Cows: redux

[Krispy]

Originally Posted by Krispy

With so many people fishing heavy tackle from the surf, why are so few large bass taken (per person) 30lb+ during the course of the season? The fish are there..

What is the general striped bass fishing population missing when targeting larger fish? Location, technique, dedication, landing ability, etc.???

RIJimmy, you are so right. Alot, I believe the majority, of people fish very hard, doing alot of the right things w/o the consistent success of large fish (or avg fish, depending which heros you want to believe). What are some of the most important factors fishermen should be focusing on when searching bigger fish?

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by Krispy

RIJimmy, you are so right. Alot, I believe the majority, of people fish very hard, doing alot of the right things w/o the consistent success of large fish (or avg fish, depending which heros you want to believe). What are some of the most important factors fishermen should be focusing on when searching bigger fish?

I dont have teh answer, but can tell you what I dont have or dont do
This assumes fsihing productive water with eels at night

1. Spend 4-5 nights/week fishing a handful of spots, in all tides/conditions
2. Establish relationships with like minded fisherman (see 1 above) who can share success and lessons learned. get a "pulse" on fish movements
3. Learn from your mistakes and success

Those are my thoughts.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Krispy

RIJimmy, you are so right. Alot, I believe the majority, of people fish very hard, doing alot of the right things w/o the consistent success of large fish (or avg fish, depending which heros you want to believe). What are some of the most important factors fishermen should be focusing on when searching bigger fish?

Factors? One factor people overlook is that you need to fish in a place or time that is conducive to not just hooking, but landing, a big fish. I hear people say all the time,"she wrapped me on a pot". Well, don't fish near the f#$%^%$n pots then. It may be a good place to find and hook a fish, but a bad spot to land one. How about the canal,rivers, and breachways? People tell me "I had a monster, but it got out in the current". Solution? Fish when the tide slows a bit or is just about stopped. Sounds simple, but people forget these things. Landing, not hooking, is the key. Why have most of my jumbos come from the outer cape? Its the best place I can think of on the eastern seaboard to LAND a big fish. Lets say you can hook five jumbos in the rocks and land one of them, or you can hook two jumbos on a sandy beach and land both of them. Where would you go? Higher landing % makes the most sense to me if you are looking for numbers of real big ones, beyond 40# fish.

[tattoobob]

I just wasted a ton of time reading this whole thread

and to me the old saying is true

90% of the fish are caught by 10% of fishermen.

and doesn't mean no one is catching it just means there are people catching they are just not telling anyone