need help
 

I live on the north shore. spent alot of time fishing this year. only my second year living here and last year I caught my share of fish. not so much this year. not a single fish since july 4 weekend. barely even a bite. I've tried clams, herring, pogie, mackrel, plugs and jigs and nothing. no boat just surf casting different spots. I don't need to catch fish like Redlight, but I need at least I bite every once in a while to keep it interesting. not an expirienced fisherman, i could use a few pointers. and yes I've tried fishing the atlantic with a hook:huh:

It's been a really slow year for me as well, especially from the surf, so much so that I've gone entirely to fishing from my skiff. Lots of fish around but they're being really picky (bluefish as well), even from the boat the only thing that has been working consistently is live bait or trolling tube and worm. The best advice I can give is to keep at it, fish the same spots and get to really know them, and hopefully the fall run will kick in soon and all these fish will start feeding a little less selectively. Good luck.

Almost forgot, didn't see eels on your list, give them a try, either live or rigged.

Get out early some morning, before sunrise......bring some pencils, spooks, maybe a couple of swimming plugs and walk a stretch of shoreline and do a little hit and run! Make a few casts across an area, vary your retrieve speeds once in awhile......if after a dozen casts you do not get a hit then move down 20 yards and do it again! I am going to bet you hit a spot and stay in that one spot the whole time?? If thats the case then thats the problem.....move around work a good size area and you are bound to find some action! Good luck!:kewl:

Try sunset too!;)

yeah, what he said.

Best day to get out....when its rainy and sloppy!!!:bgi:

Are you fishing at night? Dark nights are best. The september new moon is coming, get out there for that (wish I could but a certain someone is getting married). Eels are probably your best bet, but if you don't want to go there i'd suggest black sluggos (google sluggos and steve mckenna - you'll find what you need) and/or dark needles and swimmers (can't lose with a bomber a-salt).

look for rocks and deep water. or a shallow place with structure near deep water on a dark night.

fish are still in a summer pattern from what I see and aren't on the move yet, so if your not getting them at a certain spot and tide one night, they probably won't be there the next either. very soon things will change and they'll start to move, then it will be more hit or miss and you'll have a good shot a fish by driving around and looking for them. If you find them during the day on peanuts, nothing will outfish a bone rebel jumpin' minnow retrofitted with 1/0 vmcs IMO.

Good luck and stick to it.

Got a call last night from a Boston commuter who pulled over and jumped into the surf in his business attire last night. Two townlines south of me. 35" fish in the report. Morning and dusk blitzes are due to start up. Metal,shads, and wire leaders are must haves for the blitz bag. Change gears for fall.

thanks for the advice. and I do stay in the same spot most of the time. walking with the 2 rods, tackle box, and bait on rocks at night can be tricky. and I fish a peer on a river a lot. but the fish haven't been in the river like last year. I'm crossing my fingers for the fall run. it's only my second season striper fishing, so I'm still trying to learn the best technique and find a spot the produces fish on a regular basis. and I've started looking for a cheap boat to get around the harbor in.

1 Rod
3 plugs in a surfcaster belt bag
6 eels in shoulder bag.
Knife and pliers on belt
2 lights around neck
Spare leaders, hooks and such in front pocket off each bag.

i am that commuter and the real must is to have your pole in your car/truck at all times...

i can save you alittle time, there is no best technique and no spot that produces all the time, its ever changing.

the only sure thing in surfcasting is that there is no such thing as a sure thing.

Another thing that can help if you are fishing plugs is to add a teaser in front of your plug. When the bass are being picky they may take a teaser but not the plug. I like red gills, you can also use flies.

while the above is TRUE, to an extent,,,,,,,,,,,,,

there are conditions and structure that repeat AND
deliver from OBX to OOB. especially so along the NE portion
of The Striper Coast. learn what, where, and when produces
BITES and you will find consistent success.

what BigFish said works as well; i would only add that when you are hitting an area,
try casting your offering in a fan pattern. first at 12 o'clock, then 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11,,,,,,,,,,,,,
all the way to 3:30 ~~or vice versa. REPEAT. THEN, move outside of the casting area you just covered either
with the current or towards the structure, your choice, and look for the white carpet,,,,,,,,,and you'll find the feesh.

i would also suggest a basslawg to aid you in the recording
of these patterns of conditions and BITES. Crazy Al swears by them, and i know that there are other sharpies
that do it strictly from memory; however i'm part of the OvertheHill Club, so for me lawgs are the way to go.

dark nights, new moons, 17"-20" snakes, learning yer spots, and keep wetting lines
will get her done, mi amigo. this time of year,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,sleep is waaaaay overrated
:btu: :btu: :btu:`

thanks again everyone. I'll post my keeper for all of you to see, someday