What It Takes to Be A Surf Fisherman

[cow tamer]

In 1976, Lester Boyd of the Providence Journal, wrote in his book Atlantic Surf Fishing the qualifications required to become a successful surf fisherman. This is what he wrote:
You need an immunity to discomfort that permits you to keep fishing when there is sea water in your waders, sand in your molars, dryness in your throat, acute tendonitis in your right shoulder, a blister on your right forefinger if you’re spinning or a groove in your left thumb if you’re using a revolving spool reel, fire in your reddened eyes and a constant ache where the spine enters the skull.
You need a mulish obstinacy that will keep you going long after the tide has turned, the appointed hour of your return home past and anyone with any sense at all has already quit.
You must have a casual attitude toward home, job and other worldly responsibilities that permits you to keep on fishing without thought of any.
You should acquire a passion for lonely beaches, sunrises over the ocean, the smell of air that has traveled a thousand miles touching nothing but wave tops, the taste of salt spume on your lips, the tumult of waves crashing the shore, the tug of the backwash against your legs, the feel of a gamefish b#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g at the end of a long line, the challenge of meeting and conquering your prey in its own element.
You should have an attitude of complete indifference to the attitudes of a society that looks upon surf fishermen as a fraternity of misfits because, Pal, if you’re a fishermen that’s just what you are a social misfit. But don’t let it worry you. Given these and a few other qualities, a person has a chance of making it as a surf fisherman, then all he’s got to do is learn the trade, so to speak.
Take whatever advice you feel is appropriate; go out and log some beach time. Then, my friend you’ll be a surf fisherman!

What other characteristics might you add?

[Jenn]

The ability to turn off the sensory organ that would normally allow you to aknowledge the presence of eel slime in your truck.

[justplugit]

and make your own plugs to save money.

[NIB]

U know I have been told I have mulish obstinacy..

Thats a some heavy words even for a guy Like Joe Lyons..

[Swimmer]

Well-said, thanks for the rewrite CT.........

[Raven]

having been spooled several times. helps

[Pete F.]

I kinda like what he said about yelling at the kids that they're gonna bankrupt you by leaving the porch light on, but you are still willing to buy the latest plug..

[Karl F]

I would say, he Nailed it.

[baldwin]

...and a touch of psychosis certainly helps.

[Nebe]

the prologue to woolner and lymen's "striped bass fishing" is pretty good too.. basically it warns the reader of the habit forming tendencies of the surf and if the reader cant handle it either stop reading any more or burn the book right away

[ChiefLinesider]

"A nocturnal animal is one that sleeps during the day and is active at night - the opposite of the typical human schedule (diurnal)."

quoted from wikipedia definition of nocturnal


Fishermen need to become a nocturnal animal.....

[Slinger]

Now that was writing, back then they had style. Now all you get is the latest bait shop report.
Slinger

[5 String Bass]

Great article. I miss the beach, dammit!

[Pete F.]

One thing I have noticed about old fishing books is that they were, definetly not, stand here cast there guides to fishing. The guys who wrote them loved to fish and thought everyone ought to try it. There is always an underlying tone of: If you want to be a good fisherman you need to have your lure in the water.
Today we live in an age where people want instant gratification, i.e.fishing means catching and being good means catching large.
I love to catch fish but I would rather not if it meant I had to be on a boat or in a crowd all day or night.
I like being in control of my own destiny, standing in the water, preferably moving water, better yet some decent surf.
A little wind, waves and fog lets you know that you are alive and small compared to the rest of the world.
Few things compare to the sun coming up, watching babies being born maybe.
I am always disappointed when I return to the world I have to live in to survive and wish I could just stand in the sea a while longer...

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by bluefishercat

Today we live in an age where people want instant gratification, i.e.fishing means catching and being good means catching large.
I love to catch fish but I would rather not if it meant I had to be on a boat or in a crowd all day or night.
I like being in control of my own destiny, standing in the water, preferably moving water, better yet some decent surf.
A little wind, waves and fog lets you know that you are alive and small compared to the rest of the world.
...

Yup.

[jkswimmer]

How about following Steve McKenne around.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by NIB

U know I have been told I have mulish obstinacy..

Thats a some heavy words even for a guy Like Joe Lyons..

Yeowch.....NIBS got me.....

There's quality writing out there - take a look at Flap's story of Arnold Laine in this month's OTW if you have any doubts.

But the future of great outdoor writing is not writing at all - it's hi-def video like Stripers Gone Wild.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Joe

Yeowch.....NIBS got me.....

There's quality writing out there - take a look at Flap's story of Arnold Laine in this month's OTW if you have any doubts.

But the future of great outdoor writing is not writing at all - it's hi-def video like Stripers Gone Wild.

I hope not, a TV will never fit on my nightstand.

[Joe]

Sure - there were more books printed last year than at any other time in history. So yes, there will always be books and writing.

But given that the content of fishing books is primarily how-to - ask yourself, "what works better?"....An article on beach reading, or video with graphics and a top caliber fisherman actively fishing with a voice over?

It's hard to wrap your brain around, but that's just because it has not happened quite yet. Once premier how-to surfcasting dvds become more prevalent things will change dramatically....people will stop looking to books as the primary source for learning the sport.

[Goose]

Do other stripe bass sites have this many good writers as Stripe-Bass does??

[Rockport24]

Originally Posted by Joe

Sure - there were more books printed last year than at any other time in history. So yes, there will always be books and writing.

But given that the content of fishing books is primarily how-to - ask yourself, "what works better?"....An article on beach reading, or video with graphics and a top caliber fisherman actively fishing with a voice over?

It's hard to wrap your brain around, but that's just because it has not happened quite yet. Once premier how-to surfcasting dvds become more prevalent things will change dramatically....people will stop looking to books as the primary source for learning the sport.

I wish there was a regular surfcasting-only TV show out there.
Even if it was like "surfcasting the world" that would be very cool.
there is virtually no surfcasting on the gammet of weekend fishing shows on espn and versus and fsn or whatever. Even the New-England based shows tend to ignore it (aside from OTW, who usually has a couple of surfcasting shows per season-thank god for that).

[Saltheart]

The most importatnt thing you need to be a surf fisherman is the will to do it. the next most important thing is good strong legs so your body can carry out what your will wants.

All the gear etc is secondary , all the knowhow will come with time.

If you don't have the will to get out of bed and the legs to keep you on the waters edge , you're out of the game.

[shadow]

Originally Posted by Saltheart

The most importatnt thing you need to be a surf fisherman is the will to do it. the next most important thing is good strong legs so your body can carry out what your will wants.

All the gear etc is secondary , all the knowhow will come with time.

If you don't have the will to get out of bed and the legs to keep you on the waters edge , you're out of the game.

very well put.

[nightfighter]

It also is a huge help if, as so eloquently put by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&'s better half, you have the support AND understanding of YOUR GF or spouse......

[luds]

plugs

[vanstaal]

Originally Posted by cow tamer

In 1976, Lester Boyd of the Providence Journal, wrote in his book Atlantic Surf Fishing the qualifications required to become a successful surf fisherman. This is what he wrote:
You need an immunity to discomfort that permits you to keep fishing when there is sea water in your waders, sand in your molars, dryness in your throat, acute tendonitis in your right shoulder, a blister on your right forefinger if you’re spinning or a groove in your left thumb if you’re using a revolving spool reel, fire in your reddened eyes and a constant ache where the spine enters the skull.
You need a mulish obstinacy that will keep you going long after the tide has turned, the appointed hour of your return home past and anyone with any sense at all has already quit.
You must have a casual attitude toward home, job and other worldly responsibilities that permits you to keep on fishing without thought of any.
You should acquire a passion for lonely beaches, sunrises over the ocean, the smell of air that has traveled a thousand miles touching nothing but wave tops, the taste of salt spume on your lips, the tumult of waves crashing the shore, the tug of the backwash against your legs, the feel of a gamefish b#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g at the end of a long line, the challenge of meeting and conquering your prey in its own element.
You should have an attitude of complete indifference to the attitudes of a society that looks upon surf fishermen as a fraternity of misfits because, Pal, if you’re a fishermen that’s just what you are a social misfit. But don’t let it worry you. Given these and a few other qualities, a person has a chance of making it as a surf fisherman, then all he’s got to do is learn the trade, so to speak.
Take whatever advice you feel is appropriate; go out and log some beach time. Then, my friend you’ll be a surf fisherman!

What other characteristics might you add?

just a thank you !!cow tamer

[FittyPoundah]

Originally Posted by cow tamer

You must have a casual attitude toward home, job and other worldly responsibilities that permits you to keep on fishing without thought of any.

I wouldn't add anything, but I would add this sentence in there a few times. Time and obligations is what keeps me back from being a constant surfcaster. Getting a degree and having a GF are not very conducive to fishing...at all.