Uniting the land-based shark fisherman

After seeing the picture that was taken of last Saturday's get together on the sand I was moved by the look of happiness on everyone's face.Young people ,old people,kids ,woman all sharing a good time on the beach -minus all drama . This is what land-based shark fishing is all about ,,,,,SHARING GOOD TIMES WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY and making someone else's life better. Saturday June 1st,2009 a great afternoon to come together for some fun on the sand. It's scary to see that the land-based shark fisherman are a small niche group compared to the rest of all the fisherman and yet there is always so much fighting and bickering going on.In the one year that this site has been up(since May 2008) I have navigated through all the other shark fishing websites around the globe and in every one of them including this one i have found that there are people who think that shark fishing or fishing in general is always about outdoing the next guy.That is very far from the truth and in the hearts of the leaders of these shark fishing websites should lie bigger ideals then competing with one another .Unification and respect for one another should be the cornerstones on which the land-based shark fishing community builds a foundation that will in time create much needed recognition by the rest of the fishing world.We all enjoy competition to some extent, but feel there are greater needs in this sport that require immediate attention in order to assure that it not only survives but thrives .Among so much strife this is not an easy task but with hard work and a willingness to work for the good of the sport and those in it we can all help to create better improved relationships. The lack of good will that has been displayed by many should be replaced with a spirit of sharing and brotherly love for one another.One step that we propose is that everyone in the sport who wants to see it flourish should try and plant seeds of unity by caring and helping the new anglers in the sport who are just starting out and need mentors.Mentors in the sport will pay big dividends by helping to promote and recruit other fisherman wanting to learn our sport.I feel that one of our main responsibilities also should be to get our youth involved in our sport at an early age .Every kid enjoys an afternoon on the beach ,a fishing rod in hand, a shark to tussle with and a beatiful sunset next to loved ones will create lasting memories for a lifetime. On our one year anniversary It's dis heartening to see so much ugliness and hatred on some of the forums out there.It becomes an ongoing battle to not get discouraged with all the ugly things that are allowed on some of the shark fishing forums.We hope the moderators and administrators wisen up and take action when they finally realize that all the vile hatred displayed in the open forums is counter productive to the sport and those involved in it.I have made my share of mistakes in the last year and will work hard to correct our past mistakes but many times i get frustrated and angry when i see moderators that don't moderate and administrators that allow forums to become a circus free for all.We will not allow our site to become a playground for unruly teenagers or bitter non fishing computer geeks who don't catch a thing but want to stir the pot and create problems every chance they get.Zero tolerance is our policy for that sort of behaviour.Our focus has always been to show you the history of land-based shark fishing and to bring you on a weekly basis shark fishing reports that are both entertaining/exciting and informative at the same time .Informative means that we aim to show you fishing spots and techniques that have been productive for us over the thirty five plus years that we have been catching sharks from piers, beaches,bridges,jetties and boats. What a sad state of affairs to see so many websites unwilling to share information,techniques,and spots for the benefit of all the shark fisherman.It's like you're gonna catch all our sharks if we tell you where to catch them.It's the greedy me-me factor that has tarnished the image of what America once was.We stride to be the absolute opposite of that selfish ,myopic view and feel that we gain more by giving then we do by being greedy with our blessings.Knowledge gained should be used for the good of humanity is our philosophy.What a sad world it would be if the good stopped being good and all there was left were the bad doing bad things.We feel confident and rest assured that our efforts in this great sport will not be in vain and eventually others will see the wisdom of our ways.We would like to see more shark fisherman doing the right thing by sharing , creating oppurtunities by teaching others there fishing know how and adapting a better,friendlier atmosphere for those involved in this sport and those on the outside looking in. protect and promote the sport we enjoy so much.If we lead by example in the charge to unify the land-based shark fisherman we hope to encourage others who own shark fishing websites to follow suit and attempt to implement change in there own forums that will encourage stronger bonds among the shark fisherman from all different places.Sacrifices must be made in the name of unification .Pride,grudges and personal vendettas must be conquered and eliminated. Moving forward one step at a time we must bury the hatchet and be willing to reach out to each other in order to slowly but surely unify the land based shark fisherman.We can start by focusing on the positive our common denominator which is our love for this sport.Not too many other websites have that type of philosophy yet but if we are willing we can all achieve it.I'm no guru or goody two shoes I just know and feel that we are very far from where we as shark fisherman could be,or should be.I want to make a plea for unity and peace among all the different shark fisherman in all the different states of the union,and in all the different countries and in all the different websites around the globe. Stand together or fall alone this is a decision that each and everyone who cares about this sport will have to ponder in the coming years. Changes are sure to come in our sportand we should form an organization to defend the rights of the land-based shark fisherman.We can start by reaching out to other fisherman and showing them our sport on the sand ,a pier or on a bridge it does not matter where.By developing new friendships and bringing in new anglers we are assuring the survival of this sport that in the future will surely see more and more restrictions placed on it by beachside communities implementing laws to restrict beach access and state and federal lawmakers that will surely enact laws to restrict the shark fisherman.Shark populations are being decimated on a worldwide scale and therefore laws will be rightfully enacted to protect the sharks but we have to defend our right to practice our sport in a sensible way.Fishing as a whole is under attack by over zealous well organized organizations bent on protecting the seas by eliminating fishing as a sport.Be prepared big changes are coming and the future looks bleak if we do not ban together to protect our rights .If we do not combine forces to have a loud pro fishing voice our voices and opinions will never be heard and shark fishing from shore will become a thing of the past. I believe that there has to be an openess and willingness to share and pass along information that would help the next guy enjoy the sport enough to become a regular shark fisherman .It is up to each one of us bringing in new fisherman to help them be the best they can be and feel successful at there endevours in the sport.It's not about keeping it's about sharing what we know.Our willingness to work together or lack there of will define where the future of shark fishing goes.We in the shark club generally don't hide our spots from the rest of the viewers that come into the website,,,,,i think we are as open as if not more so then other shark fishing websites on the internet.We post our reports from the bridges and most of the time you can clearly see the exact spot where we are on that particular bridge or beach.Maybe it's because we have been at this for such a long time that we don't feel the need to hide anything it's not like a young kid in a spot

that he thinks he discovered -we are older and have done it all before 75 % of the younger shark hunters on the internet.