I was browsing the internet tonight and came across two articles on www.about.com written by a "saltwater fishing expert" named Ron Brooks. http://saltfishing.about.com/od/typesoffishing/a/aa061125a.htm
http://saltfishing.about.com/od/fishinginflorida/a/aa060515a.htm
I don't condone the actions of the divers, but the bigger problem is that this site gets 34,000,000 hits per month and if you search the site for spearfishing, 2 of the top 5 results are negative articles about spearfishing by this same guy.

This website is owned by the New York Times and gets an enormous amount of hits and is placed at the top of most search engines.

In both articles he proceeds to tell the story of being out hook and lining when a boat full of evil spearfishermen has ruined his day. He is calling for the banning of spearfishing in the US to help "rebuild fish stocks" and because these evil spearfishermen have ruined his day one too many times! As I started to think of the best way for us to respond, I found out that www.about.com is looking for an expert writer for their "Scuba Diving" section. It pays from $750 to $2,000 per month depending on the number of hits your articles get.
http://beaguide.about.com/ then click on available topics.

I know many of you far exceed the qualifications for this position and we desperately need a spearfishing ambassador to counter this type of generalized thinking. Plus, most of you write for free here, you may as well cut and paste it and get paid from home.

This is a perfect example of why the fight for diver's rights is our number one priority here. It is not always the longliners and the feds trying to take our rights, it is the sometimes the guy next door that hates our guts. I'm not sure of our appropriate response, but I would think that a few hundred letters, phone calls, and emails to the administrators of www.about.com might help. Denny should take a look at this and advise. We are 500 strong, let's take action.

I think Dive4blood is a prime candidate.

I think Dive4blood is a prime candidate.



X2.....:smnotworthy:

I emailed a copy if this link to Chip (seacidal) Bissel, and will give him a call tomorrow to make sure he read it.

I'm fairly sure that his articles have been posted on the old site a long time ago and he received a barrage of emails. However, they are just as damaging now as they were then since they are still up. He sounds like a typical FS poster that has had the typical run in with cones hitting public numbers. Using his logic maybe there should be a law written for hook n liners limiting them to only one pole per person when fishing.

I'm fairly sure that his articles have been posted on the old site a long time ago and he received a barrage of emails. However, they are just as damaging now as they were then since they are still up. He sounds like a typical FS poster that has had the typical run in with cones hitting public numbers. Using his logic maybe there should be a law written for hook n liners limiting them to only one pole per person when fishing.

Has anyone thought to organize a campaign to address this with his editors?

The guy made reference to fishing out of St. Augustine in one of his rants. I seldom fish out of there unless I am going all the way out to 21 bottom 45 miles trip one way. The only reefs inshore are public man made and limited to a small number of reefs. This guy should know that he is not only going to be crowded with divers but other anchoring H&L ers. The small number of reefs there is always going to result in a crowded fishing day even without divers. Divers are bound by the same limits as the H&L man. This Ron jerk makes it sound as if the reef is being stripped. A limit is a limit. I would tend to agree with the guy if he were fishing out of a place like Mayport. If some one is on a reef here let them have it there is so much stuff to fish here, Natural and artificial. I did H&L before getting into Diving and found, I was crowded by H&L er's all the time even with all the reefs out of mayport. It's rude because it's a big Ocean but I don’t own the ocean reefs. This Ron guy sounds like a jealous whiner that thinks he owns the reef because he is on it. If any one fishes out of St. Augustine inshore with a limited number of reefs, can automatically expect to be crowded divers or not. Several hundred fishing boats and like fewer than 40 reefs inshore. The many Cattle boats down there hit every one of the reefs hard. Yet the divers get blamed go figure.

I don't know of any divers here crowding the H&Ler's but I am sure their are a few rude people everywhere.

Ill send them my resume. I could certainly use another 2k a month for the same stuff I type here. :thumbup:
Or, since it seems hit driven, we could have the Spearfishing Planet army jack the hits on my stories up to 2 zillion and Id give the $ to the FRA.

Ill send them my resume. I could certainly use another 2k a month for the same stuff I type here. :thumbup:
Or, since it seems hit driven, we could have the Spearfishing Planet army jack the hits on my stories up to 2 zillion and Id give the $ to the FRA.

We need to react to this bs now, and get a knowledgable insider there to tell the positive stories and lead newbies in the right direction.

:banghead:That dudes an ignorant kook. He thinks the spearos took all the fish from his precious wreck? What an ***********************************. I understand how he's pissed about some bubble blowers shooting fish right underneath his boat, but they're's no need to bash all of spearfishing... A few guys screwed up and shot some fish under another guys boat. Shit happens..

I say we ban hook and lining because they take too many fish and they're always running over divers.:ezpi_wink1:J/P

Howie,
I read his articles..
"if" in fact a couple of divers swooped in on him I would also be pissed. It sure is sad a cuople of bad apples can spoil things HOWEVER, the tone of the articles indicates a little bit more "tude" towards divers. It amazes me the one individual can sway the thinking of many of the mindless.....
I agree..If we have a competent writer to engage the masses they should be by all means accepting the writing position. With that position comes much responsibility..The individual needs to be sure to be "fair and balanced" in their articles..:D

Ron-
I just read our latest bird cage lining material about the ‘ignorant’ spearfishermen who are ‘all the same’.
Look in the mirror for a true image of ignorance.

I am a fisherman who has probably done more for our sport than you can do in a lifetime. Have you been to ANY public meetings for MRFSS or grouper or any other fishery?
I don’t recall seeing you there.
I have fishing rods, cast nets, bait traps and, hold on to your pea-sized brain… a speargun. I love to fish and am not, unlike people like you, afraid of the water or its inhabitants. Want to swim with some bleeding fish around sharks? Probably not.
Reading your hateful spew reminds me of the ignorance of some who purport to be ‘writers’, who write lies to incite a certain emotion. Should I say that all fishing with rod and reel should be banned because ALL those rod and reel guys just pull up an ANY boat that is fishing or has divers in the water, anchor and start fishing? Why, I believe that would make me as ignorant and narrow minded as you, as well as a liar like you.
Now, oh uniformed one, spearfishing gear takes 9% of the landed fish and produces 11% of the fishing effort.
Ever seen a ledge or wreck that is popular with fishermen? It is a collection of broken off leaders with weights and hooks remaining in an otherwise beautiful benthos.
A few (VERY FEW) of the guides I know are just like the boats that pulled up on you. Their mentality is that they are making a living and the other guy is just having fun. They, in a sense, feel that they have the highest priority for a fishing spot. If I were like you, I would say “ALL GUIDES”. I am not, thankfully, like you. I know there are bad people in every aspect of life. Cops, priests, judges…. but are they all bad? Not in my mind, but it seems as though they would be in YOUR mind.

I hope you enjoy all of the comments that are coming your way. I don’t think it will change your mind, but with your reactionary style, you will most likely croak from a heart attack. To bad ignorance isn’t fatal to the ignorant; the world would be a better place.
May your plugs be fouled and your bait be dead, and may all you fish be too small.

Yeah What he said :iagree:

I checked out the job requirements for the scuba expert. They are looking for someone who is an instructor, recognized expert in the field and already published. Who do we have that fits all three?

And may you burn hell :FIREdevil:you bastard...my 2 cents..

I checked out the job requirements for the scuba expert. They are looking for someone who is an instructor, recognized expert in the field and already published. Who do we have that fits all three?

Chad Carney

I think Chad Carney would make a good writer/representative for the sport.
I am going to send him this link.

Stephen Metcalf?

Stephen Metcalf?

AKA OCEANED

another excellent choice

Whoever it is needs to be able to stomach talking ad naseum about fin straps, mask defoggers and snorkel keepers:banghead:

I was actually interested in doing it since I am an instructor, but I have not published anything and anyone who has ever dove with me is bound to call my bluff on the expert thing:D

I was actually interested in doing it since I am an instructor, but I have not published anything and anyone who has ever dove with me is bound to call my bluff on the expert thing:D

Doug, if they do just give them your resume:

:lol:I guess that would about cover it, huh? Nothing like the blood of a ~70 pound AJ splattered on your resume:D

A love letter I just sent to Ron Brooks

Ron,
Just read a couple of your ignorant prevarications regarding "Spearfisherman".
First I like to lump you into the group that all sports writers are imbeciles and don't have a clue as to what reality is...I'm obviously being facetious. Responsible reporters know how to call out a culprit/culprits from whatever rank they so choose without besmirching and entire faction. They obviously are higher thinkers with above average IQ's and far greater vocabularies than the low brow gray matter you have. I suppose you think all whom imbibe are drunkards? Those which speak their minds are prophets?
Why in the world would you write such and irresponsible article and "brand" all spearfisherman alike? Your treatise should be that of constructive commentary, not wielding a personal sword because some"one" pee'd in your coffee. I can appreciate your grievance. I've been in your shoes with felonious spearfisherman and hook and line perpetrators as well but Ron, use your head man. Most spearfisherman are custodians of the sea's not a rag tag bunch of fish assassins that shoot fish indiscriminately. You obviously haven't met the spearos I know. We're a responsible group of mostly professionals that love our sport and have little tolerance for those whom abuse it.
The next time you think about spewing from your bully pulpit, you might want reflect on some of the individuals or friends if you really have one in whatever sport that is in your sights, that respect other human beings and don't relish in the fact that they can tar and feather groups of people without repercussions.
Fortunately Ron, your ramblings are not gospel ..............

Well written.:toast:

tanks my brutha:toast:

I think Chad Carney would make a good writer/representative for the sport.
I am going to send him this link.

I agree or Bill H.

Hey the guys was probably approached buy some newbies anyway. We have our own secret spots.There needs to be a fair amount of respect to another boater regardless of purpose.He sounds jelouse that he has to wait for the fish to bite and we can run them down
:moon:

The guy is probabl afraid of the water and its ihabitants and quite embarrassed by being afraid to get in the water.
That seems to be the number one factor in pro-or anti-spearfishing sentiment: fear of getting in the water and embarrassment over that fear.

Where is the 'pussy-kat' icon?

OK, gentlemen, here is a thought that many of us will not like: There is a growing sentiment among the recreational hook/liners against spearfishing. Believe it! Your H/L friend DOES have conversations behind your back about how unfair and easy it is for spearfishermen to take fish. They are totally jealous and will never spear a fish themselves for whatever their reasons. Because they don't spear fish, they have unrealistic images stuck in their head about it being easy for divers to wipe out all the fish on a spot. Of course, when divers swim around under a H/L boat, that destroys our relationship with that boat forever. IMO, spearfishermen should resist the temptation to post the pictures of their limits of fish. We should be careful to even post the stories we tell of all the fish we shot last weekend. Better yet, take fewer fish, and brag about the fact that there were plenty of fish for the taking, but I only took one for dinner! Believe it - as the rec sector limits are reduced, there is a high probability of action against spearfishing. There are many Ron Brook's types out there, and they will act like your friend to your face, and work against you behind your back....

Ron-
I just read our latest bird cage lining material about the ‘ignorant’ spearfishermen who are ‘all the same’.
Look in the mirror for a true image of ignorance.

Hey, Denny can you please tell me where to find the link to email this nut? I'm sorry, but I can't find anywhere on about.com to reach this guy. Thanks!

goto his profile link on abut.com, then there is an email address buried in there. I will look for it later, as I am packing up and heading home from San Antonio in the great state of Texas.

saltfishing.guide@about.com

That is the email provided by about.com

So who all has submitted a resume for the scuba writer job?

Hey, Denny can you please tell me where to find the link to email this nut? I'm sorry, but I can't find anywhere on about.com to reach this guy. Thanks!

Post #1 look for e-mail the Guide

My Email to About.Com follows -
To Ron Brooks:

I hope by now you are inundated with these type emails - you certainly deserve it! I guess it is easy to classify you as a prejudiced hater, and all the other nasty words that describe one who is truly ignorant. You do not have the savvy or knowledge to be in your public position, writing with the bias you have demonstrated against your fellow recreational fisherman (spearfishing).

How dare you boast of hooking the "Volkswagen" that pins you to the rail, while the fish swims into the wreck, breaking off the line and hook that is by now, deep inside the fish's belly. How many of those broken off "Volkswagens" die a slow death I wonder. It is your chosen form of fishing, and I am not here to launch a campaign to ban your form of fishing, unlike you who is using your position of influence to ban my form of fishing (spearfishing).

It is quite obvious that your ignorance of the sport of spearfishing should be criticized, edited, deleted before it ever hits the print - I will never have anything to do with About.Com as long as your are there, and I will do my best to influence everyone I know to do the same. Go away, go to IgnoranceLand where you belong. I am a business owner, and if I ran my business the way you are running yours, I would have been out of business long ago. I hope the owner of About.Com is smart enough to let the heads roll after reading a story like yours. I will not rest until the preceding words have made it up the chain of command in your organization.

Yours Truly, Capt. Bill P.

Here is Ron's reply to my email, just now received. This guy is backpeddling bigtime. My second email follows this...

Captain,

First, thank you for your input. Yours is obviously not the only reply I have received. The article you are speaking of was intended to be more about common courtesy than it was against spearfishing. I grew up spearfishing, and while I no longer do any diving, I certainly loved it when I did.

When I head for a wreck or reef and a dive boat is on the wreck, I simply move to another wreck – there are many out there. I like believe courteous divers might do the same – or at least anchor far enough from anchored fishing boats that they can both share the wreck.

Admittedly I was miffed when that editorial piece was posted and probably sounded off more than I should. I have apologized to quite a number or people, and I now do the same to you.

But I do ask you to think about how you would feel if you were anchored up, had divers over the side, and a fishing boat anchored within fifty feet of you and began dropping bottom rigs. The two boats that anchored next to us were so close that I had to push one off my boat with my foot when it swung about on its anchor.

One clarification, hooks that are lost to a fish dissolve in the fish mouth in a matter of days. It is not different than the dorsal fin of one of their prey sticking them in the mouth. Granted, gut hooked fish are a different story. But, then so are speared fish that break free before you get them to the surface.

I offer this following that I sent to the last diver who had a response very similar to yours:

We fish straight down. Divers who anchor up and dive their own spot are not a problem. The ones who swim under our boat because we have a chum bag down and have attracted fish are the ones that I have issues with. They endanger themselves with four lines and 8/0 hooks around them. They have no regard for the fact that we are fishing above them. Then they come up with a 20 pound red snapper they shot right under our boat – one of several fish they shot that day.

I admit I went off a bit on that piece, because it was after a day I just described. And no – we did not do well that day.

Just as you plan a dive trip and find it unacceptable to change plans when you find others on the wreck or reef, I plan offshore trips to a particular reef. When I find other boats on the wreck – be it anglers or divers, I am frustrated, but I always have a backup plan.

I used to be a spearfishermen, albeit free diving. I enjoyed diving, and I took my share of some awfully nice fish. But, I certainly did not dive around and under an anchored boat – out of concern for my safety and out of just plain common courtesy. I even participated in a number of spearfishing rodeos where the diver with the most pounds of fish – any fish – won the prize. Try over 300 pounds of fish speared in one day. That was long ago, and hopefully will never happen again. We were all uneducated idiots!

You indicate that you have been yelled at more than once by an angler. That tells me there may be more than just a few people who may have encountered the same actions that I did on that day. Don’t take me wrong – there are just as many angling idiots as there are diving idiots. I’m afraid the bad apples leave us all with a mark.

I understand your concerns; I under stand your position. I ask that you allow me to post a reply to said article with the explanations I have stated.

I offer the same thing to you. Hopefully hook and line anglers can coexist with spearfishermen in the future. I’m willing to try if you are.


Ron Brooks
About.com Guide to Saltwater Fishing

http://saltfishing.about.com
Become an About.com Guide: beaguide.about.com
About.com is part of the New York Times Company

My second email to this guy:

Ron Brooks,

Your story started out talking about a rude scuba diver, and ended up trying to ban spearfishing. Furthermore, I have never been yelled at by another angler, and never indicated such. As a freediver myself, I am further unimpressed that you would claim to have once been a member of our ranks, and then proceed with an attempt to ban our sport. Awaiting your published apology....

From about.com

"Divers and Spearfishing - A Response
A number of members of the diving community have responded recently to a piece published here relating to two discourteous dive boats interfering with hook and line anglers. In this forum we now specifically offer the diving community an apology for appearing to categorize the entire community in a negative manner. This particular piece related to some specific divers, not the community as a whole and was intended to deal with courtesy on the water. Hook and line anglers can be just as discourteous, and some of us often are.
This stands now as a plea to both sides of the issue to resolve to work together so that we can both enjoy our particular part of the fishing sport.

Thursday August 2, 2007"


That is sufficient for me. :yay: I accept their apology and I hope this will prevent further articles like the ones in question from being published on About.com.

Excellent work guys. Let's keep our eyes open for this type of indirect attacks. I feel that he is off the hook easily since no one really busted his balls about calling for the banning of spearfishing in order to help fish stocks recover. Great response and teamwork everyone. Perhaps Mr. Brooks deserves an invitation to the SPO.

I came across this doing google searches a while back. It's recycled trash.
I have a feeling that it just keeps getting posted on sites for the touchy-feely affect.

I gotta say.. I'm impressed he even reponded to the e-mails but more so with a public apology...Itch is now scratched.......

Whatcha think about gettin this guy on board about the Gag assessment?
I think his "writing style" might be good press...if so we need to get him on it ASAP..:woohoo:

The problem is his first article has done an enormous amount of damage. The apology won't fix that.

I am very surprised he did not ignore the letters and take a high and mighty stance. I may not have cared for his original article but it says something about him that he actually responded to criticism and then publicly apologized.

People keep posting about getting some HnL guys to get on board to fight the grouper regs. This guy might be a good start. Anyone know if this guy has any pull in the Florida fishing community?

I agree, he could have blown off all of our emails and let it stand. Instead, he did the right thing by apologizing and addressing it. He gets kudos in my book for that. :absolut:

I sent him a note expressing my gratitude for his repost. I also invited him to attend the SPO and see for himself the good that this community does to protect our rights and all of the H&L guys.

I think the guy is a loose cannon - I agree with Marcus - the damage is done and there ain't no takin' it back... He is one of those smiling like he's your friend, and talking bad about you behind your back. He apologized to keep his job... This guy claims to have been a freediver, killing hundreds of pounds of fish to win tournaments. He is just too quick to want to ban spearfishing for me - something's not right.

IMO there maybe reason to be skeptical about this guy because of the articles. But, you don't hang the horse because you got bucked off. You work with him and give him a chance to learn. Who knows, maybe you will be able to work together a long time.

Brooks tried to explain himself by responding via email, in a very genial manner, he pulled the article and even publicly apologized. Realistically, you can't expect any better of an outcome.

The cause of saving our spearfishing rights and opportunities is just, valid and worth a fight when needed. But there is no need to fight, offend or scare off anyone unnecessarily. Especially those who have a way to get their stories infront of the masses. He acknowledges the dive community as a whole isn't bad, so I would suggest we see if he is willing to write an article fairly portraying our sport. If not, then fine, to each their own. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. At least he made what appears to me a good faith effort to correct his previous transgressions.

I have to agree...best foot forward...

IMO there maybe reason to be skeptical about this guy because of the articles. But, you don't hang the horse because you got bucked off. You work with him and give him a chance to learn. Who knows, maybe you will be able to work together a long time.

Brooks tried to explain himself by responding via email, in a very genial manner, he pulled the article and even publicly apologized. Realistically, you can't expect any better of an outcome.

The cause of saving our spearfishing rights and opportunities is just, valid and worth a fight when needed. But there is no need to fight, offend or scare off anyone unnecessarily. Especially those who have a way to get their stories infront of the masses. He acknowledges the dive community as a whole isn't bad, so I would suggest we see if he is willing to write an article fairly portraying our sport. If not, then fine, to each their own. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. At least he made what appears to me as good faith effort to correct is previous transgressions.

exactly.
The way this turned out is proof the we do have a voice and that all those who wrote were heard. Image the rewards for the public at large if we focus on calling attention to the reality of the state of the regulatory agencies charged w/protecting the public's resources. How private greed, under the guise of bad science, now permissable has lead to the wholesale robbery of resources that belong to us all, to benifit few. The recreational sector needs to be united and anyone who can further that cause is a hero in my book.
If something isn't done soon, not only will we not not be allowed to fish, there will be no fish when the rape is over.
Tiger W. would be the baddest spokes person ever..:BoomSmilie_anim:

OK, gentlemen, here is a thought that many of us will not like: There is a growing sentiment among the recreational hook/liners against spearfishing. Believe it! Your H/L friend DOES have conversations behind your back about how unfair and easy it is for spearfishermen to take fish. They are totally jealous and will never spear a fish themselves for whatever their reasons. Because they don't spear fish, they have unrealistic images stuck in their head about it being easy for divers to wipe out all the fish on a spot. Of course, when divers swim around under a H/L boat, that destroys our relationship with that boat forever. IMO, spearfishermen should resist the temptation to post the pictures of their limits of fish. We should be careful to even post the stories we tell of all the fish we shot last weekend. Better yet, take fewer fish, and brag about the fact that there were plenty of fish for the taking, but I only took one for dinner! Believe it - as the rec sector limits are reduced, there is a high probability of action against spearfishing. There are many Ron Brook's types out there, and they will act like your friend to your face, and work against you behind your back....


I mainly H&L fish and will take divers out to my spots... Then I have an idea of how the bottom lies and about the general bottom.... As soon as I find a way to transport tanks on the new boat I am fair game..

OK, I will ease off on the guy, and I will try to talk to him about getting more published about the NMFS.

Great job guys. Hopefully this is good practice for all the war(s) you still have left.

Kudos to the author for having the balls to address you guys and doing whatever he could to make it right (which is something he didn't HAVE to do). Tanks is right on about the lack of spots of St. Aug, ask Riplipper about diving on the weekends out of St. Aug. It is common to find 2-5 boats sharing a wreck.