Boat fishing is easier

[likwid]

Midwater dragging is the easiest!

Hooray! Next dumb statement please.

[chief10]

Boat fishing is more productive if you know what your doing. I know plenty of people who have boats that can't catch anything. I also know many good boat fisherman who keep the same hours as good surf guys. They work hard too. I can say when I've been in a boat and fished at night I've seen alot more big fish caught. The spots they are catching them are damn close to where the surf guys are.

[riverrat2]

To all the surf fisherman who think boat fishing is so easy, I will give you my skiff for the day and let you show me how to catch 40 Pounders all day long. Its not easy as everyone cracks it up to be. It takes just as much time or more to learn areas on a boat

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by riverrat2

I will give you my skiff for the day and let you show me how to catch 40 Pounders all day long.

What size ball hitch do you have?

[kenyee]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

What size ball hitch do you have?

And do you have a high-res fish finder that will let me see 40" stripers?

It's not dead easy on a boat, but it's easier than from the shore. You can find a ledge/dropoff easier w/ a FF than bouncing jigs from shore...you can find fish (even if it's bait) w/ a FF. And you can drive around in the harbor until you find a blitz or you run out of gas

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by kenyee

And do you have a high-res fish finder that will let me see 40" stripers?

It's not dead easy on a boat, but it's easier than from the shore. You can find a ledge/dropoff easier w/ a FF than bouncing jigs from shore...you can find fish (even if it's bait) w/ a FF. And you can drive around in the harbor until you find a blitz or you run out of gas

I can see you've never ran a boat before, wanna go for a ride??? I'll show you how easy it is, bring a change of underoos....LOL

[numbskull]

I've got 40 years experience doing both. There is MUCH, MUCH more to master when trying to become good with a boat than when trying to become good from shore. When it comes to actually finding and catching fish, however, a boat is obviously a huge advantage because you can cover far more ground effectively and use many more techniques than the guy on the beach. The combination of a boat and bait also makes it MUCH more likely a novice will connect with a trophy fish, which is why the size of a fish is a MUCH poorer indication of the fisherman's skill than the obstacles he/she overcame in catching it, and the consistency with which one does so.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Every time ive boat fished either on a charter or on my little boat i have caught more fish than from the shore. If you use the knowledge gained from surf casting and apply it in a boat you are going to catch some fish. The fishfinder is pretty much like cheating. I didnt even look for bait, just like when i fish a lake for LMB. I look for structure and fish it. Add in the tides against the structure and you have a recipe for success. I would like to say if you put any competent surfcaster in a boat he will catch some fish. i must admit i would like to hit a boat and cast towards shore on some of the boulder fields that i fish from shore. Im not knockin boat fishing, we all have seen the impressive results that good fisherman have had. More power to em, id rather catch a 20 from shore than a 40 by boat.

[numbskull]

I think one problem here is that people think boat fishing means an 18 footer in a bay somewhere livelining pogies along a rocky shore. Get yourself behind Nantucket in late Oct on Pochet rip, when the ebb starts into a 25 knot SW wind with a 8ft SE swell running as well, gannets filling the air, sea herring being blasted into oblivion, and the bass of your dreams rolling in a seething roaring rip, a wall of water that can and has killed men in a flash towering above your cockpit,...........and your opinion of boat fishing will change plenty fast I assure you.

[Grapenuts]

Originally Posted by numbskull

I think one problem here is that people think boat fishing means an 18 footer in a bay somewhere livelining pogies along a rocky shore. Get yourself behind Nantucket in late Oct on Pochet rip, when the ebb starts into a 25 knot SW wind with a 8ft SE swell running as well, gannets filling the air, sea herring being blasted into oblivion, and the bass of your dreams rolling in a seething roaring rip, a wall of water that can and has killed men in a flash towering above your cockpit,...........and your opinion of boat fishing will change plenty fast I assure you.

Boy that bring's back memories of fishing in shall we call it "the white knuckle ride"backing into 12'er's to drop a jig on a full moon nite.watching it crest and the top roll over...fish on.

[ProfessorM]

and thats a bad thing?

[RIJIMMY]

I cant wait to get back out for some easy fishing. The best and MOST easiest part of boat fsihing is that at 3am, I have nice warm cup of coffee easily within reach. Beats waking up by a cold wave down my waders.

[Saltheart]

Good points on both sides.

No I was not including showeling snow off your boat in the winter time as part of my analysis.

Oh , BTW , I had a boat for 23 years so I know there is work in keeping it up and yes , it can be dangerous out there. I have sailed through 16 foot waves wind driven against the current. Very hair raising!

To the guy who threw in the stuff about handicap people , well you are pretty far off the mark. Unless you are handicapped , I know more about it than you right now. I have also seen handicapped guys fish from van platforms on beaches and from wheel chairs on boats. They have a ball and some are very knowledgeable.

Minor miracle that the thread goes 53 posts with no explosions. I knew we could discuss this subject inteligently.

I'm a little disappointed steve didn't chime in. He seemed to have a strong opinion on this in another thread and I'd be interested in what he thinks.

Here in China , they use a 21 foot pole to fish for fish the size of the palm of your hand. You know what...its a lot a fun. You should see the excitement as the fish are measured to see who wins the big bottle of beer prize. Of course the difference between the biggest and smallest fish is just about 2 inches.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Saltheart

Here in China , they use a 21 foot pole to fish for fish the size of the palm of your hand.

Then you head over to Japan and those guys are catching fish that would slap around a 50lb striper then make it call it daddy.

(Giant Trevally if you're curious)

[Goose]

The chances are, the surf heads who haven't converted to boat is one or both of 2 reasons. The first your body hasn't caught up with you, if you fished/worked stupid for many years then sooner or later it will. Second, money. Either you can't afford it, or you have other priorities.
Fact of the matter is, if you've been fishing for a long period of time your skunk/dink outings has surpassed your memorable fish outing 25 to 1 something like that. Fish don't fight any different in a boat the biggest difference is there fat price that not everyone is willing to pay.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by Goose

The chances are, the surf heads who haven't converted to boat is one or both of 2 reasons. The first your body hasn't caught up with you, if you fished/worked stupid for many years then sooner or later it will. Second, money. Either you can't afford it, or you have other priorities.
Fact of the matter is, if you've been fishing for a long period of time your skunk/dink outings has surpassed your memorable fish outing 25 to 1 something like that. Fish don't fight any different in a boat the biggest difference is there fat price that not everyone is willing to pay.

Good post !

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Goose

The chances are, the surf heads who haven't converted to boat is one or both of 2 reasons. The first your body hasn't caught up with you, if you fished/worked stupid for many years then sooner or later it will. Second, money. Either you can't afford it, or you have other priorities.
Fact of the matter is, if you've been fishing for a long period of time your skunk/dink outings has surpassed your memorable fish outing 25 to 1 something like that. Fish don't fight any different in a boat the biggest difference is there fat price that not everyone is willing to pay.

I find myself going the other way. Shore fishing eliminates a whole lot of complexity and lets you test yourself against the fish on the simplest and most intimate of scales. There is a lot to be said for that.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by numbskull

I find myself going the other way. Shore fishing eliminates a whole lot of complexity and lets you test yourself against the fish on the simplest and most intimate of scales. There is a lot to be said for that.

My sentiments exactly. Despite your propensity for wood, I consider you to be of above average intelligence....

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

My sentiments exactly. Despite your propensity for wood, I consider you to be of above average intelligence....

Don't be fooled so easily.

[eastendlu]

I just spit broccoli and cheddar soup on my flat screen!!!LMAO!!!

[ThrowingTimber]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

My sentiments exactly. Despite your propensity for wood, I consider you to be of above average intelligence....

made me choke on my lunch..

[Squibby17]

I was one of the guys stirring the pot in the other thread so I feel I should give my take even if it might not be popular.

Boat fishing is easier that shore fishing period. There are statistics to back that up too. If you check the daily weigh in for the Derby on the vineyard each fall there are consistently more and bigger fish caught from boats. Last year anything over 20# from shore was big and there were dozens of fish that size weighed in everyday from boats. See for yourself http://www.mvderby.com/

I primarily fish from shore. I don't hate boats in fact I have a 17ft Boston whaler, It's sitting in my driveway and I find that the $ and Maintainence is just not worth the reward. Granted I'm 27 and in good health but like most people my age don't have tons of $. So my opinion will most likely change as time goes on. I can understand why older people or with bad health might prefer it.

In my personal opinion pulling a nice bass up on the sand at dawn is nicer than throwing a gaff in a bass and throwing it in a cooler with 2 cycle exhaust in the air. I'm starting to fish from a kayak this year or at least use a kayak to get to the spots I need too. I think this is a nice happy medium and not to mention better for the environment

[fishbones]

It seems like the boat guys feel like they have to defend themselves and the shore guys have to have an excuse as to why they don't catch as much or as big as the boat guys. There are guys (and gals) on this site that fish only from shore that could go out on a boat and catch with a Walmart combo and vise versa for the boat guys.
Bottom line is if you know what you're doing and you put in enough time, you'll catch. I fish both boat and shore and enjoy each for different reasons. Wading at night is relaxing for me while being out on the boat seeing all the sea life is pretty cool too.
Saying boat fishing is easy compared to surf fishing is like saying fishing the canal is easy compared to fishing the surf in south county. Just because some guys go down the canal and consitently catch big fish in the dead of the night doesn't mean that it's easy.
Any fishing for me beats the hell out of my job or the work I have to do around the house.

[macojoe]

Thanks Bloo!!!!

[Brian L]

Not sure I agree with the boat fishing is easier if you're referring to actually catching fish. If I think of all the best numbers days I've ever had Striper fishing, most of them have been from shore on the canal or back beach with my sharpie brother.

I will agree that I've had much better luck consistantly catching high numbers of bigger fish from the boat, but it took a few seasons to learn how to fish all the spots correctly and be productive. I wouldn't say it takes any less time, effort, or skill to get really good at it, it's just different. Correct me if I'm wrong Mike, but I don't see any drop off in your yearly #'s compared to boat fishing. Maybe fewer giants, but that's about it.

I know enough superbly skilled surf guys that catch a pile of big fish to think that it's not really any easier. Good fisherman will find bigger and more fish whether they're on the beach or in a boat. They'll work hard to understand the conditions under which fish will be at certain areas and be at those areas at the right times. Also, how many of the folks that claim boat fishing is "easier" say so because they spent the day on the water with a charter captain or very experienced angler that fishes a lot, and therefore knows where, when, and how to catch a lot of fish? Guys like that can tend to make it look a lot easier than it really is. There's dozens of boats out in SoCo every weekend and I don't see tons of Bass being hauled over the sides of many of them. The ones that do catch a lot are the guys who are out there a lot, grinding it out, adapting their methods to the conditions.

Though I don't get out in the surf often due to ruined knees and a job that doesn't lend itself to being tired and smelly in the A.M., I think that there's nothing quite like getting a bigger fish in the suds. You're stationary and more subject to where the fish is going than in a boat. The fight is certainly a lot more interesting. Both ways are fantastic ways to fish!

[capecodder]

To me its not that one is easier or harder its that they are very different experiences. I used to be solely shorebound, and there is nothing like landing a big bass on an eel in the middle of an October night on the Cape...

However, I have had a boat for 4 years and have gradually shifted most of my fishing to the boat.

I'll say the learning curve is about the same if not harder on the boat. I spend most of my time on the helm and fish a lot less. Weather, sea conditions, other boats, charts, safety, etc. all come in to play on the boat.

The techniques and tackle are different and require new skills.

Yes I have access to more locations and can easily move around in the boat, it is different and has advantages, but easier.... I don't think so.

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

to those that think boat fishing is earier, i guess you have never fished places like the rock of Block island the rips of Montauk ,inlets like moriches and shinecock, the waters of fischers island, the race ,sluiceway, the deep water stucture of the vinyard and a million other places were boat handling skills are paramount to catching fish and staying alive.as a boat fisherman of at least 40 years i will take surf fishing any day over the boat,much easier with your feet on solid ground.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by l.i.fish.in.vt

as a boat fisherman of at least 40 years i will take surf fishing any day over the boat,much easier with your feet on solid ground.

Agreed 100%. There's no doubt in my mind boaters assume a greater risk factor when you look at all the variables involved with doing it safely and coming home alive. In addition, you must assume the safety of the people on board if you're hosting others on your vessel.
As always, we've beat this topic into the ground only to arrive at a stalemate.

[Brian L]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

In addition, you must assume the safety of the people on board if you're hosting others on your vessel.

"Must" assume safety? This from the guy with whom I once launched a crotchety 15ft MFG from chest deep water into a pounding back beach surf like an Aussie search and rescue team. All because the cut at Nauset was too shallow, too wavy, and too "dangerous".

"Bri, I'll jump on the wheel and hold the nose into the white water, you push us into deep enough water from the stern then jump in when I fire up the engine. If we time it just right, we'll make it out over the swells...."

Of course we did manage to brave the 6-7 ft swells to land my personal best fish that day.

[saltydog]

Heres my take on BOAT FISHING, after forty years of saltwater fishing, if you want to catch a ton of fish, impress your friends, take'em out on your BOAT, ( been there done that). IF you want to spend the evening with fellow fishermen an enjoy Standing in the Surf,shooting the breeze, telling stories,an let the stress of the day PASS you by. (been there an STILL do that) SURF FISH. I have caught 40" + fish from a boat.BUT it all fell short for doing it in the surf. so guess Im still a SURF FISHERMEN.
GOOD LUCK GOOD PLUGGIN