NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums
NJ Saltwater Fishing Reports and Information => Helping Each Other Out => Topic started by: TurboDan on October 20, 2007, 07:25:21 PM
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Hi Folks,
Just thought I would reach out to the crowd and see if anyone had an opinion on my situation. It's actually pretty simple - I can't catch a damn thing! 5hrug
I can hook up with fluke in the summer. I've never had a problem with that. But when it comes to anything else... anything... I can't get a single bite. I think I'm doing everything right. I buy the lures that everyone else seems to have success with. I cast and retrieve as described by so many other people. But it never works. Tonight, I was fishing right by the Railroad Bridge in the Manasquan River. A few feet from me there was another boat and the two guys were reeling in blues like crazy. I had one little tug on the line, and that was it. I didn't boat a single fish, nor did I even get another bite.
Does anyone think I could be doing something terribly wrong? Am I using a rig that cannot catch fish for some reason? Granted, I really am not experienced in rigging a line, and may be using something completely wrong. Should I be using live/frozen bait rather than artificials? Other than fluke, I haven't caught a single fish this season while every report I read and every person I talk to reports at least a good selection of blues in the river. I just don't get it.
Unfortunately, I'm pretty much the only person in my group of friends that likes fishing, so that's pretty much out as an option. How did everyone here get started? Should I hire a guide and learn from a pro?
Well, just ranting for now. As I've always said on here, anyone who feels like going fishing, feel free to drop me a PM. Boat, gas and beer on me. I'd love to observe how some of you guys hook up and learn from it.
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well, its a little late now, but keep me in mind next season and I PROMISE you, you will catch the summer slam.. Ya just have to target each species individually.
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More then welcome to fish with me next season as well.
I am no expert, but I have caught a fish or 2 in my day :)
If you see a boat next to you catching fish, ask them what they are using.
most people will have no problem telling you.
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Hey Turbo,
If you want those blues get rid of those artificials for now till you get more confidence. Get a steel leader blue fish rig, some split shots, and whole fresh bunker to cut into chunks. Put only enough weight to aid in casting, and just to keep you just below the surf a couple inches. If the blues are there you will catch. Good Luck!!!
TT^
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More then welcome to fish with me next season as well.
I am no expert, but I have caught a fish or 2 in my day :)
If you see a boat next to you catching fish, ask them what they are using.
most people will have no problem telling you.
Well, i don't think the person next to you will be honest with you, especially since your practially in the same fishing hole. Fluke, bluefish, not a problem and can't miss, Seabass is another sure fire, keepers may be far and few between, Tog.. you will need experience setting the hook, it take a knack... Striper also, if your at the right place at the right time, with the right bait... another sure fire
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Been in the same boat Dan. t^
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Been in the same boat Dan. t^
i hope your problem is fixed by now, especially with this site ;D
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I used the word "been" t^ Yes it has.
I'd make sure your using proper Knots and rigs. Ive seen some tie knots that look like birds nests. This will surly hurt your fishing
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Thanks for the tips so far, guys. I'm getting a little more confident knowing some of you have been there in the past.
Knots are definitely a challenge for me. Apparently it runs in the family, since my Dad always tells me knots killed him when he was in the Navy. Lol. I definitely have to work on setting up rigs a bit better. They don't look like birds' nests, but I don't think I make them strong enough.
It's weird, because I used to fish only for fluke and sea bass, and they both were incredibly easy to catch - whether inshore or in the river. Limit catches were reasonably easy. Now that I'd like to try my hand at some other species, it's a lot tougher. At this point, I'm not even looking for keepers so much as a bite. I'm definitely going to try some bunker chunks. I've heard clams for stripers can also work. I'm going to experiment with some whole clams from the B&T shop, but I also have clam scent from Smelly Jelly that I can use on my Storm swim shads if I use them.
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Hi Dan,
I feel your pain. We have all been there and most of us are still there, maybe not on a regular basis but we still have problems. It is not all you maybe in this case they were using chum (which you could not see) and being in the river if you were up stream from them that is why you were not catching. The fish were in their slick. Now if you were down stream from them you could of worked off their slick. Not to ethical but everyone has done it from time to time.
So don't despair you will be catching more fish in time but you have to realize that it is fishing and a lot is luck but you have to make it your job to make certain all the ducks are in a row.
Keep at it and you will be a Pro before long.
Happy Catching
Paul
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here's a good one.
http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=176.0 (http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=176.0)
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As far as you not catching and a neighborhing boat is. Try to watch what the guys on the boat are doing. If they were fishing with metals, were they casting and immediately cranking in? Perhaps they were casting and letting the lure sink to the bottom of the water column and retrieving from there. Change your retrieve speed, let the lure sink, change up things until you find where the fish are in the water column and the speed of retrieval they are hitting.
There are times when you can have guys standing side by side doing the exact same thing and only one is catching. Why? Beats the crap out of me but I have seen it happen. Don't dispair, your day will come. As I said, keep changing things up until you hit on the winner.
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Again, thanks for the continued advice. Another question I always have is regarding weight. With bottom fishing, it's pretty obvious - just enough to hold the bottom. But with this kind of fishing, how much should I be using? The Storm shads come with some weight in them, but should I be using another sinker in addition? If I want to score some blues, should I attach enough weight to the rig for it to sink almost to the bottom?
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As far as you not catching and a neighborhing boat is. Try to watch what the guys on the boat are doing. If they were fishing with metals, were they casting and immediately cranking in? Perhaps they were casting and letting the lure sink to the bottom of the water column and retrieving from there. Change your retrieve speed, let the lure sink, change up things until you find where the fish are in the water column and the speed of retrieval they are hitting.
There are times when you can have guys standing side by side doing the exact same thing and only one is catching. Why? Beats the crap out of me but I have seen it happen. Don't dispair, your day will come. As I said, keep changing things up until you hit on the winner.
I'm a witness to this TT^
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As far as adding more weight to a designed lure is not practical because that lure was designed to work in a certain way or pattern if you will by adding more weight (undesigned weight) the lure will not be responsive in the way it was intended.
Either look for a heavier weight in that lure or switch lures or go to natural bait. There is nothing wrong using a natural bait. It will broaden your catching ability and the day of the purest does not exist any more. At least it you want to catch fish on a regular basis.
You can experiment with weights but in my mind it is a fruitless endeavor.
Happy Catching
Paul
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Dan
The guys have given you some good advice here.....watch what the other boat is doing, work the water column if you have no success in the bottom of the top, be pre-pared to change up tactics (ie, lures, jigs, bait) if need be.
One great way to see how a lure acts is to do some casting in a pool, this way you see the action.
And then there are those days that no matter what you do or where you do it, it just will not happen 5hrug
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whs
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Again, continued thanks to everyone! Went out again today for about two hours, no bites, but I didn't really expect any. Current was running like crazy, and it was hot and sunny. Not the optimal time for fishing, but I went out then because that's when my Dad wanted to head out. Didn't want to disappoint him.
This week, I'm going to head out through the inlet into the ocean for the first time with my new boat. Hopefully the mighty Atlantic will bring me luck - if the seas are reasonably calm, of course.
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Good Luck... TT^
Hang in there if you put your time in you will do all right. Keep trying things and perfecting the way you fish.
We have all been there not to say we catch fish every time out I know I don't but thats OK. I try to think of what I did and did not do and mentally jot that down in my mind (or keep a journal) and try to remedy and come up with an alternate plan for next time out if conditions are the same.
Keep asking questions and seeking new ways to broaden your abilities.
Good Luck and keep us posted.
Happy Catching
Paul
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Hi TurboDan,
If you don't have to work on Tuesday (October 23, 2007), I will take you to do some "Catching" (weather permitting).
Interested?
Capt. Ed
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D'oh! Tuesday is a work day. I think I'm off Thursday and Friday this week, though.
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Don't pass that one up Dan.. I learned more in an afternoon with Capt Ed. than I did in my life time t^
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DAn
Becare of what you'll catch from Capt Ed ;D ::) :-* (just joking)
He'll put ya on da fishies TT^
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I've been trying to meet up with Capt. Ed for a few weeks now. I can't wait, either! Just from talking to him on here and in a PM or two, I can tell he's a pro. When we finally can set a time, I know it'll be a great outing. TT^
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Just make sure your memory banks are empty other wide you will go into overload from the information you will gain from Capt. Ed.
Happy Catching
Paul
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What kinds of rigs are you using? what are you trying to catch?
elaborate a bit and I'm sure some of us can help you out ;D
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What kinds of rigs are you using? what are you trying to catch?
elaborate a bit and I'm sure some of us can help you out ;D
Well, I've been using a few different kinds. I've tried the basic pink Fin-S fish hooked to a lead head, then I also tried using baitholder 4/0 hooks with a chunk of frozen bunker. In the past, I always tried metal hopkins lures and crippled herring.
I bought some of the 4" (I think 4") Storm shads, but haven't used them yet. Mostly, I've tried right by the rail road bridge in the Manasquan River. That's where the other boat was catching a ton and I didn't catch any. Capt. Ed suggested west of the Rt. 35 bridge at night in a PM, which I have yet to try.
I haven't taken my new boat into the ocean yet, which I'll probably do on the next reasonably calm day.
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how are you fishing the shads and the fin-s? the bunker chunks?
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I fished the Fin-S on a leadhead without any additional extra weight. The leadhead was basically on an 18" leader off a three-way swivel. The bunker chunks were fished with an 18" leader and a 4/0 baitholder hook, and a small weights attached to another line off the three-way - although the day I used bunker the current was ripping fast, so it wasn't optimal for fishing.
Could I be going out at the wrong times/tides? Is it true that morning/night will yield better results? How about a slack tide versus incoming or outgoing?
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Why a 3 way swivel with the fin-s?
Try a snap swivel or straight to your line or if using a leader, just a barrel or small ball bearing swivel.
I would lose those 3 way swivels for anything other then weakfish (worms) or sea bass/porgy fishing.
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I agree, the less the fish has to look at the better. Keep it as simple as possible.
If I am going to target a fish like a weakfish only and know that the blues are not around I will tie directly to the jig head. If the blues are around then I would tie a 12" - 18" wire leader maybe like a 30# or less and snap swivel the jig head to that.
No 3 way is needed.
Paul
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well, this is just me, but here's what i do. I dont "target" anything. i just want to catch fish!. sure, i get annoyed at all the searobins, and dogfish, but hey, you catch something. makes it that more exciting when you actually catch a nice striper, or a big bluefish. i ask everybody i talk to about bait, rigs, lures, etc.....in the end, i do my own thing, a mixture of all the info i gather. i catch alot of blues, i wish i could get more stripers, but i do ok. the best advice i've received is from this site. i have a friend, a recent addition from Florida. i'm no expert, but i have to re-teach him everything about surf fishing in NJ because it's so different from Fla. we do ok. just do your own thing. it's just like golf......everyone telling you what youre doing wrong, how to do it right.....pick the advice you want and run with it.
good luck
Billy
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Gagedylan,
You may not realize it but in all actuality you are "targetting fish". By the lures and/or bait that you are using you will normally catch a certain species of fish more than others. True, you will catch whatever is around but, The lure/bait you use will be one that reflects what a certain species prefers.
The way that you fish will also target a particular species too. If you are fishing topwater plugs you will obviously not catch too many bottom fish, fluke, seabass, tog, etc.
So, what does all this mean?
If you want to catch more stripers and less bluefish, use a lure/bait that attracts stripers and not so much attracts bluefish. Use a slow retrieve, which will be more striper friendly than bluefish. Don't use shiny objects on your terminal tackle. For stripers, use black swivels, etc. The use of silver swivels will get the attention of bluefish very easily.
I think you get the idea of what I am trying to get across. TARGET a particular fish and you will cut down on the fish that you do not want to catch. You will not eliminate the catching of those type of fish but your chance of hooking up with what you want will increase.
I hope all of this makes sense in the way I explained it.
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I agree, the less the fish has to look at the better. Keep it as simple as possible.
If I am going to target a fish like a weakfish only and know that the blues are not around I will tie directly to the jig head. If the blues are around then I would tie a 12" - 18" wire leader maybe like a 30# or less and snap swivel the jig head to that.
No 3 way is needed.
Paul
It is needed from a boat when fishing bait to keep the bait suspended at the depth the fish are holding at.
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whs
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Sorry guys, I'm a suds jockey. 5hrug I forget that you captains sometimes fish a little different. I don't even have a 3 way in my box they get to tangled when casting and retrieving in the surf or running water.
Paul
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:)
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Dan, as is usual here you are getting great advice..I would add this..I definitely think the best advice so far is for you to concentrate on using bait at first..As one of the sharpest professional captains I've ever known told me a long time ago.." a real fish is always the right color".. And don't underestimate the difference between the effectiveness of fresh/live bait as opposed to frozen..May not make as much of a difference when fish are on a mad-dog bite, but when things are tough, the freshest bait will get the bites...As far as your lure selection goes, I will say that the Fin S Fish, while a very effective lure, is not the easiest to fish, as it has little inherent action, requiring the angler to give it life.. And unless you have a good selection of leadhead sizes, you will be limited in your ability to control the depth of the presentation , which is always critical.. I fish a Fin S type bait by letting it drop to the bottom, then working it back with the rod, not the reel..meaning, after the bait sinks to the bottom, start with the rod at 3 o'clock, and lift it to the 11 o'clock position, swimming the bait..then drop the tip back towards 3 o'clock while picking up the slack with the reel...be sure to maintain contact with the lure on the drop as this is when most strikes will occur..Also, if you are fishing from an anchored boat in a current, you will need to cast quartering upstream, and work the jig cross current..If cast directly downstream, the bait will be lifted close to the surface by the force of the current. As far as the guys in the next boat catching when you are not, this will be more common in a river setting, as fish will often times concentrate on very specific current breaks and seams..so those guys may have just been in the sweet slot.. Finally, don't get discouraged!! the true joy of fishing is more about the journey than the destination..All the experienced anglers here will tell you that we never stop learning..every day presents different conditions and challenges, and when it all comes together for you, the success will be that much sweeter.. You are for sure in the right place here though..these guys will surely get you on the path to success.. Have fun!! ;)
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Why a 3 way swivel with the fin-s?
Try a snap swivel or straight to your line or if using a leader, just a barrel or small ball bearing swivel.
I would lose those 3 way swivels for anything other then weakfish (worms) or sea bass/porgy fishing.
Wow, really? I always use the 3-ways. When fishing the Fin-S, should I stick just with the lead head or add some more weight somehow?
Does anyone think I should lose the 3-way for metals, Storms and standard bunker chunks as well?
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three way swivels are typically used while fishing bait rigs. You tie the terminal end of your running line to one rung, on the opposite rung is your sinker loop, and on the third rung is your leader to the hook.
Not sure what kind of advantage you'd have rigging fin-s to a three way swivel. We typically fish fin-s or any other soft plastic on a leadhead tied directly to the running line.
Use enough of a leadhead to get you down. If you're having trouble working it on the bottom, cast up current, and work it back down the current nad finally slowly retrieve it back to the boat.
There is absolutely no reason to use a three-way swivel with any form of metal.
Use the current to your advantage!
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Wow, very interesting. I'm learning so much in this thread! Yeah, for some reason I've pretty much always used the three-way swivel for just about everything, regardless. Everything gets attached to the three-way in some way shape or form.
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im currently having that same problem whit stipers. in the summer i had no problen catching bluefish but now i was out a few times and had a horrible time. i was using the same bait as the guys next to me and they caught like 4 stipers and i didnt even get a bite. i would need some help with the stripers.
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bluefish will eat almost anything, presented almost any way. stripers are more picky feeders. most of my success this time of year has been on a hi/lo rig, WHOLE fresh clams, pierce the whole glob onto the hook as best you can, and go (i'm assuming were talking surf fishing). i've gone to the beach and caught 28 bluefish in an hour, that's probably not going to happen with stripers. patience. keep at it.
good luck!
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whs Good luck. t^
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I had a couple hours to kill this afternoon so I decided to go over just to the Manasquan River RR bridge for a little while. There were fish jumping up out of the water (seemed like big ones too) but I didn't get any hits for the hour I fished.
I was using a 4oz Storm shad, tied directly to the line on the rod. The current is pretty strong around there and it didn't seem like the lure was making it to the bottom. In a circumstance like this, where the water is moving quickly, what is the best approach? Should I use an egg sinker and then a leader to give it some extra weight? Or, perhaps, should I use a fresh/salted clam with some type of weight?
I also have some larger Tsunami lures, that are a lot like the Storm shads, only larger and much heavier. Perhaps I should give them a try.
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Really can't add to anything you said other than to have some 6" shad bodies and jig heads or Tsunami type shad baits in your bag. Yes bluefish will tear them to shreds but once they thin out those types of baits can be the difference between catching or not. I know they were the only baits catching bass up in the Raritan Bay area Sunday afternoon on the Sea Hunter.
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I have enjoyed reading this post. Don't have any thing to add, it has all been covered other than for me jigging with metal or bucktail has always been a very productive way to catch fish and fun. Your constantly active and need to think about what your doing so the presention of the bait is right. FISH ON!!
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You Guys ROCK!! w00t
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Hi Folks,
Just thought I would reach out to the crowd and see if anyone had an opinion on my situation. It's actually pretty simple - I can't catch a damn thing! 5hrug
I can hook up with fluke in the summer. I've never had a problem with that. But when it comes to anything else... anything... I can't get a single bite. I think I'm doing everything right. I buy the lures that everyone else seems to have success with. I cast and retrieve as described by so many other people. But it never works. Tonight, I was fishing right by the Railroad Bridge in the Manasquan River. A few feet from me there was another boat and the two guys were reeling in blues like crazy. I had one little tug on the line, and that was it. I didn't boat a single fish, nor did I even get another bite.
Does anyone think I could be doing something terribly wrong? Am I using a rig that cannot catch fish for some reason? Granted, I really am not experienced in rigging a line, and may be using something completely wrong. Should I be using live/frozen bait rather than artificials? Other than fluke, I haven't caught a single fish this season while every report I read and every person I talk to reports at least a good selection of blues in the river. I just don't get it.
Unfortunately, I'm pretty much the only person in my group of friends that likes fishing, so that's pretty much out as an option. How did everyone here get started? Should I hire a guide and learn from a pro?
Well, just ranting for now. As I've always said on here, anyone who feels like going fishing, feel free to drop me a PM. Boat, gas and beer on me. I'd love to observe how some of you guys hook up and learn from it.
Well, i can't solve all your problems, but i can tell you how to catch blues in the Manasquan river. (try this on the outgioing tide in the 3rd week in may or whenever the spring tailor blues invasion is) Cast a plug (preferably a yo-zuri Crystal minnow, single hooks and 8 inches of wire leader) out pretty far, and retrive it fast with a jerky retreive. If that doesen't work, try the same thing with a metal (kastmasters are great). this works great in the spring invasion like I said earlier, and also in the staging part if the fall run. Then (September), use a sand eel teaser to catch tons of hickory shad.
If the toothy buggers keep cutting you off, try a shot of 50-lb leader above the wire, and grip it when you lift the fish into the boat.
I hope this helps you catch at least this type of fish.
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Good points everyone. I can't wait till March 1st to get started in the bays and rivers for stripers.
My tackle boxes have almost been replenished and ready to go. I even had to go out and pick up a second box this year. There is a lot of new stuff to try. I heard that the early early spring fishing was really productive using Storm shad. Looking forward to trying it this year.
All my teasers are ready to go and I have tied up a bunch of leaders with dropper loops to handle the teasers. So bring it on...
Happy Catching
Paul
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Throwing storms at bluefish can get quite expensive. Try throwing some chrome jigs. Bluefish usually only get the tail on the storm.
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I guess your local like me. Try tha canal for bass. Storms work well. Live herring is better. When fishing storms you want to bump the bottom. Cast up current working your rod tip and retrieving slowly. Watch not to hang up on the bottom.Keep the rod tip up.
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Its a good thing I surf fish, I would hate to lug all this stuff around. When I get everything together I will take a couple of shots of the beach buggy fully stocked and ready for action this year.
That would be for me hitting the beach. If the wife goes there are things like the Porta-Potty and putting up a collapsible privy. To a portable gas grill. Man all the comforts of home.
That is why I try to go by myself or other guys. I love to roam and hunt for the fish. Search for bait breaking the surface and birds crashing into them, now thats my kind of fishing.
Happy Catching
Paul
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practice makes perfect
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When in doubt troll the stretch's t^ good luck!
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This is a great post. Alot of great information here,mabey I can add a little something. You have to pay your dues in fishing. The more you are out there working it the better you will get. And patience, patience patience. When you start stressing about not hookin up, its like the fish sence it. It deffinatly shows in your approach. I get that way from time to time, I get so wrapped up in in. You have to take a step back, and just chill out. Dont try and hit that home run with every cast, it will come. Focus on your approach, and just enjoy being out there.Also, and we all do this, fish when we can and not when we are supposed to. Showing up at a spot to fish at the wrong time doesnt do us any good.Pay attention to tides, water temps,wind,the moom phases,and fish when the condions are right not when you just have free time. This is a great post, good luck and hopefully great catches for everyone.
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Something that might lead to your lack of catching is as simple as your reel retrive ratio.When you see the other guys reeling their line in,it might be at slower grtn pace than you,because of a faster ratio in the reel gearing.
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Good point on the reel gearing tip Salty. Many newbees aren't even aware that there is a difference in gear ratios between reels.
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did you try the fish dance? If you put enough time in your get the fish i use squid and sand ells but i mostly use berkleys Gulp best bait on the market try the gulp its gods gift of fake bait and on the package has more scent then real bait and when your done put it back in the bag so it regans scent and it doesnt fall in the fishes mouth
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hey,
when i go fishing, i dont care what i catch. im a catch and release guy. whats been working for me which catches a lot of blues is this:
i use a 3 way swivel. i hook a 4oz weigh to one, the other goes to the pole, and the third is for my hook. i use a leader about 2 feet and tie a hook. sometimes i use a metal leader with the hook already on it (blues can bite through the line).
before i go out, i buy a bunch of fresh bunker. ill cut them into peices and just hook them to the hook.
you are almost guarenteed to catch something. good luck
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For knots, try animatedknots.com
It shows you step by step and in sequence. Great knot site. The most common fishing & marine knots are there.
Sorry about your troubles but keep at it. You'll hit on it. Check with your local bait & tackle shop. They will try to get you to buy something, but they usually know what is catching fish. Maybe the fish know you're a METS fan!!! hhppy
Go Phils!
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rofla rofla hhppy hhppy chrz
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Maybe the fish know you're a METS fan!!!
Go Phils!
rofla hhppy rofla hhppy rofla hhppy Careful pickin on them Mutt's Phans! You might hurt Surfrockets feelings!!! rofla rofla rofla :'( :'( :'(
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ha ha sean buddy old pal. hhppy you are too darn funny. there isnt anything i could say to a philly fan that records dont already say. baseball really isnt my game, i'm a pigskin guy.cry eagles cry, thats how the song goes right. i still love ya sean even being a philly fan. rofla rofla rofla
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chrz IT'S A NEW SEASON ! ! chrz
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/pinkstonlover87/PHI_NYG03_0150_DH.jpg)
SEE YA ON THE FIELD... LOL... MAYBE YOU CAN SELL A FEW OF THOSE SURFROCKETS TO THE GUYS UP IN THE MEADOWLANDS TO SHOOT HOT DOGS UP TO THE GUYS IN THE CHEAP SEATS ~!~ rofla rofla rofla
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yeah mabey. we sure couldnt sell them to beagles fans,anytime it doesnt go their way the would be shooting bunker at there own players. lol.
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yeah mabey. we sure couldnt sell them to beagles fans,anytime it doesnt go their way the would be shooting bunker at there own players. lol.
THAT WOULD BE A WASTE OF BAIT...JUST BLOCKS OF ICE WILL DO....ASK SANTA...HE WILL TELLYA ALL ABOUT ICE BALLS IN PHILLY (http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/characters/character0194.gif) (http://www.mysmiley.net)
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are you using braided or mono?
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Master the bucktail. A guy that knows how to fish a bucktail in diferent condition can catch any fish in the sea. Maybe your trying to many options and not mastering any of them. As far as bluefish a bucktail with a strip of squid has never failed me. A bucktail with a gulp will catch fluke and bucktail with gulp or squid will catch stripers.
Braided line is also a big aid as you feel more that is going on and your hook sets will be better.