Long cast obsession

[Fishoholic]

Originally Posted by Mike P

I've fished in a lot of places where distance matters quite often---even at night. The Vineyard, Montauk, LI's inlets. As well as the Canal. I can cast better than 90% of the guys who fish the Canal. The other 10% tend to catch a few more fish than I do. The guys who can hit a 3' circle at 90 yards, consistently, catch the most fish there. Casting long is only half of the equation. Accuracy means as much if not more, even at short range, when it comes to casting at breaking fish.

Distance counts even at night, throwing jigs, in quite a few places along the canal

I take that back, there are 2 or 3 spots I fish, where a little "extra" is required to get where you need to be on a cast and just like you said, accuracy is most important. The canal is still the only place (for me personally) where if you aren't getting over 100 yards on a cast, no matter the accuracy, you aren't going to get as many or sometimes the bigger fish as the guys that are. Mike, I know you have been a local forever and have probably forgot more stuff about the ditch than I'll ever know. I'm just speaking personally

[Mr. Sandman]

Mine is bigger than yours.

[onecastmike2003]

Fan casting works better when the fish are on Your side
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[Pete_G]

Definitely a regional and/or situational element.

Newporters rarely get excited about distance. Mono is still in use by more then a few experienced surf fishermen who tend to put up the big numbers in town. One in particular has the most terrible casting skills you'll ever see but it doesn't slow him down.

I can think of a few spots here where the ability to cast far is really important to park a lure on a piece of structure, but mostly it's close quarters.

If you live where it matters, well, it matters...

[JohnnySaxatilis]

Originally Posted by Mike P

The guys who can hit a 3' circle at 90 yards, consistently, catch the most fish there. Casting long is only half of the equation. Accuracy means as much if not more, even at short range, when it comes to casting at breaking fish.

Very true, somedays down there it seems they don't hit unless you land the damn thing right in their gaping mouths.

[N.ShoreFisher]

Most of the areas I fish in are so tight, that being off a foot will land my offering on a deck, sidewalk, boat, or rocks. I fish at night, close to shore so don't need as much of the distance as guys fishing first light or mid day down at the canal. Half the time, the fish are either directly below my feet or within 20 ft. Guess I luck out that way.

[MAKAI]

I practice distance and accuracy by casting at seal heads bobbing in the water. Sounds like hitting a coconut.
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[ThrowingTimber]

I cast short if I see obvious signs of life directly in front of me. I would rather work a larger area and then dial in to a smaller area if necessary. Think of it like a search grid that's when plugging. Fishing eels I swim out to a rock hook an eel and take the line off the roller and BOOM COW TIME. right at my feet everytime!!! I joke, I cast those as far as I can as well.
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[Mike P]

Originally Posted by tysdad115

I'm just happy when I don't cast the eel or plug off..they all seem to really fly when the damn line snaps
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There's no scarier sound on the Canal than hearing "SNAP!!!" when you know that you're directly across the Canal from Slipknot.

[Rockfish9]

If i had a dollar for every time i saw people casting beyond the feeding fish... I'd retire right now... that being said.... who says you can't cast paralell to the beach....It's worked well for me...and as others have said.. all depends on where you are fishing....favorable water may be a long cast away.

[stripermaineiac]

LOL I'm picturing someone casting along the shore in the ditch on any morning good tide or not LOL pricless. That's for night time only LOL

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Mike P

There's no scarier sound on the Canal than hearing "SNAP!!!" when you know that you're directly across the Canal from Slipknot.

exactly what I was thinking Mike, when I read that also.



FORE!

[HugeDinghy]

anything and everything is important at some point.

[ThrowingTimber]

or hearing slip bomb eelskins directly at you all night

[stripermaineiac]

No matter how far I cast the fish always seem to break right in front of me when I get a good cast way out there where the fish just broke an swam away from my plug LOL

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

exactly what I was thinking Mike, when I read that also.



FORE!

It landed about 50' to my left, 10' from the rocks.