FYI

Melnyk just redid his sight.:hihi:

http://www.surfcasting.com/

Categorizing it shouldn't be about what you're wearing....its what you're doing. wetsuiting could be surf-fishing....as long as that is what you are doing while wearing it.....standing on a rock/ground while fishing.

Skishing is neither.....

I knew Melnyk was in the process of doing it. Right now, it has about as much content as the old site, just newer dates:rolleyes:.

Pete, the first time I saw you on the Rockpile in a wetsuit I thought there was a Mime Troupe in town -

I mean, I was really taken aback by it :hihi:

wetsuiting its extreme "surfcasting".......

.......but "surfcasting" it is.

skishing isn't surffishing, feet are not on the ground.

i have spoken

it's just another excuse to walk around in skin tight rubber.
i'm jealous

What if you're standing next to a guy in Waders and a drytop.....is it still "Extreme"? or better yet a guy in a bathing suit....Still "Extreme"?


once again....doesn't matter what you're wearing its what you're doing.

Take a look at Paul Melnyk's revised web site. Has lots of brief newer articles (some about skishing) that you'll probably enjoy. Read them all this past weekend. Fun to read. Google Paul Melnyk.

Guess it comes down to who is wearing the suit.
If you use the wetsuit as a better set of waders, then there really is not much difference.
If you use the wetsuit to its full potential, there's enough new skill sets, new places to fish, different techniques, and new concerns, to support a manual.

:uhoh: uh oh...I hope show tunes aren't coming next!

2 men enter, 1 man leave :af: :rude:










Can I get points? :D

The skishers
 

As long as the wet suit crowd is catching the fish by lure its all o.k. with me.

If they are using Revlon water-proof makeup and coming on to the fish in a manner that might be considered alluring in order to catch a fish then I have a problem with that.

I haven't ran into this problem yet, and dont expect to in most places where i fish in RI/MA. But Is there much etiquette involved in wet suiting? Similar to the etiquette or lack thereof, that surfers sometimes display by hitting the surf right in front of you. Is there an unwritten rule about not swimming out to a rock in front of where someone is fishing? I would think it would be similar to surfers, cool ones keep their distance and the A-Holes croud you out. There are a couple spots that i like that could be problematic for a more shore bound, ie waders and drytop angler like myself.

oh man, this is a good thread!
I gotta say, if somebody has the sack to swim 100 yards out in the dark, in decent surf, and perch themself on a rock in hopes of landing a trophy, then they deserve whatever they get and that is surfcasting, I don't care if they do it buck naked (which is George Constanza's stage name by the way).

I think this kind of behavior is the most prominant around our parts. Skishing is another story altogether and should be another category in itself in all touneys.

ok when the situation calls for it ,rocky shoreline waiting out ,ok .......but if i see anyone wearing one in jersey im calling ....homo:err:

Aaaaa coodeesh, Joe - you see thes guys heah wearing rubber sirillyesh... :happy::happy:

Then right away, you better va pra casa and make a novena to the Blessed Mother

Wetsuiting is definitely surf fishing.

The guys who are successful with the wetsuit put in a ton of time and know the right conditions to catch large. They are dedicated. Ask them how many times they strike out. Many guys I know have been wetsuiting for a long time, but they have more exposure to NY. The MA and RI scene is finally catching on to NY sharpies.

Quite a few guys I know have continued to bank on late October to produce trophy fish and have failed miserably. You gotta learn to change and adapt to whats working and what is not. The only way to do that is time and experience.

I bet if the 2 striper cup surf leaders from this past year fished from waders ONLY, they would still be prime competitors.

Obviously these guys are very, very good fisherman, but I suspect their fish were taken on eels in the rocks. Other than bluefish, the only handicaps to fishing eels are distance and depth. A wetsuit makes both irrelevant. Hence its real advantage and likely a crucial factor in both guy's WELL DESERVED success.

This seems to be a new thing in the north east ,, wetsuit fishing (swimming to rocks) has been going on for a long time on the west coast .. Maybe this question better asked over there ,,where they have a longer history with it . I think its a good idea as long as the sharks don't bite ya .. your in thier world . :err:

Copy and paste the below hyperlink. It takes you to Paul Melnyk's article on his first "winning" fish via skishing in Montauk that may have helped create the skishing category for some tournaments in Montauk:

http://www.surfrats.com/montauk/view...ghlight=locals

I know at least one of the guys would tell you the wetsuit helps tremendously. In fact, he busted my chops for the better part of two seasons for not owning one while he was bailing fish. Keep in mind he's an outstanding fisherman without one, but an even more effective fisherman with one. I don't know the other guy real well, but I would sumrise the wetsuit helps his success rate too.

What is your opinion of wet suits for beach fishing?

With open beach wading in waders, the problem is getting through that first trough - it's often too deep to wade without flooding your waders.
After that, the beach comes up to a terrace and then slowly tapers to the second trough or the offshore trough. The inside of that second dropoff, that's a killer spot to fish - particularly near a cut, it's like an on/off ramp for fish patrolling the beach.
With waders, you can only open beach wade under low surf conditions after a period of favorable wind that has replenished the first trough, otherwise that decent down the first trough is too steep and deep. Open beach wading in a wetsuit greatly expands the opportunities and conditions for this type of fishing.

For me, I wish I had the intuition 15 years ago to employ a wet suit on the cape. Sometimes I would fish the bars in my shorts in order to buy some extra time on an outer bar as I wasn't taking the risk in waders. Wetsuit in that situation would be the same as it is on the rocks:
It buys you time and potentially puts you into places you might not get to otherwise. Sometimes its only a matter of a few feet that separates you from the fish.

At 6'-6-1/2" I never had that problem especially since they made waders in tall sizes but I think a wetsuit would help a great deal problem is for me it would be a custom job and I cannot bear that kinda of expense at this time for fishing.

The last few years, when we did actually catch fish it has been in the inshore troughs rather than the outer bar so I have been spending more time in waders barely getting my feet wet, which seems kinda dumb because you could do the same thing in hip boots at a % of the cost.

Its definitely a "situational" piece of equipment. I'm in the same camp as you with regard to not having to go deep to catch fish. The deepest I typically go is about waist deep to reach one of my favorite rock formations.

I did try the wetsuit/swimming thing this year despite having resisted doing so for the better part of two years. The reason it took so long was......fear.:uhuh: I can tell you after doing it there is plenty to be afraid of. Despite the big fish stories you've heard, there's many skunks and close calls involved too. It certainly gets glorified in the magazines too and rightfully so from a catching standpoint.

I have a brand new 7MM hyperstretch in my basement that's been used once and honestly wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't get used again. I swam about 40-50 yards in the dark this fall to a small perch which I shared with a couple other guys and didn't feel comfortable the whole time. I can tell you one of the other guys was quite uncomfortable too after he had a bit of difficulty breathing while traveling to the rock. Fortunately we all made it back ok and were laughing once on shore, albeit nervously.

I routinely did risky stuff like this in my 20's and can see the appeal wetsuiting has to the younger guys in the sport. There is definitely a thrill factor involved which adds to the game. Lots of times in the past I though only about what could be gained. At 38 with wife, two kids, good job, etc. there's no fish worth the risk for me as I've accepted my level of status in the fishing game. There's plenty of fish to be caught in ankle deep water too....:fishin:

I used one this fall. Can't see swimming in it while wearing boots. I did, however, like it for wading. I'm often trying to get to rocks that are chest deep using a dry top....much more relaxing doing it in a wetsuit. It also lets you wade more confidently in a moderate swell/surf. The cushioning when you stumble is nice as well. Being wet is a downside unless the temp is perfect. It amuses me that when I fish by boat I'm always trying to get in as close as I can and land my plug in ankle deep water, and when I'm fishing the shore I'm always trying to get out as far as I can and cast as far out as I can manage. The biggest disadvantage I find is using it to get to a difficult rock, then catching a fish with a faceful of plug and trying to deal with it out there because getting back in is too much a chore. I also found myself fishing less because I'd think "if you go you should use the suit", but for a short trip it seems like too much work so I wouldn't go.

Don't say THAT! It is never too late to start using plugs and rehabilitate yourself. We all make mistakes. Just say "no" to eels and move on. Wood will give you back your pride and let your children respect you again.

Numbskull, try the dive booties with korkers laced onto them. I used 5mm in the fall and was comfortable and they weigh next to nothing.

I find that I am more comfortable wading in a wetsuit than waders. No fear of that one misstep and having to deal with being wet and cold. I don't have to swim to anyplace. Of course wearing a wetsuit I am already wet. I want a relief zipper though.

When I say be afraid, I'm obviously referring to the swimming aspect and pushing the envelope too far. Deep wading is quite different then swimming.

I will add though that everyone in my fishing circle who's donned a wetsuit has had a close call. These close calls involve falls,being smashed on rocks, drifting off course, hyperventilation,damaged gear, involuntary bowel movements, etc.

Real fishermen only need one hook. Six plus barbs is simply wasting steel in an attempt to bolster your percentages and thus your bragging rights. The people of Pittsburgh love you though as do the folks in Alaska.

One thing I found to my liking is that the wetsuit has a much longer lifespan for the dollar than do a pair of waders. For example a fews years back I was fishing your typical Montauk rock with a brand new pair of Hodgman breathables that I just dropped a $125 on. As I slid off my rock I tore 3 slits in the inside of my leg and the water poured into my waders as the curses poured out of my mouth.
I have several wetsuits that I wear pretty much everywhere but in my home waters (NJ). When in places like Cutty, Mtk, Block or MV where boulder fields reign supreme, my waders never leave my dufflebag.
I could not wear a wetsuit out in a few years of wear, where waders, if I am lucky, last a year. I found a wetsuit last year that I really liked for the warmer months...a 3mm full body from O'Neil Reactor that I paid $100 for. That thing will last me for years.
A little off subject, like using the full suit its long sleeves and legs offer great protection against sharp edges...whatever they may be.

Add up all the ws variables safety, mobility, warmth, protection, and longevity and it becomes a clearer choice for the surfcaster that doesn't want to mess with the worries that waders offer.

DJ, that's good info for those of us waffling on getting a wetsuit :kewl:.

I wouldn't count on being as warm in wet neoprene as in waders, fleece, and a dry top come Oct/Nov, particularly if there is any wind.

Come colder weather (late Oct/Nov.) bump up to a 5mm. At any time the wind blows in the dark hours, throwing on a drytop cuts the wind and keeps you warm until dawn early light. I've never had a "cold" problem with the 5mm, but the 3mm can get chilly at 3 am and not moving off your rock for two hours. The Reactor has the wind inhibitor which is why it caught my eye.

Here's my bud Jolliffe wearing the drytop w/ the ws to cut wind.

DJ, are you wearing a 5mm one piece suit, or a farmer john, which may be slightly warmer?

I used a 5mm full henderson suit, under armor cold gear beneath (top and bottom), a wool hat and a windproof top this fall (on the upper cape). Can't say I recall being warm or comfortable. Wetsuits are a useful tool, but you are still wet in them and when it gets cold and windy you will struggle to stay warm when wet....at least at my age.

I like the dry top idea, but in my limited wetsuit experience a dry top can be a burden if you plan on swimming any distance with a top on. For deep wading its a great idea.