Doesn't seem like much going on fishing wise this season?? I have seen where a few folks (like myself) are busy with big home projects which is keeping them from the water for a bit but overall it sure seems like not alot going on????

Signed......bored and I need to fish damn soon!:fishin:

Hi BF...I have not fished in over a month...that Flaptail set the damn tone!!!:fury:

I'll stop by next week....

DAMN that Flaptail :smash:

Doesn't seem like much going on


Dead fish tell no tails

or flap tail either :grins:

Went out last night. Tried about every trick in the book. No birds, no bait. At o'dark30 we found a couple bait fish on the surface but couldn't drum up anything. Nice sunset in Casco Bay.

been in the FAMILY mode all summer,

or so it seems~~~i'm not complainin' as
it's been very NICE seeing my 19yo son, SOX games,
going to PA to see the nephews and nieces and take Kris
to his cousins/uncle, and then there's the job search BS!!!

anyways,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Kris goes back to FL on the 19th and
July's New will be in full swing by then :uhuh: :uhuh: :uhuh:
am "hopeful" to string together consecutive allnighters, THEN,
for the FIRST time at all during the '09 migration!!

it's getting harder and harder to be a fishpimpa
"these daze, it's just so hard to be a FISHpimp!!"
<with apologies to BIG scrazy EEEEE, and whoever's rap>
:bl: :bl: :bl: :bl:

I think it is more related to the weather... for the most part, it's been miserable, and anyone who has done this for awile just is not inclined to take any more beatings... I know I'm not...I havent done as much as in the past myself.. but I have pulled more all-nighters than I have in 10 years, trying to take advantage of what good weather we HAVE had... we have nice tides next week, the southerly winds are SUPPOSED to return... down side of the moon.. next week looks like "the " WEEK TO GET GOING...

tight lines
Roc

I agree with Joe. Weather in June sucked the life out of me. I fished just about 5 days a week in May and first week in June and then after that I just lost interest and weather didn't help. I go thru these fazes from year to year. When it isn't so much fun I cut back. Life gets in the way a lot of times, not always a bad thing either. I don't even miss not doing the comm. thing right now. This may be my last year of holding a license, although I have said that before. Just not into it this year, thus my procrastination of buying a tow vehicle. Maybe we will be rewarded with some good Albie fishing this fall. I am sure some people more determined than I are probably doing good.

Hi BF...I have not fished in over a month...that Flaptail set the damn tone!!!:fury:

I'll stop by next week....


Check you voicemail! I can cure this tomorrow!:uhuh:

I am sure some people more determined than I are probably doing good.

They are, and that's(determination) a key point. I took a 1.5 hour break the other night to get feeling back in my toes after standing in place for four hours. While I rested my partner put the hurt on em. I got back out there just in time for one lowly dogfish.

I think it is more related to the weather... for the most part, it's been miserable, and anyone who has done this for awile just is not inclined to take any more beatings... I know I'm not...I havent done as much as in the past myself.. but I have pulled more all-nighters than I have in 10 years, trying to take advantage of what good weather we HAVE had... we have nice tides next week, the southerly winds are SUPPOSED to return... down side of the moon.. next week looks like "the " WEEK TO GET GOING...

tight lines
Roc

Could not agree more. I've also let myself bedistracted by life but I'm going to change that for the next couple months. :uhuh:

New Job, Training, Family Stuff.....I haven't been out since Cutty in June....and that was only the 2nd time I got out this year.

Job pressures and coming within a whisker of losing my job due to state budget cuts just took the wind out of my sails this year. I have had the skiff out once and the fishing was horrible that day which led to not wanting to go out.

I have been concentraing on getting the important stuff done and spending time with my wife and daughters in between our frenetic lifestyles and work hours.

I have been going out fishing a few nights a week, no pressure, just me and like it because I can stay if I want or if I am a bit tired just decide to leave and who cares? I Love it, I am not killing myself, getting dog tired, not being able to function at work or run the risk of disharmony at home just because I ran myself ragged to catch a stupid fish anymore.

Tonight I plan to go east but who knows, I may not feel like it tonight after all but the best thing is I am not going to lose sleep over whatever decision I make. If I go I go, if not is it really that important?

No it's not, the urge will return, I suspect when the chill of the autumm air starts to take hold, the tourists and vacationing "anglers" are gone and we can use any ramp, park in any lot as we please.

Come on September.:uhuh:

Well, I guess it's not just you Larrry...hope that makes you feel better if nothing else

Reading the posts what I get is everyone who's chimed in so far is saying the same sorta thing - and maybe this year's unusual weather has thrown everyone off a bit, too

You also have to consider that most of the regulars at S-B didn't start fishing yesterday and it's hard to get all fired up for summer fish - and most are guys with families, homes and jobs that they can't show up for with 3 hours sleep and a 2 day stubble on a regular basis in this economy

I feel like I've slipped into a comfortable groove this year - finally. A little more laid back, more philosophical about it, less driven (or manic, as da wife calls it) - :spin:

I dunno, basically it's summer now and I'm taking care of business doing some majors on the ranch while the weather holds and enjoying summer type stuff with my bride when I can. I'm finding myself fishing when I want to and when I can afford to time-wise - and I'm not gonna push myself that hard for summer fish.

Of course, come September I'll be whistling a much different tune...:devil2:

Well, I guess it's not just you Larrry...hope that makes you feel better if nothing else

Reading the posts what I get is everyone who's chimed in so far is saying the same sorta thing - and maybe this year's unusual weather has thrown everyone off a bit, too

You also have to consider that most of the regulars at S-B didn't start fishing yesterday and it's hard to get all fired up for summer fish - and most are guys with families, homes and jobs that they can't show up for with 3 hours sleep and a 2 day stubble on a regular basis in this economy

I feel like I've slipped into a comfortable groove this year - finally. A little more laid back, more philosophical about it, less driven (or manic, as da wife calls it) - :spin:

I dunno, basically it's summer now and I'm taking care of business doing some majors on the ranch while the weather holds and enjoying summer type stuff with my bride when I can. I'm finding myself fishing when I want to and when I can afford to time-wise - and I'm not gonna push myself that hard for summer fish.

Of course, come September I'll be whistling a much different tune...:devil2:

2 day stubble. LOL. I have that going on in a big way during fishing season.

Of course, come September I'll be whistling a much different tune...:devil2:

Was just talking yesterday with someone about that and I finished the conversation by saying most of the major fish landings take place around here in a four week period.....the last week of May through first week of June(2 weeks) then the last week of September through first week of October(2 more weeks).

What happens in between is usually just some filler. I would say 80% of what I catch from shore on any given year is during these two 2 week periods.

Lots of good fishing to be had in the summer, it is just harder to get to. If and when you do find a concentration of fish, they usually stay put long enough to get back at them several times. Charles Church caught his fish in early August......motivation enough for me.

I've had wayyyyy too much to do on the weekends with family and friends it's really hurt the fishing, but I have managed to get out on the kayak and catch some smaller fish which is fun enough for me. I started the season out wanting to hit it hard and as time went by I realized I should just enjoy life, get out when I can and not kill myself, it all works out better that way in the end.
The kayak has really opened up day fishing for me, I wouldn't even consider going out during the day surfcasting, but have done so many times on the kayak and caught fish.

Ive eased up the last 2 weeks, only going out for an hour at a time and poking around. Caught a few but almost all schoolies, im sure there are fish there in the wee hours, but my job performance has been suffering a little bit so i needed a break from the sleep 3 hours after work, eat, maybe sleep some more, fish, shower, work, go home, repeat routine. Fixing computers and dealing with people isnt fun when you cant think clearly. Come to think of it, its not that much fun period. You know you need to change something when you fall asleep while a computer reboots.

Family stuff, the baby, and buying a new house .. pretty much has tapped me out, I have been out once for about an hour in the last month

the weather has sucked so bad this year that it hasn't been worth it for me. Either smokin east- South east winds or smokin straight south. Tough for my spots. My wife said it to me again last night as I was sitting on the couch that she can't believe how little I have fished so far this year. The least in the 13 years we've been together. Commercial season is here and I have still only fished twice. Just not gonna beat myself up for crappy conditions. Still findin good fish when I go, but still only fishin once or twice a week for a few hours compared to the usual 5 to 7 nights a week.
Just can't snap out of the hibernation mode I've been in since last year.
Prioroities and interests in life always change for everyone.

...Charles Church caught his fish in early August.......

Boat fish....

...:hihi:

I get alot of fish by boat in August.. if I got out..the water would only be to my knees... flap wouldnt even get his ankles wet...sometimes it's not where your fishing it's how you can get there...

I get alot of fish by boat in August.. if I got out..the water would only be to my knees... flap wouldnt even get his ankles wet...sometimes it's not where your fishing it's how you can get there...

:jump1::jump1::biglaugh::biglaugh:

this is so true Roc,
not that I'm catching anything big, but from the yak most of fish are caught within casting distance from shore, but the shore is all private property

Was just talking yesterday with someone about that and I finished the conversation by saying most of the major fish landings take place around here in a four week period.....the last week of May through first week of June(2 weeks) then the last week of September through first week of October(2 more weeks).

What happens in between is usually just some filler. I would say 80% of what I catch from shore on any given year is during these two 2 week periods.

I didn't really start fishing until the first week of June, and it was pretty consistent for me the whole month and into early July. There was a stretch there where I went 10 consecutive outings with at least one fish over 20 lbs/40".

It slowed a bit after the 4th weekend, and right now I'm spending a lot of time at Falmouth Hospital where my wife is recovering from bilateral knee replacement surgery.

It has really slowed down for me here, around the Portland area.
Last two day's I've been skunked, and that doesn't happen too often.
I'm not seeing the bird activity that I did before. Everything seems to have slowed down, and the fish have moved off someplace else :confused:

each month is like a symphony
starting softly building to a crescendo at the full moon

then slowly easing back to a softer pace as it wanes
only to begin all over again....

Been working on my rental property to get it ready to sell. I had a family of pigs living in it for a year and for the last 17 days I have had crews, including myself, cleaning and rehabbing. no time to fish.

I didn't really start fishing until the first week of June, and it was pretty consistent for me the whole month and into early July. There was a stretch there where I went 10 consecutive outings with at least one fish over 20 lbs/40".


I would say its a little different if you live close and are able to fish every day, sometimes twice a day.. If you're looking for the highest percentage of fish availability from a historical basis, the four weeks I mentioned would still be my first choice, at least from the shore.

Hacks like me need a lot of available fish, you know...

i always look forward to late August. the fish start to stage up and some nights can be pretty good....

Sorry to say not as much this year. To much dancing for dollars and then that snotty so-west wind off the sound hasn't helped although i spoke to an old mate that was hitting them every cast but alas it was to far for these legs to walk

Well for myself ,I've been out on the C Knot twice and didn't target Bass but limited out on Black Sea Bass on both trips ,both times their was an East wind and Buzzards bay was Flat A$$ calm ,as for my shore fishing has been great for me . I go to one spot a couple times a week all diff. tides LOW has been best nothng Large tops #20 but Tasty on the grill the blues have moved in now I'm also clamming and Crab'in in the local estrueries( spell) nothing like a couple of nice Blue Claws and a V & T .
Family life is my top thing as for work It's been slow
hope all is well with everyone this site has been a great addition to me and my family , I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my SON Matt's life even though he he is now working his butt off now he wishes the best for all here on S-B .COM
, ps
He is a cook @ MEZZA LUNA and head of PREP
sorry for the hijack
Link
very proud parent

Boat fish....

...:hihi:

It was taken casting eels from a row boat into the rocks against Nashawena. Well within reach from shore.

i fish everyday. got to.:smash: all it takes is one tide for all hell to brake loose.

I would say its a little different if you live close and are able to fish every day, sometimes twice a day.. If you're looking for the highest percentage of fish availability from a historical basis, the four weeks I mentioned would still be my first choice, at least from the shore.

Hacks like me need a lot of available fish, you know...

There is some truth to that ;)

On the other hand, 4 nights of that stretch were spent in the same place, throwing jigs for the same window of tide. Having that as a starting point is a big leg up.

But the other 6 days came on different tides--4-5 daytime plugging ones, and another 1-2 on the night beat in a different location/different tide than the first one.

The 10 days fishing were also spread over 17 calendar days.

Well for myself ,I've been out on the C Knot twice and didn't target Bass but limited out on Black Sea Bass on both trips ,both times their was an East wind and Buzzards bay was Flat A$$ calm ,as for my shore fishing has been great for me . I go to one spot a couple times a week all diff. tides LOW has been best nothng Large tops #20 but Tasty on the grill the blues have moved in now I'm also clamming and Crab'in in the local estrueries( spell) nothing like a couple of nice Blue Claws and a V & T .
Family life is my top thing as for work It's been slow
hope all is well with everyone this site has been a great addition to me and my family , I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my SON Matt's life even though he he is now working his butt off now he wishes the best for all here on S-B .COM
, ps
He is a cook @ MEZZA LUNA and head of PREP
sorry for the hijack
Link
very proud parent

That's great Link :btu:
tell Matt we said hi
or I will stop in there for dinner tom. night maybe if he is working???

I've done the most fishing I've done in probably 3-4 years. Getting out in the fresh at least two or three times a week and in the salt once or twice a week.

I can count the times I have gone fishing this year on one hand....

Saltwater is far enough away so that it costs to much for me to go right now. Almost a year of reduced hours has taken its toll on the wallet. No money....and now after layoffs at work I am back to full time so no spare time. Hmm what else....oh yeah, too many other priorities at the moment!

at this point maybe I will start my season in Sept.!

Was just talking yesterday with someone about that and I finished the conversation by saying most of the major fish landings take place around here in a four week period.....the last week of May through first week of June(2 weeks) then the last week of September through first week of October(2 more weeks).

What happens in between is usually just some filler. I would say 80% of what I catch from shore on any given year is during these two 2 week periods.

hey BB,
:kewl: :kewl:

while this is MOSTLY true on the NShore,
adding two weeks/month to each side
(later for THE arrival, and earlier for THE departure)

as i look back over my basslawgs, from my very limited
sampling of 3 yrs, i consistently show the outside in NPT
as being very good from July's New forward,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

the NShorian Knights heat up from AUG's Full to OCT's New,
Gansay to SoCo and beyond shows steady landings and BIG bites
from AUG's New to OCT's New as well, and even sum bigguns into NOV.
is it related to the where and the when??

YUP, but more likely it is the fact that i was OUT there, IN the surf, fished my tail OFF, and was too GREEN to know the difference between a good tide/wind/moon/surf!!! i still LOVE this surfcraziness with extreme passion and dedication, i can't wait to get started this year, and we have a FREAKIN' CUP to bring back to it's rightful mantle, PEOPLE!!!

sooooooo, let's stop our effin' shhhnivelling about the wind, the wet, and the will of the masses!
GET OUT THERE and GIT 'ER DUUUUUN!! there are sum NICE trophies to be had this year, and they don't give a flying flip about yours and my own silly, little, insignificant to them, personal "blahblahBLAH,,,,,,,,,,,,BLAH,,,,,,,,,,,blahBLAH,,, ,,,,,,,,,blahblahBLAHZZZZ"

this PSA has been brought to you by the good folks at nomoreexcuses.com and the old-school-crotchety-bastards from WTFO? Productions~~~underwritten by the staff at TICheekInc! not trying to offend, only trying to upend this unusually slow and weird START!!
:fishin: :bl: :bl: :wavey: :wavey: :bl: :bl: :fishin:

It was taken casting eels from a row boat into the rocks against Nashawena. Well within reach from shore.

Sorry, Numby - I know, but I just couldn't help myself...:hihi:

I have the 1914 issue of Field and Stream with Church's details of the catch as told in his own words - you may have already seen it, I gave it to Tattoo several years ago for his website, but here it is again for those who haven't - it's an interesting read


Taking the Record Striped Bass of 1913
"On August 17th, last past, in company with my brother-in-law, Carl F. Kraut, I started out in my 13 foot smack-boat to try my luck at striped-bass fishing. We sailed down to the south side of Nashwena Island to some favorite bass pools of mine, for I have fished these pools for 28 years. Nashwena Island is one of the Elizabeth Islands. This group of islands extends from Woods Hole to the Sow and Pigs Light Boat and separates Buzzards Bay from Vineyard Sound. We had had a strong breeze from the southwest for three days, and there was a heavy swell running and the water was quite thick, which is favorable for bass fishing. Going through Cannapitsit it was quite rough, so I did not stop on the point but kept on down to the big bend, which is about midway of Nashwena Island. I took in my little sprit-sail and Carl took the oars; as we neared the shore I noticed there was quite a lot of seaweed floating on the water, so I said to Carl , "We will try the bend, but it looks as if we can't fish here." I took my rod, which is made of bamboo, tip being 6 feet 6 inches, and weighs 11 ounces, butt 12 ounces, and was made by Abbie and Imbrie of New York. I then took a dry flour bag, as I use live eels for bait at that time of year, and took hold of an eel about 12 inches long and hooked the 7/0 limnick bass hook through the lips of the eel, which was very lively. I then reeled the eel up to about two feet from the end of my rod, ready for a cast. Carl then backed the boat in towards the shore, keeping her headed towards the surf, for the nearer shore you get, the rougher it is and we had to keep just outside the breakers, for it is all rocks and each rock is covered with rockweed and every swell that rolls in this rockweed washes in and the undertow washes it out again, ready for the next sea."

"Getting close in as we dared to, I cast the eel into the surf within two feet of the beach and then I reeled it in towards me just fast enough so that it would not get in under one of the many rocks that are there. When I got the eel close to the boat I noticed there was some long eel-grass on the hook , so I took a match out of my pocket and bent it onto my line about two feet above my hook so it would catch this eel-grass and in that way, keep my eel as clear as possible. I then made another cast and felt a strike, so I said to Carl "Hold on!" but the fish did not take it."

"I will here have to explain a little so you will understand that when a striped-bass sees an eel he swims by it, striking it with his tail, which stuns the eel and it sinks, then he grabs the eel by the head and he swallows it. This is when you strike him. Now, you see, when I felt the strike I said "Hold on!" for Carl knows what's coming. If he had kept rowing I could not have let the eel sink, or, if I kept reeling him towards the boat, he would not sink; so, you see, it is very important that your oarsman knows his job, for in the surf it is very easy to get tipped over and both of you have got to be wide awake all the time. I then made another cast and very quickly had another strike, but he would not bite. I said to Carl, "He must be a small one; perhaps there is another one with him. Let's try the five-rock pool" (which is only about 100 feet to the eastward). Carl kept the bow of the boat off, as the wind was still southwest, and we soon got abreast of the pool. I then made a cast in front of the two inshore rocks and behind the three off-shore ones. The eel had hardly struck the water when I had a strike and said I, "This is something else!" for I saw a whirl which I knew was made by a large bass. I waited for a few seconds before I struck him, for he was swimming round and round in a circle, my line lying loose on the water. I did not dare strike him up and down, because a bass has a row of sandpaper teeth in the center of his upper jaw and if your line hits that it will cut like a razor and you will lose your fish. Carl was as wise to the situation as I, and he pulled hard on one oar, splashing it all he could. That scared the fish and he started off for deep water, going by the boat on the west side, so I could strike him sideways and the line would draw down in the side of his jaw, for all bass caught with live eels should have the hook down in their stomach if handled properly. I use a thumb-stall knit out of twine on my left thumb, and just as soon as I strike the fish I hold the rod straight up in the air in my left hand, my thumb against the reel, the butt pressing against my stomach."

"The fish started off-shore; so did Carl, for deep water was the only place for us to save him. He took about 100 yards of line on the first rush, then he started to roll, but I reeled up on him so hard he came like lightening right for us and ran under the boat. But Carl was watching the line as well as I , and was turning the boat as fast as he could, so that when the fish ran under the boat and got on the other side, my line was all clear. Then he made for shore full speed. I yelled for him to pull hard to the westward , holding all the strain the rod would stand and shearing the fish to the south. I kept him clear of the three large rocks, but he went around one large rock to the eastward of them, so Carl backed water for all he was worth directly east 'til we got south and east of this rock, then we backed due north so I could draw the fish clear from that rock before he cut my line off."

"It was awfully rough and the boat would ride way up in the air on some of those swells so I could hardly keep my feet. I held the rod just as high as I could, and we took in about a half barrel of water, when the fish started for the boat, going out across the stern for the southeast and then off-shore for about 150 yards, for I did not attempt to hold him very hard, as I wanted to get offshore myself. I was getting tired and Carl was all wet, as well as tired. The fish lay quite still 'til I reeled almost up and down on him, and we were in seven fathoms of water, then he would run a short way, but he was getting tired like ourselves."

"We had no idea as to how large he was then, but when I undertook to raise him to the surface my rod bent so I was afraid I would break it. Carl yelled "For cat's sake, don't lose him!" He rowed away from the fish and I had to bring him to top water that way. Probably I was 50 yards from where I started to lift that fish alongside the boat. After getting him on top of water, it was so rough and the tide was running so heavily to eastward against the southwest wind that we had some job. Carl backed down toward the fish slowly , while I reeled in the line 'til I got within 50 feet, then he took in his oars and got ready the gaff hook. I led the fish alongside, but the tide would set him so fast to the eastward, with the sea and the wind blowing us northeast, that it was only after three attempts that I got him alongside, where Carl could get at him."

"I knew it was all off when he reached for him, for he was never known to miss one, but when he took the bass over the side of the boat I noticed he rolled in; as a rule Carl lifts them clear of the gunwale, so I said, "Some fish!"

"After we had weighed the fish we could hardly believe it ourselves, but it certainly was a beauty, 73 pounds, good and strong. My reel was made by J.B. Crook of New York. It is a German silver reel, one that my grandfather had and must be 100 years old, for I have used it for 28 years. My line is a Hall line, 15 thread. I like the Hall lines better than any other for the reason that the dye does not come out and leave the line rotten, like the other lines, and I have used a lot of them."

"I was born on Cuttyhunk, and have fished with all the old members of the Cuttyhunk Club. Last year I caught 38 bass; this year only 17. I have used all kinds of bait, but there is nothing like a live eel, only don't do what almost everybody else does: strike when you feel their bite, for the bite is his tail striking the eel."

"I hope I have made it plain for your readers, so that those who have not caught a bass can realize the sport there is in it."


Charles B. Church, Gosnold, Massachusetts

Date - August 17, 1913
Weight - 73 lbs.
Length - 5 ft.
Girth - 30 ½ in.
Where Caught - Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts
Rod - Abbie and Imbrie, 6 ft. 6 in., 11 oz. bamboo
Reel - J.B. Crook
Line - 15-thread Hall
Lure - Live eel

That was a great read Crafty! I felt like I stepped back in time.

i always look forward to late August. the fish start to stage up and some nights can be pretty good....

I thought you told me May was your favorite month for carp?

Great story Crafty.

Now I know where that old wives tail about "Bass striking with their tail" may have originated.

DZ

Great story Crafty.

Now I know where that old wives tail about "Bass striking with their tail" may have originated.

DZ

Yup, makes you realize that eel fishing hasn't changed at all in the last 100 years - pretty neat to get the story 1st hand like that from the angler himself.

Although I doubt any 21st Century eel man would use "For cat's sake" as an expletive...:laughs:

Although I doubt any 21st Century eel man would use "For cat's sake" as an expletive...:laughs:


Yup ,these same 21st century folks covet thy neighbor's rods, plugs, and Van Staals without conscience..

Not too many good Catholics around anymore, I guess...:angel:

Great story Crafty.

Now I know where that old wives tail about "Bass striking with their tail" may have originated.

DZ

Dennis, I stood with a gentlemen this past June on the end of a cement outlet down cape in that Truro country while he was live lining a live shad and as that shad was at our feet a bass about 25 pounds came up and in a micro second before our very eyes whacked the piss outa that shad in one good swipe of his tail then in another micro second while the shad lay paralized and twitching it whilrled around and took it head first. This all happend in broad daylight, the water was gin clear and the fish was no more then 2 feet under the surface maybe 3 feet out from the toes of my boots.

In all my years of fishing and all the tales told this was the very first and only time I have actually witnessed that happening.:uhuh:

I thought you told me May was your favorite month for carp?

couldn't have been me. i don't even know what fish are anymore....

Dennis, I stood with a gentlemen this past June on the end of a cement outlet down cape in that Truro country while he was live lining a live shad and as that shad was at our feet a bass about 25 pounds came up and in a micro second before our very eyes whacked the piss outa that shad in one good swipe of his tail then in another micro second while the shad lay paralized and twitching it whilrled around and took it head first. This all happend in broad daylight, the water was gin clear and the fish was no more then 2 feet under the surface maybe 3 feet out from the toes of my boots.

In all my years of fishing and all the tales told this was the very first and only time I have actually witnessed that happening.:uhuh:

Very similar situation happened to me one summer afternoon fishing a jetty in Western Long Island Sound back in the late 70s ... had a chunking rod out, and a spinning rod throwing jigs, etc. Caught a mackerel, pulled it in, cut off a few fins and hooked it up on my chunking rod ...

... the fish wouldn't swim away from the rocks, no matter what I tried to do, I was getting ticked off ...

... when all of a sudden, just two feet below me in the water, a striper of similar size 25 pound class swirled in, smacked the mackerel with it's tail, and then proceeded to inhale the bait as it was quivering and starting to sink ... I was so stunned, that it took me a while to set up on the fish that I felt I could have scooped up with a net if I was ready for it, it was that close ... crazy ... got to love those situations

"Bass striking with their tail"

DZ

it's a stun gun....:grins:

thanks, Crafty, for that
blast from the past!!!

very cool about the Bass smacking their prey
with their broom-like tails. the closest thing to that
i've seen was during a broad daylight BOIL about 3yrs ago
in SW FL where some reds were tailing and these snook were

tail SHHHMACKING the life outta finger mullet, shad, and whatever was in the mix.
so i waded down to where the action was and proceeded to live line sum freshly netted finger mullet into the fray; landing both reds and snook with consecutive casts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

then this nice sized snook, about 30 yards away WHACKS my offering after a huge tail-smack, runs parallel to shore for about 60 yards, then bee-lines it for my feet. by now the mullet is up my line a few feet, the snook is racing towards me and STOPS~~ looking up at me within 4 feet of my feet!!

i am still reeling like a madman, reel held high, in the hopes to catch up to this young adult in the 30" range. then the oddest thing in all my angling days occurs~~~ this snook shakes the line, the mullet falls off, and within a millisecond from freeing the mullet, spits the hook and engulfs her prey as if she was never even hooked!!! that exchange still makes me go, HUH??, to this day. i know, it's not the same species; but, it's interesting to me that they both use the same predation technique.

thanks again, Crafty, for sharing Mr Church's story.

Larry I like you but im gunna slap the %$%$%$%$ outa ya an take ya coffee

Dennis, I stood with a gentlemen this past June on the end of a cement outlet down cape in that Truro country while he was live lining a live shad and as that shad was at our feet a bass about 25 pounds came up and in a micro second before our very eyes whacked the piss outa that shad in one good swipe of his tail then in another micro second while the shad lay paralized and twitching it whilrled around and took it head first. This all happend in broad daylight, the water was gin clear and the fish was no more then 2 feet under the surface maybe 3 feet out from the toes of my boots.

In all my years of fishing and all the tales told this was the very first and only time I have actually witnessed that happening.:uhuh:

sweet and the best time for that place is in the morn with the sun out into early afternoon, its amazin what a danny can do there:grins:

I had a bass knock a Gibbs mackerel pencil popper 3' into the air with its tail.

LARRY, my youngest daughter wanted to start saltwater fishing thisd year, so I got everything together, picked a nice 2 am tide, figured we would have both sides of it to fish, got there, only 2 trucks in the lot. 1. boat out on the water, is said ths should be GREAT no one around:confused: fished for 4 hours, nothing:smash: havent hit the beach sence, will wait a couple of week an try again, :wall:
looks like Ill be:smokin::crying::gu::gu::gu:an maby tie a few flys, get some plugs ready for PLUG FEST:uhuh:
GOOD LUCK GOOD PLUGGIN

I got out this morning for the outflow and had one hookup with a 20" :)
but that was it.

last weekend had better luck but best was 24"
i'll try again tomorrow.

Job pressures and coming within a whisker of losing my job due to state budget cuts just took the wind out of my sails this year. I have had the skiff out once and the fishing was horrible that day which led to not wanting to go out.

I have been concentraing on getting the important stuff done and spending time with my wife and daughters in between our frenetic lifestyles and work hours.

I have been going out fishing a few nights a week, no pressure, just me and like it because I can stay if I want or if I am a bit tired just decide to leave and who cares? I Love it, I am not killing myself, getting dog tired, not being able to function at work or run the risk of disharmony at home just because I ran myself ragged to catch a stupid fish anymore.

Tonight I plan to go east but who knows, I may not feel like it tonight after all but the best thing is I am not going to lose sleep over whatever decision I make. If I go I go, if not is it really that important?

No it's not, the urge will return, I suspect when the chill of the autumm air starts to take hold, the tourists and vacationing "anglers" are gone and we can use any ramp, park in any lot as we please.

Come on September.:uhuh:

I feel the same way

fall it is

New job with some travel, the weather has had me confined to quarters doing family time

For me, I took a a week off from work and fished the Canal pretty hard. It happened to be the week with the sea herring bite so I did pretty well. Spoiled myself in fact. Hit the ditch one or two more mornings and jigged a few nights with little success. I have been out on the Monomoy Rips about 4 times with a friend and done very well- in fact its been the best I've ever done out there. Otherwise thats it. Mostly because of being a fairly new dad (11 month old son) and just life in general. Hopefully I can get some time off in teh fall to relax but the rest of my summer seems insane already....

I agree with Joe. Weather in June sucked the life out of me. I fished just about 5 days a week in May and first week in June and then after that I just lost interest and weather didn't help..

this.

been getting the urges lately. but tried going out the other night. the bite was on! for the 300 mosquitos hanging out around the rock. after about a half hour they all got a chance to feed. and with nothing else biting i promptly lost the eye of the tiger and retreated to sitting on the front porch and enjoying the nice weather.

Lots of work.
But alas, it's now time to go fishing!!!
Note to self:


Turn off Blackberry.
Wallet.
Keys.
Tackle.


Work hard. Play hard. :).

Usually, by this time of the year, I fish much less because of the heat, humidity, insects, and change in the prevailing bait. Because of the cooler weather this year, there's still some better fish around. I'm still going out 2 or 3 times a week to keep it honest. Either I might find some sort of a pattern, or maybe I'll find a good fish or two. This is what it got me tonight :wall:. Partially straightened belly hooks and a large scale on the tail hook :fury:.
Larry, now you know why I've been looking for backups, just in case :rolleyes:.

blurple!! :btu: just like me Av

Beautiful night last night, fun surf, cool evening, few bumps, some dink fish, but it was great to be out. Nothing like the spray of surf roaring through boulder to sharpen the senses a bit more.

I'll drink to that, Cap - in fact, I did...:hihi:

Beautiful nite, big tide and a nice swell - wind so calm smoke rings from a cigarette went straight up in the air...and no mosquitos...:huh:

Cookie cutter fish nuts about a McKenna-rigged Sluggo from my second cast on, all between 27 and 32" and some were carrying sea-lice...no wall-hangers but still a lot of fun

I dunno, if you could put that all in pill form and throw in the sweet salt air you'd be a wealthy man...:)

Glad I overcame the inertia and went out

I'll drink to that, Cap - in fact, I did...:hihi:
:buds:
Beautiful nite, big tide and a nice swell
- wind so calm
smoke rings from a cigarette
went straight up in the air.....


:think:
AND just think CRAFTY............................................ ......................
.................................................. .................................................. ..

MANY years ago..... as you headed out to the surf......
in your old Jalopy.... Playing the tune "KING of the Road"
on the car RADIO.....

those radio signals have just recently reached an alien RACE
way out in the Universe and there is some Alien guy out
on the beach lookin up at the Stars whistling this Tune.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GOkc6aEfkM