Sea Lice and report 5/2/00 west wall Attn Mr.Pphibin

[eelman]

Sea lice are indeed paristic.They are small and white and attach to migrating fish in deeper water.This is how you know a fish is a Fresh run fish.The lice are only found offshore thus, you know a striper came from a long way when you see the lice on them.These fish are also called "brite" bass or Brities.They are very common to see on the small schoolies at the west wall in the spring.

The west wall still has plenty of small fish,I fished there today and had a dozen or so fish on small upperman jigs.The wall is getting old however and its time to branch out and find fish elsewere.I have been there eveyday for the last week and despite what you may have heard, there have not been any fish taken there better than 20inches. Go there towards the end of the week and you should get hundreds of schoolies! the wind is going south west and that is what we have all needed.

eelman@striped-bass.com

[JimK]

Does the lice have any harmful effects if it gets on your skin or in your body some how? (Touch the fish, pick your nose) Ha Ha. You know what I mean.

[BrianT]

eelman,
You say that there haven't been any fish over 20" at the west wall. Where were you Saturday between 11:00am and 2:00pm? I caught some nice fish around 25-27" chunking with fresh herring. If you fish with small jigs you will catch small fish most of the time as they are more aggresive.

[eelman]

Hi Briant, I have been around the block plenty long enough to know how to catch schoolie bass.The jigs work as well as any bait.The fish are very aggresive.Did you really measure all those rat bass you caught??? seems to me that by the time you removed the hook from the poor little bass's mouth then fishe around for a tape measure to see, someone would have noticed this.

[BrianT]

eelman,
First I have also been fishing bass for a long time. I measured one bass and the rest were around the same size. Second it is hard for anyone to notice when noone is there, I was the only one on the wall during this time. Third I realy don't care if you beleive me or not I was trying to post a report to tell others what was going on. One thing I do disagree with is "jigs are as good a bait as anything". There have been time when I have been fishing some of the breachways in past years and everybody and their brother were using jigs, either catching 12" fish or nothing at all. I try something different such as live herring and start catching fish 3x that size. It all depends on what the bass are lookiking for and feeding on. to make that statement may show how closed minded you are. By the way I feel sorry for a guy that has to doubt other people because he isn't catching decent fish.

[eelman]

First, there is not any bass around right now at the south shore even capable of gulping down a live herring.
second, I am not narrow minded, jigs are simply the best thing to use at THIS time of the year.Decent bass?? I am sorry but a 25 inch fish does not make my decent bass list-if they were 35 inch fish then I may take notice.

You wont find any fish 3x that size as you call it, until at least may 15th.The downside of this moon is when they will start to show.

I dont doubt you at all! If you caught 25 inch fish all the power to ya!! How deep did those little schoolie's swallow that bait? I wonder if they made it back alive? That is why I say to be conservation minded the jig is the way to go.

[BrianT]

All made it back alive. Circle hooks are a wonderful thing. I hate to tell you this but I know this year due to bad weather there won't be any large bass around for a week or two but I was talking about last year with live herring and yes I did catch 36" fish before May1. There were pleanty of witnesses down at Charlestown breachway. Last year the weather was much warmer. The point i was trying to make when i spoke of using live herring is that sometimes you have to experiment with different baits to lure the bigger fish. Making a statement like one bait is as good as another is not the correct way to look at bass fishing because one bait may catch fish all day when another you would get skunked on. I think alot of people stick to traditional methods so often that they don't realize what they are missing using different things. Even the statement decent bass don't show up until May 15 is a traditional statement because (i don't know where you fish) the past five years have been different. Looking at my logs I find that in 1998 I caught my first keeper may 5th, in 1999 it was April 26th, this year none so far so it does vary from year to year.

[eelman]

Thanks Briant! I have learned a thing or two from you and will apply it this yer.

[L1NESIDES]

I am glad this ended on such a happy note. I was beginning to get ready to tell you kids to stop fighting. just a quick note you are both right and both wrong. BIG FISH ARE HERE IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM.
And I carry every possable type bait you could immagine.
and some you have never thought of. WHEN A JIG IS PROPERLY APPLIED IN PRESANTION NOTHING WILL OUT FISH IT. BIG FISH OR small.
Best of luck to both of you.

[CharlieS]

Linesides, can you elaborate on jig presentation and techniques? I've had some luck with them, but can't say I was ever doing much more than tossing them out and bouncing them along the bottom. Thanks

[rolands]

girls,girls,girls---Bait fishing and using artificals are different as night and day.I perfer light tackle artificals and target small to mid size bass.I do get my occational keeper.If you want bigger fish then bait is the way.Do what ever you like but don't compare the two because they are vastly different in method and thought.--rolands