Got a question directed at anyone that does fishing.

[robfish 1]

I don't want to appear unfriendly or uncooperative here, Greekboi - just making an observation.
After reading all the replies to your OP, and your somewhat 'hostile' responses, it's pretty clear that you didn't get the answers you were expecting, and so have been on the defensive ever since the first reply.
And I don't know whether it's just me, or the larger audience, but I'm still at a loss to know EXACTLY what it is we'd be getting for our hard-earned dollars. Rather than be defensive, how about being more open to constructive criticism, and also letting us know more about what we'd receive?

Personally, I'd be happy to buy, (and have done so in the past), books on new areas that I intend to fish. Hitting a new locale is fraught with a whole host of difficulties - the least is finding fish!

However - that remark also comes with a caveat.
I'd certainly NOT buy from anyone without a reputation as a recognized and knowledgeable fisho. One who is known throughout the fishing media as someone whose info is both reliable and accurate.

If you were a Steve Starling, or a Rod Harrison, or a Nigel Webster, or one of a hundred other well-known entities, then yes...I'd buy your marks - in a heartbeat!
But a lesser-known person, one who I personally have never heard of? Nah. Seems like a waste of money.(And quite possibly, a rip off!).

All the above may or may not be true, but credibility is something that's earned - not given.

This exercise may well be a nice little money earner for your yak community, where you may be known, but not for the wider fishing community - who are quite rightly, skeptics.

[the gecko]

I bought a book of gps marks for Hervey Bay when I moved there, it cost me $6 and was a good deal.
it was pamphlet sized and fits in the tackle box.
Yes they were well known marks that were also on the net, but it saved me heaps of time searching new ground in a new area.
Id be happy to pay for a similar book if I was going to fish Raby Bay or Moreton Bay.
It wouldnt bother me if I didnt know your reputation. Id take a punt for a few bucks.

How much did you think you were gonna ask for your marks?
It all comes down to price and perceived value.

As long as it is just a hobby, and you dont expect to make hundreds of dollars.

[castlemaine]

I bought a book with locations landbased fishing SEQ. From being continually borrowed and copied by my mates. I no longer have the book, I suspect one of my mates lent it to friend. Not that anyone of them have caught a fish as yet, (apart from toadies), let alone bagged out at any of the spots.
Put it out there and someone will buy it. Don't expect to retire on the income, though.

[GreekBoi]

It's just a hobby from my new scanner and off my kayak. I can see all the negative responses but I also have seen allot of positive ones off other grps.
And no i'm not wanting to get hundreds of $$ off it.
And the responses about I would need to be some well known fishing person.. well that makes me laugh as when you goto a tackle store to ask your local fisho where is a good stop or if they post spots on a board you prob end up going to them
and the person that wrote them was prob some kid or a "unknown fisho" Another thing is the amount of people that buy the phone apps that are from not well known community fisho's.. well you pay for those ones...makes no logical sense now does it.

All those afn and starlo..etc those books are just general knowledge of the area. I spoke to geoff wilson who is known in fishing and has wrote books and been in books with afn members.. He wote a old book all about whiting.. I asked him was
there much on whiting up in moreton bay.. His answer was no, majority of it was for NSW which the state is known for being a top fishing spot and they do allot of comps with fishing in the area compared to moreton bay.

I think any of your would buy a book in a fishing shop that you prob wouldn't know who the person was who wrote it but it had good info in it.. So me selling the marks+ best tides hrs to fish on, whats the best baits, rigs, lures and pictures of donar recording of the bottom is just as the same as any book but more detail.

I do a offshore kayak fishing comp each year and this year I recorded all around Shag Rock near north straddie where the comp is located and told some the yakkers who are pretty darn pro at what they do in offshore fishing "some of the coff's guys beat boaties at a easter comp each year in spanish macks" I also recorded all the way from adder rock to boat rock and back and made allot of good waypoints for spots for comps in the future. A few of the top guys said how unique it was and pretty darn cool.

Thing is with scanning the bottom to get a optimal picture you want to go 4knots which a kayak "well my one" goes just normally.. If you do that on a boat it would take ages and you would get sick of traveling 4knots for 20km for some spots..
Like if I do all around peel island that's 21km at 4knots would be like a full day from 4am to 5pm.. I'm taking my time to get every little piece of detail and fishing each spot I find is good. Then going back every now and then to check if the spot if the same on the same tides and using both bait and plastics.

So it's not just some small little effort that anyone can do.. cause if anyone can do it then go do it and post up your findings for free.. cause trust me it would take allot of time when you rather would want to be out fishing.

Plus All the info isn't so much directed at you so called "pro's" it's directed at the people that complain they go out and catch nothing or catch small fish or no fish.. It's directed at beginners or possibly the more advanced that want to know a bit more without thinking they are better then others.

My dad does marine welding and been into fishing all his life and so as his uncles who are greek and I first told him about the idea and he thought it was great, told a friend of mine who loves fishing and he loved the idea, both said who cares what some people will think which i don't care now what you guys thing with your platnium member on ausfish or your pro status. I catch fish off my kayak and allot of them sometimes most I release even if they are a good size for others to catch.

I love the sport I just am a lil sick of this so called community when its hardly a community at all.

[scottar]

Settle down cupcake........you asked. Do you want everyone to basically lie about their opinion to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. It's been done before for offshore by guy's with a profile in the industry - and has failed miserably in the end but who knows, maybe yours will be different.

[PROS]

...guy keeps digging a bigger hole....

why not someone scan the whole bay in high definition and sell off the maps.
I would be more than happy to pay $500+ just for the northern bay area, not even off shore.
Dont care about gps marks, baits, tides, time of the day and all the rest of the crap

[robfish 1]

There you go gettin' all uppity and defensive again! You wanted feedback...you got it!
We're sorry that we are not saying what you want to hear...perhaps if you don't want constructive criticism, don't put it out there for comment - and each and every one of your latest accusations is purely supposition, without any substantiation.
And I really think you'll find that very few books/DVD's/magazines are published by lesser-known authors. The publishing companies have way too much to lose otherwise...both financially and in their credibility! To believe anything else is just confirmation bias..
And of course family and friends will pat you on your head and tell you what a good boy you are - that's what family and friends do!

The acid test is what other fishos think of your efforts.
So please - feel free to go ahead and produce your book/booklet/pamphlet/electronically delivered marks, (we still don't know the actual format or costs, btw) - the sales will speak for themselves. There's an old saying - "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".

Who knows - some of us may even eat crow and buy one...if it's any good. I've already admitted that I tend to buy books on new areas I intend to fish - one of my latest was an AFN publication on Gold Coast landbased, by Nigel Webster - did it work, and did I catch fish? You betcha! That was followed by one on Merimbula - same result.
Would I have bought them from an unknown author? Probably not.
So when can we expect to see yours for sale?

[aussiebasser]

This comp off Straddie, where have you finished in the last 4 years? How many first and second places since you've had the new sounder/gps?

[astro66]

what sounder do you have ?

[Jeremy]

Here is positive response for you - I'll give you a dollar and a pack of tissues thrown in for free!

[TheRealPoMo]

Gunna go out on a limb here and say go for it....as long as we are talking a few dollars. ...never get back your time...better stacking shelves at Woolies.
I just think if those random spots of structure and gravel are more well known, places like Harries and Curtin might not be so crowded.
Disclaimer - I don't know many spots aside the well known ones, I rarely catch much and I don't care. Also, on those all too rare perfect Moreton Bay days, the Missus and I don't want to waste our time motoring around watching the sounder....we go out to enjoy the day. I realise I am in the minority on this site.

[the gecko]

Greek Boy, I think you have a good idea. Go and produce the booklet and it will sell well in the local tackle shops around the area.
As long as your retail price is good value and you give the shop some margin, there is no reason why this wont sell.

Im pleased to hear that its more of a hobby than a money spinner. It sounds like the advice is very specialised, so the demand wont be huge, but it will still be selling in 5 or 10 years if it is good.

Oh and ausfish is an excellent community. Your gonna have to lose the attitude if your gonna be a businessman.
Asking questions and dealing with answers you dont like is just part of market research, get used to it.
Do up a draft copy and try it out on some beginners to intermediate fisherman, and adjust your product to the feedback from them.
Show your draft copy to the local tackle shops.
Lighten up and go for it.

cheers
Andrew

[Sprinter1]

IF you are so sure its a winner why even ask? Just go ahead and do it. Let us know you go.