Last night, with great conviction and in all seriousness, I made this statement(three witnesses) and firmly believe its over for me. I left fish biting, no more interest or drive. Fished the last 10 of 14 nights and I've had enough. So has my wife. :doh:
Do you ever hear yourself saying this towards the end of the season, only to sneak back out for another attempt or two at glory?

That didnt take long Mike! Welcome to the no drive club...I had such an awesome year I just know I cant top it...I am outa gass and done for the season! Saturday its candy apple day with the family at Jasweel farms! Sunday I am heading out to see the pats! Awesome 5th row end zone seats on the pats sideline! Then its halloween...No sense in going on further, I am quite content and happy at this point...Glad you had a great couple weeks and enjoy that Baby! time goes fast!

Yup! (Right Slingah?) It last a couple weeks until you take 3 or 4 solid skunkings and then you know its over!!! Good luck though when you head back out!:laughs:

I got another week or two left in me, not so much tired just feel like after a while a chance at a good fish is slim.

until next season:cheers::uhoh:

Glad to hear you guys did so well. I was happy to go just the few times I was able. Time is catching up to me. The "last trip" is always a kind of sad day. I've been LMB fishing the headwaters of the Taunton river the last couple weeks. Always get one or 2 on medium shiners from my favorite spots. No pajamas for me this year, had my chances though. Until next year. BBJ, ever go ice fishing for brood salmon in Lake Pearl ?

until next season:cheers::uhoh:

Glad to hear you guys did so well. I was happy to go just the few times I was able. Time is catching up to me. The "last trip" is always a kind of sad day. I've been LMB fishing the headwaters of the Taunton river the last couple weeks. Always get one or 2 on medium shiners from my favorite spots. No pajamas for me this year, had my chances though. Until next year. BBJ, ever go ice fishing for brood salmon in Lake Pearl ?

a sad day? nope...you just look forward to next season and its nice because the pressure of descision making is gone, no more weather reports, no more tide charts, no more BS reports, no more embelishing, none of it...just time to relax.......

I've been striper fishing since March 20th, so I'm starting to burn out a little bit.
For the past week I have been picking and choosing my nights, rather than going out everynight.(Still lots of good fish) Thats probably how I'll play it up untill the end.

a sad day? nope...you just look forward to next season and its nice because the pressure of descision making is gone, no more weather reports, no more tide charts, no more BS reports, no more embelishing, none of it...just time to relax.......

exactly, not sad, just time to "reflect" on the enjoyment of life.

until next season:cheers::uhoh:

Until next year. BBJ, ever go ice fishing for brood salmon in Lake Pearl ?

Ice fished there a lot, but mostly for bass. Will likely do some fly casting close to home for a few weeks.

Regardless of the quality of the fishing, I just lose interest this time of year. Maybe its the short days and the impending end that puts me into a tail spin.

In my earlier days, I rarely fished after the end of september, primarily due to the fact that you coudn't sell fish and I figured why bother at all. The last several seasons I've stretched it due to a renewed interest in surf fishing.

Last night, with great conviction and in all seriousness, I made this statement(three witnesses) and firmly believe its over for me. I left fish biting, no more interest or drive. Fished the last 10 of 14 nights and I've had enough. So has my wife. :doh:
Do you ever hear yourself saying this towards the end of the season, only to sneak back out for another attempt or two at glory?

So...............what time you picking me up?? I too have lost some drive, but will make a few more trips.

I'll take the rest of your eels Mike :D

i'm with you. i'll head out another time or two, but I'm done with the hardcore fishing. had a great season and the drive is pretty much gone. mid august through early october were a blur of all nighters and work. i'll make a few trips when its convenient but that's it. heading to BI in early nov. that'll be my last trip of the year i suspect.

I want a 40........I don't have the excuse of being old to stop fishing so I gotta give it hell. :rotflmao:

not done yet but fussy on weather,don't like the cold.

i have a few more weeks in me. few more boat trips, few surf trips.

The last hurrah for me is always schoolie fest in SoCo the week before T-day.

my wife is due in a few weeks with number 2. I am done. I cleaned all my gear and Hung it up till spring.

i never say it, just stop one day and then start again in mid april :)

I actually like the off season, time to think about what to do, make stuff, and of course buy stuff ;)

This weekend is my Swan Song.......Nov. 1 is when I hang it up for the season.

Then I'll start Smelt fishing for a couple of weeks....and then its wintering in Man Town over the lathe

I never have that problem, because I don't get to fish nearly as much as I want to. The "drive" never goes away :splat:

im nearing the end of the road as well... the schoolies that used to always take my lures at a UDL, dont even follow up my lures anymore since a few days ago..... may giv boat fishing one more try

That didnt take long Mike! Welcome to the no drive club...I had such an awesome year I just know I cant top it...I am outa gass and done for the season! Saturday its candy apple day with the family at Jasweel farms! Sunday I am heading out to see the pats! Awesome 5th row end zone seats on the pats sideline! Then its halloween...No sense in going on further, I am quite content and happy at this point...Glad you had a great couple weeks and enjoy that Baby! time goes fast!

What section you in #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& for the pats on sunday... I am 141 , 5th row end zone...

What section you in #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& for the pats on sunday... I am 141 , 5th row end zone...


My brother said its section 114?...its right at the end of the pats sideline near the tunnel where they come out

I still enjoy the late season fishing. I guess it's like hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth and I enjoy the challenge. I don't mind the cold so I'll be out there until I'm sure the chance of large has passed.

Some inspiration is attached.

I have to admit I needed some after last night as well.

The first pic is a year ago today. 42 pounds for my buddy Jim Debonis. Somewhere in Mass. Then the next is the year before that a few days from now.

Like it or not though, the window is rapidly closing, no matter what the water temps. For big fish anyway. I saw 61 degrees last night. Warm, but whether it matters or not is a different story.

I'll get out a few more times...but thats it...
I hiked up Mt Monadnock today..so I doubt Ill fish tonite..

I need a guaranteed 40 just to get out of bed. :uhoh:

nice pics pete

BB - showing your age eh???:hihi::hihi::hihi:

I've lived long enough to know each trip is one less in the allotment I have left. The act of going brings as much pleasure as what I catch. These late season trips when everyone else has quit and my expectations are low are the ones I cherish most.

I've lived long enough to know each trip is one less in the allotment I have left. The act of going brings as much pleasure as what I catch. These late season trips when everyone else has quit and my expectations are low are the ones I cherish most.

I don't know if they're my favorite, but I do enjoy it. You have to have some tenacity to push through the cold and the odds of catching bigger fish decreasing. And I agree completely it feels good to be relatively alone out there challenging the elements a bit.

Going Thanksgiving morning with a few friends to catch a few schoolies at the breachways to usually end the season is a trip that means a lot to me.

While chasing and catching the biggest fish possible is certainly my main drive out there, I enjoy the whole season. Schoolies at the beginning and end, splashing the boats for the first time, the Bay in May, the first good fishing off the rocks. It's all good.

Take what you need from it. Whether it's calling it early or going to the bitter end. Or fishing for stripers all winter if you know where to go. You only have to make yourself happy. :btu:

Just today I gave serious thought to hauling the boat this weekend.... The stoopid fishing in the harbors hasn't even really kicked into high gear, but I may be just hitting the rocks a few more times after hauling and getting the work required to put her away. I still am looking for a few more blitzes and maybe one more "good" fish though...

My brother said its section 114?...its right at the end of the pats sideline near the tunnel where they come out

thats a great section. i share season tix in that section row 15.

The change of season just means a more laid [or layed] back time of year. Head for the hard water, cut or chop holes, and relax. I fish a spot that doesn't get a lot of pressure, and only has a few houses vizable[wrong spelling?] I love the peaceful feeling that comes with being the only one on the lake a cold windy day, and feeling the cold biting at my face while I'm warmly dressed. Either you love or you hate it! I think that you have to have done it [and enjoyed it] as a kid to be able to do it when you get older. It's probably difficult for a lot of people to realize how a sane person could enjoy that, but that's ok with me. I love the solitude. If we all liked doing the same things [golf; hunt; bowl; etc.] it would get awfully crowed out there. I wish everyone a good, safe, and healthy winter. And one last thing----STAY OFF OF MY LAKE. :love: :) :)

When i was younger, and my hands,shoulders and knees hurt less, I started in Jersey in April and fished my way "home" to Plum Island, when all sensable (if there is such a thing) fishing ended at PI in October, I worked my way south along the outer cape back to Jersey.... I cant take that anymore.. I just get too dam tired... but by May 1 I'm looking foreward to the first schoolies at PI, I no longer make the long trecks to meet them, I still fish my local briar patch 5 nights a week until the boat has to be off the dock 10/15... each year I make one final trip, usaly around the full moon, starting at the river and walking the beach just tossing plugs, the way I did when I first started this madness, so many years ago, I pick a nice night when it's not too cold and just walk and plug... if I catch fish fine, but the feel of the surf tugging at my waders, the crispness of the night air is my personal farewell to another season...This past Tuesday was that night.:cheers:

Last night, with great conviction and in all seriousness, I made this statement(three witnesses) and firmly believe its over for me. I left fish biting, no more interest or drive. Fished the last 10 of 14 nights and I've had enough. So has my wife. :doh:
Do you ever hear yourself saying this towards the end of the season, only to sneak back out for another attempt or two at glory?

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Happens each year then the phone rings, "goin' down to Cutty tonight, wanna go?" Geez, it's November 22nd and it's21 degrees...I said I hung it up for the year." Well? Okay, what time you want me at the dock"? "Be there in a 1/2 hour and dress warm" "Okay!"

Never ceases to amaze me how that happens. Never say never I guess!

Great news all you guys hanging it up lol, I can terrorize your fish for the next 4 weekends all alone with no crowds. TYVM :)

BB what happened the fish shrink..? :D
It's funny how u guys are hangin it up an our fall run is just getting started..a month ago there where as many replies about the striper cup ending too early..
I guess u have to do what makes u happy.U need balance.Every night gets tiresome after a while.
Of course this is just propaganda...:hihi:

the shore cod fishing season is only a few weeks away.

i am going to bite my tongue and say it,if you guys would stop fishing for your egos and fished for fun you would never get the erge to quit.

Ice fished there a lot, but mostly for bass. Will likely do some fly casting close to home for a few weeks.
.

Why don't you and Tony come up here. I had to black it out for spot burning purposes.

Nice

Wow. Those pics make me want to dust off the 4 weight...

i am going to bite my tongue and say it,if you guys would stop fishing for your egos and fished for fun you would never get the urge to quit.

Amen to that John. Last Monday I saw a great meteor shower and a fabulous sunrise. No fish, but it did not matter. Last year I fished into December. Will do the same this year. It is never not fun and always fills me with calm and awe.

ED

i am going to bite my tongue and say it,if you guys would stop fishing for your egos and fished for fun you would never get the erge to quit.

Not sure it’s an ego thing. Given the number of skunkings I take each year when shore fishing, it can't possibly be.
Sure, things swing into your favor on occasion and all is wonderful for a brief time, but fishing from the shore is, was, and will always be a labor of love.

BB,you are the one who said you lost your interest and drive,that doesn't sound like love to me.maybe just burnt out.personally i can't get enough of the salt.i started fishing 49 years ago,have spent a good portion of my life working on the water or playing on the water.never can get enough of it.unfortunately i live about 5 hrs from the salt so i can only get about 100 days of fishing in.i guess to each his own

Do you ever hear yourself saying this towards the end of the season, only to sneak back out for another attempt or two at glory?

l.i.fish.in.vt,

You missed the last sentence of the original post. Tongue in cheek/joking thread.:huh:

Went out the next night and took a good skunking though. The cold, damp breeze on the back of my neck accompanied by a driving rain, numb fingers,backlashes and sleep deprivation assured me that I haven't lost the drive. Yet. :laugha:

Take what you need from it............... You only have to make yourself happy. :btu:

Well said. What we need and take from fishing changes throughout our lives. Worth remembering.

good, I am glad you are done because my ego can't take reading any more of you posts about how you were bailing 25-35 pound fish :pop:
it makes me feel like a loser, then i go out to fish and get bluefish :rocketem:. I remember what you wrote earlier in the year about seeking out newer places if the old usual spots don't produce, I wish I had more time to do that. Luck has not been on my side this year. You had a pretty good season considering you didn't go out as often as you would have liked. :btu: Good for you.

Gee Slip, even my kid can catch schoolies.

Gee Slip, even my kid can catch schoolies.

Chris, That's a great picture. One the 2 of you will remember for a long time to come.:cheers:

Gee Slip, even my kid can catch schoolies.

Great picture :btu:

I wish I had more time to do that.

Ya, right now i'd be very happy to spend a cold night in the surf,

let alone a sunny day with green water, blue skys and yellow beachgrass in the background. :)

It's a looong winta. :(

No over for me. Just one more trip in the boat and then Iam back in the surf till December.

Having the boat gives me the freedom to rest (somewhat) this old, beat up body and still fish hard. Now Nov is here and I can hit the surf. I still love the rocks and the sound of the waves crashing . It's not about catching. It's about doing and I just love to fish for Bass.

good, I am glad you are done because my ego can't take reading any more of you posts about how you were bailing 25-35 pound fish :pop:
it makes me feel like a loser, then i go out to fish and get bluefish :rocketem:. I remember what you wrote earlier in the year about seeking out newer places if the old usual spots don't produce, I wish I had more time to do that. Luck has not been on my side this year. You had a pretty good season considering you didn't go out as often as you would have liked. :btu: Good for you.

Seriously Slip, it was really %$%$%$%$ luck more than anything else. After blindly walking into the fish on the first night, it was just a matter of showing up each night on the same tide until the fish moved on. Anyone who showed up did well. There was no real genius or skill involved. The biggest challenge for me is always trying to balance family, work, and fishing.
My schedule for those two weeks was like this...Up @6am helping wife get kids ready for the day>>> work from 7 until 5>>>get home from work and spend time w/family until 8:30pm bedtime>>>sleep until midnight,get up and drive an hour or so>>>fish from 1AM until 5am>>>drive home an hour or so>>>and repeat. Got a couple of nights sleep in there somewhere, but you get the picture. Fun but not easy, thus the "I'm done" attitude.

Seriously Slip, it was really %$%$%$%$ luck more than anything else. After blindly walking into the fish on the first night, it was just a matter of showing up each night on the same tide until the fish moved on. Anyone who showed up did well. There was no real genius or skill involved. The biggest challenge for me is always trying to balance family, work, and fishing.
My schedule for those two weeks was like this...Up @6am helping wife get kids ready for the day>>> work from 7 until 5>>>get home from work and spend time w/family until 8:30pm bedtime>>>sleep until midnight,get up and drive an hour or so>>>fish from 1AM until 5am>>>drive home an hour or so>>>and repeat. Got a couple of nights sleep in there somewhere, but you get the picture. Fun but not easy, thus the "I'm done" attitude.

That's sounds familiar minus the kids. The 1 hour to 2 hour round trip everyone night is what did me in. When you're beating yourself up like that all the gas money just adds insult to injury.

Adding the kids is the killer part, knowing you aren't the most important thing in your life anymore. Took me some getting used too. The ultimate responsibility. BB I couldn't do that schedule anymore. I applaude you for the juggling act. I need a nap.

After 4 weeks of killer large fishing and some electrical issues that forced me to drop off the boat this morning, I'm winterizing and getting the 16 footer ready for my winter fishing. I'm taking a few weeks off to play some golf and get some gear stowed for the winter.

After 4 weeks of killer large fishing and some electrical issues that forced me to drop off the boat this morning, I'm winterizing and getting the 16 footer ready for my winter fishing. I'm taking a few weeks off to play some golf and get some gear stowed for the winter.


Sissy.

I'm officially done for the year.

I went down to Rhody for the first time this Sunday and got to see some of these spots I've been hearing about from you guys for years. It was really cool to explore some new area's, one in which I donated my favorite plug to the ocean :realmad:

I ended up getting into a nice blitz at the end of the day Sunday and caught a bunch of bass, all small but still tons of fun.

It was a bit sad knowing that I was doing my last cast of the year. I was happy that the last fish I caught was a nice 25'' schoolie on the fly rod.

I spent enough time and way too much $ on fishing this year but feel like I gave it my all. I have a lot of things to catch up on in the next few weeks and I feel satisfied walking away. Good luck to those who are still getting after it. This site will keep me interested as the snow starts to fall.


P.S. I'm going to get my ski's tuned and prepare for the "other season"

Considering I didn't fish at all July/August, and that Sept into October I was on the road most of the time, and then I injured my right arm...

I'm just getting started :jump:

Although the bar is set pretty low. If I can get a keeper in Nov I'll be happy as a clam.

-spence

There are still bass on Cape here, Sunday night nada, the water was still "ugly", but last night thinngs were getting back to normal and I did okay. Mostly small fish but with matched gear and/or the flyrod it's still better than sitting at home goin', "Sh!t it's 5pm and it's dark out already"!

Got at Least until Thanksgiving round these parts, then the annual pilgrimage ( no pun intended) to Fishers Island to wrap it all up.

Does anybody remember how LATE last year lasted?
Only this year there seems to be a good concentration of LAHHHHGE in close. Time will tell, but I'm one of those whackos that doesn't fish all winter, but will fish until I am absolutely sure there are only resident schoolies swimmin' round. I have become more choosy since the migration has begun. I'll focus more on the right moons and the right times during the next month to month and a half.

I am more of the Pete G school of thought. Have never been bothered by the cold, providing there's enuff layers. Will be making the journies to SOCO for the two best moons of this month, and as warm as it has been it looks as though Dec's New may hold some promise.

And there is a matter of a Plug Tourney still motivating many of us to keep pushin' on, at least until Dec 1 :D. Also, i set a personal goal of 40#+ for this year. Looks like the odds may be dwindling, but I haven't lost the drive being encouraged by my best season to date.

I can definitely appreciate the wear and tear of the juggling act BB. My Honey Cove on Cape Ann is 45 mins one way. SOCO is a good 1.5 hours to WKPG B&T from my doorstep in Saugus. Hold on for at least the next two moons, you may be pleasantly surprised and at least ya won't be kicking yerself in the proverbial groin this winter for not giving it yer all.

Hang it up iffin you must, but being more selective and narrowing your fishing windows may be what's needed to jump-start your final push?

Well Boys and Girls,

Yesterday was my last trip. It was the kind of day one dreams of, both weather-wise and fish-wise. There were mutable schools of Bass with a few large Blues mixed in. What fun, mostly small fish but there were so many schools you could shop around ‘till you found some keepers. It was a great end to a season that was, let’s say, less than Stella for this ol’ boy.

Yesterday afternoon I took my tin boat to Wareham to be winterized.

I’m already having withdrawal symptoms... ”Hi my name is Al and it’s been 1 day since I’ve been fishing!”

It’s going to be a long winter.

Al

I think my last trip might be this coming weekend... (unless you count a haddock trip in early december)

I got alot of stuff I need to learn for work (C# ASP.NET etc)
Cant do it while casting :)

Yep! All the time:btu:

I gave up albie fishing this past sunday. It was the first time since august when I didn't at least see some sort of hardtail. I was actually looking forward to giving up on them. I think I'll wait until december to give up bass fishing, christ I haven't fished for them hard since bones and albies showed up a few months ago!

I can't believe the number of folks that are saying they are done for the year. The water temps in Newport are 55 degrees, and the bass don't leave until it hits 50. I have not seen a gannet diving on herring yet, during the most spectacular part of the run. Traditionally, it goes until Thanksgiving, and this year we are 2 or 3 weeks behind. If you have fished too hard, OK, pack it in. No knock on anyone, really. Dust off the gear, folks, the best is yet to come.

I can't believe the number of folks that are saying they are done for the year. The water temps in Newport are 55 degrees, and the bass don't leave until it hits 50. I have not seen a gannet diving on herring yet, during the most spectacular part of the run. Traditionally, it goes until Thanksgiving, and this year we are 2 or 3 weeks behind. If you have fished too hard, OK, pack it in. No knock on anyone, really. Dust off the gear, folks, the best is yet to come.
Amen brother...like I said...I'm just getting started :vamp:

-spence

Lots of gannets since the storm

It ain't over yet.:wave:

Hi Boys,

For you that say the best is yet to come...I agree 100%. Especially for the larger fish.

But this ol' boy's had a fun year and my Christmas Tree Farm has to be made ready for the season. Besides, every year AM temperatures in the 30's seem colder than the year before.

So for you all that are still fishing I wish you lots of action. Keep warm and be careful!

Al

Keep the faith guys, big push of large in a few of the spots I fish. Plenty of bait too.

The Big run has not even started yet.I hope this cold evenings start getting things in motion.

I was trying to net some bunker and caught snappers the other day.

is it that time already . Im travilin to fish in ct .