Intelligent.........

[Tburg]

75% Ditch
15% Scorton & Old Harbor
5% My buddies boat out of Harwich.

Plug - Jigs - eels

704z w/ 11 6 St Croix
7000 Gig game w/ 10 Lami

bug spray - head lamp - pliers - comfortable boots - water

I enjoy a Sept/Oct chill in the air while being on the East end with a fish on and the sun rising.......Not a bad way to start a day....

[Diggin Jiggin]

Do you mostly fish sand or rocky coastline and why?

I'm not a big fan of deep wading when I'm fishing alone.
If I fish calm water I like a rocky shoreline with a drop off. If I'm on sand, I prefer walking a surf beach and fishing the bars/holes and rips

What length rod do you prefer for the type of fishing you do and why?
For the canal I have an allstar 1209 and an arra 1205, both 10' conventional. The 1205 is for jigging metal and throwing big plugs, the 1209 for jigging 3-6 oz. Both are conventional so I can drift in free spool to keep it low in the water column.

For the beach I had been on a quest for the 'perfect' plugging rod for the lures I fish, which I think I found in an allstar1145. I wish it was a 1 piece but this rod has the action I was looking for. Its fast (not soft) and light as a feather, it has plenty of backbone for fish in the rocks, and its light enough in the tip to work a pencil or feel the wobble of a danny in calm water. I have a daiwa emblem pro 5500 on it and it casts a 2.5 oz hopkins a long, long way so I use it both at night and during the day.

I also use a lighter plugging rod made from a cutdown allstar 1207 blank that I got from Ray (Maddog). Thats perfect for metal to 2 oz and I use it for all my light danny's,needles and bombers. Thats the rod I use when I fool around with albies or when I'm not fishing in too much current. That has a 460 slammer with 20lb fireline on it.

Do you prefer to roll your own rods, have them custom made or by ready made brands?
I have made all my own rods, its something to do in winter to keep your mind on fishing. I have a buddy who is a rod builder so he helps me try and pick the right blanks for what I want to do. For me, it all comes down to the position of the reel seat. I usually plant the butt of the rod on my hip when fishing so the rods up high, so I like the seat down lower so its where my hands are comfortable...

Do you prefer to throw bait (eels, chunks, liveys) or plug fish mostly?
I fish the canal with jigs most of the time, when I'm not jigging I mostly plug although I have fished eels a few times this year as I wanted to learn how to fish eels. I picked up a dozen on the way home tonight for the weekend. Call it desperation, I have not seen a good fish in 5 or 6 weeks.

What gear do you feel essential, other than rod and reel, to be successful?
I'm not in weed much, mostly just wet rocks so Felt boot waders do the trick. Other than waders, just an orange grundens slicker and a energizer head lamp. I got a boga last year and thats fun to bring along but not essential unless I'm trying to find a big fish...

What time of year, for your locale has been the kindest to you in your search for the big one?
Up here, last week of May and the last week of sept/first week of october. On nantucket, the first 2 weeks of june, the second week of october some times lasting later into the fall. We had a killer night on Esther's one year in mid november...

Do you feel satisfied upon the end of a nights struggle with whatever you take or do you feel only big bass caught make tyhe effort worth it?
I definitely like to get the skunk off, doesn't matter how big it is. That being said, I am always trying to get my personal best by whatever method i'm using. I know what my personal best fish were on eels, dannys, jigs, poppers, pencils & needles so whatever I'm fishing with I always try to beat the old mark.

Do you ever think it's getting old and maybe it's time to find a new pastime?
Yup but not permanently. I'm in a rut right now but I am heading out later tonight. I have not fished as much in the past 6 weeks, maybe a night or 2 a week. Prior to that I was out almost every night from early may thru mid july. I've been fishing alone more this year and i tend to lose my motivation more when its just me... Usually I just take a break for a few weeks when its slow, and then once I find a few decent fish I get right back into it...

[justplugit]

90% sand because it's within an hours drive , i love walking the beach,and jetties are getting a lil' hard for my old bones.

Rods are 7',8'6", 11' St Croix, 8'6" Lami, 9' Tusami ,and cut down 11'St Croix
I use the 8'6" St Croix 70% of the time as it gives me the best feel of the plug.

1 custom, the rest brands with St Croix my favorites. Would love to make my own, but i don't need another hobby.

99% plugs with rigged eels infrequently.

A good pair of breathable waders, fleece, hooded sweatshirt, neck light, boga.

Spring for the largest, but i enjoy Sept-Dec the most without the crowds and the cool weather conditions.

Fish or no fish, the whole ball of wax from airing down to the last cast is what it's about. Good, all good.

It never get's old for me, i fish as much as ever but i am finding it's more relaxing, more breaks and slower, rather than crazy fishing.