Boat fishing is easier

[Saltheart]

Since I'm halfway around the world right now I'm feeling pretty brave so I think I will say what many think and see if we can discuss this like gentleman instead of it turning into a flame war. We will see!!

I think boat fishing is way easier than shore fishing. I offer two pieces of evidence

1) Look at all the guys who go to boat fishing later in life because their legs or backs or whatever can no longer take the rigors of shore fishing.

2) I have been on two boat fishing trips in the last 7 years. One with Chet hathaway on the Noreaster and one with Mr Macey and redcrabber. On just those 2 trips , I have caught and seen caught by others , more fish over 30 pounds than I have caught on more than 200 shore trips.

IMO its easier to get to the spots , you can fish way longer without getting tired , you can use fish finders , you can use heavier gear for fewer breakoffs and reties , and you can go to several areas in one night without your legs falling off.

Now I will admit that I had a ball on both the boat trips. Pulling in big fish one after another is certainly a lot of fun but come on guys , lets admit that its easier to catch fish when you use mechanical help instead of old tired legs.

Again , I ask we keep it civilized but let the battle begin!

[piemma]

Since I am also quite a ways from New England (on Maui) I'll weigh in.
Yep, I agree, it's a lot easier in the boat and more productive and more fun and easier on the body and, and, and I LOVE IT!!!

[BigFish]

I am a surf guy....way out of my element in a boat! I can take nothing away from the guys who do it on the water! It might be easier, as many say to catch fish from a boat......but is it any easier to catch a "SLOB" from a boat than it is from the surf??? I have to say no!

[Nebe]

Kayak fishing is the best of both worlds.. and if your back is sore, you can get out and surfcast.

[bloocrab]

There is NO comparison. Boat fishing is beyond a doubt, MUCH MORE EASIER than shore fishing.

Anyone who thinks they're even relatively close is a - FOOL.

I think the biggest reason, which Saltheart already pointed out......." - its easier to get to the spots - " .....that in itself is enough to carry the entire weight of my belief. Think of ALL the spots that we no longer have access to from shore,.....now think, if you had a boat, ...access to those spots..and well beyond, was just given back to you. When is a school of fish out of casting range for a boater ? From the boat, you can always find colder water during those summer months,...from shore, your casting a little more than 180 degrees, depending where you are, from a boat, your @ 360, when the fish follow the bait off shore, the boater too, can follow...while the surf-fisherman can only follow with his eyes while he wipes away his tears. The last time I used a Fish-Finder from shore, I filled a bucket of perriwinkles, the guy in the boat using his, had 3 totes of mackerel...... - my goodness, this list can go on and on.

It may actually be easier to point out the very few advantages that a surf fisherman may have over a boater.....
When a rough sea doesn't allow the boater to go out. (Although he can still hit a river, the entire river...OR, grab his surf rod.. ..)
It's quicker for a surf-fisherman to head out the door after work. (Oh wait, the boater may take longer...but as that surf-fisherman hits one, two....maybe even 3 spots that night, the boater has already found the pogys, has them in his live-well....and WILL find fish that night)
The surf-fisherman only has to rinse off his gear/ while the boater has 20 feet of fiber-glass to hose down, an engine to flush, and a couple of LARGE that he needs to put on ice.
The surf-fisherman gets more satisfaction than the boater.......at least that what he tells himself to make it worth his time, as he got skunked again.

Don't get me wrong, I am a Surf-Fisherman. I will always prefer to catch fish from shore......however, being a Surf-Fisherman doesn't make me a FOOL. Boat fishing will always produce more fish, more quantity, more quality, more species in 1 outing, this list too....can go on and on.

Saltheart - there's no battle to be had here, anyone who thinks they're the same or even close........is kidding themselves, and doesn't really know what they're doing.

[Grapenuts]

[QUOTE=Saltheart;598459]Since I'm halfway around the world right now I'm feeling pretty brave so I think I will say what many think and see if we can discuss this like gentleman instead of it turning into a flame war. We will see!!

I think boat fishing is way easier than shore fishing. I offer two pieces of evidence

1) Look at all the guys who go to boat fishing later in life because their legs or backs or whatever can no longer take the rigors of shore fishing.

and this means if you can no long walk the walk your surpose to just give up and sell all your gear and call it quits...I think not...it means where's a will there's a way of still being able to still fish.This train of thought that useing a boat to fish is being a wuss...only tell's me you beleive disabled folks should just dry up and blow away...unreal.

ps...while your on the subject of lazy people..lets throw in all those who drive on the beaches going from hole to hole instead of walking.

[Gunpowder]

Boat fishing is great, and I love to do it, but for some reason I just associate boat fishing with commercial fishing... I have some family that commercial fish and obviously that is the most productive way, so ever since I have been out with them, I have always seen boat fishing as a possible way of making money off the fish you catch compared to surf casting which is not only harder, but far less productive... just my thoughts

[JohnR]

Just a different way to fish. Both shore and boat are rewarding and both rewarding in same & different ways...

What cracks me up is the legions of people that say they wouldn't get caught dead in a boat are grinning ear to ear a few years later in their boat

Me, I love both.

[Joe]

Fishing during daylight hours inside the bay, yes - it appears much easier. Not too many boat guys have the skills to fish the open ocean at night though.
Before the pogies came back like they have now, and people were tube-and-worming it, I think the better surfcasters caught more consistantly large fish than the average boaters - but not the better boat guys.

[Clogston29]

Boat fishing is easier in general - its less physically demanding and you will catch more and bigger fish on average (given a similar level of talent). However, being a good or great boat fisherman is no less impressive or less difficult than being a good or great surfcaster. Both take the same amount of dedication, time and hard work - the definition of success is just different. A great boat fisherman is going to outperform a great surfcaster by a large margin in terms of size and quantities of fish but you just can't compare relative catches. A surfcaster can really only be measured against other surfcasters as a boat fisherman can only be measured against other boat fisherman. Alot of surf guys seam to give good boat fisherman less credit than they deserve. Alot of boat guys look down on surf guys because their production doesn't compare.

[RIJIMMY]

Hmmm, as a recent surfactster turned boater, I can say this. I caught more bass in the last month than the last 2 years from the surf combined. I had 2 PBs in a week. But I am goign to be cautious here.... the point made was that it is "easier"
I am not so sure. I think boating is more productive, maybe not easier. For one, as a surfcaster, I have 2 focus points, presenting my offering, eel, lure, and watching the surf for waves/safety. In a boat, I have those two focus points, plus the incerased danger of ruining a multi thousand dollar piece of equipment, sudden changes in wave height, wind, thunderstorms etc. While fishing I am watching my depth finder constantly, repositionng the boat constantly for a good drift, its not easy and requires more effort than surcasting imho.
To Piemmas point, boat fsihing is 10000% more enjoyable to me. Why? Not beacause I catch more, but becasue I can SEE more. I am not new to surfcasting, been at it since I was a kid. Since I fsihied mostly at night, I never saw the fish hit, except for a tug on an eel or sometimes a splash on a plug. On a boat, I see everything. Every time I go out, I see something that amazes me. from watching 30,000 bunker swim under the boat to 20+ pound bass chasing bait and slamming plugs right next to the boat. It is visually a much better experience for me. IN a few weeks, I will resume my "surfacting-like" approach to fishing, I will be on my boat at 1am, tossing eels along the rocks and fishing until sunrise. I can cover much more water than a surfcaster, which may lead to more fsih, but I do not think its easier than surfcasting.

[JFigliuolo]

They are both fun. For me, I get more satisfaction catching a smaller fish from shore than a bigger fish from a boat. It's harder from shore and there in lies the higher degree of satisfaction. I can definitely see getting a powerboat as I get older.

This year I started Yak fishing, which is kind of like having a foot in each world.

Old man time sticks it to everyone...

[Sea Flat]

I have to temporarily disagree that boat fishing is easier. I just got a new boat this year and I am still learning the ropes. I have caught 5 keepers this year and none of them have been from the boat! Maybe once I figure out how to troll correctly I will agree that boat fishing is easier, but as of now it is much more challenging for me than surf fishing. Most of my serious fishing trips are alone which makes it even more difficult. Yes, a boater has the whole ocean to his disposal, but sometimes that can seem overwhelming. Perhaps when I become a seasoned veteran at fishing from a boat I will change my tune, but as of right now I feel much more comfortable from shore even when I have to walk for mile(s) on rocky surfaces etc. I would be willing to bet that most trips shore fisherman take on boats are with charter captains are veteran boat anglers that make something that is challenging look very easy.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

Hmmm, as a recent surfactster turned boater, I can say this. I caught more bass in the last month than the last 2 years from the surf combined. I had 2 PBs in a week. But I am goign to be cautious here.... the point made was that it is "easier"
I am not so sure. I think boating is more productive, maybe not easier. For one, as a surfcaster, I have 2 focus points, presenting my offering, eel, lure, and watching the surf for waves/safety. In a boat, I have those two focus points, plus the incerased danger of ruining a multi thousand dollar piece of equipment, sudden changes in wave height, wind, thunderstorms etc. While fishing I am watching my depth finder constantly, repositionng the boat constantly for a good drift, its not easy and requires more effort than surcasting imho.
To Piemmas point, boat fsihing is 10000% more enjoyable to me. Why? Not beacause I catch more, but becasue I can SEE more. I am not new to surfcasting, been at it since I was a kid. Since I fsihied mostly at night, I never saw the fish hit, except for a tug on an eel or sometimes a splash on a plug. On a boat, I see everything. Every time I go out, I see something that amazes me. from watching 30,000 bunker swim under the boat to 20+ pound bass chasing bait and slamming plugs right next to the boat. It is visually a much better experience for me. IN a few weeks, I will resume my "surfacting-like" approach to fishing, I will be on my boat at 1am, tossing eels along the rocks and fishing until sunrise. I can cover much more water than a surfcaster, which may lead to more fsih, but I do not think its easier than surfcasting.

That pretty much sums it up.
The danger factor can definitely be much greater in a boat for sure, making it harder. An example is: just the other morning I was fishing a rocky shoreline from the boat that I fished many times from the surf, the surf was fairly calm, I casted into the rocks and got on a good fish right away, while fighting the fish, a swell turned the boat sideways and could have easily put me on the rocks. If I was planted on tera firma, I could have just stepped back a few feet and been out of danger, from a boat, you have to be prepared and very alert at all times when fishing in tight like I do. I find it much more challenging than fishing from the surf by far. Now if you're fishing in open water, that's different(easy), but I love a little danger in my life..

[kenyee]

Two things make it easier: being able to know fish are there (aka Sonar) and being able to drive around and find fish.
The part about finding fish and knowing they're there are a huge advantage since you can then focus on figuring out what they want to eat.

Cape Cod Canal folks were going nuts the first week of June because the fish were there and eating pretty much any surface lure you threw. It reminded me a blitz offshore except the fish weren't visible. Prior to that, I've gone a few times and not seen any fish and no one catching any. It's called fishing and not "catching" but if you haven't gotten skunked a few times, you realize boats are a lot easier...

[fishbones]

I've had my best days in terms of catching on the boat. But, I've had good outings from shore as well. I always enjoy fishing whether it's from shore or the boat and whether I'm catching or not. I fish mainly plugs on light tackle when I'm on the boat, which is still much easier than surfcasting. But it's also more of a challenge than trolling wire or leadcore while sitting back with a drink watching the rod holders.

For me, the best thing about the boat is that we can head out and pick up some keeper bass in the early morning, then when the bite is slow, move on and pick up some fluke and seabass for the cooler.

[likwid]

Midwater dragging is the easiest!

Hooray! Next dumb statement please.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by kenyee

Two things make it easier: being able to know fish are there (aka Sonar) and being able to drive around and find fish.
.

I've never once seen a fsih I've caught on the fish fisnder. I can see strcuture and bait.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by piemma

Yep, I agree, it's a lot easier in the boat and more productive and more fun and easier on the body and, and, and I LOVE IT!!!

Second that. I've been primarily fishing the surf since 2000. Boat fishing is actually more difficult for me right now due to time constraints and family committments. When the kids get a little bigger, I'll likely get back into the boat so the whole family can join in.
That is unless they start producing kiddie korkers for the boys and a high heeled version for the wife.

[zacs]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

I've never once seen a fsih I've caught on the fish fisnder. I can see strcuture and bait.

exactly. i also agree 100% with all of the points in your other post.

i think there is a major learning curve to boat fishing, and it is not as easy as many of you think. But in the end it is more productive.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

I've never once seen a fsih I've caught on the fish fisnder. I can see strcuture and bait.

Stop fibbing, fish finders tell you exactly what kind of fish and what they want to eat.

[Bronko]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

That is unless they start producing kiddie korkers for the boys and a high heeled version for the wife.

Laughing out loud.

[Rockport24]

I just recently starting kayak fishing and I am starting to understand what you guy are talking about, you really need to pay attention to the conditions, not as much to catch fish, but for your safety. If you hit rocks on a boat, you are major league screwed! There is a LOT more to pay attention to out there on the water, throw other boaters in and it's even more difficult.
As many have said, to be consistantly successfull in each world is not easy and takes a lot of skill, so to each his own.

[chief10]

Boat fishing is more productive if you know what your doing. I know plenty of people who have boats that can't catch anything. I also know many good boat fisherman who keep the same hours as good surf guys. They work hard too. I can say when I've been in a boat and fished at night I've seen alot more big fish caught. The spots they are catching them are damn close to where the surf guys are.

[riverrat2]

To all the surf fisherman who think boat fishing is so easy, I will give you my skiff for the day and let you show me how to catch 40 Pounders all day long. Its not easy as everyone cracks it up to be. It takes just as much time or more to learn areas on a boat

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by riverrat2

I will give you my skiff for the day and let you show me how to catch 40 Pounders all day long.

What size ball hitch do you have?

[kenyee]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

What size ball hitch do you have?

And do you have a high-res fish finder that will let me see 40" stripers?

It's not dead easy on a boat, but it's easier than from the shore. You can find a ledge/dropoff easier w/ a FF than bouncing jigs from shore...you can find fish (even if it's bait) w/ a FF. And you can drive around in the harbor until you find a blitz or you run out of gas

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by kenyee

Two things make it easier: being able to know fish are there (aka Sonar)

I totally disagree with that statement. Sonar doesn't show them hiding in the rocks.
I can see from this post that the guys who think boat fishing is easy don't have a clue about hunting large via boat, on their own that is, going on a charter is easy, someone else is doing all the work.

[riverrat2]

You don't count mike, you can take the boat but im coming with you.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by kenyee

And do you have a high-res fish finder that will let me see 40" stripers?

It's not dead easy on a boat, but it's easier than from the shore. You can find a ledge/dropoff easier w/ a FF than bouncing jigs from shore...you can find fish (even if it's bait) w/ a FF. And you can drive around in the harbor until you find a blitz or you run out of gas

I can see you've never ran a boat before, wanna go for a ride??? I'll show you how easy it is, bring a change of underoos....LOL