Tournament Ethics, Courtesy & Conduct- By Neal C. Robinson
Have you ever been trolling along fishing a good shoreline (or even just a shoreline) and another angler cuts your line of path off by moving ahead of you and fishing that area you intend to fish? Have you ever been fishing a piece of cover or small piece of structure and another angler casts at that same piece of structure also? Have you ever been on a good area and another boater swamps you? Have any of these things ever happened to you during a tournament or even just a weekend outing? For most angler’s, it happens almost every time out on the water. Is it right for them to do so? No!!! If an Angler feels like he is cutting someone off, more than likely they are intruding on them and the opposing angler is going to get upset. This doesn’t make for a good relationship at the ramp and for future fishing engagements. It would be best to start well on the opposite side of the same shoreline (only if it’s long enough to do so) or behind the person there before you.
Many anglers on the Peninsula know that many of the impoundment’s are not that large, so the comfort zone of allowing an angler come near is a little more relaxed. However, being cut short of being able to continue fishing a certain shoreline is not very respectful. Many anglers keep their mouths shut, but they should not have to. Most do it just to keep the peace, but inside they are not too happy especially when the opposing angler starts catching fish or if you have been catching fish along this stretch of shoreline. Sure, there is no written rule, but there is something called ethics, courtesy, and conduct. Before continuing, lets take a look at these three words and how they are defined.
Ethics is defined as moral standards or values. Nearly every decision has ethical implications. The right thing to do isn’t often clear. To "Do the right thing," begins with thinking rightly. To think ethically means to steer your thoughts towards compliance with the rules, contributions that you can make and the harmful consequences they may cause.
Courtesy is characterized by graciousness; considerate towards others. It means being polite or duly respectful with others according to the social norm. Courteous implies voluntary, generous consideration, which is of a helpful nature. It’s also having regard for the needs or feelings of others.
Conduct in the reckless disregard of another’s right or unbecoming is defined as conduct that, under the circumstances, reflects complete indifference to the safety and rights of others. It adversely affects the morale, image and integrity. It also lowers or destroys respect and confidence in an organization.
Many anglers are guilty of violating one of these characteristics, which in turn violated another angler. Many of these behaviors are hard to instill in the By Laws or Rules and are basically unwritten because they are so vague. They are basically considered a "Gentleman’s Agreement." This makes it difficult for a Club/Organization Director and they have to rely on their own judgments on how they will rule on these behaviors; whether to allow the behavior to be admitted or to disqualify the angler in violation of the unwritten rule.
What would you do if you went out pre-fishing with a friend and competitor, in separate boats, and he found a serious honey hole? You know the location of the spot and if you get a good start in the morning of the tournament, you could beat him there. Or during the eve of the tournament, or couple days before, you are discussing tournament strategies and honey holes. You haven’t established a pattern, yet your buddy has. What do you do? Do try and make a run for it first thing? Do you venture there later or just completely ignore it? Those unethical behaviors are already racing through your mind of what should I do? It’s the competitiveness inside of you that makes you think unethical. But those good morale’s that mom and dad raised you with allows you to battle those demons and overcome. The right thing to do is to completely leave the place alone. If you do venture off in that area and your buddy is there, leave him alone completely. Unless he invites you over, else this is not an open invitation to fish a buddy’s area. Although most anglers don’t know it, anytime an angler allows another competitor to fish his area, it is an open invitation for all anglers to fish the area. Compromises can be made, particularly on smaller impoundment’s. This is one way to avoid complications or conflicts.
What do you do when you run to your honey hole and there is a boat already there? Do you wait them out or do you try and push your way in there and hope to bump them off? The best thing to do is either move on or wait by fishing nearby locations. But give them all the room they need and do not try to push them off the hole. Do not get upset at what they are doing, since they were on the spot first. If you get upset, this will only heighten your intentions of doing something immoral. The problem only gets worse for if you see them catching fish on your hole. This tends to make you want to push closer and hope to get a couple of cast in if they don’t move. If you start getting too close and the other boater gets offended, they may not tell you right out, but they may give a cast at your boat. This is a silent way of saying you’re getting too close and back off. You will just have to succumb the fact that you are not going to be able to fish there and get over it; move on.
Two way radios and cell phones have been banned in tournaments or at least restricted much of the use to EMERGENCY USE ONLY. Too many times there been times when one angler is on fish, calls a buddy up and has him come up on top of him to fish or see what the fish are hitting on.
In order for this sport to be successful along with Clubs and Organizations, all anglers must adhere to good conduct and sportsmanship towards one another, especially in the public eye. Most tension in a tournament is expressed at the weigh in, where the main audience is displayed. If at all possible, this needs to be taken care of in an orderly fashion and conducted as calmly as possible in order to not ruin the clubs reputation. Poorly run Clubs will be noticed and will be criticized around the local area, but those that run good Clubs will be commended and the word will spread.
Being disqualified is bad, even worse than that is being disqualified and fined. But the ultimate worst thing that could happen is that you get a bad name for yourself. This can rub an angler out of competition fishing completely. Other Clubs/Organizations find out about your reputation and you will not be welcome. It should be the responsibility of all the anglers to understand and be aware of their own actions. Anglers who have a reputation for ignoring the codes (Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct & Courtesy) should be reviewed by the Tournament Directors and determined whether those anglers can continue to participate in their activities.
Put this thought into affect the next time you think that you may be violating one of the codes. "If I were him and he were me, would I want him to encroach upon me?" If you say, "No," to that answer, then you know what you have to do. Anytime you come into a situation where you THINK you may be intruding upon someone else, you probably are. But you should put yourself in that anglers shoes and see what you would feel like if he were doing it to you. You will always get the correct answer.
Mom & Dad didn’t raise no fool. They raised you with good common sense and morals, so use them all the time. Not just on the water, but in everything you do in life.
