We have lived in our current home for about two and a half years. It's located near the lake and whenever I leave the house, I pass by the water. There's a bridge that I cross at least twenty times a week, and as expected, I always check the water conditions and the number of people on the water. I have noticed that one particular offshore spot often has a boat on it.  I estimate that I've seen a boat fishing that spot hundreds of times. One day, I saw a boat there and two hours later the same boat was still there. I have checked the map, but I don't see anything interesting in the area. Obviously, there is something there that attracts anglers.  I have not fished there or graphed it to see what's down there.

 

My question is this: Would it be unethical for me to fish this spot simply because it is popular? I am not seeking advice as I already know how I feel about it. I just want to start a conversation about the ethics of fishing spots solely because you've observed others fishing there.  What would you do?

I think it worth a try.  At least check it out with your electronics to see if there is something there of interest.  Obviously if there is a boat or boat(s) already on it, keep your distance.  Or just come back another time when no one is there.  Its public water, you have a right to it just as much as anyone else.

I have zero hesitation to graph an area where I regularly see boats.  If I think I understand the spot, I will also fish it.  

Nothing unethical about graphing and/or fishing the spot at all. 

Now, on the other hand, I recently faced a slightly different,  but similar situation.   A club member has vaguely described a spot where he's done well.  On a non-tournament day, I fished an area that I thought he might have been talking about.  Hard to say, but I might never have been there without knowing a few things he'd said.  Had a great couple hours there.  BUT, next tournament on that water, I didn't even go near it....not even to check if no one was on it....just didn't feel right 

12 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

Nothing unethical about graphing and/or fishing the spot at all. 

X2 @Tennessee Boy. I’d be curious as to what was there (as would most of us) and I’d try to find something similar if I believed it was promising. 

heck no!!  they didnt put their name on it.

 

 

I don’t even try it, but I have before. Not a great recipe for success for me, never liked sloppy seconds 

 

it reminds me of a guy I used to work with, he would never read a newspaper someone else had already opened under any circumstance. 
 

now I’ve got some younger readers wondering what in the world is a newspaper 

Check a few different mapping sources to see what they show. I think it'd be worth graphing the area to see what's there regardless. I've seen boats sit on spots for a long time and there's nothing there....including fish haha. If there's boat other boats there more often though, there's a pretty good chance there's something there. Now if you're on the water and you drive over close and try graphing while someone is there or get close and drop a waypoint so you can come back I'd say that's crossing the line. 

Around here if you spend time in an area and someone sees I promise the second you leave they are headed right there. It’s all monkey see monkey do. I do have a game plan sometimes and if someone is in an area I would like to be when they pull out I’ll head there.

 

If a friend specifically shows me something I have never fished or thought of, I will give that person the respect and not fish it. 

Ethics have nothing to do with it. Satisfy your curiosity and learn from it. 

I use birds, so why not another fisherman to locate a spot.

I fish the same bank 5-7 days a week.. there are 3 spots that can be fished without fighting with bushes or trees. Everyday other anglers watch me catch fish in any or all 3 of those spots, I fish whichever one isn’t occupied and will gladly trade spots with someone that’s not having luck once I’ve caught a couple. I don’t own the bank and the boats you see fishing that spot in question certainly don’t own the water. Tight lines.

I have been fishing on Toledo Bend for 54 yrs, I'm quite sure the spots I know are visited by others.

 

Seen em ?

13 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

I use birds, so why not another fisherman to locate a spot.

If I'll steal a Heron's spot, I'll still a human's even quicker lol.   This is why if you really want to protect your spot, you night fish ?

 

Some nights you can't even see you hand in front of your face, ain't nobody seeing where you are fishing on those nights.

 

Unless somebody owns 100% of a private lake, there is no such thing as "somebody's fishing spot".    It's all fair game, the unfair thing would be the opposite.   

If someone is fishing a spot and you move in on it while they are fishing, you are not a nice person, But, it is not "their" spot....it is "a" spot, and fair game if they are not on it when you get there. In the modern world with Google Earth, Google Street View, and modern electronics to find and mark places, there is no such thing as a "secret spot" anymore. Want to fish where no one else is fishing? Find a spot that is very hard to get to. You will most likely have it to yourself, as most people will not make the effort to get there.

10 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

If someone is fishing a spot and you move in on it while they are fishing, you are not a nice person, But, it is not "their" spot....it is "a" spot, and fair game if they are not on it when you get there. In the modern world with Google Earth, Google Street View, and modern electronics to find and mark places, there is no such thing as a "secret spot" anymore. Want to fish where no one else is fishing? Find a spot that is very hard to get to. You will most likely have it to yourself, as most people will not make the effort to get there.

Yeah if somebody moves in on another person while they are fishing a spot, they are hole buzzards, the worst of the worst imho.  

there is this one spot we call "THE cove" at clearlake.  my friends mention it and we all know where they are talking about.  i found it, and crushed on the dropshot and jig.  i called my buds over and one guy latches in quick.  while he is fighting the fish, a pair of bass boats putter by.  slow, searching, music blaring.  i yelled, "stop fighting..hold your rod down"  my bud laughs and buries his rod tip into the water...boat guy asks me if they are biting..."nope".  but bud was reeling in with his rod down.   we laughed..  

 

the Cove.  

25 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

there is no such thing as a "secret spot" anymore

I think I found one of those last week when I was pre-fishing for crappie.  It side scanned a submerged tree and caught a bunch of crappies off it.  I made sure that no one saw me catch a fish there when they were around though, and I didn't leave until everyone else had already left.  Could be a potential gold mine in the future too.

I would say fish it. Learn what's down there.

I'd at least graph it if nothing else just to see what could be there. Might be a condition or piece of structure I'd look for other places if I don't try throwing something at what may or may not be there. 

50 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

If I'll steal a Heron's spot, I'll still a human's even quicker lol.   This is why if you really want to protect your spot, you night fish ?

 

Some nights you can't even see you hand in front of your face, ain't nobody seeing where you are fishing on those nights.

 

Unless somebody owns 100% of a private lake, there is no such thing as "somebody's fishing spot".    It's all fair game, the unfair thing would be the opposite.   

Lights are the giveaway if you're fishing public waters. There's a couple boats round here that'll ease right up to you and say sorry I thought you were my bud. Those boys are making waypoints and are known for it. Our DNR frowns on us fishing blacked out.

Its your duty to investigate that spot.

I would say go for it. If nothing else, it will satisfy your curiosity.  As others have said, if no one is on that spot, it is free game. 

The whole lake becomes unfishable if you have a problem fishing where others have and do. The only unethical thing about this would be if you pull in and fish on top of someone.