Yep, it's all about the distance. Nice to see you had a good day.
Spsp 7/1/03
I arrived at Sandy Point this evening, 7/1/03 about 7PM. I set up about 30 -40 yards North of the Fishing/Swimming boundary. Nobody was catching anything. Within 40 minutes, I had 3 nice croakers. Still nobody was catching anything. I left about 11PM, with 9 croakers and 4 spot. I probably had more croakers than all the rest of the fisherman around me combined. Reason being, THEY WEREN'T GETTIN' OUT THERE FAR ENOUGH. They were lucky to ocassionaly catch a spot close to shore. I wasn't using any heavy heaving equipment. 10' Penn Surfisher , Shimano Spheros 4000 , Power Pro Line #30 and 3 ozs. of lead, and just a good Snapcast was getting me out there more than twice as far as the other fishermen. I don't use the wire bottom rigs, I tie my own like they do on a headboat(Fisherman's Wharf,Lewes,DE). Oh yeh, I was just fishing with one rod.
Seabass
Seabass
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
What were your croakers hitting on? As I posted elsewhere, hit both high tides yesterday, about 7:00 am and 7:00pm. Some luck morning, but much better evening. Fished just south of the Bay Bridge, and most caught on peeler.
Shaggy,
I was using bloodworms.
Seabass
I was using bloodworms.
Seabass
I was fishing off my boat at Sandy Point on the evening of the 1st also and was getting some really nice croakers. I had 2 come in at 18 inches and I was using squid strips. I can also tell you that them fish were in 22-30 feet of water and were stacked on top of each other, so the further you can get your line out, the better your chances.
Dae...Were you anchored or drifting? I might give it a shot this evening.
Catman.
Catman.
Fishing this evening
Hey Catman,
you heading to SPSP tonight??? Im debating on whether to head there or to PLO. IM going keep an eye on the weather before i decide where to go..........Tight Lines
MC
Hey Catman,
you heading to SPSP tonight??? Im debating on whether to head there or to PLO. IM going keep an eye on the weather before i decide where to go..........Tight Lines
MC
How much distance is needed at SPSP? I'm new to the sport and right now can only cast my 12' spinning rod with a 3oz weight about 75 yards. I hope to improve on that distance with practice. Lets not even talk about throwing it straight. I still have a tendency to cast to the right.
Master Caster...Not actually in SPSP. My boat is docked in Whitehall Creek which is the creek between the Bay Bridge and the Naval Academy. Sandy Point is only about a 5 minute run for me. Since I'm going to be on the boat for the next three days I decided to stay home tonight and take it easy. Good luck with wherever you decide to fish.
Catman.
Catman.
Hey rocknwine, if you're consistently right one of two things a) wind is always coming from your left or b) you're dropping your elbow, and not coming over the top. My guess is the elbow (right). Try straight over hand, your rod is one of the dials on the clock, and bring your rod past your right ear, in a smooth controlled motion.
Catman,
I was being lazy (Didn't want to pull the anchor out) so I was drifting.
- Dae
I was being lazy (Didn't want to pull the anchor out) so I was drifting.
- Dae
Thanks Dae, I'll probaboy do a few drifts there tomorrow morning then head for east side pilings and try to jig up some rock.
Catman.
Catman.
Thanks Shaggy for the tip. I'll keep practicing when I can. Could someone please answer my first question: What distance is needed to "get out there" where the fish are at SPSP. I like going there but with an hour drive each way I don't want to waste my time if I can't cast far enough to get keeper fish.
Rocknwine, if it's anything like the area I fish on the "eastern side", 75 - 100 should be enough. I go to the community beach here, and stay about two hours and most of the time leave happy and with enough for me and a couple of co-workers.
And, you'd be surprised by the "extra" distance you get working on the straight cast thing. Don't really want too much loft. Start by having about one-half rods length of line out, drop tip straight behind you (weight touching the ground), swing up and forward past ear (contolled "anger") and release line at about 10:00 (may work better for you at 11:00, but ya gotta start somewhere). At 10:00, keep rod tip where it is pointing to your target (which means you have probably (hopefully) dropped to about 9:00 straight out).
Lots of distanced lost "up", rather have a long line drive (out), than a "high" pop-up to short. Good luck.
And, you'd be surprised by the "extra" distance you get working on the straight cast thing. Don't really want too much loft. Start by having about one-half rods length of line out, drop tip straight behind you (weight touching the ground), swing up and forward past ear (contolled "anger") and release line at about 10:00 (may work better for you at 11:00, but ya gotta start somewhere). At 10:00, keep rod tip where it is pointing to your target (which means you have probably (hopefully) dropped to about 9:00 straight out).
Lots of distanced lost "up", rather have a long line drive (out), than a "high" pop-up to short. Good luck.
Hi Rocknwine,
It depends on where you setup. Sometimes their at 50 feet and sometimes their at 500 feet. If you are not catching at 50 feet move to a new location that is holding fish in close. If the people around are catching and you're not, find out what they are doing and start doing it. It is never a waste of time. I went to SPSP late last night. The best locations were taken so we fished what was left. We found the fish 300-400 feet out. We out fished the people around us by casting further. The Perch and Spots are in close and the juicy Croaker further out. The bigger fish are in the grass and shell beds. However, plenty of fish are taken near shore at under 100 feet. If distance is a problem, fish from one of the five jetties. That will put you a few hundred feet out from shore. There is one jetty near The Bay Bridge and four more around to the far left. People did well from the jetties last night. Otherwise attend one of our free Saturday casting clinics at Kenilworth Park in DC. Most people can add 100-200 feet in one day. We also have a paid casting clinic August 9th and 10th. My entire first year I mainly landed Spots. Now, I catch some of everything in The Bay. It takes time and experience. But, you'll get it just like the rest of us.
Casting Information
That is my 2 cents. I hope this helps. Feel free to contact me directly if you wish.
It depends on where you setup. Sometimes their at 50 feet and sometimes their at 500 feet. If you are not catching at 50 feet move to a new location that is holding fish in close. If the people around are catching and you're not, find out what they are doing and start doing it. It is never a waste of time. I went to SPSP late last night. The best locations were taken so we fished what was left. We found the fish 300-400 feet out. We out fished the people around us by casting further. The Perch and Spots are in close and the juicy Croaker further out. The bigger fish are in the grass and shell beds. However, plenty of fish are taken near shore at under 100 feet. If distance is a problem, fish from one of the five jetties. That will put you a few hundred feet out from shore. There is one jetty near The Bay Bridge and four more around to the far left. People did well from the jetties last night. Otherwise attend one of our free Saturday casting clinics at Kenilworth Park in DC. Most people can add 100-200 feet in one day. We also have a paid casting clinic August 9th and 10th. My entire first year I mainly landed Spots. Now, I catch some of everything in The Bay. It takes time and experience. But, you'll get it just like the rest of us.
Casting Information
That is my 2 cents. I hope this helps. Feel free to contact me directly if you wish.
Hey LongRanger, am I correct in what I said about line legth the clock thing and loft?
Are all your "free" clinics on Saturday (usually work) or are some on Sundays?
Would like to get some tips from you, since I like surf-fishing, and we all (those of us on the beach) know how far the sandbars look.
I don't want to give wrong info, so please correct me so I and others may learn.
Thanks in advance. Hope your Fourth is going well.
Are all your "free" clinics on Saturday (usually work) or are some on Sundays?
Would like to get some tips from you, since I like surf-fishing, and we all (those of us on the beach) know how far the sandbars look.
I don't want to give wrong info, so please correct me so I and others may learn.
Thanks in advance. Hope your Fourth is going well.
Hey Rocknwine,
How far is far ? You're in the "Far Neighborhood", when you cast out and can't see your sinker splash.
Suggestion: You might want to use more than 3 ozs. of lead with your 12' rod. I have a 12' baitcaster and I get the best action out of my rod with 5 ozs. I use 3 ozs. with my 10' spinner. You'll notice a difference and you'll have to use more muscle along with the good technique that others have shared with you.
Suggestion: If you're using mono, I wouldn't go over 14 lbs. I would reccomend one of the braided lines such as Power Pro #20 or #30. The braided line is thinner, lighter and stronger and casts a whole lot further than mono. Of course it costs more also. I use braided line with my spinner and mono with my baitcaster. I'd like to use braided line with my baitcaster, but it's much harder to untangle birdnests than mono. I'm not tanglefree yet.
Suggestion: Buy a video and Practice, Practice, Practice. Daily if possible.
Seabass
How far is far ? You're in the "Far Neighborhood", when you cast out and can't see your sinker splash.
Suggestion: You might want to use more than 3 ozs. of lead with your 12' rod. I have a 12' baitcaster and I get the best action out of my rod with 5 ozs. I use 3 ozs. with my 10' spinner. You'll notice a difference and you'll have to use more muscle along with the good technique that others have shared with you.
Suggestion: If you're using mono, I wouldn't go over 14 lbs. I would reccomend one of the braided lines such as Power Pro #20 or #30. The braided line is thinner, lighter and stronger and casts a whole lot further than mono. Of course it costs more also. I use braided line with my spinner and mono with my baitcaster. I'd like to use braided line with my baitcaster, but it's much harder to untangle birdnests than mono. I'm not tanglefree yet.
Suggestion: Buy a video and Practice, Practice, Practice. Daily if possible.
Seabass
Hi Shaggy,
As general rule, the longest distance is achieved when the projectile is launched near a 45 degree angle to the ground. I’m speaking from experience. Most of my fishing casts are too high and my tournament casts are too low. The best time to practice is while you are fishing. Each rod model has a different timing. Therefore the drop will depend on the rod and the caster. Some people cast better with a short drop and some better with a long drop. For a straight overhead cast I normally start people with a drop of four feet. If you pay attention the rod will tell you what it likes. Always watch the sinker in flight, so you’ll know what to change on the next cast. Meeting with you on your day is okay with me. Let me know when and where is best for you. Personally, I cast as short as needed to catch fish.
As general rule, the longest distance is achieved when the projectile is launched near a 45 degree angle to the ground. I’m speaking from experience. Most of my fishing casts are too high and my tournament casts are too low. The best time to practice is while you are fishing. Each rod model has a different timing. Therefore the drop will depend on the rod and the caster. Some people cast better with a short drop and some better with a long drop. For a straight overhead cast I normally start people with a drop of four feet. If you pay attention the rod will tell you what it likes. Always watch the sinker in flight, so you’ll know what to change on the next cast. Meeting with you on your day is okay with me. Let me know when and where is best for you. Personally, I cast as short as needed to catch fish.
I'm not sure distance is the answer to catching more fish when surf or pier fishing. The reason I say this is because when I use to fish from shore, I always use to wonder how many more fish I might catch if I could get out a extra 100 feet or so. This was because I use to assume further was deeper.
Boy was I wrong on the distance to depth assumption. You wouldn't believe how far you have to get out from most places to get difference in dept or a drop off. In most areas of the bay you won't find much change in dept until you get out close, very very close, to the channel.
Fishing from a boat with a depth finder, I can say from most piers/surf, your not going to be able to cast far enough to really make a difference in the bay. Drop offs seem to be the place where I see the most fish on my fish finder.
What I feel is needed by a shore bound angler (This applies to boating anglers also) is knowing the bottom. What I mean by this is is the bottom sand, grass, oyster bed, lump or whatever? Knowing the bottom within the distance you can cast should get you more fish. It also allows you to target the type of fish you want to catch.
Now I'm not saying you don't need distance but I feel knowing the bottom with in the distance you can cast is a better bet for more fish vs just throwing out your bait as far as you can get.
- Dae
Boy was I wrong on the distance to depth assumption. You wouldn't believe how far you have to get out from most places to get difference in dept or a drop off. In most areas of the bay you won't find much change in dept until you get out close, very very close, to the channel.
Fishing from a boat with a depth finder, I can say from most piers/surf, your not going to be able to cast far enough to really make a difference in the bay. Drop offs seem to be the place where I see the most fish on my fish finder.
What I feel is needed by a shore bound angler (This applies to boating anglers also) is knowing the bottom. What I mean by this is is the bottom sand, grass, oyster bed, lump or whatever? Knowing the bottom within the distance you can cast should get you more fish. It also allows you to target the type of fish you want to catch.
Now I'm not saying you don't need distance but I feel knowing the bottom with in the distance you can cast is a better bet for more fish vs just throwing out your bait as far as you can get.
- Dae
You're so right about bottom structure. If you're bring in grass or oyster shells on your hook you're more than likely in the right location. Now all you need is water movement. If you fish the proper structure and understand the tides you're going to catch fish. That's the difference between luck and catching fish. Just remember you're not fishing the local farm or community pond.
Catman.
Catman.
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
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