How Is Your Season So Far? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

BigFish · 06-29-2008, 02:57 PM

Just curious how others are finding their season thus far? Good, bad or indifferent? Personally I am finding the surf fishing damn slow and I attribute it to the same thing we have seen for the past 2-3 seasons......lots of big bait and the fish are staying with it off shore and out in the bays and harbors not really venturing into the surf to scavenge for a meal. Fishing a little less to this point than in years past not just because of other obligations but because the fishing just is plain slow.......so I am not making as many trips. However I will be down the backside for 2 weeks after the 4th so hopefully I will see some upswing!
How is your season so far?

ilovetwofish · 06-29-2008, 03:12 PM

very slow from shore a few hear and there from the kayak.

Slingah · 06-29-2008, 03:19 PM

locally = not good....other places = good
I have a 30# and a bunch in the 20#s......I cant complain..
all around Id say it was a good June, best one in 5 years for me

numbskull · 06-29-2008, 03:32 PM

May was feast, June was famine. My own fault, though.

The Dad Fisherman · 06-29-2008, 03:54 PM

Sucks.....absolutely sucks.

vanstaal · 06-29-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Sucks.....absolutely sucks.

bart · 06-29-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl F

my mantra this year, is: there is always next year....

lot on my plate.... lets just say some of lifes issues... but, fishing has had to be slid way on the back burner..... reports i get from those i trust, tell me the past few years patterns are holding true, on the outer beaches.... and the bayside, is the place to be, down my way...

Larry........... Get a skiff yet???... I am over due, but will have one ...(i hope)... soon...

hope everything works out, Karl

5 String Bass · 06-29-2008, 04:23 PM

Much better than last year, for me anyway. Last year ssssuuuuucccckkkeddd.

missing link · 06-29-2008, 05:13 PM

My season so far, one keeper form shore, been out on boat 2 times,
It's funny how your life changes with time and what happenes within your life predicts fun time thus far as of now my main concern is with my family I know things will get better so I'm gonna hang in there and hope for the best ,if I can wet a line Great if not that's OK
also
This year has been tough on the Link's
ML SR

fcap60 · 06-29-2008, 06:40 PM

[QUOTE=Karl F;601404]my mantra this year, is: there is always next year....

lot on my plate.... lets just say some of lifes issues... but, fishing has had to be slid way on the back burner.....

same for me

Backbeach Jake · 06-29-2008, 06:47 PM

I've driven the back beach twice, fished the ditch once, and made a dozen or so casts bayside. The bathroom is almost done and vacay is coming up at the end of next week.

blue oyster · 06-29-2008, 07:11 PM

worst season ever ,8 boat trips , 7 trips from shore and not one keeper sized fish (not that i keep them just a guide to go by) hoping for a good fall run now that the dog days are upon us . i think there may be to much bait around every place i go is loaded with bait i think the fish can be fussy but that is just a guess , i hate to admit the other possibility that i am just a piss poor fisherman

hq2 · 06-29-2008, 07:32 PM

Pretty lousy. Haven't got out that many times, only got one in, maybe one or two others on from shore. It doesn't affect me the way it used to, however; I've cut my striper fishing way down from
several years ago. I fish for other stuff these days when I can, just toss a side line out for stripers.

freebie · 06-29-2008, 09:02 PM

can't really complain, 3 keepers around 36" in June, handful of schoolies, one stellar day on flounder(other than the rain), learned alot from someone I consider to be a very good fisherman, learning to trust my own instincts instead of what people tell me to do, so it's maybe not been alot of fish, but definitely a good year so far

NIB · 06-29-2008, 09:21 PM

I won't even say...

Vogt · 06-29-2008, 09:58 PM

Pretty damn good, not crazy , but good. Got a 30lb a couple in the low 20lb and a whole bunch of teen bass. No difficulty finding those 28-35 inch bass on a regular basis. My buddy and I have decoded a few "ace in the hole" summer plugging locations, that are now producing nicely.

Green Light · 06-29-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFish

....Personally I am finding the surf fishing damn slow and I attribute it to the same thing we have seen for the past 2-3 seasons......lots of big bait and the fish are staying with it off shore and out in the bays and harbors not really venturing into the surf to scavenge for a meal....?

Ditto. I agree.

I was out this past Friday night. My Danny plug was swimming so well and looked so tasty...that I almost took a bite!! Nada. I tied on a small Rapala swimmer in a mackerel pattern. Nada. When the back stared to hurt, I switched to bait--- I tossed FRESH herring. Nada. I dunked live sea worms. Nada. The first hand reports that I got that night from the boatman was "..we are killing on live mackerel and mackerel chunks".

That said, I had a great night. Why? Because I got to fish spots I have never fished before and all by my self! The solitude was great. Life is so full of "noise" some times and it's great just to get away. I also had a great time casting with my new Abu 7000 and the St. Croix casting rod that I had just picked up at "my" tackle shop. So for me, the fishing may be slow, but I am venturing into new territory in terms of hot spots and techniques, which keeps it interesting. Now if I can only figure out how to put some action into my lifeless needlefish or may be I will just pick up a pencil popper and learn to fish that instead. When the fishing gets slow, I change things up.

Tight lines.

Tagger · 06-30-2008, 04:06 AM

I'm hitting it all wrong ,, missing everything .. I've been in the right places ,, wrong time ,, stupid work

.. I can't take one more person saying "you should have been here yesterday"....

Flaptail · 06-30-2008, 06:11 AM

April was good, May started off with a bang then just died for me.

June has been, well, OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had to work hard for them this weekend and only managed one fish just over 25 lbs. and a couple teens.

Now it's time to walk some beaches before the mung gets bad for the beginning of July.

american spirit · 06-30-2008, 07:09 AM

Only a few outings so far have been worth mentioning. Otherwise hoping things heat up in july/ august. Trying to consistently head out and pick the right spots.

RIROCKHOUND · 06-30-2008, 07:36 AM

I quit.
back to golf and boat fishing....

in all seriousness, it seems like where I go, the fish aren't....
Another night, 2 spots, great conditions. No bait, no fish....

The Iceman 6 · 06-30-2008, 07:50 AM

No complaints so far. Been having success of my buddy's boat. In 2 days, heading to the Cape for vacation and some fishing - looking forward to walking the back beaches.

Ice

Pete F. · 06-30-2008, 08:42 AM

Can you have the shanks, fishing?
If so, I do

Polar Express · 06-30-2008, 09:07 AM

fishing has been great having better luck at night.The whole boat fishing is the best investment I have ever made.

RIJIMMY · 06-30-2008, 09:33 AM

Been having a great year, all from a boat and as you all know, isnt really fair since its so easy.

BasicPatrick · 06-30-2008, 10:42 AM

From Shore my season has been average which from the sounds of it, I should be grateful for. Lots of fish just over and under the keeper mark and plenty more to 40". I have been taking a different approach this year...I go to the spot and fish the window of opportunity. If they are there, I stay and if they just are not there I do not kill myself waiting for what is not going to happen. When I find a pattern working I fish the snot out of it for days until it is over. Moving around a lot has been paying off.

From the boat the season is also average. Pretty obsessed with the Mosquito Fleet thing and the smile on my honey's face is the goal. The micro boat thing is new, exciting and productive. Nothing truely large yet but keeprs each trip has been enough to keep me excited.

fishbones · 06-30-2008, 10:57 AM

I've only been out a few times on the boat and have had great trips. Lots of nice, big fish. I only got out from shore twice in late April/early May and got a bunch of small schoolies. My problem is the same this year as always. Not enough time to fish as much as I'd like. But, I've come to realize that I'm lucky to get out when I do and I make the most of every trip.

Squibby17 · 06-30-2008, 10:58 AM

To be honest I only really started fishing the past few weeks. Things start later up here and I had lots of things going on in my life.

However this weekend I caught fish both nights. Last night was good with several fish in the 30'' range. Got to keep the ball going now, its time for the NS to shine!

Rockfish9 · 06-30-2008, 11:02 AM

May started about a week early and hasnt let up... last week was the the best end of June since '86...Still no pogies here and the blues have scattered the Macks.. and thats a good thing..big bass are back in the shallows.

k-e-v-i-n · 06-30-2008, 11:12 AM

Fishing from my one spot in RI...and not to brag, just being proud... I have 15 fish over 22lbs and considering I landed only 3 fish over 20lbs last season, I am happy with my year so far. My #1 focus this year was presentation and learning the most effective ways to work plugs and so far I am being rewarded. knock on wood.

keep casting guys