Hello all you struggling August surfcasters.  Don't say that your not struggling, cause I know you are.  August can be the doldrums from the beach.  But if you fight your urge for sleep........and its hard to do.......you will still do well at night.  Remember ..they have excellent eyesight and smell......they will be less leery from summertime activity in their world ...during the night.  I have gotten some very nice fish during these august nights as compared to some buddies that will only try the day time.  Predators must eat....so try and feed them.......at the right times of course!!!!!!!!!...........and so

Predatory Persistence

      I fish when I am not fishing!

      Surfcasting does not always mean you have the line in the water.  It is a holistic experience where honing  the details can help you achieve more success than simply wetting the line .  You need lots of retying…and hook sharpening and line changing and general maintenance for the equipment.   That can give you a sense of assurance when you do get a big line- sider making that first run.  But there is more to surfcasting than that.  The flatness of a high tide ocean seems to be uniform when staring out from a sandy beach……but under the surface……..It’s not uniform to the fish.  So one of the biggies in my book is to be aware that tides change the bottom all the time and that it pays to “scope out your fishing grounds before approaching them when they are full of high tide water.  Take it from me..it pays to review your “spot” at low tide…not only can the fishing be good then, but it gives you the nooks and crannies that will be subsurface when you carry out your gear later. 

     When I walk the beach, with a bounding bulldog at my side,  all the while …. I am looking for that special spot that may hold the years big cow when I finally begin angling.    This day was a misty August morning.  I figured if I went on the walk now, the August sun would not be a factor for the bulldog.  They tend to over heat easily.  So off we went. The tide was going out and the unique designs of the ocean floor were beginning to show themselves. 

     Usually sandbars will peek out when the outgoing is in a flow…but on this day…we approached the exact opposite scenario.   As the water receded it left a hundred foot perfect pond….  Surrounded by the sand bar.  The ocean pond was about 3ft deep and getting shallower by the second.  It was so neat to look at from a distance…..I wondered if it held an intriguing ocean life.  A closer look could provide answers.

    The first thing Rugby did, was run into the temporary pond.  When he disturbed the water a school of almost trapped  baitfish fluttered all over the surface, giving away their whereabouts’.  I also notice a bigger swirl that was risking the receding waters………a nice striped bass, feeding on the corralled bait.  At the end of the pond the ‘Pulling” tide had caused a trough to form that was sucking  the water out that the ocean refused to leave behind.  .  The trough was about 2 feet wide and bubbled like a little brook.  If the bait did not escape through this gauntlet……….they would not escape at all.  What really caught my eye was the fact that the bigger striper was risking being trapped also…..If the trough stopped flowing the pond would be isolated…..and so would all the living things in its enclosed area.

     I love natural drama like this.  Would the striper continue to risk the receding waters for food?…He is a predator…..and when predators hunt…..they show a unique spirit….Predatory Persistence.  So, here is how the striper did it. 

     After pushing through the school and grabbing a couple of shiners, the striper would go to the small opening that released the water back into the ocean.  The striper would stay about three feet from the opening and then with a salmon mentality, would hurl itself through the 3-inch deep water and return to the ocean.  It then gathered itself ….and would posture  on the other side of the release point and then with the same salmon like fervor…would force itself back into the pond……eat some scattering shiners and return to the opening to push itself back into the sea.  It knew it was risky behavior.  It knew that if the water lowered much more…it would be trapped.!!!  ……..The bulldog and I would wait this out…and observe the predator. 

     So the cycle went on….rush through the slew way…feed …rush back out…each time..with less water under neath its body.  Each running of the gauntlet forced the fish out of the water more and more…..a totally un-natural and life threatening behavior.  Out of the water means no oxygen for the gills………….hence……..Death.  Is the striper such a simple creature that it cannot sense its own demise or is it such a great Persistent Predator that it is full y aware of the oceans cycles and knew exactly how much time was left to feed. 

     As it struggled through the mere ripples in the escape route, I felt sure that would be its last attempt at the bait school.  It back finned outside the opening to the pond and appeared to be contemplating.  A fish…contemplating…is there such a thing…isn’t their life ruled by stimulus and response……I mean …can a FISH THINK?.

       Sure enough ..With almost no water trickling pout of the release channel, the 30 “ striper rushed the opening and nearly beached itself in order to get back to the trapped school.  It fed furiously and the school exploded from its attacks After watching this predatory persistence….  I Realized that the outflow from the pond had ceased…The Striper was trapped!!!!

     I have fished for salmon on occasion and have watched them build up momentum in order to climb up rapids.  They swim in circles and build up power so that when they jump they can gain maximum speed and height.  This striper must have gone to salmon school.  It began its circles and bolted toward the  little, dry, escape brook out to the deep blue sea. 

     Most great things are INSTANTANEOUS…………….many times.  A precious second can be forever.  It took only a sec for the striper to LEAVE THE WATER>>>>AND CLEAR the dry sand….landing in only a couple of inches of foam and then with a great thrust from the legendary linesider tail……..the fish propelled itself to freedom………….back to its natural domain.  It knew exactly what it was doing…where it was…and how long it could stay..  I was stunned and waited to see if it would risk a return………it never cam back to the temporary low tide pond.  I returned later in the incoming tide and used a variety of tins to hope that the feeding scene was still in motion.  No bites…. No fish.  But in surfcasting, that happens often. 

     My pre-fishing ..fishing…allowed me to be privy to the cunning and relentless actions of a true Predator…………. Don’t try and figure stripers out…..don’t waste your time “knowing all about them”…spend all your time learning about them…. A persistent predator is not predictable…they are opportunistic……but not fool hardy.  Respect your quarry….When some ones says…”they are only dumb fish…they are not biting because they are not here now”…………remember this……….they are masters at their role in life.  Can you say that about your fishing skills?????  So I ask you, who is the teacher and who is the student when fishing for Stripers??

.  Please practice catch and release……….Striper Mike

..YES WHILE WAITING FOR THE BITE I CAN SEE HOW A TRANCELIKE STATE COULD TAKE PLACE. WHILE DOING THE ROUTINE OF SCALES, ARPEGGIOS,ETC. (TWO HOURS OF THE FIVE OR SIX DAILY HOURS OF PRACTICE) ON THE VIOLIN THIS SAME TYPE OF DREAMLIKE STATE WOULD OFTEN OCCUR...ALMOST LIKE BEING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. ANYWAY, HOPE THE TIDES ARE FAVORABLE
                                                                                       ~SAM~

Sam....Like I said..........it is a time to reel yourself in.........keep what is good.....and release the rest......we need times like that...personal inventory is good stuff......Striper Mike

 Hello Striper Mike,

 Hi Jim.

...sorry I am so late with this response...I have been surf casting...as you can well expect. Alot of great tips are in a book called Striper Surf by Frank Daiganault....the best books are found at thesurfcaster.com.......outlet for surfcasting only....get their catalog.....also.....a day trip for you would be best in RI....maybe east beach etc.......I am not incredibly familiar with the area.....heading toward me.....you might do best on the north shore......or fish the canal.....etc....your approach is a good one......find info......read it.....use it to your advantage......your ethics seem solid as a surfman......your skills will hone over time......good luck......and thanks for all the compliments........Striper Mike

Hi Mike

, Just found your web site, I really enjoyed browsing through it, and really liked your swimmer story, and I'm looking forward to reading the others. I have been Striper fishing for years sporadically with limited success. Finally got my first keeper from shore last year, it was up in Rockport fishing off the rocks with 1/2 cuts of fresh herring bought from D & B Bait n Glouster. Well I caught 5 keepers that day, which was a magic number, because my 4 buddies I was fishing with all got skunked. So we all had some fresh fish to bring home. The fish were all between 30 and 32" long, and it was the thrill of my lifetime catching them. I am a strong believer of catch and release with all my fishing, but my first keeper after so many years of trying tasted really good, and it was really nice to be able to share the rest of them with my buddies. So I'm still trying to catch a Striper of some real size, although I'm not sure my equipment will handle it. The son of a friend was fishing down in Humarock and viewed a nearby fisherman pulling a 40 incher,sparking my interest in that area. Any tips on tackle, bait, any how to's and directions would be greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to reading more of your stories, have a great weekend!

Thank You

Jay Sullivan ( Wrampski )

Peggoty Beach Beauty....given to a great neighbor  Sam Davis

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Hi Mike....I know I am ahead of you on this one...here's a recipe, if you care to use it, for your next edition.  I made this for dinner on Sunday, using haddock as I did not have Bass....the potatoes/zucchini recipe that accompanies the dish follows the fish recipe.  It is a very tasty and satisfying dish!

Now that is the size to keep for this recipe.......I released it though.....oh yes.......Hi Jeanne and Shelby....more great neighbors

Roasted Striped Bass With Chive and Sour Cream Sauce


For sauce:
2/3 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons water
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh chives
Freshly ground black pepper

For fish:
6 (5-ounces) pieces striped bass fillet with skin
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 lemon, cut into 6 wedges
2 ounces onion sprouts or garlic chive sprouts (2 cups)


For the sauce: Blend sour cream, water, juice, salt, and chives in a blender until mixture just turns pale green. Season with pepper.

For the fish: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Remove any pin bones from fish with tweezers or needle-nose pliers and pat fish dry with paper towels. Score skin in several places with a thin sharp knife to prevent fish from curling (do not cut through flesh) and season fish with salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking, then sear fish, skin sides down, in 2 batches until skin is golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes (fish will not be fully cooked). Transfer, skin sides up, to an oiled shallow baking pan.

Roast fish, uncovered, in middle of oven until just cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes.

Spoon 3 tablespoons sauce onto each of 6 plates and top with Spicy Garlic Potatoes and Zucchini. Squeeze 1 lemon wedge over each fillet, then place fish, skin sides up, over vegetables. Top fish with sprouts.


Spicy Garlic Potatoes and Zucchini:
2 pounds small yellow-fleshed potatoes (preferably fingerling)
5 large garlic cloves, smashed with flat side of a large knife
3 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
1 lb baby zucchini, halved lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cover potatoes with salted cold water by 1 inch in a 4-quart saucepan, then simmer, uncovered, until just tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain in a colander and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Peel potatoes and halve lengthwise.

Cook garlic in oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until garlic is pale golden, about 2 minutes. Discard garlic, then stir potatoes and red pepper flakes into oil and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until potatoes begin to turn golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

While sautéing potatoes, cook zucchini in a pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 2 to 3 minutes, and then drain in a colander.

Transfer potatoes with a slotted spoon to a bowl, then add zucchini to oil in skillet and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, until hot, about 1 minute. Return potatoes to skillet and stir in salt.

                        

PLEASE NOTE THE AGE OF THE BIG ONES, THEY ARE THE PROVEN BREEDERS, LET THEM GO.

.................Mickey Conlin...........wrote and told me that "we caught a boat load of nice stripers, mike...and loved putting them all back except the 30" we kept fro dinner"

A humarock resident  Striper Fly caster....Drew....has been having a plentiful season...the naturalness of humarock flows through his veins and I am glad he is part of the Humarock Striper World.

Nick Casio, hauled in his first 40" striper from the shore in Duxbury....HE PROMISES HE WILL RELEASE ALL THE OTHERS THAT BIG FROM NOW ON.  I mailed him a portable camera as a result of his promise.  I bet he enjoys his photos more than the aftertaste of a fish dinner.

After a nite full of no see ums and wet clothes, Lenny Purposse, finally realized why its all worth it.  He got his first over 36", on a chunk....His brother took a picture and posted it in the local paper near New Bedford.  I am proud of you Lenny.................there will be more BIG ONES in your fishing future.

STRIPER MIKE NIRVANA......HOOKED UP

NO, that's not me!!! 

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....The fresh smell of an ocean morning opened my eyes.

....Holding my prone pose , with arms by my side, I judged the sounds of the gulls....the roar of the daylight breakers...

....and greeted another Humarock day with a smile.

Striper Mike...August 21, 2001