How to find your own spots - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Pete F. · 08-29-2005, 08:43 AM

Reports are only good for the moment that they occur, except in the spring when I want to know when decent fish show up.
If I am going to fish a new area to me I:
1. Look at the area on Maptech and find likely spots, ones that for a variety of reasons should hold fish or be a likely spot for fish to feed. I always like points with a reef, or esturary outflows.
2. I may search a number of websites for locations that look good to me on Maptech and see what comes up. If you get a ton of hits for a certain spot it might be better to fish or could just be well publicized. Might be worth a look see, but it's probably crowded.
3. When you get there spend a few bucks in a tackle shop and listen. Sometimes you get the standard BS, sometimes not.

Anyone else?

eelman · 08-29-2005, 09:21 AM

I will fish a likely spot blind, just walk in and fish the whole shore and learn as I go. All I look for are unusual breaks or cuts and of course boulders and rocks. I may spend a whole tide there learning what time produces best. Before I go I orient myself and figure what wind may be the best then, I just go and cast ! Sometimes I use charts to see if deep water is nearby where bass might stage.. But as far as spots go, you just have to be willing to try them and sometimes it pays off.............

fishaholic18 · 08-29-2005, 01:40 PM

I scout out spots in the winter. Do alot of walking and looking.
Gives me something to do to pass the winter months. Found a couple good ones this season.

outfished · 08-29-2005, 01:48 PM

All of the above plus one new method. Google Earth! Has anyone else with a high speed connection try this yet? Unbelievable is all I can say. I've also marked my new and old spots, even created a little fish icon for the placemark at those spots. You can also add notes to these placemarks, like when to fish, where to park, how many fish caught(if any). Kind of like a journal and a map at the same time. If anyone on this board has a high speed connection I strongly recommend checking it out. You can also email this information to anyone else you'd like to share this info with. DON'T EVEN ASK!!!!!!!!!

zacs · 08-29-2005, 01:55 PM

google earth is the all out balls.

Mind boggling.

chris L · 08-29-2005, 02:14 PM

I fish like ray charles plays the piano . Blindly , but good !

I find finding a parking place harder than finding fish .

Maloney · 08-29-2005, 04:28 PM

I must be old school. I do what #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& does. It's the adventure of keeping it simple and wild. Nothing against high tech modern tools, but I wouldn't go hiking with a cell phone and hand-held gps either.

Tagger · 08-29-2005, 05:06 PM

look for moving water,,,inlets,,,points near inlets better,,points close to channels near inlets better,better,,rocky points close to channel near inlets better,better,better,

BigFish · 08-29-2005, 06:05 PM

Step1: Take rod in hand.

Step 2: Sling plug bag over shoulder or clip eel bag to belt.

Step 3: Place yourself in front of a body of salt water....an ocean, sea, inlet, estuary, breachway, canal or beach will do!

Step 4: Cast offering sea-ward.

Step 5: Retrieve

Step 6: Repeat steps 4 and 5 until fish strikes.

Step 7: Set and do battle.

Step 8: Beach and/or boat said fish. (If fish landed, this would indicate you are in a "spot"!)

Step 9: Repeat steps 4 thru 8 for many hours until satisfied.

Step 10: Leave and do not burn spot. Give generalities only and lie about perspective state/town if you feel the need. All internet discussion of said event should be kept in the form of a pm and only given out on a "need to know" basis.

You have now completed the "BigFish Spot Finding Course". May you enjoy many years of landing fish.

piemma · 08-29-2005, 06:16 PM

BassyiusMaximus · 08-31-2005, 09:25 AM

. . . I hate to admit it, but when that magazine came out in, 96 I think it was, it really helped me, at least for boat-fishing. I would read it faithfully, like a student from 96-98 and it pretty much gave me all I needed to know. Now a buddy of mine just recently subscribed and I get the copy from him when he's done and from year to year, month to month, it pretty much says the same thing over and over, which isn't bad, and like porn, I don't mind reading about it again and again.

It reminds me of the Boston Globe fishfinder reports which say the same thing about the Cape and Islands, year after year, week after week, I can almost recite the reports from week to week without even looking at the paper, probably because the fish are just there in predictable patterns since it is where they go and where they eat.

One more thing regarding this whole "spot-burning" thing/issue. What really strikes me is how on one hand, people will say, "take a kid fishing" but at the same time, they won't let anyone know where they fish, as if there are a gazillion people who are going to run out and be fishing on their spot.

I guess since I don't do a whole lot of shore/surf fishing anymore one has a harder time "burning" a spot by boat, since I bet I could give exact lat/lon/GPS locations as to where I fish and catch fish and still no one would be on that spot or area when I get there.

At the very least, since I am so new to this site, I've been aware of the issue and it is in my consciousness, I guess the issue is sharing and not sharing.

But no matter what, you guys crack me up and it is why I like the sites so much!