Slump.... - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Flaptail · 06-01-2008, 06:56 AM

Man I'm in a wicked slump with bass fishing this last few weeks. Can't buy a fish over 35-1/2 inches ( My pb of the year so far....ick) Fishing all the right places and times. The year started off great with high hopes and expectations but has gone flat for me.

Had the skiff out once so far. Have tried to do it frpm the sand and rocks on pluggage only. Fished the outer beaches hard, water is good, bait is thick... no fish over 20 inches and those are few and far between, barren. Locally fish to 30 inches no problem but over that forget it.

May have to get the skiff in the water on a regular basis now that I am on vacation. Sh!t, I may have to....ugh....use live eels or bunker!

WTF AM I THINKING??????????????????????????

Got the stink on me bad, real bad. It's so bad I should have gone out this morning in the wee hours but have just lost the drive to do so.

Might as well spend the day with the wife and take her shopping.

I'm so depressed!

GonnaCatchABig1 · 06-01-2008, 07:28 AM

please please please please tell me this is sarcasm... or else i may hafta force you to sit and watch me fish. after a season with me, you will be praying for anythign over 15". by yer standards i should have lopped my own head off with a rusty hatchet.

you should have seen how ecstatic i was the other night when i caught a 16incher.. first fish this year, and one of only 3.. yes THREE fish (all schoolies) since last july...

i cant even imagine having crappy days that consisted of fish 30" plus. thats all i want!!!

.....well ya know till i find the fish god and sell him my soul and suddenly start catching 40#s regularly.

i can dream can't i?

BigFish · 06-01-2008, 08:06 AM

I feel your pain! I have not had a tight line since May 21st!!! Had to push myself out the door this am just to find lots of marsh grass moving in with the tide.....so......home to work! Really losing my motivation......me thinks its time to break new ground!

Backbeach Jake · 06-01-2008, 08:08 AM

Slump!? Hell I haven't even started.

BigFish · 06-01-2008, 08:22 AM

Flap......maybe Numbskull can give you a few tips?

Seems like he has a hot hand!

Green Light · 06-01-2008, 08:35 AM

Flaptail,

The fish are here. They are on the move and so am I. When I hit a slump, I think outside the box and try a new location and a new method. When I fish with confidence, I catch fish. When I "think too much" about being in a slump...nada.

But, alas, I am only human. So when the slump become "unbearable", I re-read chapter 10 "Phsychological Components" of "The Trophy Striper" by Frank Daignault. From page146....

"May: The first biggies is ganna come
June: The best month
July: Fish, big fish, are settling in
August: They get crazy and stupid when fattening up on shad
September: The mullet run in going to get'em going
October: They're comin' in from Maine where they ain't been fished
November: Everybody is tired. We got 'em all to ourselves
December: Get one now ans he'll be fat as a bastard"

Flaptail: today is June 1st!

MarshCappa · 06-01-2008, 08:54 AM

Sorry for your pain but it's hard to consider this a slump if you've been landing fish to 35". Seems like you need to relax a little and it will come to you. Overthinking might be your worst enemy right now. I'd personally be happy if I had your problems. Have a great vacation and enjoy yourself.

Sea Dangles · 06-01-2008, 09:15 AM

I feel your pain,my numbers are also down.However, the quality fish ratio is up. I am hearing many different philosophies as to why they are not in the usual haunts. I know the bait pattern and water temps are contributing factors.It seems the majority of fish are taking the outside route this year.My daytime strategy is to look for places to park, so at night so I can fish where the bait is on foot.Unlike other highbrow anglers, I just want to catch fish regardless of method.

Back Beach · 06-01-2008, 09:23 AM

Hearing the same stuff from everyone from SoCo to the Cape. Occasional large fish, but nothing consistent. Like I said in another post, count your fish in December. There's still a long way to go and no evidence of summer resident fish showing anywhere just yet. New moon two nights away may kick things up.
Every season is different....

hyefisherman2 · 06-01-2008, 09:42 AM

i feel all of your pain i have not wetted a line since september!!! ....different pain but still debatable of being in the same ball park?

damn school!!!

takes up all my times on weekends

Vogt · 06-01-2008, 09:51 AM

I too was in a slump untill I caught my lifetime PB last weekend. The tides will turn for you, hang in there and try changing it up a little.

RIROCKHOUND · 06-01-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Hearing the same stuff from everyone from SoCo to the Cape. Occasional large fish, but nothing consistent. Like I said in another post, count your fish in December. There's still a long way to go and no evidence of summer resident fish showing anywhere just yet. New moon two nights away may kick things up.
Every season is different....

Little evidence of any fish the last few tides.

Good tides this week though....

BasicPatrick · 06-01-2008, 12:31 PM

pm sent

MrHunters · 06-01-2008, 01:32 PM

ok this is a crazy thread for june 1.

i havent even been out yet.

am i in a parallel dimension right now?

ProfessorM · 06-01-2008, 02:56 PM

Steve I fished my favorite place, you know, in the skiff on Friday and had several large fish follow the plug to the skiff. They just would not eat it. Got lots of small fish on sand eels but the large ones just looked at the plugs and swam off. Frustrating. I am headed down to Dennisport for the last week of June maybe we can get together and you can show me a few things on the back beach one nite. Been a long time since I have been. Was thinking of giving the fruitcake a call, if he even fishes anymore.

spence · 06-01-2008, 03:00 PM

I agree about the slump part.

Had such a steady pick of 20-30 pound fish from shore on plugs for the last three weeks. Go out with Nightprowler on Thursday and nothing, nada, zilch...

I think it may be a rising magnetic storm on Beta Centuari from the early seventeenth century.

Or it could be due to baitfish munginal flux. It could be...

Here's to hoping things improve and that this isn't it for the year.

-spence

SAUERKRAUT · 06-01-2008, 03:11 PM

Flap: The fish just are not in our niches at this moment. Numbskull and I plugged the archipelagos half this day...total of 5 20" inchers and no chances at any better. I'm amazed that two weekends (off), and the beach tally only a 27" and a 31" fish. Interesting early season so far...no squid fish yet; no herring fish; just some activity in BB keying on 1" sandeels. I have no understanding of all this. That's why I love it so much. Bonds to You, Flap.

The Dad Fisherman · 06-01-2008, 08:30 PM

I've had a grand total of 1 so far this season...and it was a whopping 18" (And I could be stretching the truth on that)

But its gotta break sooner or later (hopefully sooner)

fishaholic18 · 06-01-2008, 09:02 PM

Bunker will solve your problem, give them what they want...

Back Beach · 06-02-2008, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishaholic18

Bunker will solve your problem, give them what they want...

Been catching plenty of fish that size on rubber too.Haven't fished a night or cast an eel yet, but will probably switch gears this week.

angler229 · 06-02-2008, 06:05 AM

I was in a slump just catching 30-34" fish, so I decided to mix it up and get eels and try to pick out some bigger fish went a big 0 for the weekend.

fishaholic18 · 06-02-2008, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Been catching plenty of fish that size on rubber too.Haven't fished a night or cast an eel yet, but will probably switch gears this week.

Cool

numbskull · 06-02-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Been catching plenty of fish that size on rubber too.Haven't fished a night or cast an eel yet, but will probably switch gears this week.

Don't worry, I'll pray for your poor heretic soul.

Nebe · 06-02-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spence

I agree about the slump part.

Had such a steady pick of 20-30 pound fish from shore on plugs for the last three weeks. Go out with Nightprowler on Thursday and nothing, nada, zilch...

Spence that is excellent!! Your better half was voicing some concerns to me over your very low catch rate the past few years... wanted to know if it was 'normal' or not... i said dont worry.. he will have a great season in 08.. the reply I got was "he better or he's getting shipped back to Iowa"

spence · 06-02-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebe

Spence that is excellent!! Your better half was voicing some concerns to me over your very low catch rate the past few years... wanted to know if it was 'normal' or not... i said dont worry.. he will have a great season in 08.. the reply I got was "he better or he's getting shipped back to Iowa"

You might want to book me some tickets than cause I'm full of it

Perhaps my sarcasm needs to be unwrapped a bit.

-spence

RIJIMMY · 06-02-2008, 09:27 AM

I was wondering if it was! You said you were hoping for a schoolie in another thread!

spence · 06-02-2008, 09:38 AM

Trust me, if things are slow all over I'm probably the last person who's going to find fish

-spence

Nebe · 06-02-2008, 09:45 AM

planter · 06-02-2008, 09:56 AM

Perspective is the key. It is better to be fishing and not catching than not fishing at all and the bit about counting your fish in December are words to remember.
I did take a tagged fish this AM under bright skys in shallow water. I just wish it had been over 18" but it's always cool to find out where and when they were tagged. I'm just glad I'm not fishing to feed myself. Sure would be hungry.

foley · 06-02-2008, 11:29 AM

Take a look at this monster I pulled in yesterday and tell me again how much it sucks catching fish that "only" 35"