Saw lots of stripers here yesterday... - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Fish_Eye · 10-31-2004, 09:57 AM

Yesterday morning I found a couple hundred schoolies stacked up at:

41°19.533’ N
71°45.194’ W

There was one bass close to 15 pounds in the mix, but no really big fish or bait concentrations to be found.

At 11:27 AM I found the largest school of 3 to 6 pound bass shoaling in the 15 foot deep water at:

41°19.459’ N
71°45.028’ W

Here again the bass were uniformly small with no bait to hold them in the area, therefore one minute they were there, the next minute they were gone.

I know this post is a little more specific than most, but I think the “spot burning” issue is getting a little out of hand…on both sides of the issue, and I wanted to have a little fun with a very delicate subject. BTW, the locations are accurate.

If you’ve seen any of my presentations or videos, you know I deal in generalities and generic descriptions of areas that hold fish; I do this for a couple of reasons: A – I don’t want to cheat anglers from the reward of “discovering” a special hot spot by reading charts, or by performing low tide reconnaissance missions, or by just fishing likely habitat; B – Certain areas don’t have the public access for large crowds and I don’t want to put undue pressure on these very special locations.

This time of year I see so many anglers waiting until they see obvious signs of fish working before they’ll even wet a line. Boy do they miss a lot of opportunities! During this stage of the run, the fish are on the move, generally only staying in one spot if there are a lot of baitfish or a high likelihood that there will be the appearance of bait i.e., mouth of a breachway on an outgoing tide. Find the bait, you’ll find the bass.

The best way to connect with late season linesiders is to put your time in and work the likely areas. Don’t depend on information that is posted on the Internet, or for that matter is more than a couple of hours old. And when you do have a banner day or night, there is no need to tell the world that it happened on the big flat rock, at the first bend on the East Matunuck Breakwater. Think before you type. Would you have had a banner outing if you found five new strangers elbowing you off “your” rock?

I’m certain there are a few more weeks of good opportunity left for those of you who are willing to confront the weather and spend the time fishing – not just driving around waiting to find a blitz underway.

This is just my humble opinion, now get out there and enjoy the fall run before another horrible winter rolls in.

Mike

Rappin Mikey · 10-31-2004, 10:40 AM

Well said

Stroth · 10-31-2004, 10:40 AM

Nice post!

Is the DVD available yet?

In The Surf · 10-31-2004, 11:22 AM

Mike I couldn't agree more but somehow I feel you gave GPS sales a boost in the arm today!

lurch · 10-31-2004, 03:10 PM

Well said!!!

Dont need a GPS for those coordinates.

Joe · 10-31-2004, 08:05 PM

DVD in time for XMAS?

Skitterpop · 10-31-2004, 08:29 PM

Parker23

Roseneath · 10-31-2004, 08:38 PM

Mike - As always, a well written post.

When I read this forum, I enjoy hearing about BIG fish and what they were caught on. I don't need to know where. I like finding them on my own, but as I am new to surfcasting, I like knowing what plugs and presentation methods are working.

And I agree with Joe and Stroth... when are the DVDs coming out?

Crafty Angler · 11-01-2004, 01:05 AM

Well, Mike we're all looking forward to the SGW premiere - just let us know where and when -

I still think you oughta have it somewhere where they sell beverages flavored with hops

and resurrect an old tradition....

....which would be crawling home after swapping fish stories all night!

...

Fish_Eye · 11-01-2004, 06:15 AM

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
-- Leonardo DaVinci

When I left for Cuttyhunk I thought I was finished with the project and only had to add the narration track; that was until I ran into THE school of monster stripers. This was the fourth year I either fished or dived the same stretch of water, and once again I was blown away by what I saw…enough so that I am including a new chapter in the “Hunt for Monster Stripers” section of the DVD. Now you’ll see a diary that consists of five different pilgrimages to striper heaven.

"Test knowledge through experience, be prepared to make mistakes, and be persistent about it."
-- Leonardo DaVinci

"The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery."
-- Francis Bacon

Now I’m shaving down two hours of content to produce a 90 minute piece that is ready before Christmas. I’ll be working around the clock unless someone calls and says, “The bass and blues are blitzing Matunuck Beach and they’re feeding on baby bunker. Drop everything and get down here to film it.” BTW, that trip yielded some great footage that will now reside in SGW.

"When you're finished changing, you're finished."
-- Benjamin Franklin

I think you'll agree it was worth the wait.

Mike

kippy · 11-01-2004, 07:01 AM

I'm looking forward to it Mike..it will be a great stocking stuffer

cheferson · 11-01-2004, 07:34 AM

Cant wait

Skitterpop · 11-01-2004, 10:48 AM

utin:

Edge Sportfish · 11-01-2004, 11:54 AM

Sails gone wild Mike???? How's everything going old boy? Fishing is just starting to get right around these parts. Any plans for a trip w/ JG this year? Drop me a line.........

G.L.

fishweewee · 11-01-2004, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Edge Sportfish
Sails gone wild Mike???? How's everything going old boy? Fishing is just starting to get right around these parts. Any plans for a trip w/ JG this year? Drop me a line.........

G.L.

I wanna go snook fishin.

Edge Sportfish · 11-01-2004, 06:02 PM

If you can tear yourself away from the Stripah fishin in the summer, the Snook fishing here in Jupiter is unparalelled. June-August is best for catch and release fishing of fish from 15-40 lbs. We've got 6 IGFA Snook world records on my rig within 10 minutes of my marina. Maybe trade some stories w/ Bigfish and Slingah and work out a visit?
G.L.

TheSpecialist · 11-01-2004, 07:07 PM

You nead a boat to get there.

Slingah · 11-01-2004, 07:51 PM

I can't wait to come down this winter Geo....looking at flights today...I'll call you later... I got some news for ya

Fish_Eye · 11-02-2004, 06:52 AM

George,

It looks like more than a few folks from this board have gone "over the Edge" with G.L. in Jupiter.

As I've told everyone in the past, "If you want to catch a wide variety of Florida's great game fish; if you want to catch large; if you want lots of action; if you want to have fun on the water; Captain George LaBonte is the man."

George, I still have fond memories of that snook exploding three inches away from the rock I was standing on as it inhaled my pearl bomber (yes, for very special clients George has been known to organize surf fishing sortees -- just ask Crazy Al).

I might try to get down there with Jake next summer. I can always use more footage of giant schools of monster snook, not to mention some giant African Pompano.

Give me a call, it's been too long since we celebrated Papa Hemingway's 100th birthday -- now that's a day that's hard to remember

Mike