With the season winding down, take a quick look back and tell us how your season has been with regard to your fishing related goals. Everyone's bar is different for different reasons, as you know. For some its all about size and numbers, for others is just the sheer pleasure of being on the water. Maybe you conquered a new spot or technique. Let’s hear it.

goal: catch my first keeper (over 36 cause im old school like that yo)

uhhh yeah.. been really really frustrating. especially since the beginning of august. (july was the last time i caught fish except for one schoolie about a month ago). i hooked into three legal. two really big both dropped. one an inch away as i went to lip her and one in a wave. another was landed. but since there is no photo evidence nor an actually measurement i'm gonna say she was only 27".

i dunno the beginning of the year was amazing for me. when all of you were getting skunked i was catching dozens of fish an hour. literally. i couldnt keep fish off my line. all over 20". then everyone else started catching and i stopped. i'd say in june and july i landed around 80-100 fish most over 20" nothing big though. but fun just the same. since august how ever 1 fish. bunch of decent blues though. and god knows i have joined the ranks of the dogfish masters. it sucks cause i put in probably only a 3rd the amount of time in during june/july that i have since then. guess i hit my yearly limit early. :bc:

I had a good season. The only thing that was missing was some good bass on topwater and that was my own fault. I caught so many night tides that there was not enough time for it. In terms of numbers and size I was very happy July-October. I got my personal best at 48" inches in July and never looked back. I hope to do a little better next spring but again I just find it hard to get out to do much daytime fishing. Life and schedule don't permit it. :poke:

I'm heading to BI in a week and if I get a good fish on a pencil or danny it will have been a nearly perfect season. I just need one image to get me through the winter.

It was ( and still is) a typical season. Lot's of fish to 35 pounds, bigger than that were tough round these parts (Cape Cod) from shore.

Highlights so far have been the most spectacular hit on one of my homemade poppers I have ever witnessed in June when a 35 pounder followed the plug for a 100 feet and as I sped up the retrieve ten feet from the boat she lost her mind and killed the thing just off the rod tip. Me and Eric were soaked from the water that thing threw.

A 23 pound bass on the flyrod while drifting lazily across sand flats in Cape Cod Bay sight casting to rolling bass under a noon day crystal clear sky. There were hundreds of bass of all sizes for weeks there.

A 45 inch fish that ate one of my home spun needles on a dark night on a noted rocky island shore that just fought harder than any fish that size I have caught in a while. One of many low to mid 40 inch fish I had there this year.

First cast one June morning at the canal, again on a home made popper and having a 25 pound fish cartwheel across the surface after hitting the plug ass over tea kettle style. That fish thought he was a salmon.

With Numbskull one hot humid night in August on a point on a distant island and having fish after fish after fish, mostly all legal or better hit until I was actually tired of being on with a quality fish mid to high 30 inch range every cast and went and streched out under the foggy sky on an old surfboard and passed out.

Me and Stiffy and Kissell talking old times and taking 15 to 20 pounders on just about every cast in May at our secret inlet on Chrome Creek Chub poppers.

Walking for miles on a winter beach several times with TC and talking about the many ways to catch bass and how many of the old guard are gone that once fished with us.

There are so many memories to keep me at the lathe all winter perfecting and refining plug designs in preperation for next year.

My goal was to top my best fish from shore 25 pounds. 2 weeks
ago I took a week off to fish hard. While every one headed south to the surf I stayed inside the bay. Nw wind kicked in and turned the fish
on. Day 4 and i hooked into the best fight of my life. 30 pounds.
Figured I still had 3 days to top it but southwest wind kicked in and killed it. I still have 3 weeks of fishing in the bay before its over.
so i am not closing the book yet .
Goal next year the 40

I had two personal goals, both of which I met. My first goal was to break 30# on topwater from shore. My first fish of the year (April 27th) was 36# on a Mac canal cut from the shore. Met that goal quick. My second goal was to fish Cutty. Did that with the boys on the Fall trip.

It was ( and still is) a typical season. Lot's of fish to 35 pounds, bigger than that were tough round these parts (Cape Cod) from shore.

Highlights so far have been the most spectacular hit on one of my homemade poppers I have ever witnessed in June when a 35 pounder followed the plug for a 100 feet and as I sped up the retrieve ten feet from the boat she lost her mind and killed the thing just off the rod tip. Me and Eric were soaked from the water that thing threw.

A 23 pound bass on the flyrod while drifting lazily across sand flats in Cape Cod Bay sight casting to rolling bass under a noon day crystal clear sky. There were hundreds of bass of all sizes for weeks there.

A 45 inch fish that ate one of my home spun needles on a dark night on a noted rocky island shore that just fought harder than any fish that size I have caught in a while. One of many low to mid 40 inch fish I had there this year.

First cast one June morning at the canal, again on a home made popper and having a 25 pound fish cartwheel across the surface after hitting the plug ass over tea kettle style. That fish thought he was a salmon.

With Numbskull one hot humid night in August on a point on a distant island and having fish after fish after fish, mostly all legal or better hit until I was actually tired of being on with a quality fish mid to high 30 inch range every cast and went and streched out under the foggy sky on an old surfboard and passed out.

Me and Stiffy and Kissell talking old times and taking 15 to 20 pounders on just about every cast in May at our secret inlet on Chrome Creek Chub poppers.

Walking for miles on a winter beach several times with TC and talking about the many ways to catch bass and how many of the old guard are gone that once fished with us.

There are so many memories to keep me at the lathe all winter perfecting and refining plug designs in preperation for next year.

2008 goal: Fish with Flaptail!!!

This might help......http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=37073&highlight=goals


Get my 1st 30 lb'er
Get my Daughter a keepah...
Find some new Spots in my neck of the woods
Fish Big water more
Want to make a trip to either MV or Block once next year.....


I only managed one of mine.....and that was finding some new spots.

2008 goal: Fish with Flaptail!!!

Me too, before I pass on to that great bass haven in the sky...

Overall I would say I had my best year ever! I fished more than I had before and beat my PB twice. I moved to a new area and was able to consistantly catch fish, and through trial and error I found at least 3 spots where I know what time of tide and wind is good.

I wanted to break the # 30 mark from shore, I got a 42+" fish that I didn't weigh but would definitely say was over 25 lbs. I wanted to use my fly rod more and was stoked to get my first and second Albie on the fly down on the vineyard. I also helped my girlfriend catch her first keeper a nice 33' fish.

The only thing I would say I regret is that I caught all my best bass by myself. I enjoy fishing alone, but wish I could have shared some of my better nights with a fishing companion.

I'm going to Rhody this weekend for the first time for one last fishing assault mission, so perhaps that 30# is waiting for me :uhuh:

Wanted a 40, didn't get one came clost twice. But the season isn't quite over for me.

Wanted a 40, didn't get one came clost twice. But the season isn't quite over for me.

Same.
no 40. goal unmet.

BUT
Had fun
Fished fairly hard.
Had fun
A lot of skunkings
Still had fun

Still looking for my first 40lb (plug) fish of the year (or last year also for that matter)....but I've had plenty of fun doing it.

All I wanted was to enjoy every trip on the water.. goal acheived.

i had a personal goal just to get out more after trying to plan a wedding last year. i also wanted to try and be more self guided in choices and techniques.

i feel like i accomplished those goals. i was forced to find new spots due to poor productivity in old ones. this payed off and i had about 3 weeks of fishing that shattered last years personal bests.

hopefully a sucessful weekend trip to bi will cap off a positive season. next years goals: fish harder in may/ june and august/ september; also catch fish over 40#; use more eels.

Wanted to break 30#'s. Came close with one at 29lbs in the spring. Wanted to catch a 40" on the fly. Didn't meet that goal either.

All I wanted was to enjoy every trip on the water.. goal acheived.

Ditto.

I also figured out and learned a bunch of new stuff this year. Never too old or experienced to learn some thing new. Oh yeah I finally got my first Albie too this year. Thanks George, it was a pleasure.

My original Goal was to just have a safe, productive enjoyable season, Little did I know it would be the season of my life! Personally I reached the holy grail landing a 50lber and a 60lber in a span of 4 days, not to many in that club! It was just the best fishing year of my life, Dont really have any goals now but to just enjoy each season as it comes and fish my way! works for me anyway! so cheers to 2007 I will never forget it! No it wasnt cold in june, the reason for the gloves was that my hands were complete Hamburger! I loved it!

Here is another shot of the fish!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&/june200760lb.jpg

That is a awesome fish #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&!

I caught a striper on the fly rod in the kayak both goals for me this year.Also caught my first striper on a eel new this year to me another goal.Fished a allnighter again first for me with no sucess deffanetly gonna do that more next year.Caought my biggest bluefish ever not really a goal but still cool.Overall a pretty good year would have liked a big cow but im onley 35 and hopefully have many more years to go.Met a lotta of very nice and helpful people this year.And I still have a month to go.

Large on plug-not yet
Large on chunk-yes
50#-not yet
Tuna-yes thanks to RR
Albie-yes
Bonito-no
weighable shark for OB Tourney-no
Win MV Derby-not even close
How to net and fish sand eels-yes
How to net and fish bunker-yes thanks to RR
20#Bluefish-not yet

Most importantly, learned a great deal about a few new and old areas that will produce many fish in the years to come. You may have a sucky nite catching, but as long as you learn something its a successful nite.

Goal? Just one more. One more fish, one more cast, one more trip to the beach. I guess that's all it's ever been..

I don't have many goals....if I never beat my personal best..thats okay..
I wanted to get a 35# + fish on a plug...I don't care about it anymore, I gave up after 3 years of trying...Ive gone back to eels...
I did get a aprox.30# on a pencil..that was enough...
I had my best local nite so far....lost count, all large..I guess that was my seasons highlight....
All in all a good but exausting year...alot of effort for not alot of results...typical.

my main goal this year was to stay local and learn the area better. that didn't happen because a spot that is further away than I usually like to go paid off big time when we tried it one night on a hunch. it was a spot that we fished a few times before and that looked really good but that never produced the size fish that it looked like it should. this year that changed in a big way. spent about two months there and searching the surrounding area (about a mile or two radius) - finding them for a night or two and then losing them and starting hunting again.

what did happen is that I had a ten times better season than I ever could have hoped for or set goals for. landed my PB on eels, finnish swimmers, needles and metal lips (all over 40 except the needle). crazy. i paid for it and was pretty much miserable and going on no sleep for two months - but it was worth it.

Goals change, got the chance early to buy a boat. I been waiting for a long time. Found the 20' center console @ the right(cheap) price.
So goal # 1 fish as much as possible with son #2 (loves to fish almost as much as soccer or hockey), did that 36'+ fish off the Race, blue fish in the rain flat calm day in the bay with poppers and 10# test too many fish to count C&Red. Out fished by #2 jigging off the Race (not a goal) same rod, same reel, same color jig. He get's 4 over 38" Pops 0 fish. He loved it ,bragging rights. Fishing with the better half, done x 10. Blessing of the fleet with wife and daughter #1, great time. To me I can't care less the fish I get I have the best time when my wife or my kids or a friend(who doesn't usually fish) come from the "city" and hooks a big fish. I have the time of my life.

Goal for 2008 get boat in early and do it all over again. Also get to the back side in the fall for the run.

Found the boat!
Figured how to pay for boat, and ongoing expenses.
Spent many happy hours on the boat!
Got totally into livelining pogies, and scoring large!
Spent two fun weekends with the S-B boyz on Cuttyhunk.
Having a great fall back in the surf, and it's not over!

Of course goals around the house are on life support...:behead:

Also reminded by daughter #2 whom I took fishing with her boyfriend this year both caught. In troduced another to saltwater fishing. Had a great time. Jigging good to find out what the young man's made of. If he can jig for half a day he's alright with me.:beat:This was a second post don't really know what happened to the first, hope it comes up like to show the fam.

This season has been a bummer so far. Got a new position at work, good pay but man it cut down on the fishing time. The goal of a 45#er fell short and a lack of keepers that has been downright disgraceful has haunted me. The only good part was catching more blues in a 2 week stretch than i have in my whole life. And only lost 1 plug, no wire either. Go figure.

I didn't set any goals for 07 just wanted to fish as much as possible. Almost hit 50 and the day after I released this fish I thought maybe I should have mounted it. I'll keep at it till Thanksgiving.

Tuna-yes thanks to RR :kewl:

That day sticks out as one of the highlights of my year Tony !!!

One of the other memorable type of days I had on the water watching Leo catch all the fish !
The only thing I didn't get a chance to do that I hoped,
was to get into some large action from the surf.

I hope you have that last picture framed and on the wall somewhere..Awesome

Positive note ...
1.Earliest keeper ,,3 of them May 5th
2.Fished Cutty twice spring/fall,, thanks Ross inviting me
3.Did some wade a shore island fishing with Flap/Numby,avoided ordinance..
4. Best fishing of the year ... with Numby and Art .. sight fishing..
5. Special thanks to Mac .. cutting skin plug off my finger..
6. Haven't stopped fishing yet,,looking for latest keeper..
7. fishing with backbeach Jake and getting eyes filled with no seeums and putting on a skeeta feed later that night,,bumps on bumps..
8. new spot 3 and 0 .... thanks PNG
9. Mike M&D's ,,thanks for new custom rod , Troll clubhouse .
All small fish this year for me ,, usually do a few 30#.. this year nada.. I blame Josh and Luds for that ,,fishing North of me ..

Only regret never fishing with homies local ..always just missed yous guys .. Slingah,,Bigfish ,,Joe .

No specific goals, but despite not fishing in July and August due to work, I caught my personal best 42lbs. Learned a lot as well. Good year.

I hope you have that last picture framed and on the wall somewhere..Awesome


I've got a few (even better)

My goals this year were to break 30 pounds and to catch large fish on a more consistant basis. I havent broken 30 yet, however I did get alot of good fish in the 20's this year. This year's numbers overall are through the roof. I'm happy with the season so far, still have about a month or so left.

Maybe I'll get that 9th inning 30.............

A goal for some time was to get a boat and I did that this year. By the time I was situated, I missed some of the best fsihing in the bay, but I did get to experience some of that fishing with P23. I had a blast catching porgies and snappers with my kids and time on the boat with my family. I thought I'd be able to get more sleep fishing from a boat, but I was still on the water between 2-3am. Sometimes dusk until 1am. I spent a lot of nights, up close to the rocks tossing eels, it was a blast. My goal was to break 30lbs which I have not yet done. Got a few in the 20s, most under 15.

My two most memorable times were 1, around labor day. All alone on my boat, no one around and massive blues feeding on snappers. The water was glass, and it was large blues on every cast. The visuals were amazing. Not something anyone cares about, but I must have caught well over 100 blues this year. I can offically say I am now sick of them (until next summer)

The 2nd was 2 weeks ago, beautiful early evening, pink purple skies, glass water, fsihing around a small island and rock out croppings. I have rarely caught stripers on topwater , but this day I was casting a white pencil on nearly every cast, bass between 24 - 32" where nailing it . Missing about 1/2 of them, popper flying in the air. I looked around me and it was so incredibly beautiful on the water and I was nailing the fish. It was almost too good.
I've had a good season, and learned alot. I am really looking forward to next spring.

I don,t set any goals for myself. That would turn a sport I love into a competative event. Very disstracting! I enjoy ever minute I'm out there because there are no pressures and no disstractions. I had a very good year and hope to have many more. When it stops being fun, I'll do something else.

2008 goals: To travel and fish more places like Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, Truro-Ptown and Nauset, Pulaski for Steelhead, Florida & Bahamas for Bones, and Cutty for a few comandos.

my goal was to do better than last year... which i did... and I also got to see cuttyhunk... but im still pretty disappointed.

Granted... there isnt much I can do about it... For the most part I cant follow the tides etc.. I go when I can go.. which is 1-2 times a week, when a window opens, and 90% of the time its at the canal....

So its all luck of the draw...

Fish goals. Albie on MV, Damn funny fish. Had shots but no fish. Did catch a Bone in RI. Still trying for a 15+ Salmon. Learned how to fly fish and spent a good part of the spring catching Brookies, Browns and Rainbows on some beautiful streams in Northern Ma. Had an epic day were my wife, son(4) and I were all hooked up at the same time from shore in RI. MV derby was fun, no big fish but great company and learned some new areas. Week in Westerly in October was also a huge highlight. Driving the beach with the family was priceless.

Wanted to break 30#'s. Came close with one at 29lbs in the spring. Wanted to catch a 40" on the fly. Didn't meet that goal either.

cough you forgot to mention cough cough on a boat. :yak4:

ohhh and my goal was to break 20lbs in the canal this year but didnt. but the season is not over yet! there is a chance that i can still break my pb from last fall. but each and everyday my chances are becoming slim. but who knows?

i cant wait till i can drive. next fall legally. that is when the real cow hunting starts. and that is when the bar is raised. :)

Had some great nites local with Slingah and BigFish, not done yet

I had a great year..... my first keeper of the year was my pb of 28#... caught over a 100 20#s, caught my first bonito..... and had a great time on light tackle goin for schoolies, bloos, and albies..... cant wait for next year!!:hee: