Funny surf stories

[Vogt]

I know everybody has a few.....
What is your funniest or even strangest surfcasting story.

One time while I was on the Cape, I was fishing the tail end of a hard blow. There were lots of bass around but they were really picky for some reason. So, I cast my Redfin and before the line settles a small tern flies right into the line and gets into a tangled mess. So Im trying to bring in the little bird gently as not to harm it any more, but it is just flying and flapping and doing all it can to escape. So with all of this movement in the line, my Redfin is skittering all over the water's surface, and sure enough a bass comes right up and nails it, hooking himself and draggin the poor bird with him. I ending up landing both. Hows that for cast and blast?!

[Clogston29]

here's my two strangest:

i'm fishing alone at around 2 am on a foggy night. Its low tide and I was feeling out if the tide was low enough for me to safely wade around a rocky ledge to the cove beyond. It wasn't so I made a few casts from the safe side. There's a "cave" carved out in the ledge right behind were I'm standing (nightfighter probably knows what I'm talking about). anyway, I get this chill and am suddenly overcome with the smell of pipe tobacco. I turn around and there's nobody there. I was freaked and took off to higher ground. Looked around for a bit and nobody was around. I still don't like going back there at night. anyway, a few nights later i'm fishing an area nearby with luds48 and on the way back to the car I tell him the story and we go over to the ledge that you can see the area from. below us we see what we swear is a ghost hovering in the rocks. this is the stereotypical ghost form that we saw, straight out of a movie. I don't know how long we both stood and stared before we admitted to each other what we were seeing. we decided to go check it out. about halfway on our walk towards it we were able to make out what it was, a woman wrapped in a white sheet climbing around on the rocks at about 3 am. I guess you never know what you're gonna see.

another night, we pulled up to a spot and while at the car getting ready, a woman ran up to us and told us that there was a family of baby skunks nearby and that she was protecting them (WTF?). a couple minutes later we saw a coyote walking up the road. the crazy woman saw it too and ran down the street right at it and chased it way from the baby skunks.

[Gunpowder]

i decided to take a nap on the vineyard right on the shoreline at about 2 or 3am. i was in a nice deep sleep when all of a sudden i feel this like mosquito or something keep landing on my face. i open my eyes to find a raccoon licking and smelling my face. now if u can imagine how fast i jumped it, multiply that X 10. the raccoon once it realized wat i was, booked it off into the cliffs. i was laughin all night after that one.

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by Gunpowder

i decided to take a nap on the vineyard right on the shoreline at about 2 or 3am. i was in a nice deep sleep when all of a sudden i feel this like mosquito or something keep landing on my face. i open my eyes to find a raccoon licking and smelling my face. now if u can imagine how fast i jumped it, multiply that X 10. the raccoon once it realized wat i was, booked it off into the cliffs. i was laughin all night after that one.

[LeCounts1099]

I was parked in late Oct. '00 in the Ballston Lot, & I was totally alone... the air temp. was 34 degrees... it was 2 AM...


As I was gearing up alone but optimistically as always! ... I heard women screaming loudly in the distance & was shocked & scared!


I looked into the blackness enveloping the marsh/ forest behind the Lot where the sounds were coming from... but couldn't see even 10 yards... and the cries were coming towards me, louder with every second! And I was totally alone there!-- even the beach- houses were dark!


Finally when the sounds were almost upon me...

I realized it was "only" a pack of Coyotes!... (amazing that a City- folk like me knew the sound!)

... AND I then ran with my dozen Eels & gear as fast as I could toward the dunes & beach! THEN ran to the promising inner bar set up 1/4 mile North of the Lot that I had scouted that day & where I found mini- Herring (4- 5") washed up from a Bluefish blitz all over the sand that afternoon... (when I didn't bother wetting a line-- hate/ fear Bluefish as much as Coyotes!)


Looking over my shoulder the whole time for moon- lit fangs, I threw my largest Eel for over an hour without a hit! No Coyotes, but I was stiff from the cold & ready to hit my warm vehicle for a Doughnut snack, & another Back- Beach/ spot for dawn...


...When "she" hit! My Vs250 screamed to no one but me, that I had come here at 2 AM for the right reason!... & 8 - 10 minutes later & a bent- out Gama Octopus 5/0 later!... I landed-- & released in fine shape-- my PB from surf to date: 42 lbs.

[BassDawg]

Ya know how we do this thang we do,
often with little or no sleeep, often in the bedeviled hours

So one night i'm out at Sachmo, on the beach side walking the trails to get to the Sakonett side and as the trails narrow and the breezes blow i'm getting that "eyes upon me" feeling, that only intensifies until I can find a break in the brush and can look out into the major surf.

The 8'-10' breakers are pounding the shore, at all three of the first places I could see, then it's back to the "Trails with Eyes". Man I was singing some good ole southern gospels that night, and saying it's only the wind, it's only the wind...........................

I laugh about it now, but that was some skeeery stuff for several moments until I could get back to the parking lot .

Another time on the Gansett, before entering BRRoad.................
I hear what was one or two coyotes about 300 to 400 yds away. Yippin' like they do, and just playing at first. Then I hear about 3 to 4 more join them, they gather to exchange pleasantries, and the next thing I know, they are closing and the yipps have gotten to within 20 yards or so, then nothing! Complete silence, and that isn't good .

So there I am, with all my stuff strewn out on the trunk of my feeshmobile and me beaming my headlamp into the bushes until I thought it was safe to grab my stuff and hightail it outa there!!!! One or two I could handle, and they would prolly be more afraid of me than me of them, but 6 or 7 and the fact that I did have some particularily ripe pogies for chunking and some eeeeeels for slinging that night didn't bode well for me that night. The trails there are just toooo close to the brush and an ambush of a pack of hungry yotes beneath a full Hunter's moon didn't seem like the right move.............

Pretty funny now, not so much THEN

[Vogt]

BassDawg, This year right at that same area we had a yotie dive out from a side street and actually run in front of the truck for about a 1/4 mile! Of course this was at 2:30 am and we were all dead a** tired. So it was a bit of a surprise!

[Gunpowder]

wow alot of coyote stories out there i guess lol

[BassDawg]

Yup!!

Heard of soome eeeels swipin' going on last year, right around there.
Nebe tells us of a pack that he knows that roams from The Hill to the Tree and both sides and back and forth for fish down there.

He also was talking about some run-ins with that particular pack whose territory is along the AVES. Be careful out there, gents! I dunno, Pat, I may have to start packing some heat :;-):??

[JohnR]

I was walking down a fairly long but private road to a spot and was probably past a third of a mile from my truck when I see a baby coyote walk across the road maybe 25 feet in front of me. I slowed down my walk a bit then the mom came out and she looked pi$$ed and was standing in the middle of the road. I had my rod and eels in one hand and my lip gripper in the other while this stare down was taking shape. Finally the Coyotes moved off the side and into the woods so I passed and continued to walk, rod in one side, lip grip in the other. Now I hear rustling in the brush parallel to the the road and slightly behind so I turn around and start walking backwards to the spot... The rustle continued for the next 1-200 feet I walked. Was a decent night with a few 20s basses but I was spooked out and looking over my shoulder a lot that night fishing

[Slick Moedee]

I was having my striper cherry broken, a friend and I went down by Hazard in the wee hours of the night. Not a whole lot of luck that evening and was ill prepared for a new moon, i.e., no light source what so ever. Well sure enough I happened to stumble head first into one of the stagnant puddles there on the rocks. It was deep enough to be complete submerged. My buddy didn't stop laughing for weeks, nor did he let me in the car for a while. Most humbling experience to date. Man that water has a ripe smell to it.

[Moron_Saxatilis]

Sort of a fishing story, and yes with a coyote. My father took me and my brother on a fishing trip to Mooseshead lake. We stopped at a rest area outside of Greenville predawn and my father got a sleeping bag out and decided to catch a few z's under a picnic table. He was about 15 yards from the car. Me and my brother were about 17ish and decided to smoke a little something while dad was sleeping. After a bit a coyote walks out of woods and over to dad under picnic table and starts sniffing all over him. My father didn't move, we were giggling, then the coyote walks on. My father pops up as he was completely aware of what happened and runs over to car. My brother and me roll down windows quickly and attempt to fan out offensive odor. My father was so frazzled he didn't even notice the smell.

[piemma]

I think I this story but here goes.

I'm driving alone from Peaked Hill bar back toward the Mission Bell. It's about 3 AM and suddenly there are 2 young women in front of me hitchhiking.

So I stop to pick them up and they want a ride to the airdown lot. They both get in the back of my Blazer. The back seats are folded down to make room for my stuff and my sleeping bag.

I don't hear anything for a few minutes and I look back and there they are buck naked doing the old 69. What the Hell!!
I just kept driving. I wasn't sure what else to do being an old married guy.

Anyway as we start heading up the big dune on the way out I told them they should probably get dressed as we were coming up on the airdown lot. They thanked me, got out of the truck and headed down the road.

[Saltheart]

Oh that's a gooood story PI

[RIJIMMY]

gezz Paul, how the heck do you top that one! WHat a start for a porn movie...

not 1/2 has "exciting"....I was fishing Pt Jude, at about 2am, having no luck and started heading back up to my car. It was pitch dark and while I was near the bushes, along the fence, suddenly the fence starts rattling and moving all over the place, not shaking but violently moving back and forth, I backed up in amazment, Noone was around at all and it was so loud and shaking. I was petrified and thought of just running but I shined my light down the length of the fence, I saw 2 sets of eyes looking at me, same height as me, I really freaked out, what can be that big out here? Turns out it was 2 deer, big bucks jumping up against the fence! I was pretty shaken up after that.

[RIJIMMY]

one more...

Parker23 wanted me to post this story awhile back, 100% true.

The story of Lucky the eel
While on the Vineyard 2 years ago with my family, I bought a bunch of eels. I was carrying them in one of those soft-sided coolers. I thought I had used them all, but apparently, one was under the frozen water bottle I had in there to keep them cold. The cooler was in the back of our van for a few days, the temps were in the 80s outside. When it was time to go back home, I took out my gear and was cleaning it up before we got on the ferry. I opened the cooler and found the eel, dried up, but still alive. My kids were with me and they were excited to play with the eel, I filled up a bucket with water and he was swimming around. My daughter said we have to name him and I said lets call him Lucky since he survived for 3 days in a hot van. We were not catching a ferry until late in the afternoon. My kids talked about Lucky all day, he was their favorite part of the trip. I explained we have to let him go and we’ll stop on the way to the ferry. We crossed the bridge in VH and pulled over to a beach area. My daughter asked is she could let him go, I said yes and the whole family, son, daughter wife and I, walked down to the edge of the water with me carrying the bucket with Lucky in it. My daughter spilled out the remaining water and let Lucky slide out into a few inches of the bay. Lucky paused before swimming away, probably sensing freedom was near and then suddenly BAM!!! A seagull, apparently watching the whole thing from the bridge, dove into the water, a few feet from us, grabbed Lucky , flew back to the bridge and gulped Lucky down in one shot. My kids were horrified, my wife said, I think you gave him the wrong name

[wheresmy50]

After fishing a certain Gansett outflow until the wee hours this October, I was walking along the beach to get back to my truck at about 2 am. The drop was over and fishing had been slow anyway.

I was most of the way back when I heard some screaming and saw 5-7 women run in front of me into the (cold) ocean. My eyes were pretty adjusted, and with the street lights help I was able to make out the stark naked college-aged girls frolicking in about 2 feet of water 20 yards away from me as I walked past.

I'd have pictures, since I decided that I was entitled - them being in public and all, but when I reached into my pocket to get my camera which was safely sealed in a zip-lock bag, I found the bag 1/2 full of water.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

one more...
My kids were horrified, my wife said, I think you gave him the wrong name

[numbskull]

"He went like one that hath been stunned, and is of sense forlorn,
a sadder but a wiser man he rose the following morn."
S Coleridge 1797 Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

About 20 years ago, after reading too many "Fisherman" articles I decided to try and beach fish Cuttyhunk during a massive fall NE'er. Left Quissett just before dark in a 29' Dyer. Ran down the sound and came through Quicks with the tide against the wind (about 40knots...eventually got up to 60 that night). Hit the steepest shortest seas I've ever experienced and had to run almost 1/2 a mile before I could make the turn for Cutty. Got into the harbor, pitch black with 2-3 foot waves at the dock. Made fast with 4 lines all on the upwind side. Got off, with difficulty, and tried to fish the barges. No korkers, couldn't stand up on those wet bowling balls. Went back to a tossing boat with a plan to get up at 11pm and head to the south end of the island to fish eels at highwater.

Woke up with a start at MN, the dock was under water. Frantic about missing the tide, I set out for the south end. Couldn't find the footpath to the road, but I remembered that as kids we used to climb the tower hill and access the road from up there. That was only 20 years earlier and so what if it was raining horizontally and pitch black, no doubt that route would save time. Not. Got lost in the brush south of the hill. Lost my main flashlight, tried to save my reserve. Stumbling in the dark, I nearly tripped on a sleeping buck that erupted at my feet. Wondered about swarm after swarm of big black "butterflies" I kept walking through. Nearly shat when I realized they weren't butterflies.

Finally made the road, no clue how far down. Decided I had to fish, so I went down the rain soaked cliff.........really fast. Didn't break anything. Fished a while and realized I wanted to be further down. Tried to walk down the beach, but with no usable light and no visibility it was impossible. Back up the wet cliff, in waders, with a rod, bag, and eel bucket, hanging from small bushes the whole way.

Made it to the south end. The tide had blown out of there. Cast an eel.....bottom. Broke off, re rigged, cast again......bottom. Switched to a skin needle, caught a 5 lb fish, then bottom again. Tried to wade out, fell in...... hard......twice. At this point sanity returned, considered the consequence of breaking a leg in late October during a NE storm on the deserted end of Cutty. Gave up, trudged back to the boat. All for a single 5 lb fish.....and a lesson well learned.

[redhead7]

keep them coming............. please

[baldwin]

Lemme see, Pat. Bat and bunny on the fly rod, coyote balloons, you doing the old bump-and-grind on a boulder in huge surf at Cutty, dancing in full surf gear in a parking lot while young girls drive by with music blaring,...nah, no funny stories coming from me. I'm way too serious.

[MikeToole]

I'm out about 400 yards on the far end of a sandbar standing in water up to my waist. It's a flat calm morning and it was just starting to show the first signs of day light. When suddenly this head popped out of the water flying straight at me and bumped into me almost knocking me over. I'm back peddling away as fast as I can with the Jaws theme song in my head. It was a dam seal also racing.

[piemma]

This is a GREAT thread!!! Funny stuff!!!

[Vogt]

Originally Posted by baldwin

Lemme see, Pat. Bat and bunny on the fly rod, coyote balloons, you doing the old bump-and-grind on a boulder in huge surf at Cutty, dancing in full surf gear in a parking lot while young girls drive by with music blaring,...nah, no funny stories coming from me. I'm way too serious.

[Moron_Saxatilis]

I have a story just like the lucky the eel one. I nice family decided to release a 5lb+ lobster while I was fishing in Warwick. I ended up being the seagull though...

[Bronko]

A couple of years ago about 3am, I arrived at a cape beach at my favorite tide. It was one of those pitch black, super foggy cape nights, you know the ones when you need the windshield wiper and defrost at the same time? It was just a heavy air with no wind, a little creepy. When I got there I was the only car in the lot. Put on my gear and trudged the 1/4 to a nice juicy bar. I tossed on a big ole' cape cod rattlesnake and began to wade out. I immediately could hear fish breaking and popping not far away in the dense fog, first cast and just as I reel in the slack I am onto a good fish.

After about a half hour and a few nice bass, I hear an explosion in the water about 20 feet away. It is violent and lasts longer than a "breaking fish sound." I am used to fishing the outer cape alone and I do not spook easy. This was different, this was violent. I began to back up all my senses on edge, now its dead quiet even the fish have stopped breaking, I keep backing towards the beach but facing the surf. I finally turn towards the shore, I am about 30ft from the beach. Then the water between me and the beach erupts and I just see a 200-300lb mass explode towards me. I screamed like a 5 year old girl, I am talking a real b*tch scream. I stumbled backwards and dunked myself..... A freakin' seal had some fish trapped against the beach behind me. I actually spooked him and he took off past me into the deeper water. I had to sit down and regroup. I thought I had a slight heart attack. Then I heard the fish breaking again in the fog and realized I had a 1/2 dozen eels left. So I went right back at it.....just not out as far this time. The fish kept eating.

[gldnbear93]

No way to top Piemma.

Two years ago coming off the rocks at BRR. Korkers scraping and making a heck of a noise. Headlamp on. I get to the tall grasses and start onto the little trail back to the car when a teenage boy sticks his head up over the grasses and bolts (toward the big rock and away from me). What the he** is that all about? Smokin' dope?
I take a couple more steps, and girl calls out from the trail-Ican just make her out at the edge of my my lamplight. She is frantically pulling on her clothes and saying "sorry, please wait sorry. I turn my head so she is out of the light. She gets up and chases after her boyfriend.

I'd be pissed at him if I were her, leaving her alone, naked in front of a stranger.

Last year coming off the short wall in the dark just as I am hitting the beach, three college girls rush out of the parking lot stripping off their closthes as they run accross the sand (lit enough to see) and jumping into the water.

[chris L]

Paul wins hands down . I have a hitchhiker story but not related to the surf but it no way compares too Pauls .

[The Iceman 6]

I was fishing a back beach on the Cape on July 4th, it was about 4:00in the morning and getting close to sunrise, I walked about 1/2 mile down the beach and the blues showed up, I started catching bluefish after bluefish on poppers and pretty light tackle. The sunrise was just coming up and I was in that false light stage, nobody was around anywhere. I reel in a blue and am about to get my pliers when the blue spits out the popper in the surf line, great don't have to deal with this one. Suddenly out of nowhere I feel a weird breeze and something brushes against my shoulder and arm pretty hard when I go to look at what is happenning, at this point in time I am screaming like a 5 year old school girl and jumping up and down, when I look over - it's a freakin' EAGLE, the thing swoops down and literally takes me out and nails the 6-8 pound bluefish literally 1 foot away from me. I was in sheer panic I tell ya. The Eagle just looked at me like this is my beach, what are you doing here? Picked up the bluefish with ease and flew right to a nearby tree and proceeded to have his free meal. It was pretty cool getting clipped by an Eagle on the 4th of July.

[Bronko]

Originally Posted by The Iceman 6

I was fishing a back beach on the Cape on July 4th, it was about 4:00in the morning and getting close to sunrise, I walked about 1/2 mile down the beach and the blues showed up, I started catching bluefish after bluefish on poppers and pretty light tackle. The sunrise was just coming up and I was in that false light stage, nobody was around anywhere. I reel in a blue and am about to get my pliers when the blue spits out the popper in the surf line, great don't have to deal with this one. Suddenly out of nowhere I feel a weird breeze and something brushes against my shoulder and arm pretty hard when I go to look at what is happenning, at this point in time I am screaming like a 5 year old school girl and jumping up and down, when I look over - it's a freakin' EAGLE, the thing swoops down and literally takes me out and nails the 6-8 pound bluefish literally 1 foot away from me. I was in sheer panic I tell ya. The Eagle just looked at me like this is my beach, what are you doing here? Picked up the bluefish with ease and flew right to a nearby tree and proceeded to have his free meal. It was pretty cool getting clipped by an Eagle on the 4th of July.

I know what beach you were on!

That eagle stole a lot of fish from people.