Gloucester Surf Casting....need advice!!

[blondterror]

Scooter-

I would recommend that you fish Bass Rocks at night from High tide to 2-3 hours of the drop. Use a 9-10.5ft surf rod rated for 2-6OZ and fish with 25 or 40 lb braid with a 4 foot fluoro leader that has a break rating 5-10 lbs less than you main line. The 2 local B&T shops you should visit and buy a few plugs are Surfland and First Light Anglers. You may want to fish with eels using circle hooks off the rocks... they are very effective at night.

Check out Cranes beach @ false dawn till 8AM and bee ready to walk a long way to fish the entire front and back sides. read up on current conditions on Brian O'connors site (Google Crane's Beach Fishing) Best plug is smack-it popper on cranes.

Suggested plugs for night fishing off the rocks are: yellow, white, or burple darters or mack bomber. you should also have some dark hogies for night and some white or pink for the day...

Other places to try if you get the green light from your spouse include:

Joppa Flats (best with kayak), Plum island, Pavilion beach in Ipswich

have fun and I hope you find some nice stripers...

[JohnR]

And fish with someone - don't want to read about you after the fact.

I've been scared bleepless there once. Bigarzed wave came through...

[Finaddict]

And do not go on the rocks without cleats ... do not go on the rocks without cleats ... even the best insurance won't be much help on a wet rock without cleats ... you are putting yourself in jeopardy if you do.

Good luck.

[scooter]

Thank you very much, extremely helpful. I saw the Brian O'Connor Cranes Beach site, very cool. I think I may stay off the rocks until I get the hang of things and get some cleats based on the wisdom of Finaddict. I will check out the B&T shops you suggested and pick up some of those plugs. Thanks for the insight, much appreciated!!l