[kayaking_kev]

I went to a small pond the other day, one that two years ago nobody knew about. There were 6 other people there on a 50 degree day with 20+ mph winds, and I was there less than 2 hours. It got bad last year, and this year looks like it's going to be even worse. I thought with 20+ mph+ winds that there wouldn't be anyone out there, but I was clearly wrong.

 

What's worse is some of them keep any bass they catch and in one year have pretty much destroyed it. I used to catch double digits every time, sometimes 20, now it's tough going. There was only a handful of 3 and 4 lbers in there, but people have took most of them. I also hate when I see an angler catch a big bass out of there, and some noob comes up to them and ask them if they can have it and the angler just gives it to the noob. And, never let them hold it when they ask, because they won't want to give it back. I conceal carry for a reason around here.

 

I'm no great angler, but these people flat out suck and can't catch fish on their own and most of the time they are low character people. But, then you have someone who comes along who at least knows how to fish a little and what baits to throw get their attention and gladly tell them all what to do. Then all of a sudden they go from bobber & worm fishing to bass fishing and you start seeing them at other fishing holes, then they tell all their friends and suddenly every is fishing for bass and a lot of them keep them.

 

I hope to spend a lot of time kayaking the rivers in solitude this season.

[Sphynx]

I don't see the problem with more people involving themselves in outdoor activities, including fishing, two or three years ago the threads most places were along the lines of anglers being a dying breed, and the future of our sport being uncertain...sure, the trashy behavior is a problem, one that can and will be addressed, but if someone wants to weigh a two pound fish then toss it back after calling it a nice fish is a problem? Anybody here ever start out wracking double digit fish and knowing exactly what a fish weighed? Come on, these folks are new to the game, and just like learning anything new they will take a few years to learn and respect the rules and environment they are in, give them a chance whenever it's possible to do so, somebody did exactly that for you once upon a time too...as to "overfishing" in the sense of making it harder to catch fish, apply your knowledge, good anglers catch fish in even heavily pressured water, we as a group have had it relatively easy for years with finding easy to get to spots and plenty of fish that haven't been caught enough times to wise up, things might get a bit tougher, you may have to work a little harder, but the net positive of the influx of new interest, and new money for our sport is very likely to outweigh the negative, if we welcome the ones who aren't flat out jerks and trying to be illegal this could help prevent nonsense legal changes and drive gear innovation in a way we haven't seen for years.

[huZZah]

2 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

but if someone wants to weigh a two pound fish then toss it back after calling it a nice fish is a problem?

Yeah not sure what that’s about.  I weigh any fish that looks 2lb or more to me. Guess I’m the problem. 

 

3 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

things might get a bit tougher, you may have to work a little harder

I think he’s mostly talking to the attitude of “new” anglers with time and money but not much else. I have no problem working for fish. It’s called fishing. I think he’s speaking more to it being harder due to increased noise, behavior, lack of decency, etc. 
 

 

[jdr99a]

I’m one of the newer post-COVID bank anglers. I went from a single cheapie Shakespeare combo from Walmart to 20+ combos from Shimano/Daiwa/Lews/etc. I went from a know nothing newb to a know-a-little-bit-more enthusiast. I went from having to YouTube how to tie a simple fishing knot to tying leader knots on the fly. I don’t keep fish. I do keep a trash bag on me to pick up trash, line, rusty hooks and other junk that I come across. 

My new year resolution is to catch 365 bass in 2021. I’m ahead of pace so far. I broke my PB twice today (now 4lb 13oz!). I taught 2 new fisherman a few things this weekend when we crossed paths and got to see one of them catch their first fish ever.  
 

I may be one of the fisherman created due to COVID-related free time, but I’ve become a lifelong angler with a passion for catching that next fish. 
 

I also own a couple of Googan Baits, so don’t hate me too much. 

[Sphynx]

3 minutes ago, jdr99a said:

I’m one of the newer post-COVID bank anglers. I went from a single cheapie Shakespeare combo from Walmart to 20+ combos from Shimano/Daiwa/Lews/etc. I went from a know nothing newb to a know-a-little-bit-more enthusiast. I went from having to YouTube how to tie a simple fishing knot to tying leader knots on the fly. I don’t keep fish. I do keep a trash bag on me to pick up trash, line, rusty hooks and other junk that I come across. 

My new year resolution is to catch 365 bass in 2021. I’m ahead of pace so far. I broke my PB twice today (now 4lb 13oz!). I taught 2 new fisherman a few things this weekend when we crossed paths and got to see one of them catch their first fish ever.  
 

I may be one of the fisherman created due to COVID-related free time, but I’ve become a lifelong angler with a passion for catching that next fish. 
 

I also own a couple of Googan Baits, so don’t hate me too much. 

Nope, your doing it right and there is plenty of room out here for respectful, enthusiastic anglers, Googan branded stuff is expensive, but it's effective too, I can think of lots of brands that could apply to, if you can afford it and like their stuff, do you man.

[Junk Fisherman]

I think this is the new norm.   All of this "grow the sport" and getting all these HS and college tournaments going are just adding to the fishing pressure.  We have added a lot more fishermen and more tournaments without adding any more, or at least very few, bodies of water to fish.  Here in Illinois there are more tournaments than ever.  Lakes that used to be relatively quiet have 10-20 tournaments per season now.  All your major tournament bodies of water have a couple tournaments every Saturday and Sunday.  I know it is this way in many states.  Hell, there is a 75-boat HS tournament on one of my favorite lakes on Good Friday.  I normally spend a good chunk of that week on that lake but I'm not going to fish elbow-to-elbow while on a vacation, midweek.  It's annoying.  

 

What I have started doing more of is targeting smaller bodies of water, lakes that are electric-only, or rivers that are only accessible by kayaks.  Also, your tournaments end at 2-3 PM.  I have started thinking that fishing the afternoon and evening will at least give you more space and less people on the water.  That is something I'm going to consider.  

[Failed Fisherman]

My hope is that by full spring things are opened up so most of the people can go back to shopping malls, movie theaters, water parks and theme parks. The few who discovered they like fishing and the outdoors will remain but probably be the better stewards. I just hate what the masses did to areas such as the Eastern Sierra Nevada last year.