We've again saw a display of dominance in pro bass fishing as Edwin Evers became the first-ever Elite Series back-to-back event winner with his triumph at the St. Lawrence River. While this is truly an incredible feat, let’s not get confused and think this is the first time for such an achievement in all of pro fishing.
On the contrary, we’ve seen similar performances before. I remember Mark Davis going back-to-back in the early 2000s, and Roland Martin once won three in a row.
Unfortunately, I think Evers' win might need to play second fiddle to a very special circumstance, and one that deserves all of our undivided attention.
During the same event Elite Series competitor Mark Menendez was verbally harassed and threatened by a property owner. While this is nothing new to pro fishing, nor even the worst-case scenario (multiple competitors have been shot at in various events over the years), it is quite unique. To my knowledge, it’s the first time a competitor is exercising his right to file a complaint against the accused individual for harassment, and has photo, video and witness account proof to back it up.
New York, like many states across the country, has laws in place to discourage the harassment of hunters and fishermen while they pursue their quarry. Most of us have heard of these statutes, yet this scenario certainly brings the laws into the limelight.
As anglers, we all need to rally around this cause. But first, let’s look a little deeper in order to prevent any bias.
Many of the major waterways of this country are public property, meaning anyone can enjoy them, for the most part, in any legal way they choose. For some, that means the quiet tranquility of a kayak, while, for others, it means the pompous rumblings of a 40-foot Cigarette boat.
In any case, we all represent different user-groups, but all must be treated equally by resource managers and given the same opportunities.
Occasionally, conflicts arise between such user-groups in what they view as the most important opportunity, or what may be best for the resource itself. For example, many preservation-minded individuals highly oppose the construction of dams that forever change a waterway, while others actually encourage them. In other cases, some very traditional fisher-people highly oppose bass tournaments.
In addition, many boat and property owners don’t like individuals fishing around their docks. To some degree, I can understand that. Countless times when fishing boat docks, I find lines, hooks and lures dangling around outdrives, or even snagged in boat canvases. If I were a non-fishing property owner, such occurrences would tick me off, too, whether it was a rookie fisherman or an Elite Series pro who was doing the casting.
However, the case we’re dealing with here went beyond a fisherman getting a dirty look or having to deal with a foul mouth. In the Menendez case, the property owner allegedly got in his own boat and aggressively approached Menendez, attempting to interfere with Menendez’s right to continue fishing. From the report, it appears that the altercation was not only distasteful, it was nearly violent.
I’m not surprised that such an altercation came on a Northern fishery, in a somewhat urban area. It also comes as no surprise that Menendez is doing all he can to exercise his right to pursue criminal charges against the accused individual.
What does come as a surprise is what little the media is doing to publicize the event. As sportsmen, we need to unite when any threats to our rights to pursue our favorite pastimes arise.
When I reviewed many popular fishing sites, I was flabbergasted to find little or no reporting of the Menendez case. In fact, on the Bassmaster site itself, I had to dig and dig just to find a brief mention of the incident, with no additional recent updates.
I understand the need for many fishing organizations to remain somewhat neutral in regard to most controversial subject matter. But, as a group, we should be making an example out of the harasser, and following through to ensure that justice throws the book at him.
In addition, bass professionals of today, as well as supporting manufacturers and sponsors, make up a group of individuals solely dedicated to publicity and marketing . Let’s utilize some of that knowledge to publicize this highly important event and put it in front of the millions of viewers it deserves.
Report on this incident. Spreading the word will help to ensure that the public becomes more aware of the rights of anglers. And demand that the outcome of this case be reported in your favorite media outlets.
This is a vitally important scenario that will likely set precedence for similar occurrences in the future, and it’s time it was treated like one.
(Joe Balog is the often outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)
