Beach vs. Boat

[ProfessorM]

I resiged to that fact several years ago too Steve. I love the beach and have been a MBBA member for 20 some odd years but have not put a vehicle on the sand in several years. I just wasn't catching that much and when I moved off Cape and had to drive an hour or so you can get pretty tired of getting skunked. I just now prefer to fish from the boat. That is why I own 2 boats. I love my 14' tin boat and would never give it up, sorry BM, I have more fun in that thing than any boat I have owned. People told me to sell the thing when I got my 19 footer and I said are you crazy, never. I just like to fish and am not caught up in the beach vs boat stuff. To each his own. I like both but fish from boat 80% of time and enjoy it more and that is what it is all about for me enjoyment. Perfect example I went to Barnstable last nite and fished from shore and got nutin. Perfect nite and tide to drift eels but my truck in shop and couldn't get the tin boat to the water. I know there were bass in that channel too because a guy came in with fish that he got in a tin boat. BTW I would like to mention another original Worcester guy who lives in Sandwich for many years. #^&#^&#^&#^& Cook. To me one of the best. Paul

[Clammer]

Eben =I'm not seriously getting into the beach == boat chit // have fun is what,s it about // but the statement you just made about what you consider 50# from boat ==equals 30# from shore is B/S ...

many times I,ve had it easier from shore to land a fish

I once caught a 20# from the beach --the fish made one run =180 straight to the sand ..
30 # from a boat on 15 # mono in a boulder field vs a 403 from the surf with 50# braid & at least that in leader // on a flat as sandy beach ...
every fish caught & every location & method is really different // there are [really] good spots down your way / I can,t fish from a boat /period /ad conditions & darkness so in that case if someone was nuts enough to go in there & get out with a bass /in the special situation it would mean more than if it was caught in the same place /from shore ..

Your tellin me that breaker I put you on that night /if you had caught a 50 # it would have only meant to you a 40# ????///////// I really wanted you to hook up there //because that would have been the easy part// any fish 20# or over you would have remembered the experience forever //

[Clammer]

Steve / & how many drifts did you make there ???

[striprman]

I enjoy boat fishing, I like to groundfish. Scup, flounder, black sea bass, togs.

Wheres my frying pan ???

[Slipknot]

I'll catch bass any way I can , you know that Steve. But shorefishing is my passion.
I am also getting more and more discouraged by the fishing from shore lately, the closures and seals etc. are pushing us out and it's very sad. After this mornings experience I have decided to start a letter writting campaign to all the polititions I can. I drive all the way to the Race this am knowing there is about a 20 minute window just before sunrise to catch some bass from shore and after getting up after 3 hours sleep I find the trail to the light is closed so I have to go out by the station and it's only open for a few hundred yards for all the SCV and others, so I reluctantly park and walk I go where I thought I could get some and started fishing and only got a few bluefish hits for my efforts but found Ishould have gone another 500 yards or all the way to hatches because that is where they were for all of 25 minutes and guys dragged their bass all that way back. You have no idea how much I wanted to just drive right out there past the posts and take my chances, I saw no reason whatsoever for it to be closed
maybe I'll drag my skiff out there in that zoo tom. or the next day and tangle with the wireline crew

I HATE MUNG and Plovers

[beachwalker]

Bm and I wish we had aboat last night. shore fishing was a bomb here after looking so promising

[UserRemoved1]

Flap I feel the need to be sick....I wanna take you out there in the yeller barge...We picked some nice fish outta dem boulders last Wednesday...

[Crafty Angler]

Flap -

I'll be among the first to bust chops with BFDC, but all things considered, catching is a helluva lot better than not catching - and boats are just a tool toward that end at times.

On the other hand, there is a sense - for me, anyway - that a shore fought bass is superior game to one taken from a boat - but again, that's my own personal opinion.

There's a feeling of accomplishment and self-reliance in landing a cow from the rocks that just doesn't happen for me in a boat - I'm feel I'm relying on my skills and senses rather than electronics.

But all that being said, there are skills a good boatmen develops that go beyond just relying on a fish-finder, too -

At 56, however, I have to admit that at some point in the future I'll have to consider switching - I can only drag this old carcass around the rocks for so long - but as long as I'm still able to rely on the original parts - like hips, knees and shoulders, I'll stick to rock-hopping.

But considering the way the season's gone so far, if anyone asks me to go for a cruise.... ....hey, I can get my boat outfits together in real short order.

I guess the most interesting sub-text to this whole thread -and I'm not trying to hijack it here - is the real fall-off of shore-based catches for guys on the board over a pretty wide range in our area.

I dunno, DZ and I have had some conversations over the last year about it - and we both have the feeling that the shore-based caster is sort of the canary in the coal-mine. Locally, the near-shore fishery has been down while the boatmen are doing notably better on the reefs - and it just has me concerned about the state of both the forage and the bass

We'll see, I suppose....

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Clammer

Eben =I'm not seriously getting into the beach == boat chit // have fun is what,s it about // but the statement you just made about what you consider 50# from boat ==equals 30# from shore is B/S ..many times I,ve had it easier from shore to land a fish.

I agree to disagree with Eben, I've had a boat all my life and it's not a cakewalk all the time getting fish from a boat, buy one and you'll find out. This is my 2nd "serious" season of surf fishing and I topped my best boat year already....
I don't go for that boat/shore BS It's all about having fun, which I am, so if you want to waste your time with the boat/surf thing...Go ahead..I'll be fishing catchin' large!!

[Crow]

I may catch fish on a boat, but when I go 'fishing' its from the surf. Its a matter of style over substance. Even when I worked on partyboats as a mate, afterwards I would hit the beach and go 'fishing'.

[Iwannakeeper]

I haven't read the whole thread yet, but from what I have read - two things come to mind

1. Who the F#$% cares what any one else thinks?
2. Do what you enjoy?

There have been plenty of statements made here and elsewhere that I would be willing to argue, but quite simply, I do not really give 2 shts what others think of how I go fishing.

I enjoy surf fishing, but (and maybe it is me, but I hear a lot of the same) it just doesn't consisitently and readily produce the way a boat does.

Is it more or less sporting - who cares? If you are getting out and enjoying yourself - doesn't matter who cares.

This thread and the thousands of other posts regarding surf vs. boat seem try and make this uber-enjoyable, relax sport we all love into some sort of competition. I personally fish because I like it, and I obviously prefer to catch fish vs skunks. I am not setting out to be "the best and most sporting fisherman." I am there to enjoy myself and hopefully pull a few.

It is all good; chunk, wire-line, boat, show, plugs, live bait - as a great philospher once put it "its all good" (slingah 2005). Why put someone else enjoyment down, because it is not what you like? In my opinion the only reason to put down another fisherman is the obvious ones everyone seems to agree with; googans, littering, taking shorts, fishing illegally - I think you get the idea.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Iwannakeeper

1. Who the F#$% cares what any one else thinks?
2. Do what you enjoy?

.

Yes!!

[Raider Ronnie]

I'm a bit confused in reading some of the post here!
Sounds like LOTS of surf guys are having a very bad year!!!
Are some surf guys NOW saying that boat fish DO count!!!

[bassmaster]

dont look at me i got a million boat pics

[BigFish]

OK...I am ready.....continue!

[Jenn]

Flap- I loved that you asked this question! There seems to be plenty of people that think "boat fish" dont count or the only way to fish is with lures, you know using bait is cheating and those fish dont count either. oke: Some dont believe catching a bluefish is anyfun simply because it wasnt a striper. Others find joy only in saltwater fishing and never think of wasting their time looking for largemouth, catfish, etc. What about flyfishing????

I think you get my point by now, there will always be people that feel one type of fishing is the ONLY way to fish (which is fine if thats what they enjoy) and those that will fish anywhere, antime, with anyone, with any gear, and for any fish that they can. Sometimes I wonder why we as anglers let a relaxing passtime turn into such a "cut and dry" issue (beach or boat??)??
who cares!!!!! go fish on your boat, have fun and dont forget to invite one of your diehard beach buddies along! chances are if given the opportunity to catch fish they will say yes!!!!

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

I'm a bit confused in reading some of the post here!
Sounds like LOTS of surf guys are having a very bad year!!!
Are some surf guys NOW saying that boat fish DO count!!!

OK, I'll admit it just don't tell my brother who's out trolling wire on Sow and Pigs right now.