[Jarv442]

Hi all, just signed up here mostly because most of the old boards are now defunct, most moved to a Facebook format and I refuse to be a part of that. Graybeard outdoors(and go2gbo) 24 hour campfire and stripers online are about the only ones left that I was a part of. I’m jarv442 on all of them, haven’t been active much lately. If anyone has any other hunting/fishing/shooting/gun forums post here if that’s allowed or PM me.
Thanks, be posting soon.

 

[bigjim5589]

Welcome & I like your attitude! Ultimatebass.com., primarily a site for freshwater bass fishing, is one that I frequent, and even it has dropped off a good bit as far as participation. There's a group of regulars who post often and those are mostly the staff members ( I'm staff there.) That site has a lot of members, with diverse fishing interests, but the majority are lurkers. I too use the same screen name on all sites.

I started a tackle business a few years ago, and am on both Facebook and Instagram, and only because of having a business. I stayed away from social media for a long time, but had to have a presence if I expected my business to survive. I refuse however to pay them for advertising, and simply keep making contacts and trying to respond to helping folks as I can. That's been a good way to be there as many don't share that attitude.

This site & Tidalfish are two that I've been on for a long time, and it's a shame what they are now compared to when I joined. I stayed signed up, but had not visited either in a long time, and last year came back. Things have changed over these years and I still prefer these forums to social media sites, but is the way of the world now it seems.

 

[Jarv442]

Thank you for those suggested sites, I will check them out. I prefer the forum format also.

I understand all about having to be on social media to be able to thrive and grow your business. One of my best friends runs an awesome business in St Mary’s GA that helps businesses expand their online footprint by utilizing insider knowledge to get customers to notice them on social media through website design, search engine optimization, online marketing and a ton of other business enhancements. They have multiple Google citations and he speaks at conferences/conventions around the country. Modern Media is the name of his company, I have met a bunch of their customers and can tell they are amazed at the response they have gotten once they started using some of the services then add the rest of their offerings to maximize their return.
Good Luck

 

[bigjim5589]

Thanks for that information. However, my youngest son is a software engineer, owns a business and he does all types of work for websites & online presence. He's done work for companies such as Amazon and is currently doing work for Ford Motor Co. so I have that covered. I haven't been in a rush to try & gain more business, as I have kept busy enough. I don't want to not have time to go fishing.

 

[Matey]

i agree with that statement 100 percent

most moved to a Facebook format and I refuse to be a part of that.

 

[dboyd]

I agree about Facdbook.

Be aware TidalFish is devoted almost entirely to Maryland waters and it very often has strings of posts that are political and devisive.
Many of the threads start out OK, then get very nasty.

Wasn't that way years ago, but it is now.

 

[bigjim5589]

I agree about Facdbook.

Be aware TidalFish is devoted almost entirely to Maryland waters and it very often has strings of posts that are political and devisive.
Many of the threads start out OK, then get very nasty.

Wasn't that way years ago, but it is now.

I certainly agree with you and that's one reason I've been in the out of some of these forums. I got tired of it being about politics & divisiveness instead of fishing. Years ago, this forum was also moderated better and limits were made to keeping comments within the limits, when folks got on subjects such as politics and the name calling and hard feelings started. That was one of the great things about forums. There's a time & place for such topics and they can have impacts on fishing & fisheries, but the shame is that many folks can't seem to have civil discussions on such topics and they get out of control.

 

[John Smith_inFL]

good afternoon, guys - just a short note here. The owners (VerticalScope) has changed direction for where their company is headed. They are on an aggressive campaign to find the appropriate qualified moderators and administrators to take on a lot of their "slow moving" forums. I used to be pretty active here for years until I had some major life changes then a pretty bad head trauma accident with a tablesaw kickback, then, more life challenges. I am just now getting back to where I actually miss wading in the surf and kicked back on a pier. During my "downtime" in life, I got in closer with the administrators and developers of the company and they set me up as admin here on P&S and on TidalFish. I'ts a slow process to get it back on track as it once was. But, with new management, hopefully the Old Timers will become more active and the new members will stick around. Several changes were made to TidalFish this morning and my #1 favorites are the New Member Introduction section and Forum Community Rules that will be enforced to the best of my ability. So hopefully, the abrasive personalities will bare the pressure that their way of communiting will not be tolerated.
Any suggestions or concerns for here on P&S and TF will be addressed in a timely manner.

John

 

[dboyd]

You must be doing something good John. In just the past week or so TidalFish seems to have gotten much better.🤙

 

[John Smith_inFL]

Thanks - I've lurked a lot on TF over the years but never joined because it is structured mostly for the Chesapeake area and boating. So I've been more comfortable here with the surf fishing, docks and piers. I sold my boat several years ago so I'm pretty much "shore bound" now.
As for getting the boards "better", it's all about the members; how "we" participate in forums and treat each other determines the health of any forum. Whether it be fishing, cars, trucks, firearms, pets, or whatever. It is the members alone that "make" the forums either enjoyable - or not.
The moderator's job is solely to keep the spam out and bad behavior to a minimum so that everyone can have their say and enjoy the membership equally.
Thank you for your kind words.
John

 

[John Smith_inFL]

And yes, there are MANY of the Old Timers that haven't participated here in a long time. Life just leads us in different directions and we go where it takes us. I got to know a lot of really good people here over the years just as you guys have. It's nice to know that they are alive and well when we do hear from them or about them from other people. I've been following JetSki Brian on FB and I'm glad to see he is still very active in fishing and watersports. He takes some awesome photos. (and no, I don't "do" social media, either).

 

[John Smith_inFL]

One of my best friends runs an awesome business in St Mary’s GA

Jarv - have you spent much time in the St.Marys area?
I was in the Navy there back in the early '80s and after retirement, I opened a very successful custom sign shop and did that until final retirement in 2002. It was quite an adventure being the only sign shop in a 30 mile radius. Did a lot of fishing on the St.Marys river, too.

 

[Jarv442]

I usually get down there once a year around Christmas, I missed this year. My buddy keeps promising to get me out on one of his friends boats but our schedules never line up while I’m there. I have been out on a couple of charters Fish Masters out of St Mary’s and Gonna Miss Her out of Fernadina,Yulee FL had good luck on both of them. Fished out of Crooked River State park off the Dock right outside of the Bait store and was pulling Grunts out with every cast, must have given 30 to a lady that was keeping them for a fish fry. My Buddy kept telling me about another spot in the park that had a huge dock and boardwalk could never find it, turns out it was washed away during one of the hurricane, I know where the spot is now and will be trying that spot next time I’m there. Fished the Jacksonville Pier one night was catching something the whole time I was there. Jet skied out to Cumberland island and fished furthered a few time, skunked every time. The horses were great to see though.Here’s a few pictures from the trips.

 

[John Smith_inFL]

great photos of "The Island".
20 years ago, you could limit out on speckled trout in a very short time on the St.Marys River near the I-95 overpass. Have no idea what it's like now. The striped bass were makingg its way into the river but they were in the 2 pound range and fairly scarce at that time.
Tight Lines !!