Angler Resources

[RECESS]

I think the greatest thing about the internet is the wealth of information that is available. The hardest thing to filter is the good resources from the bad. I was doing a google search on fish finders and came across a website that lmembers share their fishing trips including the waypoints on their GPS of their catches. After looking at quite a few trip stories it seems to be a very legit resource of fishing waypoints. It seems that the site began in the northeast as that is the highest number of users per state.

Conneticut has about 1000 members and many many fishing trips with waypoints. Compared to Florida that currently has 59 members and about 10 trips with waypoints.

Interesting concept.

On the right of the home screen there is a place to click to find the state you are interested.

There are a total of 4181 registered users in all the Fish Finder communities.

View details...

Not sure if you need to be a member to view the different states, I created a username to search the site. Edit, I logged out and you can look at some of the site resources without being a member.

Anyone know of other Angler Sites that have members sharing GPS waypoints??

 

[Stu Jackson]

Dave, I'm not a fisherman, but

from the stories I've read and the folklore I've picked up over the years, it seems to me that the very LAST thing most fishermen want to do is tell others where the fish are biting. :naughty:

Also, it could be that the spots are posted either to mislead , or that there is an understanding that "OK, here's where I caught my 95 pound goldfish, but everyone fully recognizes that currents change and fish move around a lot, so good luck, Bob." It worked Tuesday, donna know whether it'll work for you on Thursday.

Also, from what little I know, fishermen use bottom contours because fish like to hang out off drops. Those contours can be used by anyone because, if they can read them, they're available on, gasp!, charts.

Last thing is the sun & moon conditions for fishermen, where tides affect the good or bad fishing, heck, even my Garmin GPSMap 76 Cx tells me that information. I use it when sailing to know when to expect more fishermen to be out in their boats and hanging out by the racing marks! :cry:

So, not to rain on your parade, or the nice things fishermen can do on the Internet to share information, I just wonder about the validity of the information. If it's good, that's just plain nice of 'em!

 

[caguy]

I don't think it will help you but I go to a place called http://www.bloodydecks.com/ .
They have a pretty good forum their where guys share picts of their catches and general locations by known fishing holes. I do mainly saltwater fishing when the wind dies. I will sail by the commercial cattle boats to see how they are doing. If their appears to be some activity I'll drop anchor nearby. As Stu said the fish are always moving anyway so GPS coordinates don't help. Most guys will share their information with you as will the ranger at the dock. Ours has a chart of catch and locations. I often check with her to see whats going on. I think that freshwater guys tend to be a little more secretive. Saltwater guys seem to like to brag more. Check out their forum and you'll see what I mean. I bookmarked your site for the next time I dust off my flies.

 

[RECESS]

I agree Frank.

I am not much of a freshwater angler. Growing up in Hawaii, there was never time to develop a taste for it. I do mostly saltwater with the exception of bluegills and small catfish. I have found that saltwater anglers share their plot points. Fish may move about but knowing where some holes are is always nice to have when you are in the area. Knowing a place is the right conditions for grouper does not mean they will be there. I have also found anglers in my are to give very accurate information about where the Mahi Mahi schools have been running.

What goes around comes around and in the panhandle of Florida, there is enough fish for everyone. I bookmarked your site, i have a dinner to go to after I have spent the afternoon sanding bottom paint!! My taste buds should be spot on. Lol.

 

[caguy]

Thanks Dave, your posting got me looking around and here is something really cool I turned up. Again it might not help you but I find it really neat. When you get there click the google earth beta link.
You can get approx GPS coordinates there. As the author pointed out, If the fish knew the exact coords we could save tons of gas (S/V's excepted)!''

http://www.socaloffshore.com/socal-fishing-hot-spots/

 

[Cpt. Jon]

There is a "track my catch" or something like that website for the Chesapeake Bay, but I don't think that many serious fisherman use it or post their locations to it. Nobody wants to get crowded out of their hotspot, they may tell friends or brag at the baitshop, but posting it to all the 'idiots' on the 'google' never seems like a good idea.