This place is dead......

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by fish raptor

I have never fished at night but easily realize it is a big advantage...but with that said can only guess that for the most part would only make a difference "topwater" fishing compared to fishing deeper water at night. I would love to try it from my boat but do not have radar which I would assume is an absolute must for night time fishing ? It's only my second year with the boat....I'll eventually get there....
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Larger fish that spend the day offshore often times move in close to shore at night...I rarely fish more than 6' 0f water...I rarely fish during the day after mid June... and no on the radar... not a must ...for years all I fished with was a compass and a paddle.. paddle determined the depth compass lined up my drifts and found my way home.... using line of sight navigating and landmarks ( lights in this case) made me a better more observant fisherman... I still use these skills after nearly 50 years on the water... the fish finder and GPS/map are sweet additions to my boat but land marks don't move and a compass never looses it's satellites...

[fish raptor]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

Larger fish that spend the day offshore often times move in close to shore at night...I rarely fish more than 6' 0f water...I rarely fish during the day after mid June... and no on the radar... not a must ...for years all I fished with was a compass and a paddle.. paddle determined the depth compass lined up my drifts and found my way home.... using line of sight navigating and landmarks ( lights in this case) made me a better more observant fisherman... I still use these skills after nearly 50 years on the water... the fish finder and GPS/map are sweet additions to my boat but land marks don't move and a compass never looses it's satellites...

I found your post most interesting.... I just can't envision night time manuvering on the boat. I guess with a full moon it might be doable but without..... how do you see (avoid) all the lobsta buoys ? it's not the getting to and from that I am worried about, it's hitting something in between. I should either try something simple (close) the first time or.... go with someone else at night to get a "feel" for what to expect.

Where do I meet you....

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by fish raptor

I found your post most interesting.... I just can't envision night time manuvering on the boat. I guess with a full moon it might be doable but without..... how do you see (avoid) all the lobsta buoys ? it's not the getting to and from that I am worried about, it's hitting something in between. I should either try something simple (close) the first time or.... go with someone else at night to get a "feel" for what to expect.

Where do I meet you....

First ..it's amazing how much you can see when your eyes adjust... local knowledge is a great help as well... It's 12 miles from the mouth of the river to my honey hole on the beach...most of the lobster line is in and around 30' of water... run @ 50' and keep your eyes peeled... most nights are easy... 16 knots is comfortable on all but the darkest nights... I "plink" a pot buoy now and again but it's rare.... nights with a "salmon chop" are the worst.. hard to pick up the pots in the chop. .. I run a SS prop in case I pick up a line... take it out of gear and if it's not cut it float free... I've been making that run since 1972... only damaged a few props ( mostly in my younger days when speed was more of an issue) and one lower unit. That was on a submerged telephone pole ( that could have happened during the day just as easily) .. it could have ended badly. luckily I only broke one tooth on a pinion gear.. I limped home no issues... I caught a floating gill net once... that required getting in the water with A knife in my teeth. Rambo style.. I also run tight to the beach ... if I know there are no surf casters about... most around these parts anchor bait on the bottom and have lights on the rods.. I can see them a long ways off.. those that don't have lights hit the head lamp and I'll move out a bit and give them a wide berth. Most of the time. I'm aware of where the fish are( or might be) so I'm looking for fisherman... right now there is a piping plover ban so I know where there are no surfcasters and where they are allowed to fish. That changes by mid August...Thousands of trips very few incidents... it's second nature this stage of my life.

you make your way to Plum Island Mass during a week night I'm heading out ( I don't do weekends).. you're more than welcome to come with...

[RickBomba]

Hey Ross,
Aside from the night bite, you should try heading north with macs.

They are sooooo close to shore. Swing them baits in, take the boat out of gear, and WHAM.

I tried running into the tide like I was trolling a tube and worm, and it worked great. My favorite technique is to move the boat close to a ledge or big rock. then take the boat out of gear, and let the macs swim.

Any time you want to come out with me, let me know. I launch out of Rockport. Free parking for your truck. My boat draws about 18" of water, so I can get in kind of skinny.

PM or call me if you want to go.

Thanks,
Rick

[piemma]

Originally Posted by fish raptor

I found your post most interesting.... I just can't envision night time manuvering on the boat. I guess with a full moon it might be doable but without..... how do you see (avoid) all the lobsta buoys ? it's not the getting to and from that I am worried about, it's hitting something in between. I should either try something simple (close) the first time or.... go with someone else at night to get a "feel" for what to expect.

Where do I meet you....

Narragansett Bay is FULL of lobster pots and we run at night all the time. In 10 years I have snagged 3 pots at night. Usually its a matter of power down, tip the motor up and, sometime, cut the line. Other times just unwrap off the prop if its not too tangled.

[Rmarsh]

My lure bag has a collection of plastic swimmers like sp minnows, which is what I use most of the time, but they don't work very good in a strong current.

So last night I switched to a 2oz bucktail jig tipped with gulp.

Not a large fish at all.... but saved my night, and I might have learned something.