July 30 - Are these the Doldrums? What to do about it?

[JohnR]

July 30 - Are these the Doldrums? Are we that deep in the mid-summer muck? Things stank all over?

What to do, what to do?

Go freshwater? Chase Blooofish?

I'm stumped I'm so FAR out of my rhythm with this new job I'm out less than once per week so even though I know it is the beginning of August I feel like it should be the beginning of June

Sorry for the Ramble / Rant

[KeyWest225]

I think the weather has not helped. I have planned to play hookey quite a few days from work to take the boat out and the night before cancelled due to the forecast. I can't believe we are staring at August! Think positive and have great success in August.

[Rockport24]

I think the answer is get in a boat or kayak!

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by Karl F

I have been told by more than one old timer... that there is no such thing.......

And I agrree.....

[basswipe]

I actually got a few schoolies last night fishing around some docks like the freshwater bass guys do.Been a little occupied lately so it was nice to actually catch something.

[numbskull]

Spring and fall migrations let us pretend we are better fisherman than we really are. Finding and catching good fish from shore in the summer is a much better test of one's knowledge, skill, endurance, and commitment. It is also expensive and, for most, requires travel with very uncertain reward. They are out there, though.

[Bocephus]

try and find colder water, hope for bass but mostly catch bluefish I snorkel my spots when its warm to check out stuff and grab a few quahogs while im down there

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Spring and fall migrations let us pretend we are better fisherman than we really are. Finding and catching good fish from shore in the summer is a much better test of one's knowledge, skill, endurance, and commitment. It is also expensive and, for most, requires travel with very uncertain reward. They are out there, though.

Aye Kapitan! Therein lies the rub, job and family commitments have obscured my ability to get out when the going was good. Now that the goings are nossomuch I need to wrap my mind around my few opportunities that exist to chase summer fish.

I've often done OK in the past this time of year (considering the time of year) with a pick of decent fish and I just need to mentally get myself in that mindset. I just can't believe TOMORROW kicks off August.

[hyefisherman2]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Spring and fall migrations let us pretend we are better fisherman than we really are. Finding and catching good fish from shore in the summer is a much better test of one's knowledge, skill, endurance, and commitment. It is also expensive and, for most, requires travel with very uncertain reward. They are out there, though.

right on



.....

[The Iceman 6]

John -

Technically, tomorrow is the 31st so you can still catch a July bass.

[Sea Dangles]

They are there for the dedicated.

[BassyiusMaximus]

I would have to say, that even though the fishing might be tougher, one still has to try because, as we know all to well here in NE, all we'll have is this forum to just "wish" about going fishing once this fall/winter comes. So as the time/this season is so limited and we have the chance to at least try, try.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

They are there for the dedicated.

I am employmentally challenged from being dedicated. If I fished everynight and didn't get beauty sleep my boss would fire my butt.

For those of you that can run on a few hours sleep time and time again, Bless you and go forth.

Me, I can't do it or I'm useless at work.

[macojoe]

Its slow all over!! Got to get there at night now, you can get them but you will have to work at it!!

Striped Bass OPEN

Catch report 242,870

Quota 1,107,828 For MA

21.9 %

Not going to end to early this year!

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

They are there for the dedicated.

True, veeerrrrrrry true....

[Flaptail]

This time of year just makes you an honest fisherman, work hard, forego sleep, strap on the corkers, soak up the bug juice and join Numby and Sauerkraut for some adventure.

Last night I jetty fished. Not big but lots of them.

Lonely out there in the dark.

[GonnaCatchABig1]

im actually looking forward to the comming month. water temps are around low to mid 60s in the area.. and the water temps down south are becoming a bit to high to be in the comfort zone of the fish. hopefully finally pushing some more of the shore huggers up this way. fishing has been slow as hell. i realize mostly due to the bait being so thick offshore. but it was around this time last year the bloos started to become more frequent in the area. so hopefully they will also arrive and scatter all that bait inland. and by september... things should be just fine. just fine indeed. how ever that assuming the bloos show inforce and scatter the hell out of the macks.

but then again im always wrong.. so i just shut up and fish and take my skunkings and hope that the above happens.


still i remain very excited about this month. since everything seems to be happening late this year due to all that cold rainfall we've had.

[jimmy z]

I just keep pluggin' away. In the past, I have done ok, during July and August.

[hyefisherman2]

For me, I just have to jig harder and longer...there are some good fish in the canal all season long, you just gotta know your spots and jig your brains out!!!

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by JohnR

For those of you that can run on a few hours sleep time and time again, Bless you and go forth.

Me, I can't do it or I'm useless at work.

this is the same for me JR...
I can't do it like years past, or really care too...I need sleep and also need to make money when I can...the fish are not that important right now...I'll be singing a different tune in the fall though
As far as doldrums go....Im sure the diehards are getting plenty....

[Plum Crazy]

Originally Posted by JohnR

July 30 - Are these the Doldrums? Are we that deep in the mid-summer muck? Things stank all over?

What to do, what to do?

Go freshwater? Chase Blooofish?

I'm stumped I'm so FAR out of my rhythm with this new job I'm out less than once per week so even though I know it is the beginning of August I feel like it should be the beginning of June

Sorry for the Ramble / Rant

Is it the doldrums?

Yes it is and how quickly we forget.
After a few months of constant catching we are all blown away by the fact that we are now getting nothing.
It happens every year. Did you forget?
July sucks. August nights will be better. Chin up!
Get some much needed sleep and refurb the tackle. The fish are coming back.

[cheferson]

The summer doldrums are like a bright full moon, just another excuse why you arent catching any fish.

[TianaBeachDude]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

They are there for the dedicated.

I'M going with this theory

[Crafty Angler]

What's the biggest thing that will keep you from catching bragging fish this time of year?

I finally figured out what it is pretty recently although I've been suspecting the answer to it for a while. It was a real epiphany for me personally.

It's a number of things, among them a home, a mortgage, a family and a wife - what Zorba the Greek called "the whole calamity."

You know, I've gotten myself back in relatively good shape for an old bastard in just the last couple of months after my hiatus. I could still pace the younger guys now for a night just about anywhere that I don't feel will have people saying what a funny old SOB I was after I get washed off the rocks. I just can't do it 4 or 5 nights a week anymore because of all of the above.

May God bless the twenty and thirty-somethings who can fish themselves into a delirium with little if anything to stop them like all the responsibilities we older guys seem to gather as we move further on down the road.

For me it's all about time now and balancing things in your life. The younger guys without the ties can go out and fish themselves around the bend if they want and they're gonna have some ripping tales to tell. I've already got most of mine and to tell you the truth, it really doesn't bother me.

Sooner or later most of us have the come-to-Jesus-moment on how we fish - hell, even #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& did and I respect him more for that than his catch record.

So if you're not catching fish this time of year, it's probably age related - and I don't mean you're turning into a doddering old #$%&#, you're just trying to keep your program in balance.

Actually it's pretty nice from my perspective even if I don't have the time to fish an entire week of tides on succesive nights on the prowl for bass. Being able to go out less often actually has it's own set of perks. The salt air seems sweeter now, the water feels better, the fish feel like old friends and the flocks of long-legged bed-thrashers fluttering down the Tems flyway at night are prettier than ever as I pass them on my way out to my favorite spot

It ain't all that bad.

[Nebe]

ahh yes.. those 2 legged bed thrashers.

beautiful plumage.. beautiful.

Crafty, its good to see you back. I can still smell the drunken blackfish stew.. mmmmm

[BasicPatrick]

I also do not beleive in the doldrums

I also completely agree with Crafty on the life responsibilities etc

I also found some fish...bigger schoolies to small keepers up to 32" at a spot Flap knows where

Smart fishing time is definately upon us....find the water colder than the surrounding waters....think concentrations of bait or where bait should be concentrating...they are there...the super large might be deep but there are plenty of fish to be caught...oh yeah, the nite time is the right time for having fun

[Striperhound]

My late July to Labor day routine was pretty consistent for numbers of bass with a few larger fish mixed in. It consisted of deeper water close to near shore shoals and reefs and rough surf. If you didnt get soaked from the surf the fishing was inconsistent.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Slingah

this is the same for me JR...
I can't do it like years past, or really care too...I need sleep and also need to make money when I can...the fish are not that important right now...I'll be singing a different tune in the fall though
As far as doldrums go....Im sure the diehards are getting plenty....

I hear ya slingah. I made a promise to the guys a fish with regularly to be out 3,4,5 nights a week this year and it hasn't happened yet. I value the sleep more than the fish, but will pound it in the fall. Overall, the summer fishing has been outstanding in a few spots for large 20 plus pound fish. I haven't cashed in that great personally for a few weeks, but its not due to lack of fish. Two nights ago I had one 25# plus I threw back and my brother(BrianL) took one 30# fish home with us. Look for the S-B striper cup team to get a little heavier is all I can say right now....
Like Flaptail said, its been lonely out there at night. Guys just aren't putting the effort in, myself included.

[wheresmy50]

You want doldrums, come down here.

RI has a period of normal fishing surrounded by months of excellent fishing.

[Rockfish9]

Like all things Bass, it's about location..... I'm a bit north of most of you, IMHO, the nortern tip of the great bass fishing grounds (Plum Island)...The fishing sustains at higher level here through the summer months. This is my favorite time of year... for the most part, the "easy" fishing is over, most of the opertunity seekers have called "it" until the fall migration, when once again the fishing is easy... I've found that this time of year, the fishing is more steady and dependable, the fish tend to run the same patterns until the tide cycle brings them to daybreak , like others, I need a little more sleep than I once did and sometimes can't answer the bell, standard protocall the "morning after" has become a cup of black coffee and 2 Advil , gone are the times when I fished 15 or 20 straight nights, but, I dont need to anymore, I gave up selling them and have learned to spend my time more wisely, with the summer comes a change of habits and styles, from my perspective, if you do that... doldrums are no more than a frame of mind, not what the fish are doing, they still have to eat to survive... so somewhere, those fish are hungry, and if your prudent in your approach, reward is just a screaming drag away..

My .02
Roc