A question for the beach casters

[piemma]

Interesting topic.

I fished the surf for almost 40 years and loved every second of it. I fished the cape when the fishing was awesome. I fished RI when the fishing sucked. I loved both places the same. Got a boat 3 years ago because I got sick and didn't have the stamina I use to have to hop rocks all night.
Now I am somewhat in remission and have lot of my strength back. I still go in the surf in the fall and early winter but I would never give up the boat.
I find that the boat is more technical in nature. In the surf I could daydream occasionally. In the boat I need to be alert to other boats, where I am, current, wind, rocks, structure, fuel, speed, direction, etc. This becomes especially true at night and I do run at night alone so you really need to pay attention.
I get more fish and bigger fish in the boat. hell, I had days last year with 8 fish 30 to 38 lbs between 4 and 7 AM. You can't do that in the surf now. 30 years ago on The Backbeach we did but not anymore.

One type of fishing is not better than the other. They both have their attributes and drawbacks. It's what you put into it and what you get out of it.

Me, I just love to be on the water.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by piemma

One type of fishing is not better than the other. They both have their attributes and drawbacks. It's what you put into it and what you get out of it.

Me, I just love to be on the water.

Very well put. I enjoy being on the boat as much for the ride and what you can see out on the water as much as for the fishing. I enjoy the quiet and peaceful darkness of fishing from shore at night. I wouldn't want to have to choose between boat and shore and give up either.

[The Iceman 6]

Lobster or Cracked Crab?

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Fishing from a boat is a nice change every now and then but i like rocks under my feet. Ive never been skunked fishing from a boat, it does seem easy to me. Maybe i have been lucky. I havent had a "special" feeling from catching a boat fish, but it happens all the time from shore. I only wish that i could consistantly catch KEEPER fluke and cod from shore.

[Monty]

I bought my first boat in 1993 so I could catch more fish and I have no regrets, I loved fishing from shore with my friends, but we did more fishing than catching, but after 15 years working all the islands and estuaries in the harbor, I do pretty good at catching.

I'm far from knowing it all but I've learned allot, and enjoy every day on the water, especially with family and friends.

[Jenn]

Nope. Boat fishing has a time & place for me but doesnt make me want to buy one and certainly doesnt hold the same "mystique" that the shore does.

[protty31]

My buddy got a tin boat this year,and all I'm thinking of are the places we can get to and beach it.Never ever give up the shore.

[baldwin]

Nope. It's not the quantity of the fish, it's the quality of the fishing.