ruge13
10-11-2004, 01:51 PM
Just because its noon and the Albies have moved on, bluefish are scarce and birds aren't kissing your feet in the sand does not make it time to hang up the rod for the day. I spent the better part of last week in conditins that were identical to June South beach. This was all on Typical south shore beaches in RI and over multiple days.
Sure, there were bunker in the surf, and birds over them when there was. A few small pods here and there but nothing to get excited over. Saw a bass or two chase a basketball size schools into pockets and holes dug out by the waves, but thats it. Plenty of silversides in the surf, but no fish interested in that. I spent a day walking around in bright sun and calm conditions. Saw more bass than I have seen all year. Swimming through school after school of bunker and silversides as if they aren't there. I threw everything I had at them, had plenty of follows, hooked a few small agressive fish out of larger schools, but larger fish didn't even give me the time of day, even with what I would consider were good presentations. Most of what I was seeing was groups of 3 or 4 larger fish, and scattered schools of smaller bass. Wasn't until I saw a larger fish roll in the sand that I thought to look there.
Noticed lots of small lady crabs in the surf. About 1-3" in size all scurrying to burrow after a wave. I had the wrong pattern, that was my problem. Despite plenty of bait fish, bass were after crabs. Next day I brought a few, fixed the problem and caught fish.
Something to think about, I normally would have never thought to fish crab patterns in the fall, especially in a surf line. I normally don't really fish them at all, but thats all they were eating.
Sure, there were bunker in the surf, and birds over them when there was. A few small pods here and there but nothing to get excited over. Saw a bass or two chase a basketball size schools into pockets and holes dug out by the waves, but thats it. Plenty of silversides in the surf, but no fish interested in that. I spent a day walking around in bright sun and calm conditions. Saw more bass than I have seen all year. Swimming through school after school of bunker and silversides as if they aren't there. I threw everything I had at them, had plenty of follows, hooked a few small agressive fish out of larger schools, but larger fish didn't even give me the time of day, even with what I would consider were good presentations. Most of what I was seeing was groups of 3 or 4 larger fish, and scattered schools of smaller bass. Wasn't until I saw a larger fish roll in the sand that I thought to look there.
Noticed lots of small lady crabs in the surf. About 1-3" in size all scurrying to burrow after a wave. I had the wrong pattern, that was my problem. Despite plenty of bait fish, bass were after crabs. Next day I brought a few, fixed the problem and caught fish.
Something to think about, I normally would have never thought to fish crab patterns in the fall, especially in a surf line. I normally don't really fish them at all, but thats all they were eating.