Is The Shore Fishing So Bad?

[fishaholic18]

I think it's just an off year, had the best year of my surf fishing life last year/ They'll be back..I hope..

[shadow]

I think this year has not been so good you have to really look long and hard to find fish,yet I would'nt say that it has been that why in years past at least not where I fish in R.I. As all ready said bait is a major facter as why the fish just have not move in range.We all were hoping to get bait back and this year we saw large run of squid (may was a good month)and now we got to see the adult bunker came back somewhat, the problem there is most of it is staying south of us or what is up here is just off shore.Back when big bunker was pleantaful the fall runs were better then the spring lets hope that will be the case.

[Finaddict]

Larry,

IMO, and as mentioned above, it's always a number of factors to any situation -- I am a boat guy who grew up fishing from boats up until about two-three years ago when the baby came and my boat fishing slowed way down, this year I have yet to fish off a boat ... have I caught more fish off a boat? Yes, but that is also because of 30+ years of fishing from a boat and only fishing the shoreline once and awhile ... it's all relative.

I've had days of catching fish from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m. from boat in the fall where it is catching fish non-stop all day, but also because I was able to cover so much territory hitting spots throughout the day ... if one shoreline doesn't work, move to another, if that one dies down, motor to another, the mobility is far greater than you have from the shore as you can cover pretty much every inch of shoreline and every reef with relative ease -- of course you have to be careful of rocks and waves, etc., which means you want a capable individual with you who can get you out of a tricky situation without you having to give directions ... again, it's all relative.

Night time is better, but here again as mentioned above, you need to be focused on the rocks and want to ensure your partner is capable of helping you out of any situation ...

About crowds, yes you can escape the crowds more easily from a boat most of the times, but there are times in the boat when people will intrude on your fishing as they would on a beach ... especially during the day, you will always have the @$$ face googans who think you are onto fish or have something better and will mess up your drift, fishing area or whatever because they think you have the answer. So getting out in a boat during the day and scouting the area with a depth finder and watching the rocks, etc. is a great way to prepare for night fishing.

But the bait is the problem and having the bait inshore makes all the difference between scoring non-stop or being skunked, fish will always be where the food is.