"I'm done for the year"
 

Last night, with great conviction and in all seriousness, I made this statement(three witnesses) and firmly believe its over for me. I left fish biting, no more interest or drive. Fished the last 10 of 14 nights and I've had enough. So has my wife. :doh:
Do you ever hear yourself saying this towards the end of the season, only to sneak back out for another attempt or two at glory?

That didnt take long Mike! Welcome to the no drive club...I had such an awesome year I just know I cant top it...I am outa gass and done for the season! Saturday its candy apple day with the family at Jasweel farms! Sunday I am heading out to see the pats! Awesome 5th row end zone seats on the pats sideline! Then its halloween...No sense in going on further, I am quite content and happy at this point...Glad you had a great couple weeks and enjoy that Baby! time goes fast!

Yup! (Right Slingah?) It last a couple weeks until you take 3 or 4 solid skunkings and then you know its over!!! Good luck though when you head back out!:laughs:

I got another week or two left in me, not so much tired just feel like after a while a chance at a good fish is slim.

The "last trip"
 

until next season:cheers::uhoh:

Glad to hear you guys did so well. I was happy to go just the few times I was able. Time is catching up to me. The "last trip" is always a kind of sad day. I've been LMB fishing the headwaters of the Taunton river the last couple weeks. Always get one or 2 on medium shiners from my favorite spots. No pajamas for me this year, had my chances though. Until next year. BBJ, ever go ice fishing for brood salmon in Lake Pearl ?

a sad day? nope...you just look forward to next season and its nice because the pressure of descision making is gone, no more weather reports, no more tide charts, no more BS reports, no more embelishing, none of it...just time to relax.......

I've been striper fishing since March 20th, so I'm starting to burn out a little bit.
For the past week I have been picking and choosing my nights, rather than going out everynight.(Still lots of good fish) Thats probably how I'll play it up untill the end.

exactly, not sad, just time to "reflect" on the enjoyment of life.

Ice fished there a lot, but mostly for bass. Will likely do some fly casting close to home for a few weeks.

Regardless of the quality of the fishing, I just lose interest this time of year. Maybe its the short days and the impending end that puts me into a tail spin.

In my earlier days, I rarely fished after the end of september, primarily due to the fact that you coudn't sell fish and I figured why bother at all. The last several seasons I've stretched it due to a renewed interest in surf fishing.

So...............what time you picking me up?? I too have lost some drive, but will make a few more trips.

I'll take the rest of your eels Mike :D

i'm with you. i'll head out another time or two, but I'm done with the hardcore fishing. had a great season and the drive is pretty much gone. mid august through early october were a blur of all nighters and work. i'll make a few trips when its convenient but that's it. heading to BI in early nov. that'll be my last trip of the year i suspect.

I want a 40........I don't have the excuse of being old to stop fishing so I gotta give it hell. :rotflmao:

not done yet but fussy on weather,don't like the cold.

i have a few more weeks in me. few more boat trips, few surf trips.

The last hurrah for me is always schoolie fest in SoCo the week before T-day.

my wife is due in a few weeks with number 2. I am done. I cleaned all my gear and Hung it up till spring.

i never say it, just stop one day and then start again in mid april :)

I actually like the off season, time to think about what to do, make stuff, and of course buy stuff ;)

This weekend is my Swan Song.......Nov. 1 is when I hang it up for the season.

Then I'll start Smelt fishing for a couple of weeks....and then its wintering in Man Town over the lathe

I never have that problem, because I don't get to fish nearly as much as I want to. The "drive" never goes away :splat:

im nearing the end of the road as well... the schoolies that used to always take my lures at a UDL, dont even follow up my lures anymore since a few days ago..... may giv boat fishing one more try

What section you in #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& for the pats on sunday... I am 141 , 5th row end zone...

My brother said its section 114?...its right at the end of the pats sideline near the tunnel where they come out

I still enjoy the late season fishing. I guess it's like hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth and I enjoy the challenge. I don't mind the cold so I'll be out there until I'm sure the chance of large has passed.

Some inspiration is attached.

I have to admit I needed some after last night as well.

The first pic is a year ago today. 42 pounds for my buddy Jim Debonis. Somewhere in Mass. Then the next is the year before that a few days from now.

Like it or not though, the window is rapidly closing, no matter what the water temps. For big fish anyway. I saw 61 degrees last night. Warm, but whether it matters or not is a different story.

I'll get out a few more times...but thats it...
I hiked up Mt Monadnock today..so I doubt Ill fish tonite..

I need a guaranteed 40 just to get out of bed. :uhoh:

nice pics pete

BB - showing your age eh???:hihi::hihi::hihi:

I've lived long enough to know each trip is one less in the allotment I have left. The act of going brings as much pleasure as what I catch. These late season trips when everyone else has quit and my expectations are low are the ones I cherish most.

I don't know if they're my favorite, but I do enjoy it. You have to have some tenacity to push through the cold and the odds of catching bigger fish decreasing. And I agree completely it feels good to be relatively alone out there challenging the elements a bit.

Going Thanksgiving morning with a few friends to catch a few schoolies at the breachways to usually end the season is a trip that means a lot to me.

While chasing and catching the biggest fish possible is certainly my main drive out there, I enjoy the whole season. Schoolies at the beginning and end, splashing the boats for the first time, the Bay in May, the first good fishing off the rocks. It's all good.

Take what you need from it. Whether it's calling it early or going to the bitter end. Or fishing for stripers all winter if you know where to go. You only have to make yourself happy. :btu:

Just today I gave serious thought to hauling the boat this weekend.... The stoopid fishing in the harbors hasn't even really kicked into high gear, but I may be just hitting the rocks a few more times after hauling and getting the work required to put her away. I still am looking for a few more blitzes and maybe one more "good" fish though...