Generally the guys that say distance does not matter can't cast
Only kidding.
I think distance seems more important down here on LI.
Sometimes the structure, whether a bar , rip or reef is farther out and a good cast is needed to reach it. The guys with the right equipment and can cast are into fish while the rest of the crowd get casting practice and are left scratching their heads. I've seen it many times.
A perfect example occurred a few years back at Montauk. There was a good run of quality fish, 20 - 50 pounds nothing small, laying on a reef way out feeding mostly at dawn and dusk. At dawn there were a couple of fish taken but nothing spectacular, so most of us left after a little while, to get coffee and breakfast. We went back after, just to take a look and a couple friends met us saying the bite turned after we left, but died out again. The 4 of us figured we would check it out anyway.I consider myself a very good caster. One other guy is the best caster I've seen, another is not far behind him and the fourth is a good caster. Well, the fish were still there, but the other guys could not reach them. To hook up you had to have a monster cast and get the lure working within the first 5 cranks or just reel it in and try again. The two guys that could really put it out there had a rise or hook up on every other cast for a couple of hours. My casts were landing about 20 yards behind and i wound landing a few fish. The fourth guy who's casts were about ten yards behind me caught nothing.
Another reason to be able to cast for distance is when standing in a line up most the the guys are pounding the same stretch of water, by reaching a fresh patch of water you can often pick a few extra fish.
A guy who can cast can always shorten his cast if the fish are in tighter.
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