JUNE
I bet all of you have at least hooked up by this time in the season??...Right???...Well if not get out there with your clams and lures and welcome our linesiders back. If your on a boat..live lining those herring is unbeatable, but check out the TIPS section this month and you'll see a fun idea I have had success with for many years now. It is perfect for surfcasting.!!! But all the tricks and tips and ways and styles and hints etc......don't mean a thing....if you DON'T GO. And so................
The Day I Almost Got Old
Why does waiting take so long?.....
It seemed like May would never come . It took an eternity for me to be here again.
I'm glad I got a few schoolies during these last few tides. Jimmy's clams always work like a charm in the spring.
So lets see now.......the tides should be very late with the full moon and all....lets see.......where is May 17th on the charts? Yup, I will have to go out at midnight.
I have not seen one lady in a bathing suit all spring! What spring?..Bah, there has been no spring at all! Even the stripers are late, with water temps staying this cold. Its been crumby.
Tonight will be lousy too.!
It cant be more than 45 degrees out and the same stalled NE breeze is still got a grip on Humarocks shores.
What a drag...midnight tides to boot. This stinks!
I'm not drinking any coffee before I go , cuz I know when the same weed line comes in, it will stress me out big time. What is with these am weeds anyway?.Grrrrr. I guess I should be happy. The weeds usually bring fish, but im not in the mood for a freezing cold, weed clogged , midnight, farce.
I always get tired watching baseball .
Yup there is the wind howling.
Where is my watch? 930? This wait to be miserable, is stupid!
I think its gonna rain tomorrow and there might be an over cast day tide that might let me fiddle with some of those lighter rigs and play with the schoolies. At least I can see the weeds in the day light. I'll just keep those clams on ice and they will be fine tomorrow afternoon. Tonight's tide is wayyyy to involved and cold and windy and weedy and lonely and late and very likely ....fishless.
I'm not going tonight!!!!!!!.
Where is the TV clicker?.
Ball game and then sports center?...
Maybe ill just lay down and get a good nights sleep.?
I built this fire... I may as well enjoy it instead of being chilled to the bone standing on the beach.
Sometimes I think Rugby's snoring is a mantra.....cuz Im fading..............................
I cant stand getting woken. Some say a crackling fire is great..that crack just woke me up!.
Bed is better than a hard couch arm for the ol neck..time for the bed.
I need a sip of water.
I love this ol fridge. it still works like a charm.
Wow, look how orange those clams are when ,thawed out ! They will be fine till tomorrow.
Why ?????........held that refrigerator door open!
Why am I not going tonight.? I fished weeds in the night for years...in the cold.........and the wind.......! I used to wait all month for these moon tides. I used to tie new leaders before I went , just to get me excited. What does "I used to mean?" I did before???....What is before???? Is it when you were different?...and if that be the case?...How am I different this night after so many countless tides before this one.? Did my body tell my mind ...or ...did my mind tell my body.......that we weren't going to fish this cold May tide. I think it was a little of both...........which only means one thing. ONE THING... only ONE THING. This was the day I got old.!!!!
Its 1230AM, I only slept for two hours!...
I missed the incoming and part of the outgoing.
These clams are cold enough with no ice...
Well isn't this just great? The waders are tighter than last year!...
I am stopping this slide into complacency.... right this very second.
Where are the 3 oz and 4 oz sinkers?.....its weed time!
I'm not whining about anything more tonight.
I love this walk down to the border of land and water ..........exhilarating....like walking in from the bull pen .
Yup that north east wind will keep my hair out of my face , its head on.
I knew I would have" the ice fishing finger blues"! Stiff old nubs sometimes. Dam ..I just said old.....that's it for that topic tonight.
I want to go down in weight on the sinker. it seems to holding .
There......a new clam...lets see where this one ends up.
I love casting.
yeah ..baby ..now I'm into it , just like all those times before. The fire is probably out in the house.....but my fire for adventure is re-igniting!
... glad I came out tonight. .. glad I didn't get wrapped up in a blanket or some meaningless red sox game, (I'm a Yankee fan).
Its better to use the clams when they first thaw...
the weeds aren't as bad as I thought they might be.
After all this "Striper Mike " routine, how could I rationalize not going on a May Full moon tide?
Is aging, a compromise to fish when convenient?...Or when the conditions are comfortable?
Whoa!! ....that's a fish.......coming toward me.... back step twice. I got him. Nice one!....Zippidity do drag. Ah yes, its been awhile since a nice pull like this.
I wonder if some fish sense told me I would hook up with a decent one?.
I wonder if this was an offer of a golden handshake into surfcasting retirement.........just to see if comfort zone and convenience out weigh the zest of this very moment. The zest of adventure.
I hope the batteries are still good in this light from last season.
Lets see?..........Hey , that is a nice one!....Shoot , the tape is still in the box....I don't want to keep it out of the water to long. Hmm, bet its 28"....nice one.
I'M BACK....to enjoying the special ride called hope. I'm back to another season
Waiting does take long, but surf casting takes more than waiting. It takes a will to step out of your comfort zone.....and taste a north east wind , as it seeps through the spaces in your teeth........when you smile into darkness .
This was" The Day I Almost Got Old"...........a day that told me more trials and tests will be in my future as an aging adventurer. I will not get caught off guard.....because tonight,. .
I felt young......and forgot old........forever
.......Striper Mike
DON'T STAY HOME
The Ol New England Favorite.....Why ruin
them?.........cook them correctly!!!!
.............GOD
BLESS AMERICA
hello again!
its been about a year since I wrote you an email and I have
grown a lot in this past year. my English teacher Mr.. schmidlapp
has continued to show your story to his freshman English
classes he has also showed them my emails that I have sent you
I would like to tell you hello and how your story has changed my
life thank you telling your story you have entertained and
enlightened us and future classes thank you again and I hope that
you receive my email and write me back
thanks
Stephanie
hi Steph............thanks so much for the return note....I am pleased
that your teacher still uses the material.......my style remains
personalized
and i'm sure it offers many areas for him to critique and
applaud.....that's his job as an educator......it has been fun
corresponding with you over time and I wish you great success in your
future. the world is a head of you.........
sincerely....... Striper Mike
hi mike
I live in humarock where you live and I was wondering what time of day do fish. I was wondering because I was shock when I heard you caught an 80pd tuna right off the beach. I was also wondering if I see you fishing if I could fish with you. I also would like to know if a popper is a good off shore lure.
thanks gino
p.s id love to fish with you.
Hi Gino
.Of course you can stop by and say hi and fish with me....im easy to find during the day...but I do fish the dark hours of the night for big stripers. and that is when the tuna bit last sept....see you around. Oh , and keep that popper handy for bluefish schools!
Striper Mike
Hi Mike,
I e-mailed you last year when I found your site just to tell you how I came across Humarock beach and how much I enjoy and respect the place. I plan on putting most of my effort into fishing there this year because every time I walk the surf I feel like something is calling me. I know Humarock is special and really to believe that my fish of a lifetime is going to be caught and released at there. Are you into any fish there yet? I have caught hundreds of stripers my biggest from the surf is 37inches back when the limit was 36 inches. It may sound strange but in all of my years in the surf I have yet to run into a Bluefish blitz. I have only caught 1 bluefish from shore 3lbs. and in the canal. Any tips on increasing my chances to find big blues at humarock? Looking forward to hearing back from you and hope to maybe cross paths with you on my journey for that 50lber this season.
-Mike Schultz
Hi Mike........this year is slow.... for huge ones....nice array of med size keeprs.28-32"....blues all over the place now....but they are also not the bulldozers from a real blitz.......keep trying and you'll lock up......read this months story...........its the key to getting big fish...........GOING A LOT..........good luck......Striper Mike
Hi Striper Mike,
I'm going to be in Plymouth Mass July19-22 visiting my Bro on vacation. He suggested we go striper fishing in a canal in Plymouth. He doesn't have much knowledge on the subject nor do I.E. live in Portland Oregon and fish for Salmon and Steelhead. Would appreciate any tips on bait to use, line size, how to rig for bank angling. Thanks Mike. Tight Lines. Bill (BOSOX FAN) Gilman.
hey thanks for the inquiry Bill
.....sorry I was so dam late........ok READY????...number one. read the story....UNFISHABLE.....that is in Plymouth......next.....bring surfcasting plugs and surfcasting rods and reels....I suspect you will have a blast catching fish on lures.poppers.etc.........go get um..Striper Mike...Remember ..go to the PLYMOUTH POWER PLANT and FISH THE JETTY
Hi Striper Mike,
just read your tips on striper bass fishing, please
send me a lesson on the Palomar knot tying.
Thanks, Hugh Lovell
There you go Hugh.....you picked a good knot!!
|
|||||||||||
|
STRIPED BASS: LENGTH - AGE- WEIGHTS |
||||||||||||||
|
Lth |
Age |
Max |
Avg |
Min |
Lth |
Age |
Max |
Avg |
Min |
Lth |
Age |
Max |
Avg |
Min |
|
23 |
4 |
7.5 |
6.3 |
5.0 |
34 |
9 |
19.0 |
16.5 |
14.0 |
45 |
15 |
41.0 |
36.0 |
30.5 |
|
24 |
5 |
8.3 |
7.0 |
6.0 |
35 |
10 |
20.5 |
18.0 |
15.5 |
46 |
16 |
44.0 |
38.7 |
32.5 |
|
25 |
5 |
8.8 |
7.8 |
6.3 |
36 |
10 |
22.0 |
19.5 |
16.8 |
47 |
16 |
47.5 |
42.0 |
35.0 |
|
26 |
6 |
10.0 |
8.5 |
7.0 |
37 |
11 |
23.5 |
20.7 |
17.5 |
48 |
17 |
51.0 |
44.0 |
37.0 |
|
27 |
6 |
11.0 |
9.8 |
8.0 |
38 |
12 |
25.5 |
22.0 |
19.0 |
49 |
17 |
54.0 |
47.0 |
39.0 |
|
28 |
6 |
12.0 |
10.3 |
8.8 |
39 |
12 |
27.2 |
24.5 |
20.7 |
50 |
18 |
58.0 |
50.0 |
42.0 |
|
29 |
7 |
12.9 |
11.0 |
9.7 |
40 |
13 |
29.5 |
26.0 |
22.0 |
51 |
18 |
62.0 |
55.0 |
45.0 |
|
30 |
7 |
14.0 |
12.3 |
10.3 |
41 |
13 |
31.0 |
27.3 |
23.0 |
52 |
19 |
65.0 |
58.0 |
47.0 |
|
31 |
8 |
15.0 |
13.0 |
11.0 |
42 |
14 |
33.5 |
29.7 |
25.0 |
53 |
19 |
68.0 |
60.0 |
49.0 |
|
32 |
8 |
16.7 |
14.5 |
12.0 |
43 |
14 |
36.3 |
32.0 |
27.0 |
54 |
20 |
73.0 |
64.0 |
52.0 |
|
33 |
9 |
17.8 |
15.8 |
13.0 |
44 |
15 |
39.0 |
34.0 |
29.0 |
55 |
20 |
80.0 |
70.0 |
56.0 |
PLEASE NOTE THE AGE OF THE BIG ONES, THEY ARE THE PROVEN BREEDERS, LET THEM GO.
Hey Mike:
Just a quick update. I was out fishing surf on the Island last Sunday
and had one of the best starts of the year ever. I caught and
released seven of our favorite fish.
Four were keepers, 39,38,38,32. All in the span of two hours. I
brought a friend with me who has been fishing for as long as
myself. I told him to hold his rod. But you know how some people
can be. He told me you don't have to hold your rod you just need to
be quick. As quick as a keeper! not even Bruce Lee was that fast.
Score Him 1 schoolie two hours. Do I need to say more? Good luck
this year and keep the stories coming. Thanks!
hi bob........I am so pleased to hear of your success...and of course the sportsman attitude of releasing them to fight again. you are a good man Bob........I am also pleased that you .........by your success....may have convinced your buddy to hold the rod next time!!!!!....amazing the difference you have from fishing.....and not simply waiting in a chair............surfcasting is made for adventure....not a nap.......stay in touch...Striper Mike
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE GUY WHO CAUGHT A 14LB 11 OUNCE FLOUNDER ON HALF A MACKEREL, WHILE STRIPER FISHING AT ISLAND STATE BEACH PARK TWO WEEKS AGO. I FISH THERE ALL THE TIME.....I'M SOO JEALOUS!
Johnny
Hey Johnny...jealousy wont help.......you just need to out fish guys like that.....keep going alotttt and keep believing.....your trophy could be on your next cast....good luck, striper mike
I love stuff like this!!!!!
On 4 Jul 2003
Hi Striper Mike!!
I wanted to thank you for the great work you do with your web site. I have learned a lot about the striper from you. I have lived in Scituate for 18 years. I am a former
Dorchester guy. Fields corner.
We did a lot of our fishing behind the oil tanks you see by the exit for Dorchester.
Used to be called tow wharf.
My first modern rod was an old fly rod and reel. I would lay down enough line with weight and hook beside my foot. Put the rod down and throw out the line with hook weight and bait. Obviously the fight of any fish was a thrill. There used to be cod, Pollock, flounder, butter fish?, eels, mackerel, etc. As a poor family in those days abundant flounder were welcomed in our home. I would also fish from Malibu bridge and Wollaston beach. Do you remember Harvey's in Hough's neck? We would rent a motor boat and fish all day. Thousands of flounder then.
With your web site and the advice you give on keeping only what we will eat many more fish will survive to breed and fight another day. Many times on my boat people that I have taken out will say: I want to show them to my family. I keep a camera on board for these occasions. They can show the fish and be feel good about it still swimming.
Keep up the good work. You helped make this last winter a bit shorter with your
stories. My wife really isn't thrilled about fishing either but likes to keep me company on the boat. We do have wives that are good sports.
I hope to meet you one day at Humarock. You would be welcome aboard the "Bout tyme" any time
Now that my son is grown with his own young family, I take my nieces children fishing. One is 8. He would rather fish than do anything else. Hopefully he will keep this in his blood. We will spend the next two days on the water.
Happy 4th of July,
Good Luck,
George O'Brien
.
Dusk at Humarock.
.that many surfcasters don't use tides as their time to fish???...they use time of day...dusk or dawn.....the traditional hours where cows can sneak in close ....feed....and sneak back out ..under the cloak of darkness.....If the amount of water is sufficient in your area. regardless of the tides condition......try dusk and dawn fishing.
.Striper Mike
Don't you wish you could cast a alewives/herring as far as possable from the shore without it coming loose?....Here is how to do it.....Buy alewives........my guy saves the dead ones...if yours are alive..... they need to go to "alewives heaven" before this works......Separate them on a cookie sheet and freeze them.....when its time to fish....take them to the beach frozen!!!!...give a good dose of fish oil and hook behind the dorsal...then let it fly.....In the early season. and most of the year., stripers will crush the alewive.or any tiny bait fish.......dead or alive!!. So freeze some alewives. and cast them to where you have not been able to before................and Hold the ROD!...please practice catch and release. Striper Mike
It Works
Got a fishing tale?
copywrite-Stripermike
Beyond what lights my vision, is the middle sea.
Far from shore, unseen waves roll , unbroken, unfelt.
Those sensations imagined, disappear....eclipsed by familiar coastline splashes.
This is where I want to be.
Susan......6/30/03