Should the "Hook Up" Section be Members Only

one of my first things that got me hooked to this site were the hookups i met some good guys and then i knew that this site was for me for a new guy the hookup section i think is important so we can hook up with some of you guys that are vets on here cause we all know how fun it can be to see us newbies otw lol. I learned a lot of real good tips on that first hookup and i was very thankful for the opportunity to chat and learn about what not to and what to do on the ocean because of it. On the issue of getting crab traps raided nothing you do will stop that it is unfortunate there are people out there that do this but lets face it we don't live in a perfect world and we will always deal with dishonest people all we can do is have faith in our members and keep fishing 

Leave it open... The pot raiders will always be out there. they Launch everyday and poach everyday... They don't discriminate between yak pots or not... Pull it all for the haul .Gov thinking is not what we need

OK here is what made me suspicious. Danny and I crabbed HMB mid June and there were no other pots out there and no boats. After we posted a good report there were 2 crab and fish hookups posted for the last 2 weeks of the season. One of the big hookups was raided with stolen pots and crabs. I had been fishing HMB from April - June for salmon and there was nobody crabbing inside the reef. So how else would they have known we would be out there. They know the reef is far enough from the pots that we can't close on them in under 30 minutes which is more than enough time. From Nov 1 to Dec 31 I believe the thieves are out there almost every day but not in June.

i would say yes they would have to be members but that wouldnt change much honestly because they could just make a random profile erroneous to anything and just use to to scope out the postings....

I think the Hookups section s/b MO, but for different reasons. Not due to concerns that poachers are using the info to raid our crab pots. But because of the dangerous nature of kayak fishing (in the ocean/bay).

We, as a club or individuals, should not put ourselves in a situation where we c/b liable for the wellbeing of complete strangers who may or may not know what they're doing. Would you post an open invite on Craigslist, soliciting unknown people to join you on a 14ft plastic kayak in the Pacific ocean? Because that just seems irresponsible. Kayak fishing is dangerous.
And this burden of responsibility is of course juxtaposed by the eagerness to help/teach those who are new to the sport. I love to share my passion for kayak fishing with people who are new or unfamiliar with the Madness. Heck, I've guided at least 20 people on their maiden voyage...usually on my dime using my spare kayak & gear. Because the Madness is infectious--and I enjoy spreading the disease. 
I want to continue doing that. But I also want to make sure the other person has done their homework and is prepared for the potential dangers of kayak fishing. And, to me, it seems like placing a 10-post minimum on the Hookups section is the most efficient way to accomplish that goal of safety & equity. 

Can we wear 80's style Members Only jackets at all the hook-ups?

I want Kokatat to make me a badass Dry Suit that looks like the Members Only jackets.

Ariel

Nicely stated, PK.   

And I'd love to see you in a MO jacket, A.  Tan was the ultimate...   

I would post more hook ups if it was members only.  I've had non members show up to hook ups and shadow me all day.  Bugged the shit out of me.  Too many new guys look at the hook ups as a free guided tour.  I currently have a great bunch of friends I've made from the site and we PM our hook ups.  I'm sure this happens for a large amount of hook ups. 

Josh

We, as a club or individuals, should not put ourselves in a situation where we c/b liable for the wellbeing of complete strangers who may or may not know what they're doing. Would you post an open invite on Craigslist, soliciting unknown people to join you on a 14ft plastic kayak in the Pacific ocean? Because that just seems irresponsible. Kayak fishing is dangerous.
 

This basically happened to a group of us this summer salmon fishing up here with a hookup posted on facebook.  It generated a lot of discussion about what to do and probably kept several hookups from being openly posted.  Dude was late to the beach, everyone but me had already launched.  He actually asked "are you guys from facebook?"  I said yes, then hit the water.  3 miles offshore I see him again, he paddled out alone in sweat pants, no immersion gear, etc.  At least he had a PFD.  Of course he was rewarded by a ridiculously hot salmon bite where he caught a 20 lb salmon despite having his deep 6 on backward.  He did donate everything except his tied off paddle and fish to the bottom when he flipped on the way back in, and some of us stayed with him to make sure he got in ok. 

It was pretty uncomfortable.

If the issue is just about someone crab poaching....I think the best thing to do is to put a GoPro into your trap and catch the person in the act.     

Having someone steal your crab sucks no doubt about that...but is it really that serious?  Having someone steal your traps would suck even more but isn't that a risk you assume if you leave your pots for an extended period of time?

It's probably a lot more likely a crime of opportunity than one where such careful planning is going on.

This is more complex than many may think.
On one hand, there is a safety issue, but on the other hand there are many hookups in the fresh. Sure I would not take a newb out off the coast in dangerous conditions, but many here are here due to a hookup posted on fresh and learned as they progressed.
I guess IMO, there should be both, a public as well as a private hookup section. This would allow you to invite new members to join in a safe outing with other experienced members, and also allow for more advanced anglers to enjoy a hookup without having to tend to a newb.

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

Sort of a possible false sense of security in a big blue trip for a newb?

I like wat many have said already but I also agree Hookups should be MO only..And minimum post for the whole site should be raised to like 30..10 post is just too easy. I'm too one of those guys who's always willing to share info and help direct newbies onto fish or kayaking itself. But I could also say that I've met quite a few guys at the launch, locally and distant, kayaker and boater, who said they were familiar with ncka but were not members, but broswe on it often. Like really! If your a kayak fishermen then why not just join?  Yes keeping the good Orra is a priority I believe for ncka but protecting that at the same should be a priority as well. Its already known theres lurkers on here. So if guys REALLY wanna be apart of this great community then they perhaps should prove it by posting. If not, OK then accept being shadowed or Pot Robbed!

Nicely stated, PK.   

And I'd love to see you in a MO jacket, A.  Tan was the ultimate...   

BINGO!
 
Members Only Faux Leather dry suit is the Grand Prize at GS8 for the person coming dead last.

I added a poll to this post.  Vote up.

As far as random people showing up to hookups ... that's lame.   

-Allen