Why haven't you landed a #50 yet ?? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

DZ · 01-31-2008, 01:16 PM

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 · 01-31-2008, 01:43 PM

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 · 01-31-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

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 · 01-31-2008, 02:22 PM

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 · 01-31-2008, 02:54 PM

[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.

Skitterpop · 01-31-2008, 03:31 PM

I`ve lost many Striped Bass in the 40 to 90lb range.

bart · 01-31-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skitterpop

I`ve lost many Striped Bass in the 40 to 90lb range.

keeperreaper · 01-31-2008, 05:40 PM

I have caught and it was luck.

That being said:
Right place right time.
Right bait right presentation
Confidence Confidence Confidence
Right skill level and skill set; not getting "bass" fever and resorting to poor technique(s) rushing the process or taking shortcuts
Being obessesive about your gear being in perfect shape.
Having a place to land it
Knowing what moon phases, places, and tides have produced in the past etc

all these help in the pursuit of the "50"

cow tamer · 01-31-2008, 05:45 PM

shy away from boats

closed out of areas that had produced their share of 50s

didn't fish enough in the 80s

gave up using eels

when bunker used to be within snagging distance, I did not know then what I know now

nightfighter · 01-31-2008, 05:57 PM

shhhhh......I have seen Luds out on a boat before.....

BassDawg,
first off, fishing with a cull as bait is totally illegal.
Second, while there have been 50 and even 60# class fish taken in or just outside MBLHD harbor, we haven't had that class around for a while.
Me, I am not convinced that I've ever been around a school with 50 or 60s in the mix, certainly not from shore. This is of course excluding any fish caught in the EEZ ie. Stellwagen, where I have had some bruisers brought to the boat an released.

This year, my goal is to locate fish, catch fish, and hopefully keeping pushing personal bests.

BassDawg · 01-31-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfighter

shhhhh......I have seen Luds out on a boat before.....

BassDawg,
first off, fishing with a cull as bait is totally illegal.
that was before I knew any better, and i would NEVER do that now, besides it was thrown in my lap that night.
Second, while there have been 50 and even 60# class fish taken in or just outside MBLHD harbor, we haven't had that class around for a while.
We, meaning YOU and all the people you fish with? This fish damn near took the rod out of my hands and she knew right where to hide and was all over that cull head, bro. Just because you haven't seen them, does that mean that one or two cannot be there? It wasn't exactly the inner harbour as i have never/nor would i fish there ~i was being general with location and it was an outside facing set of reefs and ledges in that general area.
Me, I am not convinced that I've ever been around a school with 50 or 60s in the mix, certainly not from shore. This is of course excluding any fish caught in the EEZ ie. Stellwagen, where I have had some bruisers brought to the boat an released.
Yup, and that is the one that sort of freaked me out tha most, because the rest of the stripers I had caught were runners, sounders, and then they were done. This one was completely different and tucked behind a rock that creates a trough between an outer island type promentory and itself and has a bowl that feeds a sweet dump of water with each set right into the trough that is totally hidden
This year, my goal is to locate fish, catch fish, and hopefully keeping pushing personal bests.
You and me BOTH, my brother!!

Thanks for your viewpoints nightfighter, i just share what i saw and felt from my limited view. I think that the most impressive "LOSS" for me was the big gurl from the MBLHD area. Because she HIT so Heavy and so Hard and moved with such deliberate strength to her hunkering down spot. She was definitely in no hurry and am not quite sure she even knew that she was hooked/not hooked

.

Skitterpop · 01-31-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bart

It just does not get any better than this

.

DJ Muller · 01-31-2008, 10:31 PM

I am really looking forward to doing the seminar at the SW Edge show a week from Saturday...it is all relative to this topic. The talk and chatter here gets me pumped up for this next year and my next oppurtunity to cross paths with a substantial bass.

God I love this fishery!!!!

luds · 01-31-2008, 03:34 PM

I'm not that good
I've only been fishing for 5 years
The 40's I've caught have all had empty stomachs
Last year was the first year I seriously fished eels. Prior to that I only used them once or twice a year.
I only fish the surf.
I don't get to fish as often as I would like to.

There are many more reasons but that's all for now.

Goose · 01-31-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luds

I'm not that good
I've only been fishing for 5 years
The 40's I've caught have all had empty stomachs
Last year was the first year I seriously fished eels. Prior to that I only used them once or twice a year.
I only fish the surf.
I don't get to fish as often as I would like to.

There are many more reasons but that's all for now.

Accept for the 1st one, Dude you ain't never lied

Back Beach · 01-31-2008, 03:48 PM

When the moment of glory arrives, I would do myself the justice of having the fish weighed on a certified scale. 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.

Oh yeah, catch them first and weigh them later is also a good creed to live by.

onecastmike2003 · 01-31-2008, 05:15 PM

A. big lures will take 50s
B. the right gear to put the brakes on the fat girl.
C. Fish at night and know what the heck your doing.
D.Keep a log and fish hard.
E. luck has nothing to do with it. You are a surfcaster and its all skill.

Gunpowder · 01-31-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onecastmike2003

E. luck has nothing to do with it. You are a surfcaster and its all skill.

i think alot of people may disagree on that one......

flyben24 · 01-31-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onecastmike2003

E. luck has nothing to do with it. You are a surfcaster and its all skill.

Back Beach · 01-31-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

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.