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

[Sea Dangles]

The harder you fish , the "luckier" you get....

[keeperreaper]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

The harder you fish , the "luckier" you get....

ain't that the truth.

[Flaptail]

These days, at least here on Cape Cod, we have had no real big bait for bigger fish to be enticed to stay here. The herring were plundered by the live line hordes and until last season we only saw peanut bunker each year. So no big bait no big fish to speak of. Yeah occasionally someone will take a fifty but mostly trolling bunker spoons or big tubes but not like the days past. Nothing to hold the big girls here these past ten years or so.

When I was a mate on a charter boat out of Barnstable in 74 we had a blitz on 4th of July where all the boats on Billingsgate went to drifting and casting reverse Atoms because of the vast schools of squid. We had a trip where we took 26 bass, five of which bested fifty pounds. I was gaffing fish and spooling reels left and right for the sports. No squid like back then anymore and no blitzes of big giant bass either. A 30-35 pounder will chase sand eels but bigger than that you need big bait like herring, squid and large bunker.

Maybe with the big bunker returning (hopefully it will continue to increase in numbers of large bunker each year) we may see the chances of hooking up with bigger fish increase as well.

They see the results in Rhode Island, maybe we will see that too here on Cape Cod and your chances will increase as well at a shot at a fifty.

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

These days, at least here on Cape Cod, we have had no real big bait for bigger fish to be enticed to stay here. The herring were plundered by the live line hordes and until last season we only saw peanut bunker each year.

Don't be surprised if you don't see many macks this year either.

Heres a part of Gloucester Im not proud of.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/t...182977&start=1

[DZ]

This is a very interesting thread... seems like those that have taken 50s don't consider it luck - and those that have not taken a 50 would like to get lucky.

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& has taken many great fish CONSISTANTLY from shore and boat. I consider him one of the very best out there but I'm a little disappointed to find out he's just lucky. In my opinion he'd only be lucky if a 60 hit his empty pogy snagger while trying to catch bait.

Maybe we all have a different definition of luck?

Could we be mistaking luck to meaning:
Good fortune
Fate
Destiny
Accident
Chance
a fluke
good break

DZ

[fishbones]

I take luck to mean "being in the right place at the right time". After that, it's up to the person fishing to be able to make the fish bite, set the hook, and then fight it to get it in. Not much luck involved in those things. Being prepared is probably the most important thing to bringing in a huge fish. If I was targeting 50#ers, I would make sure I had the right gear (including checking knots nad checking line frequently), the right bait or lure, and the right mindset to handle a fish like that. I wouldn't fish for a big fish without having a plan as to how to get it to the shore or into the boat, either. I think with the rush to get our lines into the water when the fish are biting, many of us fail to prepare or plan correctly to handle the "big one" if she crosses our path. And above all else, the more time you put in, the better your chance of being in the right place at the right time.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by DZ

This is a very interesting thread... seems like those that have taken 50s don't consider it luck - and those that have not taken a 50 would like to get lucky.

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& has taken many great fish CONSISTANTLY from shore and boat. I consider him one of the very best out there but I'm a little disappointed to find out he's just lucky. In my opinion he'd only be lucky if a 60 hit his empty pogy snagger while trying to catch bait.

Maybe we all have a different definition of luck?

Could we be mistaking luck to meaning:
Good fortune
Fate
Destiny
Accident
Chance
a fluke
good break

DZ

Dennis:
You are missing my point. I didn't say Bill was lucky...you did. I find your post to be condescending.

So perhaps I will put it in simpler terms:

2 guys are fishing side by side with the same everything. No difference with gear, eel, technique and they are 3 feet apart.

2 bass swim by. One is 50# the other is 35#. One guy hook the 50 the other guy hook the 35.

So you tell me. For the guy who hooked the 50 is that Good fortune, Fate, Destiny, Accident, Chance, a fluke, good break or LUCK????

You can call it whatever you want. I call it a good fortune, fate, destiny, chance.....LUCKY BREAK!!!!

[DZ]

Originally Posted by piemma

Dennis:
You are missing my point. I didn't say Bill was lucky...you did. I find your post to be condescending.

So perhaps I will put it in simpler terms:

2 guys are fishing side by side with the same everything. No difference with gear, eel, technique and they are 3 feet apart.

2 bass swim by. One is 50# the other is 35#. One guy hook the 50 the other guy hook the 35.

So you tell me. For the guy who hooked the 50 is that Good fortune, Fate, Destiny, Accident, Chance, a fluke, good break or LUCK????

You can call it whatever you want. I call it a good fortune, fate, destiny, chance.....LUCKY BREAK!!!!

Paul,
It was not my intent to be condescending and the post was not directed anyone in particular. The problem on these boards is a compliment like I just gave #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& can be turned into a criticism by others.

To answer your question:
The guy who took the 50 may have been doing something diffrent than the guy who took the 35.

I'll give you another example: Say you're an accomplished fisherman. You're on a bridge and bucktailing the shadow lines. You see a monster bass in the shadow and cast your offering at her - she takes - you land her - over 50. I just don't consider that being lucky.

Consider someone has fished for many years and put their time in and has seen 50's caught all around him - but hasn't caught one yet. I may consider them unfortunate but I don't consider the other guys lucky. Maybe they were doing something different.

Paul - please don't consider this personal. It's just how I view things.

DZ

[spence]

Originally Posted by DZ

I'll give you another example: Say you're an accomplished fisherman. You're on a bridge and bucktailing the shadow lines. You see a monster bass in the shadow and cast your offering at her - she takes - you land her - over 50. I just don't consider that being lucky.

Wouldn't you be lucky that the bass was there to be seen? Even if someone is highly skilled in selecting where to fish the fish may not always be there.

-spence

[eelman]

Its hard in a thread like this to tread lightly...I certainly do not think It was all luck with any of the fish I have caught..For someone to call it just lucky is an insult to me or just plain ignorance..but again, why go though all the arguing of the point? its just that pointless..Anyone who consistantly puts fish on the beach or in the boat is definatly doing something right...simple as that

Dz, I agree..no matter what you say especially in my case will be twisted...I have no problem with someone calling it luck...it is what it is!

I put myself in positions to get "lucky"

I mention I was lucky or fortunate to catch the fish I have..What else would I say? If I didnt say that I would sound like an ahole, If I say I am good at what I do it would be taken out of context somehow...so its best to be safe and call it luck..However I am no idiot and I certainly know what it took for me to get the fish I have...Lots of personal sacrafice..and lots of learning and obsorbing..Its a journey to be sure...

I consider a 50lb fish a huge acheivement, Putting my personal success aside, It is absolutly something a striper fisherman wants..Just look at this thread??

But again, calling yourself good any invites attacks....so If using the word luck keeps that at bay...fine by me...However I know the work it takes and I am very proud of what I have caught on a personal level....

My absolute best moment was not catching a 60lb fish it was my first 50 from the beach after years of 7 nights a week trying and learning and phyiscally exhausting myself to achevie it..The other fish came from the knowledge I learned leading up to that fish, That one will always be very special to me...The others are awesome but a little more relaxad as to how I felt when I got the first...

If You have a goal it drives you to work harder to get it! Simple as that..My point is , the more you fish the better your odds are because the more you fish the more you learn, the better you get at identifying situations and opertunities that present themselves.

There is no answer to the question "why" for anyone...The mindset should be "when"....Be ready at any moment for it to happen!

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

Its hard in a thread like this to tread lightly...I certainly do not think It was all luck with any of the fish I have caught..For someone to call it just lucky is an insult to me or just plain ignorance..but again, why go though all the arguing of the point? its just that pointless..Anyone who consistantly puts fish on the beach or in the boat is definatly doing something right...simple as that

Dz, I agree..no matter what you say especially in my case will be twisted...I have no problem with someone calling it luck...it is what it is!

I put myself in positions to get "lucky"

I mention I was lucky or fortunate to catch the fish I have..What else would I say? If I didnt say that I would sound like an ahole, If I say I am good at what I do it would be taken out of context somehow...so its best to be safe and call it luck..However I am no idiot and I certainly know what it took for me to get the fish I have...Lots of personal sacrafice..and lots of learning and obsorbing..Its a journey to be sure...

I consider a 50lb fish a huge acheivement, Putting my personal success aside, It is absolutly something a striper fisherman wants..Just look at this thread??

But again, calling yourself good any invites attacks....so If using the word luck keeps that at bay...fine by me...However I know the work it takes and I am very proud of what I have caught on a personal level....

My absolute best moment was not catching a 60lb fish it was my first 50 from the beach after years of 7 nights a week trying and learning and phyiscally exhausting myself to achevie it..The other fish came from the knowledge I learned leading up to that fish, That one will always be very special to me...The others are awesome but a little more relaxad as to how I felt when I got the first...

If You have a goal it drives you to work harder to get it! Simple as that..My point is , the more you fish the better your odds are because the more you fish the more you learn, the better you get at identifying situations and opertunities that present themselves.

There is no answer to the question "why" for anyone...The mindset should be "when"....Be ready at any moment for it to happen!

Bill, that last sentence should be the close of this thread, that was perfectly said.

[bloocrab]

My absolute best moment was not catching a 60lb fish it was my first 50 from the beach after years of 7 nights a week trying and learning and phyiscally exhausting myself to achevie it...

Before you say I'm picking on you, I'M NOT. I am going to use your statement about "achieving" something though. In regards to that day that you caught your first 50...... Since your an experienced 50lb. fish catcher (meaning you experienced it, no pun intended),.... did you do something different that night from the previous year that you think added to you hooking that fish? Or were you just confident about your spot/technique/etc and assumed that someday a big fish would swim by there and if you were there that night, you might have a chance at hooking it? The bottom line is being THERE. This isn't rocket science, ..You guys are missing the point, fishing isn't like weightlifting.....sure you can start off bench pressing 100lbs, slowly you gain strength, next thing you know you're benching 200lbs, and then 300lbs, THIS IS NOT LIKE FISHING. You don't start catching schoolies, then catch high teens, then 20#ers, 30#ers..until you reach 50. There is no achieving anything.

Time on the water increases your odds/luck/chances/karma/whatevertheheCKyouwanttocallit/ -

[bloocrab]

Here's a question for the board -

Who's odds are better at hooking a 50lb. fish?

A. Some new guy who finds this site, does some DEEP research...buys what he thinks he needs according to his research, heads out to any number of places that have given up large fish in the past, places that are already recorded in history/internet/books...and fishes them 7 nights a week for the entire season.

B. #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& who has decided to only fish on weekends.


Who has a better chance at hooking a 50lb. fish? Keep in mind, I'm using the work "hooking"....not catching, that's where experience comes in.

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

If You have a goal it drives you to work harder to get it! Simple as that..My point is , the more you fish the better your odds are because the more you fish the more you learn, the better you get at identifying situations and opertunities that present themselves.

There is no answer to the question "why" for anyone...The mindset should be "when"....Be ready at any moment for it to happen!

Spoken like a TRUE sharpie and seasoned veteran!
Thanks as always, Bill, your words never disappoint!

[ThrowingTimber]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

There is no answer to the question "why" for anyone...The mindset should be "when"....Be ready at any moment for it to happen!

Agreed.

Fortune favors the well prepared.

[zimmy]

I fish with 2 guys here in CT that are as good as just about anyone. They both have been on the water for a couple of decades. Both fish pretty much here in CT with an occasional trip to RI or Cape. One of the guys in particular kicks my arsh regularly. However, the pb of both is around 43 or 44". I think its gotta be mostly because they fish 98% of the time from shore here in western ct. One exclusively uses plugs. Between the 6 or 7 guys I fish with regularly that are what I would consider very good, I know of 5 fish total over 40" from shore locally this past year. One guy whacked a 47" and another dropped one at his feet and it slid back in the water so they didn't get to measure it. According to the 3 guys who saw it it was in the upper 40" range. I had 1 40" fish in Ct this year from shore in maybe 75 trips or so. In 4 trips to the canal I had 3 nights with fish over 40". I think location has alot to do with it. When I lived in mass and fished the canal regularly, the bigger fish were much more common (Not saying 50's...). Location does matter when all else that has been said is equal. I haven't caught em cause I don't have a boat