Is The Shore Fishing So Bad?

[Karl F]

U tossin' firecrackers now?

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by Karl F

Quote:
Originally Posted by capesams
Larry.....look where all the fish are being caught down here..out in cape cod bay...off shore on the back side....why? SEAL's along the beaches....ain't none outside or in the bay, cept the race inside. Your on the internet enough to read ALL the threads on ALL the sites to know....the beaches are dieing fast...wood you swim in shark infested water's if you knew you had a 99% chance of getting eatten.

I was a diehard surfer for shore,,but saw the sign's of thing's to come...look into the tin/fiberglass to see the light once again.


as usual





Yes & Yes!

Steve & Steve, I could not believe seeing that lone seal that day, I also had a bad feeling he was a "scout"... you both can remember seeing the odd lone seal show up on the backside, then a friend told a friend and so on, and so on... they follow the fish, find them, and spread the word, to their fellow sea rats.

Larry, if you can get a skiff, do it. You will not regret it.

Skitter is correct, doing both is the way to go.

Tagger... yup .. BM=BoatMan now

I will say this... I still like the feel of reeling in a fish, with my feet on the sand better, not a knock at all on boat fish, Boat Fish Count ... just a personal preference, but, to get your "fish fix"... go skiffin'.. you really don't need a big boat.. Flap proved that to me.. and Thank You for that
Steve!

You catching or working too much?

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by striprman

Somehow, when I pull a fish from the surf, I feel a higher level of accomplishment than catching a fish from a boat.

My surf caught fish stick in my mind more than the boat ones.

Same here. Boat fishing is still a blast, but to me its more fun than accomplishment.

[Flaptail]

I stopped at a trailer dealer the other day. I am going to trade in my skiff trailer for a slightly bigger one with wide tires. It has about 8 inches clearance at the axle over the ground. This will be perfect for dragging behind the buggy over the sand. Wood End and Long Point express. Just shove off at the Race and and pull her up above the high tide mark and get out and fish. When done just jump in and scoot around the corner back to the race. And when the backside surf is fairly clam launch there too and the Peaked Hill and farther south is yur oyster. The old gaurd had it right and in FW's book Modern Saltwater Sportfishing, he called the 14 foot skiff the perfect boat for a surfman. He was absolutely right. It is the only way to go as far as I can figure. Larry, hurry and join me we can start a mosquito fleet of tin. Just like the ol Monomoy days!

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by Karl F

U tossin' firecrackers now?

Not even a cap gun.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Larry, hurry and join me we can start a mosquito fleet of tin.

"Mosquito Fleet" I like the primitive aspect of shore fishing. 120 miles is a long ride to the end to watch seals chow fish . I can see that at the aquarian ,,alot closer . Is it over Johnny ? Is it time to join a bowling team ? I don't think your seal curtain is helping the fishing up north either . Damm depressing the thought of buying a boat . Shouldn't it be a bigger boat with all these great whites that are going to be joining us ?

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Tagger

"Mosquito Fleet" I like the primitive aspect of shore fishing. 120 miles is a long ride to the end to watch seals chow fish . I can see that at the aquarian ,,alot closer . Is it over Johnny ? Is it time to join a bowling team ? I don't think your seal curtain is helping the fishing up north either . Damm depressing the thought of buying a boat . Shouldn't it be a bigger boat with all these great whites that are going to be joining us ?

The best surfcasting water thre ever was was Monomoy Island. The only way to get there was by tin boat which we landed in the surf and pulled up high and dry above the high water line. Then we surfcasted all night from the beach. Never entered our minds to fish fom the boat,never. Stiffy did a 1000 pounds one night and I did just a smidge over 600 but the boat was the means to get us there, that was it. Now a smart surfcaster would see the writing on the wall with beach access. We fish Sandy Neck from the beach when closed to vehicle traffic but we get there by skiff. Don't you see the possibilities?
Think of all that shoreline from Chatham to Race Point that access is not allowed anymore by vehicle and walking is just out of the question because it's too far for my fifty year old legs ( never mind that I carry way too many plugs when I fish).

Surfcasting is the balls but the skiff will allow you more access to out of reach sights. Can't run over plovers in a boat. And I beg to differ with some who think boat fishing is a cake walk. A beach is a mighty steady platform unlike a boat in 3 to 5 footers, I respect good boatmen just as well as good surfcasters and if it gets me fish I am there in a minute. Beats fishing fishless beachfront or hooking fish to feed seals. If you don't adapt you'll die a lonely boring death on the beach. Monomoy was once the best but seals have killed it, and I firmly believe none of us will ever see the surfcasting be what it was just ten years ago, it's catching versus not catching. You can make all the gorgeous plugs you want but if there is nothing in the surf to use them on, what good are they?

I fish to catch fish. I can watch pretty sunrises or sunsets and gawk at stars in the night sky in my backyard. Boats = fish, it's the new way. Join in or loose out.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

The best surfcasting water thre ever was was Monomoy Island. The only way to get there was by tin boat which we landed in the surf and pulled up high and dry above the high water line. Then we surfcasted all night from the beach. Never entered our minds to fish fom the boat,never. Stiffy did a 1000 pounds one night and I did just a smidge over 600 but the boat was the means to get us there, that was it. Now a smart surfcaster would see the writing on the wall with beach access. We fish Sandy Neck from the beach when closed to vehicle traffic but we get there by skiff. Don't you see the possibilities?
Think of all that shoreline from Chatham to Race Point that access is not allowed anymore by vehicle and walking is just out of the question because it's too far for my fifty year old legs ( never mind that I carry way too many plugs when I fish).

Surfcasting is the balls but the skiff will allow you more access to out of reach sights. Can't run over plovers in a boat. And I beg to differ with some who think boat fishing is a cake walk. A beach is a mighty steady platform unlike a boat in 3 to 5 footers, I respect good boatmen just as well as good surfcasters and if it gets me fish I am there in a minute. Beats fishing fishless beachfront or hooking fish to feed seals. If you don't adapt you'll die a lonely boring death on the beach. Monomoy was once the best but seals have killed it, and I firmly believe none of us will ever see the surfcasting be what it was just ten years ago, it's catching versus not catching. You can make all the gorgeous plugs you want but if there is nothing in the surf to use them on, what good are they?

I fish to catch fish. I can watch pretty sunrises or sunsets and gawk at stars in the night sky in my backyard. Boats = fish, it's the new way. Join in or loose out.

I hear you barking "Big Dog".. I'm picking up what your laying down ,,, I smell what your stepping in ,,, Its the end of the world as we know it . Is a Googan that buys a boat a Gilligan ? I may be joining you ,, just a couple more years of denial .

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by BigFish

I see many of the surf diehard crowd buying boats??? Is it old age or just the fact that surf fishing just ain't what it used to be? Why, in your opinion, is the surf fishing so poor the last couple years?

PS-We need a smilie with a boat!

old age? what do you think we are senior citizens Larry?
Maybe surf fishing ain't what it used to be but I personally find it very satisfying and rewarding. It's still a challenge and I learn something every time out.
I also don't think surf fishing has been poor the last few years, maybe you are speaking only of the backside beaches which, yes, they have sucked the last few years at times, and there is many things to cause this like, the bait stays offshore about a mile, seals roam the shorlines, mung has been thick, access is being squeezed. People may simply be not puuting in the effort they used to so it seems like not as many fish are around but I think less people that know how to catch them are putting in less time, get it?

I'll catch them fish any way I can, walk to catch them, ride a bike, drive a truck, take a skiff, take a ferry, whatever it takes when I have time to enjoy it.

Alot of guys are bringing yaks out on the beach because it's the only way to reach the fish during the day out there, try it you may like it.

yes Mac, I stood that seal on it's head, maybe it was stupid of me to try to winch him, but I wanted my plug back atleast. too bad the 52 lb leader broke, next time I will open the baill before the seal has the chance to grab it, and if I get sealed again, I'll loosen the drag some(locked isn't the way to go).


Yes Freak, friends with boats is way better

[Grapenuts]

Ever been to the tip of monomoy in a 12'tin boat with a 3 horse and be looking up at whitecaps..what a rush...up an down...up an down hail mary full of grace...can't wait to get back there an do it again .only danger in going is the weekend a****'s. They just as soon run you over cause their bigger

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

14 foot skiff the perfect boat for a surfman. He was absolutely right. It is the only way to go as far as I can figure.

[BillyBlanks]

Hi Everyone,

I just got on the message board today, and it seems like there's a lot of good stuff on here. I'm origionally from CT and fished the LI Sound most of my life. Being new to Boston I really dont know many good spots to fish from.....I've been to Castle Island a few times but only came up with a couple schoolies. I tried the harbor in the North End (close to my apt) but not much luck there either. I tried mackarel, herring, plugs, and flies..... Anyone have any good spots for me?!?!? Coming up empty handed gets depressing after a while!!!! Thanks!! - Billy

[MAC]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

yes Mac, I stood that seal on it's head, maybe it was stupid of me to try to winch him, but I wanted my plug back atleast. too bad the 52 lb leader broke, next time I will open the baill before the seal has the chance to grab it, and if I get sealed again, I'll loosen the drag some(locked isn't the way to go).

I don't think it is stupid at all. I would have done the same thing. It is bad enough to lose a fish to them, but a plug too really sux.

We got into a few right after we saw you leaving the other spot . And the seals showed their big heads. Didn't lose any fish to them but it about shut down when the seals got in real close. I was using a Gary2 tiger and would have been pissed to have a seal try to steal it.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

yes Mac, I stood that seal on it's head, maybe it was stupid of me to try to winch him, but I wanted my plug back atleast. too bad the 52 lb leader broke, next time I will open the baill before the seal has the chance to grab it, and if I get sealed again, I'll loosen the drag some(locked isn't the way to go).

I was watching down the beach for guys on and saw this rod doubled over, I was thinking "this guys on large".. Then I saw the seal splashing on top . I was thinking somebody finally snapped ,,He's going to kick that seals arse .. Wish I had video of that for the forum .. good show , didn't know at the time it was you Slip ..

[Slipknot]

ya Mac, if I lost a gary2 tiger to a seal, I'd lose it. it would not be pretty, just thinking about it makes me want to be extra cautious about where I will be tossing one.

tagger, I am lucky I did not break my rod doing that, if I had my 121-3m, I could have whipped that seals butt and had a chance at my plug maybe.

Larry, all this talk about the fishing has me thinking about how they have it over in Malaysia and the Phillipines areas, they overfished their inshore waters so badly, they keep having to go further and further out to sea and the catch is smaller and smaller, you'd think common sense would let them see they need conservation, but I guess they need 20-25" tunafish for food. I see areas in our waters where it's getting bad, where flounder used to be but are completely fished out by the resident seals.
We as fishermen have to adapt to the conditions before us or get motivated as a group to bring some change.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by BillyBlanks

Hi Everyone,

I just got on the message board today, and it seems like there's a lot of good stuff on here. I'm origionally from CT and fished the LI Sound most of my life. Being new to Boston I really dont know many good spots to fish from.....I've been to Castle Island a few times but only came up with a couple schoolies. I tried the harbor in the North End (close to my apt) but not much luck there either. I tried mackarel, herring, plugs, and flies..... Anyone have any good spots for me?!?!? Coming up empty handed gets depressing after a while!!!! Thanks!! - Billy

billy, get to know some of the members by joining in and maybe someone will be kind enough to let you in on some of the more well know places that are unkown to you, and in the meantime, just keep reading and searching for ways to find spots that may be productive.

[hq2]

After last year, when I fished from shore more than a half dozen times with zero fish, I kind of gave up on striper fishing from shore. This year I've only done it three times, and have one (about 20 inch) fish to show for it. I've started switching back to bluefish and tautog, like I did 15 years ago before the stripers returned. There are definitely some nice blackfish in the canal!

[tynan19]

I used my 14 ft tin boat the first time last week in the salt. Some saw it at the leg. I was amazed at how much it could handle. I was taken on 2-3 ft waves in Buzzards bay and it was fine a little bumby but doable. It really shined in the one foot or less seas. We fished off the flats you guys fish in the 20 ft boat and I realized how easy it would be to take the skiff out there next year or later this year.

How is that area in the fall? Do the windshifts make it difficult?