Skunked for the year

[Duke41]

For the first time since I got back into striper fishing in 1998, I have not caught a single fish, not one. Not even a bluefish. I have been fishing coastal Newport from my boat as well as Narragansett Bay. I don't suck and I am not a newbie, I have my spots and I believe they are empty of fish. I only fished 4 times this year (gas), I think that is the problem. I am taking 2 days off next week to go at it again. Want to fill the freezer for my semi famous Christmas Eve fish dinner. It is really weird for me. Fished 7 hours yesterday. Too rough our front, nothing up the bay, not even a blue boil. Overcast, incoming tide, should have been a great day. I don't get it.

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by Duke41

For the first time since I got back into striper fishing in 1998, I have not caught a single fish, not one. Not even a bluefish. I have been fishing coastal Newport from my boat as well as Narragansett Bay. I don't suck and I am not a newbie, I have my spots and I believe they are empty of fish. I only fished 4 times this year (gas), I think that is the problem. I am taking 2 days off next week to go at it again. Want to fill the freezer for my semi famous Christmas Eve fish dinner. It is really weird for me. Fished 7 hours yesterday. Too rough our front, nothing up the bay, not even a blue boil. Overcast, incoming tide, should have been a great day. I don't get it.

found simmilar conditions in the bay yesterday. bait no fish, water 70 purrfect - nothing

what a defference a year makes

[Nebe]

The bass stocks are not an unlimited resource.. We are now paying for 2@28..

[Adam_777]

Blues are around.Throw meat at them and they will happily hook themselves.

[joe the plumber]

Originally Posted by Nebe

The bass stocks are not an unlimited resource.. We are now paying for 2@28..

Man,do I agree with the above statement.I got back into surf fishing 2 years ago and while I have no concrete evidence to support this,I noticed a lack of fish right away,especially the 36"to 40" fish once so common.Just my 2 cents.

[Duke41]

I checked out the upper bay not a boil to be seen. This is really weird.

[Circlehook]

Go to the Canal with eels every day in hopes of landing some cow bass... great way to catch some bluefish....

[MrHunters]

im seeing very typical fish feeding patterns up this way. boils all morning. schoolies extra motivated to eat some silversides.

numbers wise i have had my best season ever. well over 200 fish. size wise 2 keepers to date.

i'm not playing devils advocate, it's just what im seeing.

i fish 1 day a week from may - nov

[Duke41]

thanks man I will be back at it next week. Maybe I just suck

[BassDawg]

DOOOOD!

you doan SUCK! they ARE fish, after all,
and they do have fins,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

keep getting yer lines wet and you WILL be duly rewarded;
however, to say it's all over after only 4 trips to the surf ~~~
seems a little short-sighted to me, bro??

up here,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the patterns are right on time.

almost like clockwork!! size where there is supposed to be SIZE
and dinks where they are supposed to be. i've released plenty of fish in the 30"-38" SLOT.
no BLITZES yet, but it's still 3-4 weeks early for that,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[macojoe]

Hmm... I have not fished much after Aug 1st as I had some surgery, but my spots have produced for friends of mine great!!
Ton's of fish in the 30's, many in the 40's and at least 2 in the low 50's
If you ask me this has been a great year for large fish!!

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by Duke41

thanks man I will be back at it next week. Maybe I just suck

i felt like that last year. I had to change some things up. Sometimes that's all it takes.