I don't spend near as much time as I used to on the fishing forums (including this one) but happened on a little drama at the CapMel.com forum.

Gary Poyssick, friend of Mel and co-writer of his latest book, took a leadership role in the forum after Mel's passing for awhile and then all of sudden wasn't there. Don't know which came first but he started his own site, theonlinefisherman.com, which appears to be competing for the same audience.

The drama continued as CapMel members have posted that they have received unsolicited emails from Gary's new site and contend that the email addresses were taken inappropriately from the CapMel users list or database.

Don't know the truth, and I didn't receive the email, but have to say that "member poaching" is considered very bad form everywhere and if the email addresses were accessed inappropriately that it's probably illegal (I'm not an attorney and don't play one on TV).

The reality is though that it happens all of the time in the online forum world where a prominent user figures "why should I contribute to the forum for nothing when I can start my own and benefit financially from advertisers?". It should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I do not agree with doing illegal things if in fact anything illegal was done.

IMHO the only reason the thread was even started was to bash Gary by some folks who have only posted on that forum to stir the pot.

I really can not understand how the moderation has even let the thread go on. I am sure you have been on that site long enough to know that if Mel was alive he would of shut that thread down as soon as he saw it.

Funny they claim to be keeping his legacy alive. Is that his legacy?

I remember being spammed when Mels book came out. I wasnt interested in the book but it did not bother me that I got the email.

Theres a new forum. I was spammed about it. I looked at it. I even registered and posted. I think its going to be a more Captain freindly forum.

Whats the big deal? Its not. You just have some folks that have nothing better than to try and tear someone else down.

I would challenge them to find a post or thread where Gary ever said a bad word about anyone on the forums.

Thanks Steve and I agree about the thread not getting zapped. Like one of the posters there said, the attention only serves to promote the other site anyway.

I asked over there but wondered, it seemed like Gary was the one trusted to move things forward there for awhile and then all of sudden he wasn't there anymore. What happened?

I'm kinda out of the loop these days and was also wondering what happened to Todd Foucher's site/forum. Popped in there when I saw a post about Todd and almost everything in the forum was gone.

Just curious.

Scott , Todds site is all but gone. I think mostly because he is now full time with Canyon Bay and no longer guiding.

Gary tried to keep Mels site updated after his death, Seems from what I hear a Berman extended family member had a problem with him and gave him the axe.

As of now no one in the Berman camp has come forward to explain. Seems they have a young inexperienced  guy to run the site now. Probably in thier best interest IMHO.

I think this young gun has been offered a pot of gold. My guess is the rainbow will fade and he will take a hike.

For now its very amusing to watch the groupies get all wound up.

Starting to make more sense now, thanks. And thanks for info on Todd. Like I say, I've been out of the loop for quite awhile and appreciate the info.

Still struggling with the mass mailing and the source of the list. Standing by the comments on CapMel, don't see how it's justified (at any level) if it was indeed a list of their forum members.

I do not know anything about the list or how Gary may have gotten one if in fact he did.

If he did use a list from that site how could they prove it?

If they could prove it who would have to sue him? The Berman's or would it have to be class action by the members who received the email?

What purpose would it serve to sue him?

One of the guys on the site claims to be trying to protect Mels good name.

Protect it from what? I have never seen anything but praise for Mel from Gary.

Its all just a bunch of BS. 

I really need some charters to keep me busy. LOL

I don't know anything about the legalities... maybe even less than nothing. I was just referring to ethics, or the lack thereof. From my perspective it wouldn't make any difference how he came about having the list, using it to promote a competing site is straight up unethical.

Looks like the thread at CapMel finally got capped. Can't believe it took as long as it did, makes ya go hmmmm. (smiley here)

Agree about the charters, work is much more satisfying than politics.

I agree. I cant believe they let it go on that long. To me it shows the lack experience in the moderation.

That is the type of stuff that is going to be the down fall of that site.It could be a good one and was at one time.

I think it has run its course.