Why haven't you landed a #50 yet ?? - Page 5 - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Mr. Krinkle · 02-03-2008, 08:00 PM

Because I seem to drop them all the time.

Brian L · 03-02-2008, 07:42 AM

Most of these posts are valid in one way or another, eh? Yes you'd need some luck, but your chances increase exponentially if you're 1. Experienced 2. Right Bait 3. Right Place 4. Right Time/Conditions/weather 5. Right Technique 6. On the water a LOT. There are places that produce giant fish every year. One might want to spend more time there than not doing #'s 1-6. Especially #6.

I'm stuck at 48#. I hope to change that in May... I think doing a lot more of #'s 3 and 6 will help.

ThrowingTimber · 03-02-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

There is no answer to the question "why" for anyone...The mindset should be "when"....Be ready at any moment for it to happen!

Agreed.

Fortune favors the well prepared.

basswipe · 03-02-2008, 11:22 AM

I know why I haven't.

Cuz I suck.

eelman · 03-02-2008, 11:40 AM

I have 3 over 50 so I dont really worry about it anymore

fishaholic18 · 03-02-2008, 01:10 PM

50's are overrated anyway..

BassDawg · 03-02-2008, 02:23 PM

Maybe from behind the

, they are!

From on the water and in the surf, they are

Flaptail · 03-02-2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I have 3 over 50 so I dont really worry about it anymore

Remember the Hiddenburg!

Got Stripers · 03-03-2008, 12:45 PM

Luck and skill, my first 50 is a good example. Hingham harbor, in by the 3A rotary, fishing live pogies just outside the moorings. The livewell as getting low on bait, so I picked up my light Penn spinner with 12 lb mono, snag hook with the barbs filed off and snagged a pogy first pull. Suddenly the line went slack, so I figured the pogy came loose, so I swept the rod to snag another, when I actually set the hook on a 52 lber. First run she stopped just short of the moorings and actually came a foot or more out of the water and shook her head like a largemouth, that was a sight to see I'll tell you.

Experience put me there to fish pogies, luck would have it a 52 decided she'd grab my pogy, luck would have it that she didn't throw that big arse snag hook without barbs when she cleared and shook or it could be argued skill at applying just enough pressure, skill enabled me to play that fish to the boat on an outfit ill equipped for the job.

Next year, same spot 55 lbs, same bait but on a conventional outfit, but it wasn't quite the same rush as the year before. Experience that following year put me their at a similar time, but again luck of the draw there were some big girls there that night.

Time on the water and being ready are key.

Mr. Sandman · 03-03-2008, 04:51 PM

Frankly, I feel it is timing. Back in the late 70's and early '80s (thru 84 anyway) taking a 40+ from the surf was pretty common and if you fished half as hard as you did today I bet you could have landed several 50's back then. (looking at my records in 1981 my "average fish for that year was 36#, that is right, AVERAGE FISH from the shore.) Last season it was more like 18#. I am the same guy with better gear and fishing just as often now as then, perhaps more. We have gone thru a long cycle where there were just not that many 50's to catch. It is coming around again and the next 5-10 years look pretty good (again) for catching that trophy fish from the shore. Lets hope for the bait situation to improve coast wide that might help things along.
The problem is (again IMO) that these fish today are "different" fish with different migration paths then in past years. We need to adjust. The bite on Nauset today is nothing like it use to be. That said, I still think that within 5-10 years most guys that fish hard will take a 50 from the shore nearly every season.
Just keep doing what you are doing.