been trying to catch fish on plugs for about 3 weeks straight now, not having much luck, think I'm gonna have to throw some bait tonight as it's been a little too long since I've caught a fish, I just haven't been able to find them this year, last year was great for me but I was only throwing bait for the most part, I think I need to start heading south, I've exhausted all of my spots around here

What kind of plugs you been throwing?.....

everyone hits a slump once in a while just work your way through it. mix it up - try some new spots. sunday if your interested.

Definitely down for sunday Niko, Prof, I've been throing everything I have, topwater, swimmers, needles, metals(not too sure fishing them right though), some rubbers, I'm pretty sure the areas I fish hold fish as I caught at them last year, I've tried different stages of the tide etc...just not catching, I know it's not supposed to be easy but this is getting to not be fun.....

Keep at it and you'll be rewarded. I almost gave in and used bait a couple of weeks ago, but then thought about how much I like the feeling of a fish hitting a plug at night. I haven't fished your neck of the woods this year, but you've got some fishy spots near you. If things don't improve, you could always spike a rod and chunk while casting artificials with another rod.

You might consider burning a rubber chicken on the rocks next time you go out. Im planning on doing this tonight.

I sacraficed a live checken last night, only thing it did for me was attract coyotes....but seriously, I planned on putting the rod in the holder tonight, just not very good from the surf yet, on the boat I manage to find fish most of the time, I just prefer the surf this year for some reason(besides the price of gas), I have one more spot I'm gonna try tonight and see if I can find a few

dude, just throw some eels and end it.
these guys aren't joking when they say plugs are not easy, but if you are bent on being a straight up plug guy, you just gotta keep at it. I suggest sticking with one or two plugs and really trying to master them, instead of just throwing everything in the bag at them

planned on throwing eels tonight

Eels are the best of both worlds, if it's just the thrill of the strike while your reeling in that you're after, it's the way to go. although you can't beat a topwater take!

Eels are for ugly guys who are perpetually blueballed. Us handsome dudes who fish plugs get all the girls. Don't give up, fishing eels will make you go blind.

As my old man says "Plugs are for catching one thing.....fishermen"
Throw eels. And don't fish angry. Just relax and it will come. And you can't catch whats not there. The south shore has been sloooooow for everyone I know up that way.

I agree redlite, I usually am more prductive right about now, hopefully they will show their faces soon, it's been slow all year here, I had a ok spring and then nothing

uh-oh I feel a plugs vs. bait war coming on.... close the thread now!! :rotflmao:

I agree... Live always works better than artificials.. That being said, I will burn a live chicken tonight..

hey freebie,
just keep at it, dude. i was pullin my freakin' hair out for the past three weeks, gettin nothin but blues and dogfish. from a night to night perspective, i was actually beginning to feel pretty depressed about the whole scene. i wa hitting the right spots at the right tides at the right times, and nothing. in the back of my head though, i knew that persistence would pay off, and it it did. you can do the same, man. just stay positive, and give it hell.

keep at the plugs...we have all been there...you will be rewarded...

EELS, EELS, and MORE EELS!!!! I was in your exact situation... my intro to surf fishing was from a bunker chunker... my first 2 years, I was able to get some bass, a few real decent. then I let the ridicule and purist pressure get to me, and I also liked the idea of actively casting and fishing rather than just wait... I started fishing plugs, and i felt more in control, but had very little luck, as there were so many variables... cant tell you how much time i put in with no fish... My first night with eels got me a 43 1/2 pounder. no lies. its the best of both worlds... if youre reluctant, do this... buy 5 eels... when theyre all gone due to catching nice bass, or you lose them on missed hits, you can always fish the rest of the night with plugs... oh yeah, be ready, most bass come on the first 1-5 casts at a new spot on eels. dont say i didnt warn you.

had 3 eels taken off the hook tonight, nice hits too, just missed on the hookset, lost another 1 due to snagging bottom, and casted one off, switched to a pencil popper as I was out of eels and had something decent sized swipe at it and miss, no fish landed but at least I know I'm in the ballpark now

give me back the rod its definitely in the wrong hands :heybaby::heybaby:

boat is a whole different story, no prblem finding boat fish, just haven't been out in a while(alot going on at home)

hows xyz doing?
I know what you mean.

freebie... when I started fishing eels, I was going crazy because I was getting solid hits, but my timing was off on the set... Problem was that I was holding the rod at a 45 degree angle like when I work a plug, and when I would get the hit, I would instinctually yank back like I would if I got a plug hit... Problem is, by doing this I was yanking the eel out of the fish's mouth too soon... when retreiving the eel, reel slowly, and keep the rod tip almost straight up... this way you cant yank back at all... when you feel the hit, drop the rod tip towards the water (bow) while quickly taking up the slack. (your rod is 9-10 ft. long, and dropping the tip gives the fish some line to take the eel without feeling tension and dropping it.) as soon as it goes tight again, set hard... time from hit, to bow to set is usually 3 seconds. I tried this approach and have had MUCH better success... give it a try...

I've fished eels from the boat before so I kind of get the idea, just working on timing, Bill, XYZ is going in thursday I believe, I've fished with him alot in the past few weeks as he is getting in as much as he can before he is out for the count, thanks for all the tips guys

I fish plugs mostly and this year the plugging has been slow on the North shore - nothing like last year according to my skimpy log. I feel it will pick up as soon as the water temp, starts dropping. The water temp is way higher this year. Just keep plugging!:wall:

Question on fishing with eels to you more experienced:

How do you rig an eel when used in the situation being described here? Line test? Extra weight? Please explain like I'm in the 2nd grade!!

Thanks. Bruce.

I fish live eels wth no weight at all... this is in a rocky shore situation, not a jetty with strong current... water depth is 12 feet max. I use a 6/0 hook, and hook them under the bottom of the chin, and out one eye socket... cast it out (an unweighted eel will cast out quite far...) let it sink/swin down to the bottom, and begin a very slow reteive.... then read my post up above... good luck, and get your camera ready.