Is Something Wrong?

[Karl F]

Yes.. there is something wrong, and we have touched base on this before, and here in this thread.

A local tackle shop owner in town and I talked of this the other day.
He told me there is all the bass you want, not that far off shore, just out of the seals cruising range.. plentiful squid, sand eels, and even some healthy bunker, and macks.. I have said this in years past.. Why would the bass leave an all you can eat buffet, to risk running past the sea rats, for slim pickings near shore?

Seals.. push the bait and fish off shore.. because the seals cruise along the beachfront, so they can haul out and rest.. they have wiped out the inshore bait, and flounder and dabs and the like.. they have adapted and become oppurtunistic.. they recognize the surfcasters shape, a human carrying a long stick, and follow him, for a free meal.. they even target our plugs now....

Lack of access.. I know..a dead horse.. but when we can only access a limited portion of the outer beach by vehicle.. it hinders our attempts.. YES,, we can walk... but can't cover the ground as quickly or with the ease of a buggy.. and cannot access the miles and miles that were once free range.. here on the cape.. but.. that time is gone

MUNG.. another thing that is tough to dodge without the access to cover a large area, to find open water..

Inshore Bait migration to off shore.. See Seals

Some say that a fish caught from a boat says something about the individuals surfcasting skills.. well.. it ain't the 70's anymore..

Fish can still be found inshore, but you have to think different places..
estuarys, harbors, rivers, etc... follow the winds and tides.. and the bait.

Slip.. you could be right.. everything goes in cycles.. I hope I am alive for the next cycle of what was here in 77-81

Doldrums... I don't know... the daylight issue makes sense.. but... is it also a factor that a lot of folks just "quit fishing" for a few weeks in the summer?... take a break as it were?.. .. admitedly, I have not put in the time this year.. but.. my last two attempts.. not another soul (human, that is), could be found in the areas I fished....

Things to ponder....

[BigFish]

We all know those issues with the Cape Karl.....I am speaking of the broader issues.....the total lack of bait primarily! This is a problem all over Mass. The biggest question is why all of a sudden, the last 2-3 years, is the bait remaining offshore????

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by BigFish

We all know those issues with the Cape Karl.....I am speaking of the broader issues.....the total lack of bait primarily! This is a problem all over Mass. The biggest question is why all of a sudden, the last 2-3 years, is the bait remaining offshore????

See Seals.....

[BigFish]

Seals are not yet that much of a presence here on the south shore....not like down the Cape. They are coming though!

[piemma]

Originally Posted by BigFish

We all know those issues with the Cape Karl.....I am speaking of the broader issues.....the total lack of bait primarily! This is a problem all over Mass. The biggest question is why all of a sudden, the last 2-3 years, is the bait remaining offshore????

I don't think it's staying offshore, it's staying in Narragnsett Bay. I was out yesterday morning, found a school of pogies and there were 20# bass and 15# Blues all around the school. I caught fish till my arms were tired. And I was in 74 degree water, way up the river almost in Providence.
I know that the mung, seals, commerial guys in NC all are a contributiing factor to the poor Mass fishing. The fact of the matter is that the fish stay where the food is and right now RI has the bait.