Excited to fish the BIG HAMMER CHALLENGE!!

I dont mean any disrespect to anybody in the Panhandle, NC, or LESS BUSY BEACHES, but its a lot easier to say "Lets stand and fight" when youre fishing on beaches that are wide open. The beaches in Southeast florida all have hundreds of condos, mansions, and rich/old people with nothing better to do with their time than complain. When youre fishing a spot where you can easily fish 7 DAYS STRAIGHT like the panhandle and texas and NC, id say that beach is wide open. You can't fish 5 hours down here without being bitched at many nights. Im going to go against the grain and say that im not trying to deal with the hassle and drama, im just trying to fish and if that means that ill be UNDER THE RADAR, thats fine with me. Id rather be fishing in stealth mode, than dealing with the drama everyday that we get down here.

I can understand what you are saying to an extent. You are mistaken on the upper panhandle in regards to Galveston Texas.

There are hundreds of multimillion dollar beachfront condos all along the west end of Galveston Island. This is also an area where shark fishing is better for certain species. I've been fishing there since the late 70's and it used to be a cool place to fish. Time changes things. Money changes it faster.

These homeowner groups have actively laid claim to the beaches that face the Gulf as "theirs". Even though Texas has an Open Beaches Act, it seems to be subject to interpretation by these homeowner groups. Some have gone so far as to install poles on the beach that correspond with their land's property lines. This is illegal, but they continue to do it.

They lobby city council, who in turn, pass city ordinances. This has a trickle down effect on anglers that fish (specifically shark) on the island. If your fishing after 11 p.m., expect to see the sheriff's department asking you to get off of the beach until 7 a.m. Never mind it's a public beach. The way they enforce this is to attatch several ordinance riders to the statute that make it difficult to remain.
I've seen people being forced off of the west beaches at 2 in the morning, only to still have a ticket written for over $300 for "camping" because they had a small tent erected for shade. I've seen people get arrested for other BS (old traffic tickets, open beer can) and have their vehicles towed off.

Did they beat the charges? Yes. But they had to drive to court, take off from work, pay an impound fee, and hire a lawyer to get it dismissed. That's how they make people less likely to return to those particular spots.

You have to know your rights and stand by them, even if the local law enforcement tries to bluff you. The homeowners there are particulary nasty. They call the game wardens for no reason, call the cops at all hours, and act like true a!@#holes.

While the majority of our beaches here are open, there are exceptions. It's the exceptions we just go along with that have a habit of spreading to more areas for restriction. Especially when it seems to have no resistance when "gray areas of law" get implemented on the people. Give a mouse a cookie, he is gonna want a glass of milk.

Do we protest these infractions here? Yes. I and several other LBSF anglers have actively petioned the city and TPWD with our concerns. Do I still fish those areas? Hell yes. Even under the radar gets complaints here too. Is it easy to put up with the BS ? No, but somebody needs to stand for what is right.

Am I willing to drive to Florida to aid in a similar protest for my brother anglers? Hell yes!!!

Am I willing to help fund a legal defense for counsel (in this state or yours) for this endeavor? The answer from me is still- Hell yes. That's not just lip service on a blog either.

Florida has one of the world's most unique habitats for fish. It still amazes this Texan. I feel like I'm stepping into another world when I get to ya'll's shores. I truly appreciate the ability to share sand with anyone that fishes there.

There are many of us that truly stand with you. All you gotta do is ask.

I say lets not hide will I fish some of the busiest beaches on the east coast and have no problem handling criticism from people who have no idea what they are talking about. I fish by fwc regulations and don't bother anyone when doing so I say we don't hide and fish like we always have.

cmoney7----you and i are in such different worlds when it comes to sharkin---i just wish i was near the beach like you are-----you get to shark more in a couple of months than i do all year---i make 6 or 7-- 4 to 5 day long trips a year to fl from memphis---the round trip is a 1000 miles------i skark from pensacola to st george--about 150 miles of beach---i know you have your sweet spots close to home that them getting in the news creates a problem for ya'll---i guess i am lucky on the pan handle we have had only a couple of asses to deal with---i shark out in front on big condos and for the most part make lots of friends wanting us to come back----i travel so far i try to get to the best sharkin spots and the people are great for the most part---try taking a couple of trips to the'' forgotten coast'' sometime, it will give you a different and refreshing view your great state----it has not changed like south fla has and i do not want it to either the way its sounds-------.we have common interest and want the best for the sharkin sport--its just what do you do ?????????????????????????????????????????????

sharkin '' loud mouth'' sonny

I dont mean any disrespect to anybody in the Panhandle, NC, or LESS BUSY BEACHES, but its a lot easier to say "Lets stand and fight" when youre fishing on beaches that are wide open. The beaches in Southeast florida all have hundreds of condos, mansions, and rich/old people with nothing better to do with their time than complain. When youre fishing a spot where you can easily fish 7 DAYS STRAIGHT like the panhandle and texas and NC, id say that beach is wide open. You can't fish 5 hours down here without being bitched at many nights. Im going to go against the grain and say that im not trying to deal with the hassle and drama, im just trying to fish and if that means that ill be UNDER THE RADAR, thats fine with me. Id rather be fishing in stealth mode, than dealing with the drama everyday that we get down here.

Interesting. I DO believe it would be better to run the tourney from a private forum. Thats not considered hiding, but just smart display of ones actions . There is alot of controversy is this tourney because of the new regs and there are even more headhunters out there looking to steal pictures and make up rumors of what we do . I think running the tourney in a private forum untill the final results, then releasing to the public a 2012 BHC tourney results and story.

As of the fishing location. South Fl. vs panhandle area, of being hassled by people on the beach... Come on, really? Talk about the other side of the fence once you get there and experience it. You have PUBLIC places you like to fish and so do we, some times we all get the same results. You also have secluded areas you like to fish AND so do we. The angler himself has to weigh the options of where he or she sharks, bottom line...

Interesting. I DO believe it would be better to run the tourney from a private forum. Thats not considered hiding, but just smart display of ones actions . There is alot of controversy is this tourney because of the new regs and there are even more headhunters out there looking to steal pictures and make up rumors of what we do . I think running the tourney in a private forum untill the final results, then releasing to the public a 2012 BHC tourney results and story.

As of the fishing location. South Fl. vs panhandle area, of being hassled by people on the beach... Come on, really? Talk about the other side of the fence once you get there and experience it. You have PUBLIC places you like to fish and so do we, some times we all get the same results. You also have secluded areas you like to fish AND so do we. The angler himself has to weigh the options of where he or she sharks, bottom line...

Good point made ,thanks Fangman but we really don't feel it is correct to have to hide our tournament.Are we not catch and release shark fishermen practicing our sport in responsible fashion?Are we not entitled to the same rights that other American citizens,fishermen of Florida have?Why are the land-based shark fishermen being singled out?Is it because we have a website and practice our sport with passion and don't hide our past? We certainly are responsible shark fishermen who care about the sharks we catch and the CONTREVERSY YOU SPEAK OF ACTUALLY CAN WORK IN OUR FAVOR BECAUSE IT CREATES AWARENESS FOR OUR CAUSE & THAT VERY REAL FACT THAT WE ARE BEING SINGLED OUT,and HARRASED; BUT WE FIGHT WE DON'T RUN.We will l not hide our sport it would be in my opinion and in the opinion of my peers and our lawyers 'cowardice to hide' .We have adapted to the new FWC regs and will follow the laws and this tournament sets the standard for responsible land-based shark fishing tournaments.I need all of you out there to help us stand against those that would like nothing more then to make our style of fishing illegal and to let them know that we will fight for our fishing rights just as well as tarpon fishermen, or marlin fishermen or any other type of species of fish that are protected in the state of Florida.We are glad they are protected and are willing to help to further the cause. We are the VANGUARD OF OUR SPORT.

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