Should "wetsuiting" be its own category of fishing

[Rockport24]

oh man, this is a good thread!
I gotta say, if somebody has the sack to swim 100 yards out in the dark, in decent surf, and perch themself on a rock in hopes of landing a trophy, then they deserve whatever they get and that is surfcasting, I don't care if they do it buck naked (which is George Constanza's stage name by the way).

I think this kind of behavior is the most prominant around our parts. Skishing is another story altogether and should be another category in itself in all touneys.

[gottog?]

ok when the situation calls for it ,rocky shoreline waiting out ,ok .......but if i see anyone wearing one in jersey im calling ....homo

[rizzo]

Wetsuiting is definitely surf fishing.

The guys who are successful with the wetsuit put in a ton of time and know the right conditions to catch large. They are dedicated. Ask them how many times they strike out. Many guys I know have been wetsuiting for a long time, but they have more exposure to NY. The MA and RI scene is finally catching on to NY sharpies.

Quite a few guys I know have continued to bank on late October to produce trophy fish and have failed miserably. You gotta learn to change and adapt to whats working and what is not. The only way to do that is time and experience.

I bet if the 2 striper cup surf leaders from this past year fished from waders ONLY, they would still be prime competitors.

[Tagger]

This seems to be a new thing in the north east ,, wetsuit fishing (swimming to rocks) has been going on for a long time on the west coast .. Maybe this question better asked over there ,,where they have a longer history with it . I think its a good idea as long as the sharks don't bite ya .. your in thier world .

[schererw]

Copy and paste the below hyperlink. It takes you to Paul Melnyk's article on his first "winning" fish via skishing in Montauk that may have helped create the skishing category for some tournaments in Montauk:

http://www.surfrats.com/montauk/view...ghlight=locals

[flyvice11787]

Originally Posted by luds

Why is it unfair? Because you can't or are unwilling to do it? I won't push myself that far and maybe can't either but imo that doesn't make it unfair. I guess I just give the few who do it the credit I feel they deserve. They are taking a higher risk and if it does result in bigger fish then to me they earned it.

I give them lots of credit. They may be just a bit nuts to be doing that, but I do give them credit .

Originally Posted by luds

Still surf fishing to me. You enter the water through the surf but you don't accept the limits of having to stand on land. I don't see a whole lot of difference between wading waist deep and being willing to actually swim while fishing. Swimming is just taking it a little further. Your not leveraging technology. Other than the boyancy of a wetsuit all you have to count on is your own physicality.

I know you already prefaced that the use of a vessel makes it something other than surf fishing, but if one were to replace the wetsuit and fins with a kayak and paddle in the above quote, it would be interchangeable. The kayak would just be keeping you higher up in the water to facilitate casting. That's why I believe the buoyancy of the wetsuit and the fins are an extra technological edge. You use them to propel yourself out to the fish. We'll just have to agree to disagree .

[luds]

Originally Posted by flyvice11787

We'll just have to agree to disagree .

I agree.

[Finaddict]

There are surf fishermen who use wetsuits and are still surfishing ... there are skishers who are a little bit beyond surf fishing ...

... in fact I almost ran a guy over one pre-dawn morning in Montauk about 10-12 years ago, couldn't see the guy in the water ... it was crazy and I wouldn't say that guy was surf fishing, and I don't think he'd say it either ... but wouldn't fault him either ... I hope he caught fish that day and glad I was not a little closer to shore ... that fellow was not on a rock either ...

.... I do know of a few spots where I would have preferred to have a wetsuite on instead of waders, would have been safer ... and I was surfishing ...

... skishing is definitely a little bit beyond surf fishing in my eyes ... but those guys also surf fish too.

Really how ever one wants to classify it for themselves.

[The Dad Fisherman]

For the tourneys at PISC

A Surfcast fish is one Hooked, Fought, and Landed while feet are on the ground.

A Boat fish is one Hooked, Fought, and Landed while feet are in the boat. (this includes kayaks)

in both cases it doesn't matter what you are wearing....

If you catch a fish skishing then its a nice fish and you are more than welcome to come to the banquet and watch the other guys pick up there award.

Granted I'm pretty sure we don't have any members that skish so its not really an issue.....if it ever becomes one then we will discuss what to do.

I could see this being an issue with the Striper Cup though.....because it doesn't fall in either the boat or shore category.

[Pete_G]

I have a real hang up with the Flaptail's and Ed B's of the world too. Standing where us shorter surfcasters can't. Walking by me in hip boots while I'm almost swimming in my waders. Maybe we should implement a .8 multiplier for you guys if you were to fish the Striper Cup.

And while we're at it, the heavy set crowd. I'm taking issue with you too. Long after my Korkers give out and I get blown off a rock you're still out there, firmly attached. The extra down pressure is far too great an advantage. There's no way we can consider you to be surfcasting, either.

And the DZ's. FU guys. Standing ankle deep at the most and catching large anyways.

Seriously though, skishing is different and it's a rare sight to see someone even try it in RI or MA, I'm surprised it's even being debated here.

"Wetsuit fishing" is such a broad description that trying to define it is pointless. There's people who wear one simply because they got tired of holes in their waders. Some wear one for safety. Some to fish where they already fish in waders to be more comfortable. Some to go a lot further.

I would add that some of the guys who fished in wetsuits this year would have probably caught the same large fish had they not been in a wetsuit. They're just good fisherman.

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

I have a real hang up with the Flaptail's and Ed B's of the world too. Standing where us shorter surfcasters can't. Walking by me in hip boots while I'm almost swimming in my waders. Maybe we should implement a .8 multiplier for you guys if you were to fish the Striper Cup.

And while we're at it, the heavy set crowd. I'm taking issue with you too. Long after my Korkers give out and I get blown off a rock you're still out there, firmly attached. The extra down pressure is far too great an advantage. There's no way we can consider you to be surfcasting, either.

And the DZ's. FU guys. Standing ankle deep at the most and catching large anyways.

Seriously though, skishing is different and it's a rare sight to see someone even try it in RI or MA, I'm surprised it's even being debated here.

"Wetsuit fishing" is such a broad description that trying to define it is pointless. There's people who wear one simply because they got tired of holes in their waders. Some wear one for safety. Some to fish where they already fish in waders to be more comfortable. Some to go a lot further.

I would add that some of the guys who fished in wetsuits this year would have probably caught the same large fish had they not been in a wetsuit. They're just good fisherman.

Pete, the first time I saw you on the Rockpile in a wetsuit I thought there was a Mime Troupe in town -

I mean, I was really taken aback by it

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

For the tourneys at PISC

A Surfcast fish is one Hooked, Fought, and Landed while feet are on the ground.

A Boat fish is one Hooked, Fought, and Landed while feet are in the boat. (this includes kayaks)

DF,

I agreed with you fully last time we had this discussion and agree now.

Skishing is definitely not surf fishing to me. If you're hooking fish while floating or drifting in the water its more like a boat, IMO.

A wet suit is just another tool. Same as comparing bare feet fishing to using waders. You need to cast, hook,fight, and land from terra firma to be considered surf caught, regardless of what's on your feet.

I've seen guys paddle bait out with kayaks off Race Pt., then go back to shore and hook/land the fish and call it "surf" caught. Baloney. You need all the elements.

Wetsuiting is simply extending the surf boundary a bit, but to me it doesn't need its own category, IMO.

Lots of the guys I know who wetsuit are no better than average surfmen without the wetsuits, but the willingness to take risk/go the extra mile in order to succeed is what sets them apart. Its kind of like anything else in a risk/reward sense.

[slow eddie]

it's just another excuse to walk around in skin tight rubber.
i'm jealous

[Pt.JudeJoe]

Originally Posted by slow eddie

it's just another excuse to walk around in skin tight rubber.
i'm jealous

uh oh...I hope show tunes aren't coming next!

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Pt.JudeJoe

uh oh...I hope show tunes aren't coming next!

Aaaaa coodeesh, Joe - you see thes guys heah wearing rubber sirillyesh...

Then right away, you better va pra casa and make a novena to the Blessed Mother

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I haven't ran into this problem yet, and dont expect to in most places where i fish in RI/MA. But Is there much etiquette involved in wet suiting? Similar to the etiquette or lack thereof, that surfers sometimes display by hitting the surf right in front of you. Is there an unwritten rule about not swimming out to a rock in front of where someone is fishing? I would think it would be similar to surfers, cool ones keep their distance and the A-Holes croud you out. There are a couple spots that i like that could be problematic for a more shore bound, ie waders and drytop angler like myself.

[tynan19]

Numbskull, try the dive booties with korkers laced onto them. I used 5mm in the fall and was comfortable and they weigh next to nothing.

[Pete F.]

I find that I am more comfortable wading in a wetsuit than waders. No fear of that one misstep and having to deal with being wet and cold. I don't have to swim to anyplace. Of course wearing a wetsuit I am already wet. I want a relief zipper though.

[Back Beach]

When I say be afraid, I'm obviously referring to the swimming aspect and pushing the envelope too far. Deep wading is quite different then swimming.

I will add though that everyone in my fishing circle who's donned a wetsuit has had a close call. These close calls involve falls,being smashed on rocks, drifting off course, hyperventilation,damaged gear, involuntary bowel movements, etc.

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

When I say be afraid, I'm obviously referring to the swimming aspect and pushing the envelope too far. Deep wading is quite different then swimming.

I will add though that everyone in my fishing circle who's donned a wetsuit has had a close call. These close calls involve falls,being smashed on rocks, drifting off course, hyperventilation,damaged gear, involuntary bowel movements, etc.

Uhhh...Mike, that last item, the involuntary thing - was that fear induced or age related do ya think?



Okay, all monkey business aside, I can honestly say every time I think about it the answer still comes up negative.

I think Mike has hit it dead square on a number of points - as has Steve - for the most part it's better suited to younger guys going thru the bullet-proof stage (you'll get over it, I did) than guys who have responsibilities other than themselves to worry about should the unexpected happen, namely drowning.

Between diving and surfing for almost 50 years, I'm not exactly a stranger to wetsuits or dealing with high surf and powerful rips in rocky areas over shallow reefs. But in the dead of night? Vaya con Dios, bro.

If bragging size fish - with the emphasis on bragging - is your goal, go nuts. I fish for myself - I got over the need to swagger into a B&T with a conked fish a long time ago.

As far as it's apparent effectiveness, I agree that it's probably more a function of percentages, as Mike said. But whether it is or not, personally, I won't be doing a side-by-side myself on a new moon night trying to punch thru a swell to a distant rock.

[The Dad Fisherman]

If I ever don a wetsuit people will be expecting to see me with a midget in a Tuxedo.

[fishaholic18]

I'm in.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by fishaholic18

I'm in.

In what, a wetsuit?

[JLH]

In the warm summer months (I only have a 3mm) wet suiting is just more enjoyable and safer than fishing in waders and a dry top. The drop top I have (Evo 2) is great but I can't really swim in it for extended periods without water seeping in so I have to stumble my way in the dark from rock to rock. In the wetsuit I can either swim or just bounce myself along off the bottom and its a lot easier and safer than trying to walk. This past year was my first season with the wetsuit and I didn't really fish any areas I couldn't fish in my waders/drytop I just found it more enjoyable. Next season I am planning on boating out to a few islands anchoring up and using the wetsuit to swim in to fish them from shore.

[Goose]

Just because your wet suiting doesn't mean you've reached the the top. the more diverse you are the better understanding you have in all aspects of fishing. Don't think by being on that pedestal (rock) means that you've concord something.