fishgibbs- yes, i am looking to learn. flatties? hmmm, this one i gotta do. but i need a "safe spot" on the canal to fish. so i can get the ideas of fishing on the canal.

canalrat-so i shouldnt be concerned abt casting far like ron arra. i can cast with my efforts, right?

mikepp- who is tony? thank you for the tips, mike. man, i have a lot to learn about fishing.

Tony=canalratt1. We go back to before Al Gore invented the internet :D

ah, i see, mikep. alright, i will PM tony.

Canal Saftey
 

the safest spot for flats fishing would be the tidal flats at the foot of the RR bridge on the Cape side in Gray Gables it's a good place to get your canal legs.

re u serious? i never seen that place, man. do u have a pic or a map of it?

Wow
 

Ive been fishing that hole since i was 7
It's in the On The water book or at www.capecodcanalfishing.com

or check the canal map on Mike's web page there is public parking right behind the flats

i dont see the flats on the cc webcam

Mike you know exactly what I'm saying! If the cows are breaking way out a few will always come in close these ones are the ones I target. The spots Notaro and IFG's have to be learned but you put your time in and explore there are a few. Don't limit yourself to fishing only one way here some years the surface action can be very dissapointing, keep an open mind and try some things. Jigging, chunking and live eels have thier place and will get you more and bigger fish than plugging surface breaks. Soon live and fresh herring will be the bait after that the options vary.

Notaro, don't go out on the mudflats at Bell rd. alone. Go with someone who has done it before and knows the water. Best to wear an inflatable vest also for safety.

okay, thanks, canal rat. i will try. i have been dying to use a eel. but what rod should i use for eeling? i know how casting a eel can be tiresome.

Notaro - you cannot scout fishing spots on the Internet. You must scout spots with your boots and its even a good idea to leave the rod at home when scouting. Also, never attmept the more difficult spots unless you are with someone that has a lot of experience there. Too many lives are lost surffishing that could have ben prevented!

How is casting an eel tiresome? Have you ever casted an eel?

define the "most difficult spots," john. and

I'll second, third, fourth and even fifth what slip and John said about the flats. I've seen a couple of near drownings there. Go with someone who knows the safe way out there.

u know what? canal isnt safe for me! who is willing to tutor me about canal? i dont want to pay a lot on ron arra bec i spent on crapola for my spring breaks and fishing excursions.

The spots that will at best break your ass and at worst, will take your life. This is not a joking matter. People here have lost friends who were extremely knowlegable. It can happen all too easy to someone new to a spot.

So , I'll define "difficult spots" as those that can easily take the life of the unprepared. And I'll say that being "prepared" requires you to be fishing with someone knowledgeable in the area...

Believe me when I say that I don't want to sound like a jerk here but your discussions online here for the past two months have done nothing to make me feel that you will approach surfcasting safely and with enough respect for the dangers involved. Consider these words of advice offered with the best intentions: You need to make a reasonable plan for fishing this year and stick to it. Find a fishing partner that has some experience that you can work with and learn some of the ropes before getting into the more challenging aspects. If you chose to go a different route, all I can say is that you should stick to easier salt fishing.

Guys
 

i am trying not to limit myself but I have only done plug fishing and a little jigging but i plan to jig more this year

Notaro the tidal flats are pretty safe you can even fish without touching the water.

When the time comes I can hook you up

johnr- okay, if it's that what you think. alright, but i understand what you mean. i almost drowned in rockport once. i will take those advices. thank you for your advices. and i will be aware of those dangers involved.

IFG- thanks, man. we will see about it. email me or soemthing.

ifg
 

Fishing the whole cove area of the flats from the bank is safe, except for one or two mudholes that you might go down into over your ankle.

Wading out to the mussel bed that's about 200' from the end of the lot at Bell Road is a different story. Many of us here have fished there since before you were born. There's a safe way out and a way out that will result in them fishing out your carcass from around Cleveland's Ledge Light. Also, the same thing can happen if you take one step too many off that mussel bed. I grabbed one guy by his wader suspenders one night and both of us almost went in before I dragged him back up. There's also the suction created when a big tanker, freighter or cruise ship goes by, and getting dumped on your can by a wake. That mussel bed is a place you should go to first in daylight, and you should follow someone out there who has been there before and knows the safe way out, and where to stand on that mussel bed to avoid problems.

notaro..here is a little suggestion that will be fun and show you some ways of fishing the canal. in 3-4 weeks get your backpack and pack a really nice lunch for you and your friends. get your bicycles or rent some and start peddeling along the access road and just check out how people fish. you will learn and see more in a couple of miles, than anyone could tell you in a month... and you'll have a nice picnic lunch to boot.

whoa, mikep, that scared me more. alright, i will treat it with safety. so i will bike around like redcrbber suggusted. and also eat a good lunch.

Not trying to scare ya--just telling you to make the first trip out there with someone who's been there before. After that you'll be fine. Just stand high and dry on the mussel bed when a large ship is approaching ;)

The marshy bank around the cove is a great fly rod spot---techically it's private property but the present owner doesn't seem to care. Mostly schoolies.

i know, but im kinda inexperienced on the canal. interesting... but on the marsh area, you would probably need a boat, right?

No boat fishin in the canal proper......

Though I have seen guys motoring thru, trolling, and bringing up fish.....but technically, that that's illegal.......

No need for a boat. From the end or the parking lot at Bell Road, you can hop over the rocks and climb down to a grassy marsh bank area. There are often schoolies in that cove. I would only do it after dark as I imagine the owner might not want a ton of people there during the day, and it is private property, after all. The fish are mostly schoolies, and the bottom is all mud, so use light tackle and small lures.

On the other side, there's a public right of way, but the sign "disappeared" years ago and has never been replaced. I couldn't even begin to provide directions, it's one of those things you have to see to find. And the street might be posted against parking nowadays.

tks, mike.alright, is that near marinetime academy?

Notaro
 

No it isn't it's on the other side in gray gables

i see, thanks, man.