NOVEMBER
hi readers....
I had mentioned in a prior edition about these rods that were made for
me....out of Yucatan Bamboo..they are old school .....called calcutta rods........They were
originally used with penn squidders
and the first penn spinfisher 704's. I have all you need to know
.....about who makes them and how to get one.....trust me, they
work...i beached 5 fish, 35" and above with the nine footer and
never strained it.......and my 11 ft. classic can throw a plug to
england. Email me for info on these great old time rods.
I must say that I have some superb bait for the upcoming season. Jim the clam man...my neighbor and surfcaster, always has the freshest most deadly clams on earth. I prefer many other baits, but the quality of his bait moves clams up my list of preferred baits. I salivate just looking at them. He was extremely generous and my freezer is packed in super secure bags.......with SEA CLAMS........yippee! I hope I don't need to remind you that next to live herring..nothing will out fish clams in the spring from the shore........nothing!!! If I'm wrong , write and tell me .............................and so,
NIRVANA
Far is forever.... when you are staring out to sea. The school of
bluefish that I was staring at on this gorgeous summer day was so far
away it may as well have been forever. I had one lazy rod with a lazy
fisherman on a lazy day and as expected, lazy bites too! It
apparently did not effect the expression on my face because when my
neighbor Kevin got close to me. He commented on my lazy smile.
Did you get anything mike?...Nope not yet Kev..but I wish I could
cast to those bluefish out there. He spotted them also and asked a
couple of questions about bluefish that I'm not sure I answered
correctly, but he didn't care. I must admit Mike that even when
nothing is biting you seem so relaxed and well placed when you are
fishing. Kevin?...it is the zone that I am most serene in. It is
NIRVANA, for me.
Kev can relate to that. He is another New York City resident
that opted for the Incredible gentleness and raw beauty of Humarock.
He knows what I meant by Nirvana ...His dog walks and swims are as
equally meditative as my fishing. Proximity to the ocean is
wonderful.
It was a lovely neighbor chat and I appreciated the conversation
and general aura that Kevin emits. A "see you later' exited Kevin
from my side and he walked away with his big ol lab. But as he faded
in to the distance.......the bluefish schools came closer!
They were still at a distance that would require a knee mortar to
reach ....but they seemed to be helping far....not quite be as
forever.
I proudly display a 10 ft custom rod and a cherry ambassador
7000c3. The problem is that most of the time it is simply that....a
display. I have always preferred a spinning reel and ever since I got
my van staal reel, thoughts of using my 7000 are few and far between.
This was a few and far between time. I had a gut feeling to go home
and get it, because I cant even imagine reaching those fish with my
spinning gear....but if they .....just come in a little more.....and
if I have that 7000 ready to go with a Gibbs swimmer and if and if and
if. I talked my self into it......!
I took my time setting it up and fiddled with it a bit before
returning to Nirvana.......and maybe it was adrenal enthusiasm, but
those fish did not seem as far as forever. With the West wind being
obvious and the fact that I can cast that thing to England made me
believe, I had a shot at them.
I'm not sure about you guys and gals, but I crave the fight from
the surf to be as far as possible. The more I have to battle the fish
...the better. I always hope they smoke the line off the drag or even
better is when they strike a plug at the end of a cast that could not
go a foot further.
Normally I would have stared at this bluefish pack....with the
ambassador it was worth some gargantuan casts. Every thing was
maximum. I waded out to the maximum....and pendulum cast that
Gibbs
so hard that it appeared to resemble a tee shot by a professional
golfer. The plug landed as far from the beach as it could without aid
of a boat......and at that point....when far was nearly forever....the
bluefish crushed the plug. 
The fight was Nirvana....it was long and
varied and thrilling as I watched my gear reduce the distance between
he and I. I wondered how long it would take him to return to the
school when I released him. I repositioned for another muscle cast and
let it fly......like a bird. Nearly out of sight it made contact with
the water and again ....was eaten. It seemed that every crank of the
reel was a joyful as I have experienced...maybe it was the fact that I
was getting them from such a distance away. But I was in seventh
heaven. I got 4 bluefish doing it with casts that would have made Ron
Arra proud. While fussing with the fourth one Kevin returned from his
walk and came by to check out the scene. He stood there totally
silent while I reorganized myself after releasing this chopper. I had
the same grin as before.....and he knew.....what I was experiencing...
even though he does not fish. So he looked me in the eye and orated
one word.........NIRVANA....it said it all.
Find your paradise .....through your passions.....find
NIRVANA.......Striper Mike
.............GOD
BLESS AMERICAWOW. the tuna tales continue..........that was an incredible time for the Massachusetts fishery.....blue fin from shore. dam
Mike,
I was casting big eels off Nauset Light beach in late September about 11:00 P.M.using 300 yards of 50lb FinS braid with a 50lb leader when I got a jolting hit, set the hook and held on...My 91/2 foot Fisher Graphite was bent double and line screaming off the reel...Took about 150 yards off before I started cranking down on the drag, still didn't stop it after more than, I'd say, 250+ yards were off, it slowed down enough so I took two cranks on the spool and it took off again, breaking the line at the 75lb swivel at the line and leader...In retrospect, I did not get the classic "thrumming" feeling of a large striper's tail, and that incredible first run of 250 yards convinced me this was not a striper...
Quite a thrill Chuck G., Marion MA
Hi Charlie.......as you will see in the other letters this month....I am still receiving letters about the many surfcasters that were part of the sept shore blitz by the blue fin tuna, that were schooled up in the water 7 miles from shore.....They are quick swimmers and my conclusion was that most of the tuna strikes from shore came at nite and were a result of chasing peanut bunker and really being in the feeding mode. It could have been a huge striper that did that to you Charlie....but I think you know and I know......what it really was!!!!!!...have a great upcoming year.......Striper Mike
Happy Holidays but Santa ain't bring you nuthin you already got your present(TUNA) have a great holiday and keep writing those stories to keep me going. Cabin fever hits around February. I'll have to take a quick jaunt down to Florida.
the best of 2003 for you also Ambrose.........you were right. I think my good luck is gone after that. I got coal for Christmas........I hope all is well....wow Florida sounds good right about now..............Mike
mike how are you ?
my name is FRANK, I don't write much English but ,I read would you help me how to catch striper . I try before with lures anchovies but nothing happened. do you have some tips to help me catch them if you don't understand my e-mail please let mi know so I can get help from a friend or family. frank .l and merry Christmas ,from SAN FRANCISCO>my e-mail
-the Mr. catfish@aol.
Hi Frank.......I know it would be difficult for you. but perhaps scanning all the other editions of Angling Lore would give you alot of tips. If I were to tell you one thing about stripers, it is that ...if you take the time to present you lure or bait as realistically as possible and in the case of bait. the freshest bait possible I think you will do fine. Many striper men say stripers are garbage feeders and will eat anything anytime...blah blah blah........that's not my opinion ......good luck....Striper Mike
Hi there!
I really love your website. I have picked up alot of useful information over the last couple of years. But I have a question for you. Last June I met a guy who said that he had caught some 36-40" fish in the Back river in Weymouth, in late April and early May using herring. I know that is the time that the herring start running, but he said he caught them all the way up by the herring run. Can you really find stripers that far up river (at least 3 miles) or was this guy pulling my chain? It's pretty much fresh water that far up. Also, do you know what the regulations are on catching live herring at that time of year (permits, limits, etc..).
Keep up the good work!
Chris
Hi Chris.........you compliments are very much appreciated...........I would say the answer to your question of "your leg getting pulled or not"....I say ...he's NOT! Find out the herring regs for early season .but we all use them ..so do the same.....if not use a tin lure like a kastmaster...Hopkins....etc..I betcha he is right.........Striper Mike
Hello striper mike, my name will be Mr. tuna for this letter. Ok? The reason for that nickname is because on sept 28 which I believe is when you caught your tuna, or near that day, I also caught a blue fin from shore. My catch was a 38 lb blue fin and I landed it near hull beach, while using a piece of half frozen pogie. This happened without much water being around, but the night was as black as coal. My tuna was exhausted when I grabbed it, and I had no intention of letting it go. I have pictures but for obvious reasons, I had no permit, I would rather not send them to you. I was surprised at how he seemed to weaken in the rough water. I wonder if this will happen again next year? Good luck mike
Mr. Tuna
HELLO MR. TUNA
I have received many letters about
tuna strikes and brief hookups from the shore last September and
actually heard that some were seen off hull beach during the day.
Its a shame you took that fish the way you did without getting the
credit that comes from a catch like that....I would be curious on how
the fight was. I promise I wont publish the details.....So you actually
landed one too.?????......you ol surfcasting sea dog you!!!!!!!! that is
so cool.........good luck this year Mr. Tuna........Striper Mike
STRIPED BASS WITH ONION AND CUMIN SAUCE
This simple preparation can be made with any firm white fish.
4 6oz fillets of bass (1 inch thick)...1/4 cup fresh lemon juice...1 1b tomatoes...3 Tbl veg. oil...2 large onions, cut into 1/4 inch slices...4 garlic cloves, pressed...1 1/2 tsp ground cumin...
Place fish in glass baking dish. Pour lemon juice over. Season with salt and pepper. Chill while preparing sauce. Blanch tomatoes in pot of boiling water for 20 seconds. Drain. Peel tomatoes. Cut tomatoes in half, squeeze out seeds. Shop tomatoes, set aside. Heat oil in large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onions, cover and cook until soft and golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds. Mix cumin, then tomatoes. simmer sauce 5 minutes. Add fish with lemon juice and simmer until fish is just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spatula, transfer fish to platter. boil sauce in skillet until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. spoon sauce over fish.
31"........perfect for the grill.......
|
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.
See what happens when I'm bored to death and confined to being indoors????
I hope some of you are at least getting some winter cod. Good Luck ....Have faith....................................................... THEY WILL COME
this one went right back in.........
.the sad part of it all is that if you release a nice keeper you may not get another bite.......the experience is quickly relayed and the fish are long gone...it is very tough to accept when its a real big cow.....they usually only go in very small groups.....2 3 ..or 4 fish in the pod........but be thankfulllllllll...keep the smaller ones.......let the big ones go if you can do so without their demise being obvious....thanks. Striper mike
............This edition...lets talk about SWIMMER PLUGS. They consist of many shapes and motions. All of course depicting the wounded baitfish. Some are jointed, or in two sections...this causes a different motion in the retrieve. Mambo Minnows, Red Fins, Rapalas etc.are swimmer plugs.. Some of the reasons why I find this to be perhaps the best all around artificial from shore, is because you can fish it day or night....with a teaser or without..... preferably slow but can be retrieved any speed you wish. The traditional side to side wobble of a swimmer is hard for most stripers to resist. Be sure to have swimmers, note I said plural, size and color variance can matter alot, in your box. I cant say I have landed huge stripers from the beach on swimmers but I have landed many stripers in the shallow water area that these plugs were designed for. Please practice catch and release.....Striper Mike
a rapala......reeling as fast as I could
................
Got a fishing tale?
copywrite-Stripermike
Bulldog Bodysurfing
Watching his body ride the waves... And the rapid paddling of his legs
that bring him safely back to shore..
All you can hear,
is the crashing of the tide,and encouragment.....from the man..
All you can smell is the salt Air...
All you can feel,
is the Love for a man............and his Boy....
Rugby as a pup
This poem was contributed by Kay
Bartalotta..she adores Humarock and Rugby
, my English Bulldog......and she even likes me on occasion!!..Thanks
Kay