Striper Lock Jaw or are they just full!!!
 

WHat are your thoughts, sorry haven't been on much lately but have had visitors for a week and things were a little busy and also fighting a dam summer cold, What's up with that??????

Anyway, we have been out on the Harbor probably 5 times in the last 2 weeks and also shore fishing and slow is the word for the week. But I have some thoughts as to why this is happening and want to know what every body else is thinking.

It is my thinking that that it is true right now we are partly in the doldrums of summer but the other part of me is seeing alot of bait this year in the harbor and I think that the fish are just eating when they feel like it and don't have to corral up the bait and bust it to get a meal. I think the fish just have full bellies. Most of the fish we caught over the last 2 weeks, which has not been alot. A 35 inch bass being the largest and a 9 + lb bluefish all are really hefty fish. Were usually this time of year the fish are a little on the thin side and will hit artificials pretty regularly. We have also seen a ton of bluefish just outside the harbor, tailing on the surface like bone fish on the flats of FL that won't touch a thing, they are just haning out in the deeper water just s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g up the sun.

SO what do you think, how are the fish you have been catching??????

I think I posed a similar question after that slow couple weeks we had in June. The feed had been on and the action had been great for several weeks and I wondered if they just had broken up the bait schools and were generally taking a break.

Than we had those two really good weeks around the 4th with probably the longest sustained feeding I'd seen this season, considering the boat and fishing pressure that was out there.

Are we in another lull with the bait being broken up a bit and the fish takin' a break from the feed? Do those types of patterns go on? I really don't know enough to say, but that makes some sense. This is my first year with a boat that can get me around and the first year I've really seen the feeding patterns. From the shore, I always figure the fish are feeding somewhere else, but when you cover the whole harbor, you see that things are just off.

The fish I've been getting all year have been very healthy, strong fish. The fish on the cape were tiny early in the year, but since the harbor started up, even the micros have generally had pot-bellies.

I'm not exactly sure, but I can state this;
I went out last saturday and found the fish slow although we managed to get a few. The one I took home was a big fish with an empty stomach.
Tuesday this week I fished a couple of spots the fish hit chunks immediately and hard, and it lasted for 1 1/2 hours, (they were hungry).
I did not take any home, but my feeling was that their bellies were also empty.
Tough to figure whats going on.

We need to get into their heads!!!!
;)

Now if I were a fish, I would................:confused:

Good Evening -

Fish?? Where are the fish?? Such questions have been asked since "the beginning."

I have only caught two stripers thus far this year.....both were short......so back they went for another day.

But, each time I have been able to fish I am at peace and feel like better person for being out there (even though I come back empty handed)..


I guess I am just trying to say this: "It is like going on a vacation.....you love to go, but hate to have it end.....But, you are always better off for having gone......"


What does this mean !!??!! -->--> Enjoy the time you are out there .....The fish will come in and then leave.....But the enjoyment of being out there.....being away from some of the crazy stuff on shore ......this is the "vacation that never ends."

Isn't this what it's all about?? You are always better off when you are able to fish!

No one asked me......just my opinion.


The smiling fisherman (AKA:Mid)

Not slow up north
 

My brother-in-law has aboat in Manchester Harbor and as been catching keepers at the mouth of the harbor. The water is colder and they were caught on dead herring. He is an amateur at this type of fishing, actually any typeof fishing, so it has to be plentiful for him to make out well. He said his buddies have been doing o.k., too. Colder water, maybe...........hungrier fish more than likely.

The garden is keeping me busy. My Atlantic Giant pumpkins are almost keeper size. Tight lines everyone. The vineyard trip is right around the corner.

The swimmer.

full bellies at Monomoy
 

Last Sunday I hit the rips of Monomoy drifing sand eels and had non-stop fish - probably about 15. every boat (and there were plenty!) were landing a lot of fish. I did keep one and his belly was just full od squid (8 big quid) - they were having a feeding frenzy on squid that day!

Hey MID:

I know what you mean.
although I like to catch fish when i go out, i always tell people when they come with me, that it is the FISHING that is fun and that's what you are paying for (fuel, bait, equip. etc.)...

If you actually catch something, that's a BONUS !!!!:D

They're looking damn chubby right now...

Fished the ditch for a good 5 hours tonight.... nada...

Walking back to the jeep, guy caught a close to keeper size bass on mackerel chunk about the 4th light down walking towards the east end jetty....

That fish certainly was lookin a bit on the fat side, so they're eating well right now it appears...

*shrug*

Better luck next time...

Although I think the magic formula is to buy every bait type your shop has, and bring x2 times as many rods.... fish surface and bottom... and voila! Fish!

;)

Cheers

Ted

Hi SB!

:D :D :D :D :D

not long but fat......:D :D

we need ta hook up again! I am going thru FW withdrawls!!! HA!HA!

Hey Jenn, you'll have to give me a call and see what we can schedule in???????

We caught fish yesterday as the feeding has seemed to start again, all fish were very heavy and very healthy so I don't know whats up, but glad they were up yesterday for SM & JohnR to have something to play with out there.

It was a beautiful day, overcast in the am and sunny the rest of the day. LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

Mid, I totally agree with what you are saying. The water for me is a very peacefull place, wther I am catching fish or not. Was just trying to get some opinions as to what people feel is going on with the fish feeding patterns.

Swimmer, you better start practicing, MV is coming fast!!!! Bring it on, heard that a Bonito was caught last week!!! There coming soon.

yup!

I have come down with a summer cold too.....:( :( friday...on the way to the Cape....felt like I was gonna die..........hate this crap! but I sure didnt let it spoil my fishin marathon!!!!:p :p :p