I was just curious how you guys are doing with any goals that you may set for this year. I have achieved 2 of my 3 goals, but not the most important one yet. I wanted to fish the outer cape, get a lathe so I can make some plugs, and catch a 30 # Bass. I went to the outer cape and fished one night ( it was mung-believable), so as much as I enjoyed those beaches at night, I really didnt do alot of fishing, and I still havent caught a 30 lb fish, but there is always the Fall Run.:happy: I'm not giving up yet!!!

haven't come close to any of the goals i set for myself this year...:smash:

my lady friend wont let me reach my goals or hers !

As far as goals, I've had a crappy season. Alot of the water I wanted to explore I didn't. Some of the techniques I wanted to work on (tube n worm, fishing the deeper ledges and rips) I didn't. I lost my electric motor for about a month and couldn't work the rock islands the way I wanted. Most of all, I wanted to hit the mackerel run off Boston, but it was pretty short lived and weather didn't allow me a decent shot at it. I wanted to rejoin the 30# club and maybe go to 40, but I blew the one really big fish I had on. Well, it broke off... not much I could have done.

Basically, I didn't have the time on the water I'd like (who does?), so my one trip out a weekend was golden so I pretty much stuck with stuff I knew. Did some new stuff and fished a couple new areas, but not alot.

But I've had a great season so far since I've enjoyed my time on the water and caught fish more consistently. I improved my live bait finding and fishing and my touch on fishing soft plastics was pretty good all year.

But as you said, the fall run is still ahead and hopefully the best fishing is yet to come.

1. Make my own plugs......done!:D

2. Catch fish on my own plugs.....done!:happy:

3. Go 30......not yet!:(

4. Go 40......not yet!:(

5. Go 50......not even close!:bc:

One of my goals was also to fish with as many of you as I can.....I have been doing pretty good with that!;) It has been a great year so far....could be catching more and bigger fish but I am not cryin'!:D

So far doing OK on my goals - but they weren't that aggressive to begin with:
1) Crack the 40" barrier (I never weigh the fish - so I just go by length) - done!
2) Catch 100 or more stripers - Im at 77 so far and with any luck I'll crack 100 by the end of the month. This isn't really about the absolute number - it's more about just getting out there more than I had last year.
3) Catch a striper from shore - Done - actually 13 so far.
4) fish the south shore of RI (Pt jude - watch hill) - Not yet..... hopefully soon.
5) Fish with live bait more - done - did the herring thing this spring - a HUGE pain in the A$$ and I've got to say it wasnt as effective as i expected. You read enough about live herring and you begin to think that all you have to do is put one out there on a hook and you'll have fifties jumping in your boat - not so I've found. I think I fished something like 50 live herring and had just a handfull of stripers to show for it. Obviously I need to refine the way Im doing things - overall, I've found 6" bunker storms to be the most reliable thing in my bag.
6) Meet more people who are into SB fishing - I've done some of that - but need to do more.

This is only my second season - so Im pleased with the progress I've made - but coming from zero - progress isn't tough to make! At this point I'm able to find fish most of the time (by boat). One of the biggest lessons I've learned this season is to switch things up when something isnt working. Sounds pretty basic - but it's easy to find yourself doing the same way over and over again. I've learned that the best way to turn things around is to to alter one variable at a time (e.g. lure color, retrieve speed, tip action, depth, etc....) until something works.

I've had a blast fishing for stripers - it really has opened up a new world of challenges!!

I met one of my goals.."fish" with Bassmaster..I will leave it at that..
:smash:

Did that job at the "Fudge Factory" ever come through?:rolleyes: :laughs:

Well, I can't say I had a list, but... some yes, some no,
made my own plugs, caught fish with same, Yes...
fished more... :( NO
Caught a 40.... :( not yet ;) (gotta be hopefull, now)
Got oldest into a good college, YES!
ooops, this is a fishing forum......
but, it were on my goal list! ;)
And, NO, I have not changed jobs, but, that's still on the list!

i made 2 important goals for myself before my baby showed up...
goal 1 was to fish like a maniac until the little one showed up, and I can say that i sucessfully did that... on second thought i think i over achieved that goal.

the second goal was a 30 lber and that was achieved on the last night that i could go out without feeling nervous that a baby might show up.. it was a gift from above, I know it.... the night was rough, there was a strong east wind which always screws me up, and as a result I almost blew it off, but i knew it was the last night i could get out without getting yelled at by the ol lady... I walked out to 'area 51' and on the 3rd cast hooked into the beast. after i landed it i called it a night. I havily regret that decision.. lord knows how many 30 lbers were infront of me:smash:

so all goals were achieved!

now the goal is to be the best dad i can be:D

:( fished the race...and threw my back out :af:

The only real goal i had was to catch a 20#. I got one a bit better than thrity so im pretty darn happy. Im really hoping that if i set next yeard goal at a 40 i will magically catch a 50. The other kinda goal i had was to get one of my fishin buddies to quit shining his light in the water every time we fish. I royally chewed him a new one last week and he got a 39" on the first cast, so i think i accomplished that one too.

Well lets see, I think like everyone else I want to catch a Fifty but lets be realistic. I spent more time over the previous year reading, researching and attending a seminar or two of some accomplished fisherman than actually fishing. So this year the goal was to take it serious. Spent the money on some decent gear and the essentials to be successful and put in a good amount of time fishing and learning some good spots. Caught many nice keepers so far and two fish I'm very proud of. My best 47" with a little over 26" in girth and a 43" a little over 22" in girth (all released). I'm happy! And hey the fall run is yet to come. :happy:

catch more quality fish - done

catch a 30lber - to eclipse the level (not yet)

the next two are life goals

catch a 44lber - to beat my uncles best - (not yet)

catch a 64lber (my grandfathers biggest was 63lbs like 25 years ago) - not yet, and hopefully before he goes

My main goal was to pull fish into the boat when people weren't catching anything, did not succeed, another goal was to catch a 40" fish my biggest was 38.5 from the shores of the canal. Third goal was to explore with the boat trying to find a honey hole again didn't succeed. The weather was very dissapointing this year and I did better from shore than land, I know the fall run is still something to look forward to but I am a little depressed about 04 so far.

1. FIsh like crazy- im now an insomniac

2. Get a 20lber- Gotten more then i can remember

3. Catch a tuna- Hopefully soon

My main goal besides that redundant goal of a fifty, was actually to fish LESS to put my time towards other things in my life like WORK. I definately fished a LOT less than the past years of my life. LAck of quailty fish, bad weather, lack of my fishin buddy, mung, and seals have made it very discouraging anyways. So far................

Mike that is ridiculous, I don't think there is such thing as fishing too much........but maybe.