Ok So what do you guys do when the smell of skunk is wafting continuously?
Post your tactics here so the newbie doesnt get too discouraged and quit altogether.
Change of tactics - look for more productive water - slower presentations?
Go to the honey hole. The place you fished for schoolies as a kid with spinner baits cuz you didn't know any better. The fish are smaller, but the memories and, hopefully, hook ups will get you out of the funk.
I go to the gatherings... Even though I continue my Skunkedness I have a grand time fishing with my buddies both new and old... Nothing renews the soul like fishing with you guys
Jimmy were you thinking of me when you started this thread?! When you say skunked do you mean catching absolutely nothing or just no stripers? We all know I couldn't catch a striper even if I fished out of that guys pond who stocked it up with em', but I do catch plenty of fish. Flukes, blues and the occasional skate... all while I'm going for stripers and using bait. I think I just need to venture out more. So my advice to my fellow newjacks is to explore and try new areas and find you own "spot" and when you do keep it to yourself :redbiggrin:
Jimmy were you thinking of me when you started this thread?! When you say skunked do you mean catching absolutely nothing or just no stripers? We all know I couldn't catch a striper even if I fished out of that guys pond who stocked it up with em', but I do catch plenty of fish. Flukes, blues and the occasional skate... all while I'm going for stripers and using bait. I think I just need to venture out more. So my advice to my fellow newjacks is to explore and try new areas and find you own "spot" and when you do keep it to yourself :redbiggrin:
i wish i could go fishing as there are a huge quantity of fish out there right now. i have never been so depressed about life in general. my buddies caugh 25 and 30 pounders this morning and i would be happy to get skunked armed with this news. i can;t get skunked as i cannot go. c'mon gents, where is your will?
Sudsy hit the nail on the head for me. If necessary I downsize the presentation and go with smaller hooks even.
I like to throw big wood plugs. Its fairly easy when the fish are on large bunker and there everywhere
but when its few and far between i switch to storm shads and hunt around muscle beds and rocks for some fish.
I always like Rattlin Chug bugs for poppers... It gives me something to do, when I'm resting my arm from throwing flies.
But Its a little early still. Sand worms on a hook should at least show you some schoolies.
If there are blues anywhere around the stripers won't just be out in the open cruising for fish, they will be clinging to structure and will rarely chase anything but the most tastey treat... quickly, and no more than a few yards.
Keep casting up into the rocks or structure with lures or worms... SOMETHING is bound to hit sooner or later.
If they don't do the all night thing. Than they should try first light, and just before it gets dark, with popprs and/or pencils. Yellow or white.thumbsup.gif
if you absolutely have to have a bent rod then go light and small on the tackle- back bays and the calm side of jetty points. i prefer to target larger fish and that means i'll get skunked more often then not. it's ok i'm cool with that but when i know there are fish around and i'm not hooking up my number one solution is to slow down. example? if you're one of the many guys who drag a pencil across the water at the speed of sound try tossing it and instead of whipping the hell out of it slow it down, let it hang for a while, twitch it now and again. this slow down thing takes real patience no matter what you're thowing. if you smoke stop during your retrieve and light up- that;s about the amount of time i'm talking about. think about it- how many times have you seen a guy fightin with a knot in his line have a fish come up and smack his lure while it's sittin still? also, like most guys you have a favorite lure or bait- try something new- for me this year it's the pencil,- you change it up a little.
there is one other thing- enjoy fishing and the time on the water- it isn't just about catching- (ya, i know- like winning isn't important either)
Sometimes Ill get that oddball looking lure thats in the corner of my tackle bag. sometimes ill add stuff to my lure. I keep a little xmas tree tinsel. or put on feathered treble hooks.
Constant skunkings is discouraging, for sure. This happens. I will change spots, do the chunking thing, or maybe target another species for a bit. But I will not be discouraged. thumbsup.gif
heed the weather pattern. if i had a buck for every skunk prediction man. sometimes ya need a fish more than ya want one. this past weekend is the case. i literally was begging for a fish cuz at the cusp of the break in weather i was never going to give up on them as they can and do surprize us but? all the major weapons or tactics become useless when things turn for the worse. the one of many spots can produce a fish for you but years of skunk analysis has wisdom overshadowing pure luck. and pure luck is being in a position to be successful... if not? then luck becomes bad luck and that's why they call it fishing....never ever give up on this species cuz on any given day, a departure from the norm can arrive and baffle even the saltiest and seasoned of us.
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