Many of you will probably disagree with me on this but I find the most gratifying part of fishing finding out how LITTLE do I know about fishing. Not so much about striper fishing although I feel I have just scratched the surface there too. But when traveling to places unfamiliar I try to soak up all the local information that I could.
Having said that, if you are a proficient striper hunter you can easily apply that knowledge to any place in the world you visit. But many of times I have traveled to places feeling good about what I know and how to put in practice only to leave them with a tail between my legs.
Another maddening thing about learning new places, especially ones you have to take the airplane to get to, is that by the time you kind of “get it”, by the time you take the local customs and then apply the way you fish to them so you can fish the way you want, you have to leave. More time then not, its just about when you start catching fish your way.
Why not just fish the way the locals do?
That is easier said than done
I took my son down to Sebastian Inlet in Florida last week. Before you accuse me of being a snob, hear me out. I have never fished on a pier in my life. I don’t own a net or a gaff. I did some venturing on local bridges on Long Island but I always fished from the side, never from the top. Sebastian pier on the north side of the inlet is one loooooong pier. You’ll find more carts loaded with rods here than in any place I have ever seen. There are guys tossing all kind of setups from 6 to 11 feet, some tossing cut bait, live bait, shrimp and more shrimp, plugs, spoons and yes, bucktials.
Did I go there to specifically fish the pier? No. But I surely wanted to check it out. The bite was hot on the outgoing at dusk when my son and I arrived one day. Giant pelicans were bombing the water and water off the tip was itself boiling with fish. Quite a few guys were hooked up to the birds instead of the fish. I never expected to make a cast but did walk towards the tip to check the action.
Now, when you stand a hundred yards away and look at the craziness on the tip, you say this is the craziest thing I have EVER seen. It appears there are hundred guys standing so close to each other casting that they cant even raise their hands to make a cast. But looks can be deceiving. There is actually a method to this madness that is called a “rotation”. You cant see it from a far and really, you cant honestly experience it unless you take part in it.
What kind of fish were blitzing?
Bull redfish, and I have not seen a single one that was smaller than 25 pounds. I hooked one, three days latter my arm is still sore but that is the story for during the week. I just got up and went to get a coffee and nearly killed myself on a thin layer of ice in my driveway
Welcome to NY
More stuff to come including fishing few nights with legendary Patrik Sebile from Sebile Lures, Ron D from ZeeBaaS reels and even many Montauk locals shrimping on the catwalk
Its a Crazy Place and I cant wait to get back
Nice write up, Z!
Am hoping to get to visit the sunshine state myself much later this year, if I can . Why? Those fat healthy bulls that you just mentioned mate. Why else? 🙂
Get some salt for that ice have another coffee and take your time, slow down so that you just might make it through the day without a fall and a banged head.
Andy
↓We used to use the rotation om the north jetty at IBSP. There was only one spot to land a fish. Pretty cool when it’s hot and heavy and everybody’s working together.
↓hahahahaha ….. looks like Allenhurst Jetty down the block during the good old blitzs a few years ago!! Can’t wait for shorts and flip flops again!!
↓Appears that the ‘Planks’ just obtained a new ‘Planker’. Get in the Conga Line and move to the left!
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