Why haven't you landed a #50 yet ??

[Mr. Sandman]

Frankly, I feel it is timing. Back in the late 70's and early '80s (thru 84 anyway) taking a 40+ from the surf was pretty common and if you fished half as hard as you did today I bet you could have landed several 50's back then. (looking at my records in 1981 my "average fish for that year was 36#, that is right, AVERAGE FISH from the shore.) Last season it was more like 18#. I am the same guy with better gear and fishing just as often now as then, perhaps more. We have gone thru a long cycle where there were just not that many 50's to catch. It is coming around again and the next 5-10 years look pretty good (again) for catching that trophy fish from the shore. Lets hope for the bait situation to improve coast wide that might help things along.
The problem is (again IMO) that these fish today are "different" fish with different migration paths then in past years. We need to adjust. The bite on Nauset today is nothing like it use to be. That said, I still think that within 5-10 years most guys that fish hard will take a 50 from the shore nearly every season.
Just keep doing what you are doing.

[Nebe]

kill the seals.

[EarnedStripes44]

50 lb striped bass. Thats a lifetime fish.

[numbskull]

Think I woulda gotten a few last year, but I took Eddy out and he jinxed me.

[DZ]

If luck is involved I say "Always put yourself in the best position to be lucky". It can happen anyplace - anytime. I may have been lucky to have a few take my plugs but after the take there was little luck involved.

I recently had a conversation with a Block regular who in 1982 had a 2500 lb night between two guys - 14 of the bass were better than 50 - from the beach. Even with a possible exageration factor thrown into this account it would still be an epic catch. These guys put themselves into position for this event - right plugs, heavy gear.
Luck? No way.

DZ

[BassDawg]

Thanks, Paul. I still have many moons to learn from, God Willing and the Good Lord providing, that my health will allow me to do so and take my game to the next level. Right now, I'm just an eager HUNGRY, trying to learn and get better with each and every moon God gives me.

With a huge THANKS, beyond words, that goes directly to the fine legends and sharpies of these very pages. Because of youse guys and yer willingness to share your insights and experiences ~both here and in print~ many of us "lowliners" are on a much faster track to LAHHHGE!!! For that, I will always be grateful, attentive, and blessed!

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by DZ

If luck is involved I say "Always put yourself in the best position to be lucky". It can happen anyplace - anytime. I may have been lucky to have a few take my plugs but after the take there was little luck involved.

I recently had a conversation with a Block regular who in 1982 had a 2500 lb night between two guys - 14 of the bass were better than 50 - from the beach. Even with a possible exageration factor thrown into this account it would still be an epic catch. These guys put themselves into position for this event - right plugs, heavy gear.
Luck? No way.

DZ

The luck was finding them, then the knowledge to see that something was about to happen in a big way and be ready for it kicked in and that was from expertise and the overwheleming factor of making money. Making money made most of the highliners thier reputation for without the incentive of dollar signs many of these "legenday" nights of 14 bass over fifty would never have happened Never say never to luck as part of it.

[Goose]

Not to sound repetitive but judging by the majority it seems like Luck is the key. The reason why I asked in this thread is because of certain non-fishing related books that I've read one being the 'Power of Positive Thinking'(powerful Faith book) the other 'Think Big'(by Schwartz Ph.D.)

I'm sure there are many more that prove with countless examples of why LUCK isn't all that its cracked up to be, I mean just by reading all of these posts gives you the how to's but that does mean we apply them. I'm not talkin about stepping in chit. We can all agree if we study & work hard we can live better but we don't, instead we bitch that its never enough and work sux...its called excuses. I know there's dam good surf guys who haven't broke #50 and I know some of the same guys who realize this and take to the next level its like listening to an old man say 'wish I could go back 30 years and know what I know now'. If we are decisive about what we want we'll put the odds in our favor where its beating your personal best or reaching reasonable mark.

In a sense we think like kids. My kids will say 'Brady is lucky' we say Iron Mike or Bill N. is lucky. They may be gifted but they did what they had to do to to obtain their goal. If that meant making a deal with the devil than I wouldn't wanna be in their shoes.

[inTHERAPY]

[QUOTE=Goose;560974]Not to sound repetitive but judging by the majority it seems like Luck is the key. The reason why I asked in this thread is because of certain non-fishing related books that I've read one being the 'Power of Positive Thinking'(powerful Faith book) the other 'Think Big'(by Schwartz Ph.D.)

I have to ask, "Don't all of you leave the dock, or go to your spot, knowing in your heart and soul that this fishing experience is going to be
absolutely awesome?" I do. My wife, who knows me better than anyone, can not understand how day after day I can spend hours on the water, yet not sleep at night full of excitement, and constantly believe the next trip will be better than the last. If you answered "No" maybe you might want to skip that day of fishing.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by DZ

If luck is involved I say "Always put yourself in the best position to be lucky". It can happen anyplace - anytime. I may have been lucky to have a few take my plugs but after the take there was little luck involved.

I recently had a conversation with a Block regular who in 1982 had a 2500 lb night between two guys - 14 of the bass were better than 50 - from the beach. Even with a possible exageration factor thrown into this account it would still be an epic catch. These guys put themselves into position for this event - right plugs, heavy gear.
Luck? No way.

DZ

I agree for the most part DZ. The key thing with guys taking multiple 50's at once is obviously the availability of such fish, regardless of the other factors. In order to get numbers of 50's you need a combination of skill, luck, and available fish. The fact that those big catches don't happen with regularity from the surf is proof that you need the availability. In reality, anyone, and I mean anyone, can catch one 50 and it proves nothing. Guys I know that have taken multiple 50's over a long time span are more than just lucky though.

[RIJIMMY]

Bass Dawg - I have no reason to doubt you personally, except that I doubt everyone. I know some very good fisherman. My Dad was one of the best, fished 4 + nights a week for years and has a few 50s , 40s etc . Which were weighed, blessed and photographed.
For you to say "and to the several over 30's that i did land this year. " I can't buy it, unless you are talking inches. Please post some pics to prove me wrong, The best fisherman I know, i know many, would never say they lost 50s and 60s, those are fish of a lifetime and very hard to come by.
I've posted this on here before and I'll say it again. For the average angler -
A 12-18lb bass is 25lbs, a 25-32lb bass is over 40, etc. I've seen it a 100 times.
I've spent 1000s of nights at some of the best spots and I've seen a handful of 30s over the last 8 years. SOme of the absolute BEST fsiherman on this site, caught "several" 30s this year. The very, very, very good ones, MAY have caught 2 30s this year. Sorry man, I can't buy you caught several 30s.

[Raven]

opportunity and or the $Cash$ available to go usually! which isn't to often' but i remain Hopeful as thats all gonna be changing one day
so i have learned to be patient ..................very patient

i am a Member of S-B to help keep the Dream "ALIVE "

[piemma]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

Bass Dawg - I have no reason to doubt you personally, except that I doubt everyone. I know some very good fisherman. My Dad was one of the best, fished 4 + nights a week for years and has a few 50s , 40s etc . Which were weighed, blessed and photographed.
For you to say "and to the several over 30's that i did land this year. " I can't buy it, unless you are talking inches. Please post some pics to prove me wrong, The best fisherman I know, i know many, would never say they lost 50s and 60s, those are fish of a lifetime and very hard to come by.
I've posted this on here before and I'll say it again. For the average angler -
A 12-18lb bass is 25lbs, a 25-32lb bass is over 40, etc. I've seen it a 100 times.
I've spent 1000s of nights at some of the best spots and I've seen a handful of 30s over the last 8 years. SOme of the absolute BEST fsiherman on this site, caught "several" 30s this year. The very, very, very good ones, MAY have caught 2 30s this year. Sorry man, I can't buy you caught several 30s.

Jimmy, I agree with some of what you say, especially about guys not knowing what a fish weighs. Years ago I bet a guy $50 at the Charlestown breachway (what a zoo!!) that his "40lb" was 22 or 23#. We took it to Capt. Don's when he was in the old building and it weighed 21. The guy issues a string of profanities you would not believe told Don his scale was off and left without paying up on the bet. As my old and departed friend Lanny use to say "show me the slips".

[Joe]

This is not directed at anyone other than myself.
There's a sad truth to face when you realize that you're not as good, nor do you fish enough spots, when compared to most of the people who have gotten fifties.
I have not gotten a 50 because I have not fished as much as I needed to once I knew what I was doing, and because my methods and repertoire of spots are inferior when compared to most of the people who have caught a fifty.

[Vogt]

Buy a boga or similar lipper/weighing tool. Test it for accuracy before using it. That way, even if you want to release your fish you can get a fairly accurate measurment.

And why havent I caught a 50: Not enough years of surfcasting (3) and just not good enough yet.

[RIROCKHOUND]

RIJ,
Amen!
I always try and round down when estimating, but am usually within a handful of pounds on fish actually weighed, because without our honor out there we don't DESERVE a 50... hooking and landing a fish of that size wouldn't be lucky, or skillful, it would be a privilege! .

As far as losing 2 50's and a 60... I've dropped a handful of 'big' fish. But how big? Who knows... I remember thinking I was north of 40 at Q one night, and it was a foul hooked bluefish, and a second time at a UDL with PIemma when I snagged 14 lbs of angry blue behind the dorsal... my curse echoed back to gansett from there!

BackBeach
"I’ve heard of many guys C and R so called "50's" and I think most, if not all of them are completely full of %$%$%$%$. Many are just looking to seal the deal by using the “formula” or hand scales to cement their rock star status. Show me the slips."

I agree; I think the exception is people who have already caught/seen a 50 before, weighed it, and released it (i.e. DZ). Otherwise you're just in RHM status...
show me the slips is right!

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

Bass Dawg - I have no reason to doubt you personally, except that I doubt everyone. I know some very good fisherman. My Dad was one of the best, fished 4 + nights a week for years and has a few 50s , 40s etc . Which were weighed, blessed and photographed.
For you to say "and to the several over 30's that i did land this year. " I can't buy it, unless you are talking inches. Please post some pics to prove me wrong, The best fisherman I know, i know many, would never say they lost 50s and 60s, those are fish of a lifetime and very hard to come by.
I've posted this on here before and I'll say it again. For the average angler -
A 12-18lb bass is 25lbs, a 25-32lb bass is over 40, etc. I've seen it a 100 times.
I've spent 1000s of nights at some of the best spots and I've seen a handful of 30s over the last 8 years. SOme of the absolute BEST fsiherman on this site, caught "several" 30s this year. The very, very, very good ones, MAY have caught 2 30s this year. Sorry man, I can't buy you caught several 30s.

last sept when we pulled this one in, I could have swore it was going to be my first 30. 42+ inches and such a great fight!!!. Turned out to be only 25ish. BUT, no way did i think it was 40 according to this logic. When it was posted on here that night I said exactly what the scale read.




why havent i caught a 50???
don't know...
but i know i love to fish.

[Goose]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

The very, very, very good ones, MAY have caught 2 30s this year. Sorry man, I can't buy you caught several 30s.

That doesn't sound so far fetched to me, to catch several 30's in one night is not that big of a deal...it doesn't happen that often but it does happen sometimes the #er's are far better then that and all the fish went back, do you really believe everyone is lying when it comes that? same goes with exaggerating the pounds or they released 50's...depends on who's saying it. plenty guys release BIG bass, know who your talking to.

Bloo, your riddle..... that is a case of stepping in chit! Although its impossible to predict, had you or your Buddie been there alone and fished the same exact way I believe some of those same big & small fish would have come over the side .
Here's a riddle 4 you...Two poker players get dealt a hand with equal strengths with equal chips with eqaul players, situation is the same. Why does one reach the final table the other doesn't? One's relying on cards to reach the final table the other has game without cards, in other words he understood the game better.
I was on a deer drive a few years go, I would stand and wait for deer and sometimes I would drive,, I never did very well, why, the group I was with knew the woods and I didn't, I relied on luck they knew when to drive and when & where to stand.
Why is it usually the guy who fishes the front in fresh water bass boat catches the most fish? If there's a good spot on a point of rocks why is there a guy always on that spot? In both cases that guy wants to catch more. Those guys are lucky?

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by Goose

That doesn't sound so far fetched to me, to catch several 30's in one night is not that big of a deal...it doesn't happen that often but it does happen sometimes the #er's are far better then that and all the fish went back, do you really believe everyone is lying when it comes that?

no but I questions the source. knowing BDs posts on this site and the "other" site make it very hard for me to believe he has landed several 30s.

[Goose]

RIJ, one thing is certian, there a lot of 'My's' and 'I' in there and that ain't good.

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

no but I questions the source. knowing BDs posts on this site and the "other" site make it very hard for me to believe he has landed several 30s.

Finally went back to work today and this thread has generated
grandchildren since yesterday......................Good Stuff, everyone!

Hello, RIJIMMY!
This is true, you don't know me nor do i know you.
So why should you believe me?

More improtantly, and I think more inline with zimmy's previous post,
the question i would ask you is, do you know the SPOT of which i speak? Doood, this spot is stacked! It is very difficult to access, and i am 95% sure that i'm the only one who fishes it from it's rocks. i've seen a few boat guys approach their nooks and crannies that are on its outside, but they cain't get to the honeyholes that lie within. And as often and as HARD as i fish this place, you'd think i would've bumped into somebody in two and 1/2 years????

The definiton of several is; "more than two, but not many". I should have been more clear and said 4, but did not intend to mislead or suggest any more than that. To me the intent of this thread was not what i've caught, or not caught, and it was not my intent to project myself as any "great" angler; but, to speak more about the mojo/luck factor as it applies to me.

It is not my nature to place my abilities above yours, your friends skills, or anyone else that you know have landed 30's and have seen land many 30's last year. i am more interested in offering my perspective and asking questions to improve my knowledge and hone what little skills i do possess . That being said, if i were to ever blindfold you and take you to this treasurecove , then i am certain that a surfcaster of your skills and abilities would have landed those that got away and would have surpassed my 4 by now, EASILY!!! This place is that LOADED.

Lastly, I do not own a Bogagrip scale and I do use the C&R formula.

Hey, if LXLXG/800 is good enough for OTW and their Striper Cup, then it's good enuff for me. Unless, of course you have a better way to guesstimate the weight of fish that allows for the girth variance. The place where these beetches hit gains obstacles as the tide drops, making my perch most precarious during the most frequent "bite times"; so, there have been many girls that i have released that have not even been measured and i've had to eyeball and feel their size. And with those fish, that i have not mentioned til now, i will not mention a weight or length since no measuring was done, but they are etched indellibly on the old noggin .

Also, just so you know i'm not going for "rock star cementment" as you so kindly assume, but i would like to know roughly the size of my bigger catches before I let them swim away to become my daughter's 50, 60, 70#'ers in the years to come, so that's why i like the C&R formula so well. It's quick, easy, and allows me to return our majestic quarry back to her ocean with good results.

THE ONE that i guessed to be a 60#'er, i only mentioned because we are talking about trophy sized fish. Here are some eyeballed, and I do use a tape everyday as a Journeyman Union Ironworker ~LOCAL #7~ Boston, numbers to consider.

From nose to 1st dorsal spike~~23"-25";
From dorsal to third stripe down, head on view/width~~12"-14";
From nose to tail, in a quick swoosh/a couple of jumps~~54"-66".
She snapped a 40# BGame mono shock to 30# PLine mono ~uni to uni knot like it was guitar string in one milisecond after i touched the leader with one tail to nose SWISH of her massive tail............and SHE was gone.

You ARE absolutely right, none of this is exact.
There is no picture, and why even mention it if
i can't PROVE it? I dunno, maybe cause she haunts me
STILL! The curse of a photographic memory!!

Maybe cause i'll "measure" all others by her until
i equal her, or land her MOMMA!!? in your vast experience,
how big do YOU think she was ~given those numbers and images?
i know i'll never forget her, and i know i'll land one bigger this year!

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by BassDawg

Finally went back to work today and this thread has generated
grandchildren since yesterday......................Good Stuff, everyone!

Hello, RIJIMMY!
This is true, you don't know me nor do i know you.
So why should you believe me?

More improtantly, and I think more inline with zimmy's previous post,
the question i would ask you is, do you know the SPOT of which i speak? Doood, this spot is stacked! It is very difficult to access, and i am 95% sure that i'm the only one who fishes it from it's rocks. i've seen a few boat guys approach their nooks and crannies that are on its outside, but they cain't get to the honeyholes that lie within. And as often and as HARD as i fish this place, you'd think i would've bumped into somebody in two and 1/2 years????

The definiton of several is; "more than two, but not many". I should have been more clear and said 4, but did not intend to mislead or suggest any more than that. To me the intent of this thread was not what i've caught, or not caught, and it was not my intent to project myself as any "great" angler; but, to speak more about the mojo/luck factor as it applies to me.

It is not my nature to place my abilities above yours, your friends skills, or anyone else that you know have landed 30's and have seen land many 30's last year. i am more interested in offering my perspective and asking questions to improve my knowledge and hone what little skills i do possess . That being said, if i were to ever blindfold you and take you to this treasurecove , then i am certain that a surfcaster of your skills and abilities would have landed those that got away and would have surpassed my 4 by now, EASILY!!! This place is that LOADED.

Lastly, I do not own a Bogagrip scale and I do use the C&R formula.

Hey, if LXLXG/800 is good enough for OTW and their Striper Cup, then it's good enuff for me. Unless, of course you have a better way to guesstimate the weight of fish that allows for the girth variance. The place where these beetches hit gains obstacles as the tide drops, so there have been many girls that i have released that have not even been measured, but i've had to eyeball and feel their size. And with those fish, that i have not mentioned til now, i will not mention a weight or length since no measuring was done, but they are etched indellibly on the old noggin .

Also, just so you know i'm not going for "rock star cementment" as you so kindly assume, but i would like to know roughly the size of my bigger catches before I let them swim away to become my daughter's 50, 60, 70#'ers in the years to come, so that's why i like the C&R formula so well. It's quick, easy, and allows me to return our majestic quarry back to her ocean with good results.

THE ONE that i guessed to be a 60#'er, i only mentioned because we are talking about trophy sized fish. Here are some eyeballed, and I do use a tape everyday as a Journeyman Union Ironworker ~LOCAL #7~ Boston, numbers to consider.

From nose to 1st dorsal spike~~23"-25";
From dorsal to third stripe down, head on view/width~~12"-14";
From nose to tail, in a quick swoosh/a couple of jumps~~54"-66".
She snapped a 40# BGame mono shock to 30# PLine mono ~uni to uni knot like it was piano string in one milisecond after i touched the leader with one tail to nose SWISH of her massive tail............and SHE was gone.

You ARE absolutely right, none of this is exact.
There is no picture, and why even mention it if
i can't PROVE it? I dunno, maybe cause she haunts me
STILL! The curse of a photographic memory!!

Maybe cause i'll "measure" all others by her until
i equal her, or land her MOMMA!!? in your vast experience,
how big do YOU think she was ~given those numbers and images?
i know i'll never forget her, and i know i'll land one bigger this year!

[RIJIMMY]

I didndt say everyone uses that logic, but many do. Drag that fish out of a beachway and the guys around you will be saying some guy got a forty.
Its not that people intentionally lie, its just that many have not seen 30, 40, 50 lb fish, so they really have no clue.

[Blitzseeker]

I agree with you completely on your fish size post, RI Jimmy. In the pantheon of those on this board I'm a slightly below average fisherman who has fished the surf (less frequently than I'd like) for about a dozen years. I have one fish 45 inches, 36#, next biggest probably only about 26-28#. Thats with a lot of hours in over a long time, far from a sharpie but knowing at least reasonably what I'm doing. 35# + fish do not grow on trees, even for the best of fishermen, except for some very special and very infrequent runs of fish that most will look back on as a "lifetime experience."

In my humble opinion, those catching fish regularly above 35#, like more than a couple a season, are the best of the best of the best striper fishermen on the coast. (Congrats to the many of you on this site that are at that level.) Once you make that club, getting a 40 vs a 50 vs the world record is pretty much luck of the draw.

A guy I fish with regularly with has been fishing MA and RI regularly for 30+ years. He catches fish when no one, and I mean no one, is catching. One of those guys who has fishing in his blood, could haul fish out of a bathtub. Best fish ever is 44#.

[RIJIMMY]

What about Karma?

"My name is Jim"

[ProfessorM]

It is just a number. Be happy you get to go a lot and enjoy. IMO Really isn't that important. To some it is and it is a free country, have at it. I gave up obsessing about hooking only large fish. To be honest I enjoy a 15 lb fish on light tackle just as much. I am in it for the fun most of the time nowadays.

[eastendlu]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

It is just a number. Be happy you get to go a lot and enjoy. IMO Really isn't that important. To some it is and it is a free country, have at it. I gave up obsessing about hooking only large fish. To be honest I enjoy a 15 lb fish on light tackle just as much. I am in it for the fun most of the time nowadays.

I'm with the Proffessor

[Nebe]

put just as much preperation into what you do with the fish after you land it as you do into how to catch it.. You will be scrutinized.

The first thing i would do after catching the next world record would be to call a lawyer.

[Brian L]

Most of these posts are valid in one way or another, eh? Yes you'd need some luck, but your chances increase exponentially if you're 1. Experienced 2. Right Bait 3. Right Place 4. Right Time/Conditions/weather 5. Right Technique 6. On the water a LOT. There are places that produce giant fish every year. One might want to spend more time there than not doing #'s 1-6. Especially #6.

I'm stuck at 48#. I hope to change that in May... I think doing a lot more of #'s 3 and 6 will help.