May Fishing

[MotoXcowboy]

Has been horrible; For me at least... I haven't caught a single fish. Last fish I caught was Apr 30th. I got 3 schoolies that day and its the only fish of the season. This month I tried all over, from Gansett, NK, EG, Warwick, Providence, and the Canal. Last week saw some giant bass blowing clear out of the water like shamu but they wouldn't take any offerings. A lot of fish missing and tailslapping my plugs. I think I fished at least 15times now without catching a fish.. I have been throwing needlefish a lot more this year. A few times around sunset, and they have been the only thing I've thrown besides swimmers after dark. Still haven't caught one on these friggin sticks with hooks. The guys at the baitshop tell me they're doing good with em... I don't know.

My hunting/ new fishing buddy has only caught 2 along side me this year. Its been a very humbling season for him thus far also. Gas is killing me.. Moved up to Johnston/N. Prov line. Maybe this belongs in the grumpy section..

I've been mostly plugging with wood, & plastics.. some tins, bucktails, and chunk bait (twice).. in that order of the most used. Good spots that have always produced quality fish in the past. I keep hearing there's blues around and bass being caught I cant seem to catch #^&#^. I just want one for dinner. I read reports of fish everywhere then I hear from fishing guides its been slim pickings and a lot of work.

Just wondering what your take on this month has been.

Yesterday, I lost a brand new cotton cordell pencil popper, 5mins after that I lost a brand new blue/white gibbs popper, 5 mins later I broke my grandfather's 40yr old fiberglass rod, I usually do good this time of year. Feels like I am wasting time and money. #^&#^&#^&#^& cursed.

[PRBuzz]

An exorcism might be in order?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[piemma]

I'd have to agree that you are wasting money. You never waste time when you are fishing. You have to put your time in.

[Nebe]

Use eels until your mojo returns
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Hookedagain]

Getting out increases your odds by 100%. Time is never wasted as long as you enjoy what you are doing. I have had entire seasons like that, but never gave up. Late that October I got my third fish.....41.14!! Well worth the wait.

[Pete F.]

Sometimes it's getting back to basics. Eels or drifting sandworms in a tidal river will pretty much guarantee a fish, betcha I just put the curse on that.

It also sound like you have been trying too many spots, sometimes a few good spots are better than chasing fish someone caught yesterday.

[FinS 32]

I fished 21 nights this month. it was slow, i got fish, but it was slow. Every one gets skunks. Keep at it, eels and bucktails and put in your time to places you know. Youll get fish, May aint over

[chefchris401]

This month for me has been big time hit or miss, buy may always is.

Back bays and rivers are full an alive one day, next day it's a ghost town.

Ocean front has been mostly misses but when it's good it's real good.

Don't chase reports!

Of course shops are going to say its good that's what sells bait and plugs.

It's always hit or miss for me and may, April was epic, may has been slower overall.

Stick to what you know and what's worked and keep at it.

Best of luck on the season
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[ProfessorM]

Don't get so hung up on catching fish. It's about having fun and enjoying yourself. Enjoy the process. If you aren't take a break. If I measured my success with this hobby only with fish caught I'd have given up 30 years ago. That being said this spring so far has been good to me. Had lots of fun and I haven't even been out with Numbskull yet.

[Clammer]

Dump your new partner & you take up golf ............your fishing sucks ><><><

[MotoXcowboy]

Thanks Mike... but my golf game sucks too.

I haven't been chasing reports.. Just bumping around trying to find them. We hit the canal 3times on our way to Hyannis for a job.. I know its all about getting out once in a while. All I know is if deer hunting got this slow I'd jump out of a tree..

Would be nice to take a fish home for dinner before I get to be Clammer's age.

Yeah Nebe, Maybe its time to set that eel pot.. Nothing beats fooling them with artificials though. The bait has been either there and really small or non existant at the places I've been..

[JLH]

Been fair to good where I have been fishing in CT and RI, lots of mid to high teen fish but only one over 20#. Last couple of weeks in the salt have been producing better than the rivers did earlier in the month. Had a much better April in the rivers than May... Most fish on artificials so far this year with only 2 on eels but its time to start making the switch to eels/riggies.

Numbers for the month:
15 trips
2 skunks
29 keepers
10 shorts
1 Yellow eyed devil
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Clammer]

What , Am I going to have to PM you where you can catch fish ><><><><>

[JohnnySaxatilis]

Its been tapering off for me, narrowly avoiding the skunk with a random fish here and there last week or so. but I did catch 58 blue fish in may according to the little blue book, so I got that goin for me.... which is nicee...

[Adamfishes]

Go catch some bluefish to feel like a man again:P

[Canalman]

The best advice I can think of here is not to move just to move. Sometimes taking the grand tour of the bay over the course of a month only serves to confuse things... you can't establish a pattern and there's no rhyme or reason to your moves. I tend to stick to three high-yield options until I find something--by high yield I mean places that have produced well over a period of years and/or places that the fish have to pass by eventually. Skunks don't bother me, I have found that it's better to move after you've found some fish, because then you have something to latch onto and to help you make educated moves.

We're at the point now where the Bay is getting too warm and the fish are going to be leaving... and they have to exit somewhere--know what I mean??

Don't give up, the best is yet to come

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Canalman

We're at the point now where the Bay is getting too warm and the fish are going to be leaving... and they have to exit somewhere--know what I mean??

You are correct Dave. I saw the first 70 degree water of the year this morning in upper Narr Bay. It won't be long till the Big girls exit.

[zimmy]

Where I have been fishing, artificials have been almost useless. The magic swimmer has taken a couple of fish, but with all the herring around it has been nearly impossible to get them to hit. Fish hammering herring, but following and bumping plastics at best. However, they have gone mad over rigged eels. Still not my best spring by far, but without the eels it would be by far my worst in a decade.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Clammer

What , Am I going to have to PM you where you can catch fish ><><><><>

[MotoXcowboy]

ahhhhhhhhhh finally got the skunk off tonight.

2oz (Black-Silver-Orange) Tattoo Darter did the trick..

Picked up a micro and 2 almost keeper sized fish before it was time to go.

Managed to lose my headlamp in the surf.
Another one to the fish gods.

[cow tamer]

I got more bites than I could handle last night - - - no-see-ums