Is The Shore Fishing So Bad?

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by striprman

Somehow, when I pull a fish from the surf, I feel a higher level of accomplishment than catching a fish from a boat.

My surf caught fish stick in my mind more than the boat ones.

Same here. Boat fishing is still a blast, but to me its more fun than accomplishment.

[Flaptail]

I stopped at a trailer dealer the other day. I am going to trade in my skiff trailer for a slightly bigger one with wide tires. It has about 8 inches clearance at the axle over the ground. This will be perfect for dragging behind the buggy over the sand. Wood End and Long Point express. Just shove off at the Race and and pull her up above the high tide mark and get out and fish. When done just jump in and scoot around the corner back to the race. And when the backside surf is fairly clam launch there too and the Peaked Hill and farther south is yur oyster. The old gaurd had it right and in FW's book Modern Saltwater Sportfishing, he called the 14 foot skiff the perfect boat for a surfman. He was absolutely right. It is the only way to go as far as I can figure. Larry, hurry and join me we can start a mosquito fleet of tin. Just like the ol Monomoy days!

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Larry, hurry and join me we can start a mosquito fleet of tin.

"Mosquito Fleet" I like the primitive aspect of shore fishing. 120 miles is a long ride to the end to watch seals chow fish . I can see that at the aquarian ,,alot closer . Is it over Johnny ? Is it time to join a bowling team ? I don't think your seal curtain is helping the fishing up north either . Damm depressing the thought of buying a boat . Shouldn't it be a bigger boat with all these great whites that are going to be joining us ?

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Tagger

"Mosquito Fleet" I like the primitive aspect of shore fishing. 120 miles is a long ride to the end to watch seals chow fish . I can see that at the aquarian ,,alot closer . Is it over Johnny ? Is it time to join a bowling team ? I don't think your seal curtain is helping the fishing up north either . Damm depressing the thought of buying a boat . Shouldn't it be a bigger boat with all these great whites that are going to be joining us ?

The best surfcasting water thre ever was was Monomoy Island. The only way to get there was by tin boat which we landed in the surf and pulled up high and dry above the high water line. Then we surfcasted all night from the beach. Never entered our minds to fish fom the boat,never. Stiffy did a 1000 pounds one night and I did just a smidge over 600 but the boat was the means to get us there, that was it. Now a smart surfcaster would see the writing on the wall with beach access. We fish Sandy Neck from the beach when closed to vehicle traffic but we get there by skiff. Don't you see the possibilities?
Think of all that shoreline from Chatham to Race Point that access is not allowed anymore by vehicle and walking is just out of the question because it's too far for my fifty year old legs ( never mind that I carry way too many plugs when I fish).

Surfcasting is the balls but the skiff will allow you more access to out of reach sights. Can't run over plovers in a boat. And I beg to differ with some who think boat fishing is a cake walk. A beach is a mighty steady platform unlike a boat in 3 to 5 footers, I respect good boatmen just as well as good surfcasters and if it gets me fish I am there in a minute. Beats fishing fishless beachfront or hooking fish to feed seals. If you don't adapt you'll die a lonely boring death on the beach. Monomoy was once the best but seals have killed it, and I firmly believe none of us will ever see the surfcasting be what it was just ten years ago, it's catching versus not catching. You can make all the gorgeous plugs you want but if there is nothing in the surf to use them on, what good are they?

I fish to catch fish. I can watch pretty sunrises or sunsets and gawk at stars in the night sky in my backyard. Boats = fish, it's the new way. Join in or loose out.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

The best surfcasting water thre ever was was Monomoy Island. The only way to get there was by tin boat which we landed in the surf and pulled up high and dry above the high water line. Then we surfcasted all night from the beach. Never entered our minds to fish fom the boat,never. Stiffy did a 1000 pounds one night and I did just a smidge over 600 but the boat was the means to get us there, that was it. Now a smart surfcaster would see the writing on the wall with beach access. We fish Sandy Neck from the beach when closed to vehicle traffic but we get there by skiff. Don't you see the possibilities?
Think of all that shoreline from Chatham to Race Point that access is not allowed anymore by vehicle and walking is just out of the question because it's too far for my fifty year old legs ( never mind that I carry way too many plugs when I fish).

Surfcasting is the balls but the skiff will allow you more access to out of reach sights. Can't run over plovers in a boat. And I beg to differ with some who think boat fishing is a cake walk. A beach is a mighty steady platform unlike a boat in 3 to 5 footers, I respect good boatmen just as well as good surfcasters and if it gets me fish I am there in a minute. Beats fishing fishless beachfront or hooking fish to feed seals. If you don't adapt you'll die a lonely boring death on the beach. Monomoy was once the best but seals have killed it, and I firmly believe none of us will ever see the surfcasting be what it was just ten years ago, it's catching versus not catching. You can make all the gorgeous plugs you want but if there is nothing in the surf to use them on, what good are they?

I fish to catch fish. I can watch pretty sunrises or sunsets and gawk at stars in the night sky in my backyard. Boats = fish, it's the new way. Join in or loose out.

I hear you barking "Big Dog".. I'm picking up what your laying down ,,, I smell what your stepping in ,,, Its the end of the world as we know it . Is a Googan that buys a boat a Gilligan ? I may be joining you ,, just a couple more years of denial .

[Grapenuts]

Ever been to the tip of monomoy in a 12'tin boat with a 3 horse and be looking up at whitecaps..what a rush...up an down...up an down hail mary full of grace...can't wait to get back there an do it again .only danger in going is the weekend a****'s. They just as soon run you over cause their bigger

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

14 foot skiff the perfect boat for a surfman. He was absolutely right. It is the only way to go as far as I can figure.