Running the dog this morning at a secluded beach around 6:45am and seen 10-15 bass in the 40-45# (Im guessing....I know things look larger underwater but they were huge bass no question) range swimming on top in less than 3 feet of water, not feeding, just swimming slowly. I have never seen this behavior before, particularly with very large striper's. They were there for about 10 minutes then gone. Even my trusty dog Cappy was checking them out. Has anyone seen this before or have any idea what provokes this? Patrolling for forage? This was on a very sandy beach with no visible structure around. Strange. I had no rod and I was over 2 miles from were I parked. Was a very cool sight to see.

they're looking for me. We've been trying to find each other for years but it hasnt happened yet. Tell them I wont give up if they dont!

Need to train your dog a little better.....
"FETCH!!!!!"

Cool indeed.

Put rodholders on that pooch! I can't go near the water without a fishing rod handy!!:uhuh:

Put rodholders on that pooch! I can't go near the water without a fishing rod handy!!:uhuh:


Wish I had a rod but these fish dont seem like they were feeding....although a rigged or live eel prob. would have taken one of these fish. I have been taking a break from the surf after a marathon of late night excursions to catch up with family,friends,work and a few good nights of sleep....19 trips in 30 days. I will be back out tonight though....a few more and Im done. Not at this spot as I am sure these fish are long gone. Just strange to see such large fish in shallow water without any bait in sight.

Wish I had a rod but these fish dont seem like they were feeding....although a rigged or live eel prob. would have taken one of these fish. I have been taking a break from the surf after a marathon of late night excursions to catch up with family,friends,work and a few good nights of sleep....19 trips in 30 days. I will be back out tonight though....a few more and Im done. Not at this spot as I am sure these fish are long gone. Just strange to see such large fish in shallow water without any bait in sight.
I could'nt think of a better place to start.

I could'nt think of a better place to start.

DITTO!!

i would definitely have to keep that spot honest!!

especially since ya didn't see any bait,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
perhaps yer offering will be just the ticket.

they'll likely be VERRRY hungry by tonight, no?
:grins: :grins: :grins:

They are hunting pogies. By day small migrating pods of pogies try to sneak by danger by hugging the shore. Bass patrol or wait for them in very shallow water. Those fish will jump all over a danny plug.....and totally ignore an eel :).

They are hunting pogies. By day small migrating pods of pogies try to sneak by danger by hugging the shore. Bass patrol or wait for them in very shallow water. Those fish will jump all over a danny plug.....and totally ignore an eel :).

Yes :)

sure they weren't hiding from a Seal?

Yup, I'm sure.

If you don't hit that spot tonight, aaaaaarrrgggggggggghhhhhhhh, I don't even know you and I'll have a bird.

It's late October, they are miles away already.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Fish swim from point A, to point B,,,then sometimes back to point A before moving on to point C...etc....those fish were between the letters...

You need to get your butt over to point C before those wetsuiters show up ...:jump1:

I generally operate on the principal that I don't fish where I saw or caught fish because they are not there anymore. Opens up a lot of new spots and you never have to worry about burning the old ones cause there are no fish there.
Oh man winter is coming

They are hunting pogies. By day small migrating pods of pogies try to sneak by danger by hugging the shore. Bass patrol or wait for them in very shallow water. Those fish will jump all over a danny plug.....and totally ignore an eel :).

I second that....................or a big cow boy!!!!:)

Love the insight to the approach used by George.

DITTO!!

i would definitely have to keep that spot honest!!

especially since ya didn't see any bait,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
perhaps yer offering will be just the ticket.

they'll likely be VERRRY hungry by tonight, no?
:grins: :grins: :grins:

Oh, Im sure they are hungry....what bass isnt up for meal this time of year. If this was summer and the fish might be resident, I would be out there casting my a** off right now. But I have a funny feeling they were moving pretty quickly...the water is 54 in these waters as of this morning...half the reason I go running in this place is so I can measure water temps..lol..52 Im done...this is were log book is very useful..."narrow the times you spend there".

Anyway off to bed..2am coming quick....have a low tide spot that can be productive this time of year under darkness.

for what it's worth~~~

i saw the same pattern take place today. only add pnuts to the mix.

there was a BIG fish within 20 feet of shore, in 6'-8' of water, moving a small pod of pnut bunker,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

back and forth, from up current(A) to down current(B) hugging the shore,
moving out about 40 yds(C); then back in shore and back to point A.

wait 10 mins; repeat,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,for about 90 minutes.
from Noon ~ 1340, FAC, and the only sign of life for miles! RIGHT THERE!!
so stinkin' CLOSE, i could've killed it with a well thrown spear :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:

and i trew EVERYTHING but bait at her, rubber/tin/and all manner of AYC,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,although, George, i didn't snap on a Danny,
since i thought it was too big. tried to match the hatch with PtJude tins and swim shads to the tune of NADA~~~
:wall: :wall: :wall:

i didn't snap on a Danny,
since i thought it was too big. tried to match the hatch with PtJude tins and swim shads to the tune of NADA~~~
:wall: :wall: :wall:

When I see bunker of any size around I don't feel like I've fished right unless I've thrown a pencil or white danny for a while.

very COOOOOL, thank you~~ G!

funny thing is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i think i woke her up with ALL the top water action, prior to the movement.

and i passed 2 chunkers going in, on the way out~~~
:fury: :fury: :fury:

Well I didn't get "those" fish but did manage 3 small fish in the 20-25lb range and a big blue that made minced meat of my rigged eel. Seals were unwelcome company around 500am and scared the sh*t out of me....popping its head up not 2 feet away then splashing/swimming away once he/she realized I wasnt one of them. I was fishing by myself (my partner thought his bed was much more comfortable) and I think I had a mini heart attack after that. Stopped fishing round 6:30 and just sat there and watched the world wake up and kinda took it all in. No large but man was it a beautiful morning to be out there.

Has anyone seen this before or have any idea what provokes this?.

You answered your own question...

I had no rod and I was over 2 miles from were I parked.


but did manage 3 small fish in the 20-25lb range and a big blue that made minced meat of my rigged eel.

Dude....you're spoiled :hihi:

You answered your own question...






Dude....you're spoiled :hihi:

lol....not spoiled, if I was I would have a 50. Thought I was very close a few weeks ago and was dialed in on a pod of big fish for 4 mornings straight at 3 different spots.

Surf-casting too me to me is three things....luck,hard-work and being there (law of average). I fish hard for every fish I catch. And yes I do get skunked more often than not , but still got the motivation to come back (and beg) for more.

Well said man.

I guess its me...I just don't consider 20-25 lb fish small....

That is probably because you have been fishing for more than a few decades.

That is probably because you have been fishing for more than a few decades.

Numb,

Wish I had that much knowledge but I dont..been fishing since I was a kid for mostly large blue fish (late 80s early 90s) because thats all there was here in Plymouth.....huge bluefish, and a tog or five thrown in there when fishing the rocks. Didn't really consider that surf-casting....more of me just being a kid that grew up next to the ocean. I got into serious surf-casting 12 years ago and know little about the spots I fish, tough to figure mature nature. But there is one thing thats for sure. I check these spots often,sometimes theres fish there,sometimes not.

I'm not criticizing you, S_H. It is just that you and many others seem to have come to striper fishing at a good time, a time when 20 lb fish may seem average, or even small. In the early 80's something similar happened, and even 30lb fish seemed average. But over a longer time, perspective changes. For many years in a row a few 20+lb fish from shore would make your season. Once you have fished through that, every 20lb fish you take seems worth appreciating. At least that is the way I see it.

perspective

I gotcha bro. Which is why I let 99 percent of the fish I catch go. Might not make a bit of difference in the end but I feel as though Im doing my part by letting these fish swim away. If I keep anything its to give my dad his monthly fillet. I realize as a kid I fished the very tail end of a very,very poor striper decade and now in 2010 there are 30s-40s -50s caught on a regular basis in some locations, I do realize we are in for some real trouble in the future regarding the atlantic striped bass fishery. While it might be easy to take for granted the great fishing today I try not to do that. To quote Mark Twain "History doesn't repeat itself but it sure does rhyme". I hope not but it looks like its coming.

Oh, Im sure they are hungry....what bass isnt up for meal this time of year. If this was summer and the fish might be resident, I would be out there casting my a** off right now. But I have a funny feeling they were moving pretty quickly...the water is 54 in these waters as of this morning...half the reason I go running in this place is so I can measure water temps..lol..52 Im done...this is were log book is very useful..."narrow the times you spend there".

Anyway off to bed..2am coming quick....have a low tide spot that can be productive this time of year under darkness.
That will be one of the things that i will work on this winter.. I don't know too many low tide spots that i like to fish..

I must agree with Striper Haven 3.. I too, fished when there were very few fish around.. The moratorium, was the worst.. You go for some time before you would even get a sniff.. I"ve was lucky enough to get my wallhanger, some years ago. I have not kept a fish since.. I also worry about the future of the species.. I would still like to see the minimum go back to 36"..