I see many of the surf diehard crowd buying boats??? Is it old age or just the fact that surf fishing just ain't what it used to be? Why, in your opinion, is the surf fishing so poor the last couple years?:huh:

PS-We need a smilie with a boat!:btu:

boat guys i know are having another banner year. been that way for last 3 years or so. we need bait magnets on our shorelines.

I think it's just an off year, had the best year of my surf fishing life last year/ They'll be back..I hope..:scream2:

Either your in the "club" Larry or your standing on shore watching our wakes. Eat my wake BF!!!!!

Larry.....look where all the fish are being caught down here..out in cape cod bay...off shore on the back side....why? SEAL's along the beaches....ain't none outside or in the bay, cept the race inside. Your on the internet enough to read ALL the threads on ALL the sites to know....the beaches are dieing fast...wood you swim in shark infested water's if you knew you had a 99% chance of getting eatten.

I was a diehard surfer for shore,,but saw the sign's of thing's to come...look into the tin/fiberglass to see the light once again.

For me there are several reasons, first its just one more way to enjoy the water, second the shore has been full of bullcrap the last few years and its nice to get away from it now and then. I live 1minute from the water and I acually save fuel by fishing in the boat! I have an economical 4 stroke that sips fuel and dont have to run the truck as much.Its also nice to be able to reach places I have only been able to dream about. Plus I can beach the boat and surfcast remote places...It just opens up many possibilites and access is no longer an issue. And yes, the bones get tired after 40, Having done everything I wanted to out of the surf and certainly logging many miles walking, its a treat to be able to fish the boat.... I split it now and fish a few nights surf and a few boat. No more frustration hearing that they are killing them in the bay on live pogies etc...just out of my range...I can now reach fish when I have to. I also enjoy the solitude of the boat and the ability to get away from the crowds....Not many guys with boats are out at night fishing like we do in tight to the shore casting eels...


I will say, it does not gurantee instant success, I have my hands full learning the ropes at night, its very difficult to fish a shoreline full of boulders in pitch black, Having done both shore and now this, IMO the boat is much more mentally demanding and dangerous. I am basically fishing the surf from boat, not drifting humps in 50 foot of water, Its not easy ...Anyway, Those are my reasons..I dont understand why its some kind of bad thing to own a boat? Its one of the best purchases I have made....

my family life/work schedule just wont allow me to fish late nights anymore.. i can still do it once in a while, but it wrecks me for a day or 2.. if i do it everynight i can train my body to adjust, but to go only 2 or 3 times a week just wrecks me for the other days..

Im still a surfcaster, i just have one more option at my disposal (once i get it running :hihi: )

I think this year has not been so good you have to really look long and hard to find fish,yet I would'nt say that it has been that why in years past at least not where I fish in R.I. As all ready said bait is a major facter as why the fish just have not move in range.We all were hoping to get bait back and this year we saw large run of squid (may was a good month)and now we got to see the adult bunker came back somewhat, the problem there is most of it is staying south of us or what is up here is just off shore.Back when big bunker was pleantaful the fall runs were better then the spring lets hope that will be the case.

Boat fishing just gives you many more options to pick from. It is more fun for kids too. Just being on a boat is fun. Most people have limited time to fish in their lives today and having the option to go out on a boat can be real nice.

Don't get me wrong I love surf fishing but its fun to do both. Also, I think you can become a better (and more knowledgable ) surfcaster if you fish the shoreline from a boat. For examble, I believe that I am much more familiar with certain shoreline(s) structures because I have drifted over nearly every rock many times in a boat and it has made my surfcasting that beach more productive.

When the surf fishing sucks, you can still get out and enjoy some kind of fishing action, and when it is too rough or crummy to be out on a boat you can always go surfcasting.

Also, a day on a boat just bottom fishing with kids can create memorys that last a lifetime. I take a older gentlemen out with his grandkids each season for a day of fishing. (no relation to me, just a friend, he does a lot for me each year and I like to repay his kindness with a fishing trip or two) They are not fishermen but enjoy a day out there. Well to hear the kids recall each past years with details of past trips that I have long forgotten, well, you can tell they really enjoyed it and look forward to next season. This season one girl got a 9# fluke and the other girl got a 20# bass (on a fluke rig!) . What was funny was the fishing was very slow and the tide was screaming. I moved several times to different spots I like to fish and while we had caught a few food fish but nothing worth bragging about. They were saying how the previous season(s) had more action and this year seemed slower. Then in one long drift late in the afternoon the mood changed. They all got some real solid doormats and a few striped surprises. What was a slow day became an awesome day. The photos and memories they have they will never forget. It was as much fun for me as it was for them and I never wet a line. That is why people like boat fishing. Then you have all the other things you can do on a boat...tubing skiing, clamming, overnighting, visiting remote beaches, extened trips, offshore fishing, meeting new friends...it is just fun.

Larry,

IMO, and as mentioned above, it's always a number of factors to any situation -- I am a boat guy who grew up fishing from boats up until about two-three years ago when the baby came and my boat fishing slowed way down, this year I have yet to fish off a boat ... have I caught more fish off a boat? Yes, but that is also because of 30+ years of fishing from a boat and only fishing the shoreline once and awhile ... it's all relative.

I've had days of catching fish from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m. from boat in the fall where it is catching fish non-stop all day, but also because I was able to cover so much territory hitting spots throughout the day ... if one shoreline doesn't work, move to another, if that one dies down, motor to another, the mobility is far greater than you have from the shore as you can cover pretty much every inch of shoreline and every reef with relative ease -- of course you have to be careful of rocks and waves, etc., which means you want a capable individual with you who can get you out of a tricky situation without you having to give directions ... again, it's all relative.

Night time is better, but here again as mentioned above, you need to be focused on the rocks and want to ensure your partner is capable of helping you out of any situation ...

About crowds, yes you can escape the crowds more easily from a boat most of the times, but there are times in the boat when people will intrude on your fishing as they would on a beach ... especially during the day, you will always have the @$$ face googans who think you are onto fish or have something better and will mess up your drift, fishing area or whatever because they think you have the answer. So getting out in a boat during the day and scouting the area with a depth finder and watching the rocks, etc. is a great way to prepare for night fishing.

But the bait is the problem and having the bait inshore makes all the difference between scoring non-stop or being skunked, fish will always be where the food is.

Somehow, when I pull a fish from the surf, I feel a higher level of accomplishment than catching a fish from a boat.

My surf caught fish stick in my mind more than the boat ones.

i don't even like boating and i bought a boat , i just got tired of watching fish breaking just out of reach or around the corner that i cannot get to . mobility is the key i can fish 10 spots on a tide where as if from shore by the time i walk back to the truck , find a new spot walk out ect. i can only fish 2 mabey 3 spots .

Boat and shore is optimum :boots:

Larry.....look where all the fish are being caught down here..out in cape cod bay...off shore on the back side....why? SEAL's along the beaches....ain't none outside or in the bay, cept the race inside. Your on the internet enough to read ALL the threads on ALL the sites to know....the beaches are dieing fast...wood you swim in shark infested water's if you knew you had a 99% chance of getting eatten.

I was a diehard surfer for shore,,but saw the sign's of thing's to come...look into the tin/fiberglass to see the light once again.

Steve, ask Karl F., I had him in my skiff off of Chapin's and guess what we had on the east bar flats? A nice big fat seal and I have seen more since. Seems they are migrating over around the bend. Few off of Sandy Neck as well. Won't be long afore they gang up on the good feeding that all those little bass provide.

The seals are killing us. The Elizabeths are not immune either. We are seeing them way early in the fall than they used to be showing up. Now it's early September rather than early November. Something has gotto be done but the GOV'T. don't care bout us, it's animals first humans second. Well F^%& them! We have a right to the resources too just as much as seals do and we want our beaches back!:mad:

[QUOTE=striprman]Somehow, when I pull a fish from the surf, I feel a higher level of accomplishment than catching a fish from a boat.

More like a freakin' miracle than a higher level of accomplishment.:smokin:

Clandestine Cleansing :liquify:

[QUOTE=striprman]Somehow, when I pull a fish from the surf, I feel a higher level of accomplishment than catching a fish from a boat.

More like a freakin' miracle than a higher level of accomplishment.:smokin:

That was not a personal reference but a reference to no fish on the beach. Just to keep things straight.:tooth:

[QUOTE=Flaptail]

That was not a personal reference but a reference to no fish on the beach. Just to keep things straight.:tooth:

You can use it as a personal reference...this year :poke:

Capesams...I agree with everything you said. I know all too well the seals are dominating the backside.....they suck! The place to be is bayside but as Flap said...its a matter of time and they will be there too! Heard or read a report of a seal getting chomped by a shark the other day???:laugha: Well....keep saving those seals and we will be seeing an increase in attacks on humans for sure. I also like the way #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& put it as far as all the positives for boats.....makes me think a little more about buying a small tin for myself!:hidin:

Oh, and for the record....not knocking boats at all...(though I do like to tease once in awhile) as my bones get older I am sure that will be the way I go!

You'd be suprised as to what I've caught in a 8' pram...just make sure you have a good anchor.It's a long row back to shore after a nantucket slay ride:eek5:

Flap,

Maybe time for an OTW article on the seals.... with a letter the reader could copy and send to the proper authorities? And don't forget to mention how the seals are attracting those big white sharks closer and closer to the beaches that bring in all that tourist green!

I witnessed a couple of fights with seals over fish this morning out on the end. Needless to say fishers got the heads and seals got the rest. Slipknot stood a seal on its flippers too. Good test for the saltiga.:btu:

Capesams...I agree with everything you said. I know all too well the seals are dominating the backside.....they suck! The place to be is bayside but as Flap said...its a matter of time and they will be there too! Heard or read a report of a seal getting chomped by a shark the other day???:laugha: Well....keep saving those seals and we will be seeing an increase in attacks on humans for sure. I also like the way #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& put it as far as all the positives for boats.....makes me think a little more about buying a small tin for myself!:hidin:

Oh, and for the record....not knocking boats at all...(though I do like to tease once in awhile) as my bones get older I am sure that will be the way I go!

:btu:

I was on a boat fishing in Chatham today, and saw LOTS of seals up close to the shore !!!:behead: :behead:

someone say boat ? I heard BM bought a boat ,,whats that tell you ?

Let's invite some eskimos down for a cookout.:hihi:

Quote:
Originally Posted by capesams
Larry.....look where all the fish are being caught down here..out in cape cod bay...off shore on the back side....why? SEAL's along the beaches....ain't none outside or in the bay, cept the race inside. Your on the internet enough to read ALL the threads on ALL the sites to know....the beaches are dieing fast...wood you swim in shark infested water's if you knew you had a 99% chance of getting eatten.

I was a diehard surfer for shore,,but saw the sign's of thing's to come...look into the tin/fiberglass to see the light once again.





Steve, ask Karl F., I had him in my skiff off of Chapin's and guess what we had on the east bar flats? A nice big fat seal and I have seen more since. Seems they are migrating over around the bend. Few off of Sandy Neck as well. Won't be long afore they gang up on the good feeding that all those little bass provide.

The seals are killing us. The Elizabeths are not immune either. We are seeing them way early in the fall than they used to be showing up. Now it's early September rather than early November. Something has gotto be done but the GOV'T. don't care bout us, it's animals first humans second. Well F^%& them! We have a right to the resources too just as much as seals do and we want our beaches back!:mad:

Yes & Yes!

Steve & Steve, I could not believe seeing that lone seal that day, I also had a bad feeling he was a "scout"... you both can remember seeing the odd lone seal show up on the backside, then a friend told a friend and so on, and so on... they follow the fish, find them, and spread the word, to their fellow sea rats.

Larry, if you can get a skiff, do it. You will not regret it.

Skitter is correct, doing both is the way to go.

Tagger... yup .. BM=BoatMan now :wavey: :D

I will say this... I still like the feel of reeling in a fish, with my feet on the sand better, not a knock at all on boat fish, Boat Fish Count :D... just a personal preference, but, to get your "fish fix"... go skiffin'.. you really don't need a big boat.. Flap proved that to me.. and Thank You for that Steve!

friends with boats,,,, thats WAY better......................:smokin:

Boat is just another means of transportation to put you where the fish are,,,don't think its quick fix cause it ain't.

I use a 14 foot deep vee and I first started fishing in it to get away from all the losers on shore, up on the north shore everyone seems to end up at Salisbury or Plum Island and if you want to laugh fish there. anyway I love to fish from sand and rocks, I haven't used my boat once this year. but I will be if things don't turn around soon.

then a friend told a friend and so on, and so on... they follow the fish, find them, and spread the word, to their fellow sea rats.

[/QUOTE]

Are they usin cell phones yet. :huh: :D

U tossin' firecrackers now? :hihi:



:hidin:

Quote:
Originally Posted by capesams
Larry.....look where all the fish are being caught down here..out in cape cod bay...off shore on the back side....why? SEAL's along the beaches....ain't none outside or in the bay, cept the race inside. Your on the internet enough to read ALL the threads on ALL the sites to know....the beaches are dieing fast...wood you swim in shark infested water's if you knew you had a 99% chance of getting eatten.

I was a diehard surfer for shore,,but saw the sign's of thing's to come...look into the tin/fiberglass to see the light once again.


as usual :buds:





Yes & Yes!

Steve & Steve, I could not believe seeing that lone seal that day, I also had a bad feeling he was a "scout"... you both can remember seeing the odd lone seal show up on the backside, then a friend told a friend and so on, and so on... they follow the fish, find them, and spread the word, to their fellow sea rats.

Larry, if you can get a skiff, do it. You will not regret it.

Skitter is correct, doing both is the way to go.

Tagger... yup .. BM=BoatMan now :wavey: :D

I will say this... I still like the feel of reeling in a fish, with my feet on the sand better, not a knock at all on boat fish, Boat Fish Count :D... just a personal preference, but, to get your "fish fix"... go skiffin'.. you really don't need a big boat.. Flap proved that to me.. and Thank You for that
Steve!

You catching or working too much?

Somehow, when I pull a fish from the surf, I feel a higher level of accomplishment than catching a fish from a boat.

My surf caught fish stick in my mind more than the boat ones.


Same here. Boat fishing is still a blast, but to me its more fun than accomplishment.

I stopped at a trailer dealer the other day. I am going to trade in my skiff trailer for a slightly bigger one with wide tires. It has about 8 inches clearance at the axle over the ground. This will be perfect for dragging behind the buggy over the sand. Wood End and Long Point express. Just shove off at the Race and and pull her up above the high tide mark and get out and fish. When done just jump in and scoot around the corner back to the race. And when the backside surf is fairly clam launch there too and the Peaked Hill and farther south is yur oyster. The old gaurd had it right and in FW's book Modern Saltwater Sportfishing, he called the 14 foot skiff the perfect boat for a surfman. He was absolutely right. It is the only way to go as far as I can figure. Larry, hurry and join me we can start a mosquito fleet of tin. Just like the ol Monomoy days!

U tossin' firecrackers now? :hihi:



:hidin:

Not even a cap gun. :doh:

Larry, hurry and join me we can start a mosquito fleet of tin.
"Mosquito Fleet" :hee: I like the primitive aspect of shore fishing. 120 miles is a long ride to the end to watch seals chow fish . I can see that at the aquarian ,,alot closer . Is it over Johnny ? Is it time to join a bowling team ? I don't think your seal curtain is helping the fishing up north either . Damm depressing the thought of buying a boat . Shouldn't it be a bigger boat with all these great whites that are going to be joining us ? :scream:

"Mosquito Fleet" :hee: I like the primitive aspect of shore fishing. 120 miles is a long ride to the end to watch seals chow fish . I can see that at the aquarian ,,alot closer . Is it over Johnny ? Is it time to join a bowling team ? I don't think your seal curtain is helping the fishing up north either . Damm depressing the thought of buying a boat . Shouldn't it be a bigger boat with all these great whites that are going to be joining us ? :scream:

The best surfcasting water thre ever was was Monomoy Island. The only way to get there was by tin boat which we landed in the surf and pulled up high and dry above the high water line. Then we surfcasted all night from the beach. Never entered our minds to fish fom the boat,never. Stiffy did a 1000 pounds one night and I did just a smidge over 600 but the boat was the means to get us there, that was it. Now a smart surfcaster would see the writing on the wall with beach access. We fish Sandy Neck from the beach when closed to vehicle traffic but we get there by skiff. Don't you see the possibilities?
Think of all that shoreline from Chatham to Race Point that access is not allowed anymore by vehicle and walking is just out of the question because it's too far for my fifty year old legs ( never mind that I carry way too many plugs when I fish).

Surfcasting is the balls but the skiff will allow you more access to out of reach sights. Can't run over plovers in a boat. And I beg to differ with some who think boat fishing is a cake walk. A beach is a mighty steady platform unlike a boat in 3 to 5 footers, I respect good boatmen just as well as good surfcasters and if it gets me fish I am there in a minute. Beats fishing fishless beachfront or hooking fish to feed seals. If you don't adapt you'll die a lonely boring death on the beach. Monomoy was once the best but seals have killed it, and I firmly believe none of us will ever see the surfcasting be what it was just ten years ago, it's catching versus not catching. You can make all the gorgeous plugs you want but if there is nothing in the surf to use them on, what good are they?

I fish to catch fish. I can watch pretty sunrises or sunsets and gawk at stars in the night sky in my backyard. Boats = fish, it's the new way. Join in or loose out.

The best surfcasting water thre ever was was Monomoy Island. The only way to get there was by tin boat which we landed in the surf and pulled up high and dry above the high water line. Then we surfcasted all night from the beach. Never entered our minds to fish fom the boat,never. Stiffy did a 1000 pounds one night and I did just a smidge over 600 but the boat was the means to get us there, that was it. Now a smart surfcaster would see the writing on the wall with beach access. We fish Sandy Neck from the beach when closed to vehicle traffic but we get there by skiff. Don't you see the possibilities?
Think of all that shoreline from Chatham to Race Point that access is not allowed anymore by vehicle and walking is just out of the question because it's too far for my fifty year old legs ( never mind that I carry way too many plugs when I fish).

Surfcasting is the balls but the skiff will allow you more access to out of reach sights. Can't run over plovers in a boat. And I beg to differ with some who think boat fishing is a cake walk. A beach is a mighty steady platform unlike a boat in 3 to 5 footers, I respect good boatmen just as well as good surfcasters and if it gets me fish I am there in a minute. Beats fishing fishless beachfront or hooking fish to feed seals. If you don't adapt you'll die a lonely boring death on the beach. Monomoy was once the best but seals have killed it, and I firmly believe none of us will ever see the surfcasting be what it was just ten years ago, it's catching versus not catching. You can make all the gorgeous plugs you want but if there is nothing in the surf to use them on, what good are they?

I fish to catch fish. I can watch pretty sunrises or sunsets and gawk at stars in the night sky in my backyard. Boats = fish, it's the new way. Join in or loose out.
I hear you barking "Big Dog".. I'm picking up what your laying down ,,, I smell what your stepping in ,,, Its the end of the world as we know it . Is a Googan that buys a boat a Gilligan ? I may be joining you ,, just a couple more years of denial .

I see many of the surf diehard crowd buying boats??? Is it old age or just the fact that surf fishing just ain't what it used to be? Why, in your opinion, is the surf fishing so poor the last couple years?:huh:

PS-We need a smilie with a boat!:btu:

old age? what do you think we are senior citizens Larry? :hihi:
Maybe surf fishing ain't what it used to be but I personally find it very satisfying and rewarding. It's still a challenge and I learn something every time out.
I also don't think surf fishing has been poor the last few years, maybe you are speaking only of the backside beaches which, yes, they have sucked the last few years at times, and there is many things to cause this like, the bait stays offshore about a mile, seals roam the shorlines, mung has been thick, access is being squeezed. People may simply be not puuting in the effort they used to so it seems like not as many fish are around but I think less people that know how to catch them are putting in less time, get it?

I'll catch them fish any way I can, walk to catch them, ride a bike, drive a truck, take a skiff, take a ferry, whatever it takes when I have time to enjoy it.

Alot of guys are bringing yaks out on the beach because it's the only way to reach the fish during the day out there, try it you may like it.

yes Mac, I stood that seal on it's head, maybe it was stupid of me to try to winch him, but I wanted my plug back atleast. too bad the 52 lb leader broke, next time I will open the baill before the seal has the chance to grab it, and if I get sealed again, I'll loosen the drag some(locked isn't the way to go).


Yes Freak, friends with boats is way better :D

Ever been to the tip of monomoy in a 12'tin boat with a 3 horse and be looking up at whitecaps..what a rush...up an down...up an down:yak6: hail mary full of grace...can't wait to get back there an do it again :cool: .only danger in going is the weekend a****'s. They just as soon run you over cause their bigger :nailem:

14 foot skiff the perfect boat for a surfman. He was absolutely right. It is the only way to go as far as I can figure.
:uhuh:

Hi Everyone,

I just got on the message board today, and it seems like there's a lot of good stuff on here. I'm origionally from CT and fished the LI Sound most of my life. Being new to Boston I really dont know many good spots to fish from.....I've been to Castle Island a few times but only came up with a couple schoolies. I tried the harbor in the North End (close to my apt) but not much luck there either. I tried mackarel, herring, plugs, and flies..... Anyone have any good spots for me?!?!? Coming up empty handed gets depressing after a while!!!! Thanks!! - Billy

yes Mac, I stood that seal on it's head, maybe it was stupid of me to try to winch him, but I wanted my plug back atleast. too bad the 52 lb leader broke, next time I will open the baill before the seal has the chance to grab it, and if I get sealed again, I'll loosen the drag some(locked isn't the way to go).

I don't think it is stupid at all. I would have done the same thing. It is bad enough to lose a fish to them, but a plug too really sux.

We got into a few right after we saw you leaving the other spot . And the seals showed their big heads. Didn't lose any fish to them but it about shut down when the seals got in real close. I was using a Gary2 tiger and would have been pissed to have a seal try to steal it.:rocketem:

yes Mac, I stood that seal on it's head, maybe it was stupid of me to try to winch him, but I wanted my plug back atleast. too bad the 52 lb leader broke, next time I will open the baill before the seal has the chance to grab it, and if I get sealed again, I'll loosen the drag some(locked isn't the way to go).


I was watching down the beach for guys on and saw this rod doubled over, I was thinking "this guys on large".. Then I saw the seal splashing on top . I was thinking somebody finally snapped ,,He's going to kick that seals arse .. Wish I had video of that for the forum .. good show , didn't know at the time it was you Slip ..

ya Mac, if I lost a gary2 tiger to a seal, I'd lose it. it would not be pretty, just thinking about it makes me want to be extra cautious about where I will be tossing one.

tagger, I am lucky I did not break my rod doing that, if I had my 121-3m, I could have whipped that seals butt and had a chance at my plug maybe.

Larry, all this talk about the fishing has me thinking about how they have it over in Malaysia and the Phillipines areas, they overfished their inshore waters so badly, they keep having to go further and further out to sea and the catch is smaller and smaller, you'd think common sense would let them see they need conservation, but I guess they need 20-25" tunafish for food. :rollem: I see areas in our waters where it's getting bad, where flounder used to be but are completely fished out by the resident seals.
We as fishermen have to adapt to the conditions before us or get motivated as a group to bring some change.

Hi Everyone,

I just got on the message board today, and it seems like there's a lot of good stuff on here. I'm origionally from CT and fished the LI Sound most of my life. Being new to Boston I really dont know many good spots to fish from.....I've been to Castle Island a few times but only came up with a couple schoolies. I tried the harbor in the North End (close to my apt) but not much luck there either. I tried mackarel, herring, plugs, and flies..... Anyone have any good spots for me?!?!? Coming up empty handed gets depressing after a while!!!! Thanks!! - Billy

billy, get to know some of the members by joining in and maybe someone will be kind enough to let you in on some of the more well know places that are unkown to you, and in the meantime, just keep reading and searching for ways to find spots that may be productive.

After last year, when I fished from shore more than a half dozen times with zero fish, I kind of gave up on striper fishing from shore. This year I've only done it three times, and have one (about 20 inch) fish to show for it. I've started switching back to bluefish and tautog, like I did 15 years ago before the stripers returned. There are definitely some nice blackfish in the canal!

I used my 14 ft tin boat the first time last week in the salt. Some saw it at the leg. I was amazed at how much it could handle. I was taken on 2-3 ft waves in Buzzards bay and it was fine a little bumby but doable. It really shined in the one foot or less seas. We fished off the flats you guys fish in the 20 ft boat and I realized how easy it would be to take the skiff out there next year or later this year.

How is that area in the fall? Do the windshifts make it difficult?