Year Of The Small Fish! - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

BigFish · 10-28-2006, 10:12 PM

Is this how you will remember the 2006 season? I caught alot of fish, fished my tail off and hit the fall run harder than I ever have and had nothing of size to speak of! My usual haunts failed to pay off as they have consistently in years past and I really can't explain it!

Any thoughts from you folks on the quality of the fishing this season???

Still holding out hope for a late surge of large this week but....I don't know?

PoPin Plug · 10-28-2006, 10:22 PM

I GOT SCHOOLIES ALL YEAR.... HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR THEY'LL BE BIGGER

jim sylvester · 10-28-2006, 10:40 PM

larry,
years not over yet....

maybe you'll get a LARGE belated birthday present

for me...a mix of good fish and small fish

just think what the fishery will be like in 15 years...all large

Skitterpop · 10-28-2006, 11:31 PM

I think the large followed large concentrations of large bait which was most likely largely offshore

Pt.JudeJoe · 10-29-2006, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skitterpop

I think the large followed large concentrations of large bait which was most likely largely offshore

BINGO

Flaptail · 10-29-2006, 12:21 AM

This year was the best Striper fishing I have had in 20 years. Hands down Flat out. August was the best month with June and September in a tie for second place. Biggest was mid 30 pounds range but I did have my chance a couple times with bigger and lost. I hate when 6/0 siwashes and 4/0 4x VMC trebles get bent out straight. I will go to my grave with the vision of a Truro sky under the new moon.

Most memorable night was with Numbskull, one of the most fun days was with KarlF in my 36 year old skiff on the east bar in three feet of water. Me and Stiffy had a bunch of good days and I will be sustained through the winter with memories of 7 different nights in September on a lonely outer Cape beach, X-raps, Gag's white needles, Bigfish Poppers, Stubby wakers on a rocky shore and smelly jelly.

Hey Karl! Only 30 odd weeks till June. Get that boat boy!

ChiefLinesider · 10-29-2006, 12:53 AM

I've read some articles that say on account of the heavy rainfall experienced early in the season, lots of large bait died off due to runoff & low salinity levels in the river systems.

UserRemoved1 · 10-29-2006, 05:15 AM

There are still big fish in Maine Larry. Blew up yesterday on the low.

Flaptail · 10-29-2006, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

There are still big fish in Maine Larry. Blew up yesterday on the low.

We gotta do the the trip next season Scott, Salty's Guide Service covering all of south Coastal Maine!

Back Beach · 10-29-2006, 07:02 AM

I would say its been the year of the medium fish. Lots of 18-25# fish for me and the(surf) guys in my circle this year. Fished a lot more than usual this year too, about 60 nights, and I know that helped. Real big ones 40 plus# were rare, if non existent from the surf. Pretty good numbers of high 20's up to mid 30's this fall though have been taken by a few guys. 99% of them at night on eels, of course. Every late fall is a twinkie fall if you decide to stand there all day and pound the poor little ones to death. Was at the canal this week catching a few of them on top, and after I hooked several smalls through the eyes, gills, and other vital areas, I said f-this, no sense messing these little guys up just for kicks. Even small single hooks do too much damage to them IMO. Let them be.

l.i.fish.in.vt · 10-29-2006, 07:24 AM

without a doubt the cape fishing, wellfleet to rp was a big disapointment for me this year.stared off memorial day with some decent fish.one good morning right after the 4th of july. fished everyday and night in august for a few keeper up to 15lbs.now on the other hand i did a couple of trips down to LI to my old stomping ground and did very well with fish up to 35lbs.i think the lack of large bait , such as fllounder herring bunker and the like the fish are heading north are going right past the cape to NH and maine. a good portion of the fish stayed in NJ till mid june on the mass of bunker that were there than they stayed off the south shore of LI. the back bays were loaded with peanuts and adult bunker this year.i think RI also had a good yearform what i have seen on here.

Striperhound · 10-29-2006, 07:41 AM

Larry, this fall has been the twinkie fall for sure. Does it bode well for the future, maybe? But we all want large!

Slingah · 10-29-2006, 08:27 AM

dinkfest '06 for sure......the usual spots didn't produce....yet....I'm still trying for a while.....
still a good year......

Karl F · 10-29-2006, 09:12 AM

year of small fish, yes..

year of No fish, Where and When they should be.. yes

year of seeing bait like I hadn't seen in years.. but no fish?.. yes.

year of getting my eyes opened that you don't need a big boat to boat fish.. Most Definatley.. Thanks Flap..that day will live with me till my last breath...

year that I questioned everything I knew of the outer beach...

another fall run, that was "you had to be there"... no real large..

year I only knew of one fifty pounder taken from my beach...

a fall that had some day fishing that made you stop and look.. aquariums in the first and second breaking waves...

YEAR OF THE SEAL

first time i encountered a seal closure on the beach

ThrowingTimber · 10-29-2006, 09:40 AM

our problem here in ri, is all the big'er' fish were/are concentrated in the center of the bay. As such, boaters (not attacking anyone just an opinion) see this as their opportunity and as such it is their right to shoot fish in a barrel.

What rubs me the wrong way is the following:

Guys who are not commercial, fishing like they are and fishing like its 1970.

Guys limiting out more than once daily. Double and triple dipping etc.

All the bigger fish are / were in the center of the bay these guys go out an slaughter more than their fair share, then complain about lack of fish

If you kill them all there wont be anything left!! hhahahahahahahaha

RIROCKHOUND · 10-29-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Was at the canal this week catching a few of them on top, and after I hooked several smalls through the eyes, gills, and other vital areas, I said f-this, no sense messing these little guys up just for kicks. Even small single hooks do too much damage to them IMO. Let them be.

Mike...

I dont alter my tactics in the fall for the lil'guys nor am I out in april...

This year was odd for me personally,
May was the best May I've had in a while for both size and numbers...
June sucked the big one and I didnt escape into the bay much for skiff fishing b/c of engine issues..
July and August I fished sporadically for a slow surf bite...
After Labor day it got better until mid Oct with a decent number of good fish
and it aint over by a longshot, 3 weeks left...

OSSCA · 10-29-2006, 10:34 AM

In my 35+ years of fishing the surf i have to say it's been a challenging year so far but also a good one.

shadow · 10-29-2006, 11:38 AM

yes may was a good month and june sucked the worst june ever.July and august were the best ever with all the upper teen to high 20's you could want with a few good fish break offs,sept was spotty yet when they showed it was good,the end of sept was my best fish of the year a 30#er,oct. has been awfull a few nice fish that I had to work way too hard for.the next few weeks will make or break the fall run.

justplugit · 10-29-2006, 11:58 AM

Smaller and fewer fish yes, but larger and greater memories.

Nauset at last light with Karl, oil on the water front side, sun going down over the inlet.

Southside, alone on a bar at first light, pogies breaking and schoolies rolling at your feet.

Flaptail · 10-29-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl F

year of small fish, yes..

year of No fish, Where and When they should be.. yes

year of seeing bait like I hadn't seen in years.. but no fish?.. yes.

year of getting my eyes opened that you don't need a big boat to boat fish.. Most Definatley.. Thanks Flap..that day will live with me till my last breath...

year that I questioned everything I knew of the outer beach...

another fall run, that was "you had to be there"... no real large..

year I only knew of one fifty pounder taken from my beach...

a fall that had some day fishing that made you stop and look.. aquariums in the first and second breaking waves...

YEAR OF THE SEAL

first time i encountered a seal closure on the beach

Only one fifty on Nauset? Man with the talent that fishes there that really says something. Seal closures, just a horrible thought that is.

Karl wait till next year and we will have a really good day in the skiff, course you'll have to be there at dawn with me and have that white Salty spookem wit ya. What are you doing Memorial day morning?

Sluggos aren't too bad are they? All my bass came on plugs, no eels allowed.

Toady me and stiffy watched a couple acres o' boids with bass under them at noon time feeding off a Plymouth beach front but the wicked west wind had them beyond casting range. They are still around though so it isn't quite over.

Numbskull's Banana is a bass catching machine built by the finest most experimental plug builder on the site in my opinion. Many people I resepct said that the Frech Banana was just a wild idea that couldn't and doesn't work but it took Georges mind and hands to bring out it'd full potential. His LazyFish plug is a springtime killer as well. Hand carved and perfectly balanced. If you ever fish with him and he pulls that banana out of his bag put your rod down and just watch, it's amazing and a lot has to do with how really good George is. He is one of the best I ever fished with.

His company, Stiffy, Alan Cordts, KarlF, Slingah and Tagger there's a bunch of guys who know what it is all about and my thanks go out to them for making my season one of the best in a long time and re-invigorating my spirit and passion to fish hard and enjoy it even more.

ProfessorM · 10-29-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaptail

What are you doing Memorial day morning?

:

I'll race yeah

Christian · 10-29-2006, 06:32 PM

all i know is that ive caught more 15+ pound fish this year than i did last. the past month saved my season from being pretty crappy.

Tagger · 10-29-2006, 06:33 PM

Fall run very dissapointing for me ,, reports of mucho fish north and south of me .. They can't go around me . Can they ? Got some large ,, worked way to hard for them.. That being said , I'd have to say this is my best year for all the new and old friends and good times we had . My RI scouting missions early (stealth) found some good "spots" that need special attention .
My year started fishing with backbeachjake/fred ..Freds sled skills are sick .. He tried to climb a dune straight up and couldn't make it . I almost crapped my pants and was relieved as he backed down the dune . He jumps out airs down a couple of more pounds and up and over we go . your nuts..Thanks Fred and the Mrs. letting me crash at your crib .
Fished with Mac in his sled ,, we caught small watching seals chow large .. We stopped and got breakfast on the way home . Wish I caught a fish as big as Mac's eyes when he found out it was "All You Can Eat ". Met Slip and Danny that morning on the beach ,, Watched Slip fight Seals...

Fished pretty much (rock hopped)all year with Slingah,, bumped into him years past on beaches . Traded places and techniques.,, Took a lot of small but some good fish too .. not stella, but enough to keep us coming back .
Fished with Larry and Joe G. ,, big dudes,, when Larry, Matt and Joe are together I feel like I'm standing in front of a wall . All gentleman . Look forward to fishing with all of you guys next year as well .
George and Flap ,, What can I say ,, Never fished hiding along the way . Great experience for me fishing with you two .. Learned a lot ,, fishing ,,plugs,, life . Thanks for sharing .. So much knowledge past and present . Looking back at all of the above .. Yea .. this was my best year ..

Raider Ronnie · 10-29-2006, 06:46 PM

Bass smallewr this year, yes
We got lots of low to mid 30lb bass early on this year, I think the biggest was 37lbs, last year plenty in the 40lb .

But the school TUNA were bigger than last year !!!
Last year all 25 -30 lb fish
This year most all 40 -50 lb fish
Next year will be even better!!!

Karl F · 10-29-2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Karl wait till next year and we will have a really good day in the skiff, course you'll have to be there at dawn with me and have that white Salty spookem wit ya. What are you doing Memorial day morning?

That is a date!

Quote:

Originally Posted by justplugit

Nauset at last light with Karl, oil on the water front side, sun going down over the inlet.

I still wish we had some decent fish that night.. Was Great to get you out on one of my favorite places Dave...I'm glad you came for a beach ride with me that night.. we have to do that again!.. This time with fish, I hope!..

And.. this year.. I learned that sammiches.. wether shared on the tailgate of a truck at dusk on a beach, or, in a skiff on a FAC bright spring noon.. taste much better, in good company

(and Flaps the only polish guy I know.. who don't eat pickles!

)

Glad I fished with Slip.. only once this year tho, altho we only got a schoolie or two, it was still a great night, hope to do it more next year.. regret, I didn't find the time to fish with Fred this year.. missed your good company BBJ .. and I need to budget my time better.. few other guys I'd really enjoy wetting a line with.. Tagger.. U are one of them.. too many others to list.. but hope to get ot you all next year!..
if I hit the lottery.. meybe I'll have more time.. oh yeah.. need more time! (and a skiff)