What makes RI's notorious hot spot for early season stripers so good?

[Saltheart]

The fish show up in middletown the same time as the wall. The common feature is that they both have structure that sticks waaaaay out there and corrals the bait in a S-SW wind. Its not just finfish bait but every kind of living thing that gets driven along by the wind and gets trapped in these big corners.

Anyway , that's one theory.

i have heard the theory about the warmth of the rocks at the wall but that doesn't really apply in middletown since sachuest has only the normal rocks so maybe that theory is less important?

they do spread out fast some years. I remember some years when they were all spread out by this time in April. This appears to be a late year.

[bloocrab]

IMO -
I believe temperature is THE most important factor right now.
Skinny water gets warmer faster, whether it's a warm SW wind, or just the temperature in general that drives the water temperature up...it's still temperature that drives the fish this early. As the ocean water acclimates, getting closer to the temps in the ponds, the fish start to venture outside the pond. Some make their way back in, others continue to search and eventually the newer fish show. As far as why the WW....simple, it's a nice fishing platform...and as stated above, a LOT of fishermen show up increasing the odds of catching fish as they show up, whether from the ponds or arriving scouts, giving the impression that it's an early hot spot. I'm SURE there are plenty of other spots that produce at the same time, they're just not so exposed or publicized.
As far as the rocks heating the water??? A small stretch of rocks isn't going to affect the ocean like that, maybe a fraction of a degree right up close and tight, but I don't see them warming the water enough to make a difference fishwise.

I think the biggest reason they show up at the wall is for that slim chance of making "Stripers Gone Wild II"....
They're pretty jealous already given the fact that there was a blue-crab showing off her stuff in part I.

OH, and did I mention...it's a point? I heard once that points are fish magnets.

[ThomCat]

[QUOTE=Saltheart;481950]The fish show up in middletown the same time as the wall. The common feature is that they both have structure that sticks waaaaay out there and corrals the bait in a S-SW wind. Its not just finfish bait but every kind of living thing that gets driven along by the wind and gets trapped in these big corners.

I agree. This extended incumbrance to the northern migration along with the combination of food, structure, water temp. related to surrounding waters and current create a comfort zone for the fish. Unlike us, Bass rarely leave fish (food) to go look for fish.

[Joe]

There's a big wall there and the fish coming up from the south bump into it and get stuck.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Joe

There's a big wall there and the fish coming up from the south bump into it and get stuck.

Is this the title of your next piece??

[Joe]

I'm leaning more toward a where-to for selling poached fish....

[cow tamer]

Originally Posted by Joe

I'm leaning more toward a where-to for selling poached fish....

Are poached fish prepared similarly to poached eggs?

[spence]

Poaching fish is really a lot art these days. I mean could you even imagine dropping 5 bills on one of these?

http://www.culinarycookware.com/cata...RED%20EXTERIOR

Is court bullion even in your lexicon?

-spence

[Swimmer]

My wife has a poached bluefish recipe that makes bluefish out of this world.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Joe

There's a big wall there and the fish coming up from the south bump into it and get stuck.

This looks like one of my comments

[Joe]

Why is it so far fetched that the first significant structure (when approached from the south/west) should be the first place fish congregate? It falls in line with basic surfcasting theory....

[LeCounts1099]

Agreed, Joe: but using this same logic...

Wouldn't you think Little Gansett' Bay, to the Pawcatuck would be "better" early season, than the far- East Wall? (WH being the "obstruction?)

Maybe it is?

[Joe]

The charts I've seen show the biggest body of fish migrating on the ocean side of Long Island....
But yes, there's a spot in Pawcatuck that turns on very early...it may be a bigger fishery than people let on - but it's not as big from what I know about it.