:D BigFish you gotta learn to be more versatile. Frank Woolner told me a long time ago that in order to enjoy this fishery to it's fullest you had to learn and master all the ways there are to take bass. That means jigging the canal, fly fishing. trolling tubes and worms etc., etc.,. I love surfcasting more than anyone. I was on the beach in P-Town Friday night but I was firmly at my fav spot on the canal at daybreak today. You gotta give up the notion that the sand is the only place worthy of your efforts. There are bass somewhere in the mood at all times. If the beach goes dry then break out the canal stuff or fire up the skiff and go chasing them on the flats. Life is too short to waste time when there are fish to be caught. Expand your horizons bubba. Look at me this week, P-town Monday night, Sandwich Tuesday night, Fishers Island New York Wednesday, Thursday no fish cause it was my anniversary, Friday morning on the canal ( big hit) Friday night Race Point Surf, this morning on the canal. Try it my friend you might just like it!:btu:

Its been pretty consistant for me besides 2-3 weeks in july. All of august and so far in sept i did really great with ussally a 20lb + fish every trip if not more.

According to last year's log, we are off pretty significantly. Granted I am not fishing as much, but have yet to see any birds working bait like last year on the ocean side. Have heard reports of birds working in Salem harbor, but can't confirm. Numbers down, but have two 30 #s so can't complain. Still would like to get a shot at what BM likes to call the stupid fishing though...

Like Flap says.there's many ways to skin a cat.This yr so far I have 7 fish over 30 lbs.3 on jigs to 39# 3 on plugs an one on a live pogie.Plus another couple I released in the high 20#- 30 lb range.All from terra firma.Most from NJ.:D the land of twinkies.

IMO it is just starting. I think it may go a little later this year (I hope) I have not seen the big fish move in yet. A couple but no big schools. Bones and albies are good this year. Plenty of bait around...IMO we just need the condtions to be a bit more favorable and it will all click. The water temp peaked last week or so and is now dropping. Fall came in full force yesterday. I think by Wed the bass bite will pick up. IMO The fall fish alarm went off last night with that weather blew thru.
I have to say so far the fall surf scene is weak with smaller thin fish being taken but I am optimistic.

keep at it.

This is the year that you really have to work for quality fish. I have been fishing from Narraganset to Warch Hill. I hit at least 3 spots a night or until I find the fish.
I think it is pointless to stay in one place and wait for the fish to come by. Now I don't leave fish to find fish but I will keep moving until I find them. I also don't restrict myself to one method. Although I don't chunk or throw bait, I do throw live eels. I'll switch to swimmers if the eels don't work and needlefish mixed in. I stay away from jigs as the RI coast is murder on jigs because of all the structure.
It's more like hunting than fishing but if you want to hook up you gotta move around this year. For whatever reason, the fish have not staged in one area yet. Could be that the bait has been scarce and what there is has been transient.

From the days I have fished, I have seen a lot of bait and shad, but very few stripers. Then again, I didnt get out as much as I wanted so don't go by what I say..ugh the girlfriend..
:smash:

Well, being a fresh water fisher and new to the salt...I guess i'm (brackish)... I have read alot and talked to alot of people, learned several different tech's,etc. I put in 5-6 nights/early mornings a week, all pretty local. I have caught my share of keepahs, shorts and too many blues. I am having good luck slingin eels early mornings/before light in currents and structure. I have had some luck top water late night as the bait fish are on top. I am learning my plug tech, puttin in my time. So I can't say how it compares to other years. I love the sand, and standin up to your (-) (-) in surf and gettin one top water makes me wanna scream like a girl...I am hooked on it, and I will get better-I hope...Trying to meet a few people locally that like the salt as much as I and are night owls ain't easy...But I'll keep on tryin......
p.s. Macojoe- Made up 2 of thoose "cool eel buckets" and they are sweeeeeet...:uhuh:

I just did a week on the backside beaches at the cape...The only place I saw seals was at head of the meadow. And they were actively feeding on small bass. I put in alot of hours in, and yes the fishing was slow compared to past few seasons. I had fish every night but one, and I stuck some real good fish that night. Biggest fish of the week was my buddies 35lber. I had 4-6 fish a night. There were small windows , 1 1/2 hour windows to be exact on opposite tides. There was alot of action during those windows. I had the worst hookup ratio this season, maybe 1 out of 5 and lost some real good fish. The mung was bad, however there was clean water to be found, fished strictly eels...