Why is fishing on the Race so bad? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Sweetwater · 10-05-2006, 06:08 PM

I spent an entire week fishing Race Point (and area) HARD! Used fresh sandeels (raked by my own poor hands) and nada! No bait in the water, no fish, no nothin! Fished 3 good solid SW and NW blows (usually good) and nothing but crabs eating the bait.

I'd like to blame it on the seals. I'd like to blame it on inflation or the war in Iraq. But I'm at a lose. I've fished there for many years and never seen such sterile water.

Whats the deal!

BigFish · 10-05-2006, 06:12 PM

I have not come across many Iraqi soldiers down that way.....my guess is seals! They are 500 pound rats!

Karl F · 10-05-2006, 06:15 PM

Yeah, I agree, the seals are a huge factor.. however.. the water temps are still to high for the fall run.. c'mon cooler temps.. I hope that brings them in.. not for lack of bait.... not sure about the Race. but south of there.. lots of good eats for the striped ones, right now.

Slipknot · 10-05-2006, 06:28 PM

Seals, seal poop, seals, more seal poop
lack of bait because the seals eat the bait and the stripers and blues too and turn it into seal poop.
water is warm still but not for long

seals have and are destroying the cape fisheries
flounder are gone, sand eels are moving offshore, searats are responsible, it's time to get their numbers in check before it's too late

tattoobob · 10-05-2006, 06:45 PM

When we were there a month ago there was a ton of bait in the water
and big blue fish with small bass blitzing. I spent alot of time watching
blitzes out of casting range. and once or twice a day they would come
close enough to catch a few. I did watch alot of guys fighting seal though.

Karl F · 10-05-2006, 07:31 PM

"October 5, 2006

Biding our time until the Big Feed
By MOLLY BENJAMIN
Things are better than last week, encouraging even. But I won't tell you to drop everything and get to the beach. Not yet, though every single true Cape Codder is waiting, and hoping, for the Big Feed to start happening.

I mean, what does Dame Nature need to do? Run a ''Pogies! Half-Price!'' sale?

Bait is abundant. Food, baby, food, and our migratory gamefish know they'll need to bulk up before beginning their 1,000-mile swim to points south.

(You see, they are far too impatient to put up with all the nonsense at airports these days. So they hoof it - well, fin it - instead. It's true, it's true.)

Water temperatures remain extraordinarily warm. This is October, ya know, and it's 61, 62 degrees? Unheard of. This probably links right up with why they aren't grouping up and feeding inshore like teenagers - yet."

This pic shows what is all over my beach

..
another week or so.. me thinks, is when the fish might move inshore

capecodder · 10-05-2006, 08:48 PM

Well I hope this NE blow changes things. I'll be there the next 2 days by boat and beach... Hope to report on things improving...

Finaddict · 10-05-2006, 09:09 PM

Let's hope you are right CapeCodder - my gal got a job painting a house in Orleans - yes, she's an interior painter - and I am going along duing my week off to take care of our little daughter who will be with us, but I am hoping to get some time to fish the beach and catch some fish ... if ... there are some around and not too many seals ...