The striped ones win

[Blind Archer]

Fished south of SR, plenty of company, bait and readings.Too many Googans, will they ever learn. Had one hookup. Had to chase it to keep from being dumped. It ran about a hundred yards right under another boat who promptly ripped at the "bite" and cut the fish off.

[Billfish715]

Many of the fishermen who are now targeting striped bass have no experience with the courtesies and boat handling skills that are necessary to fish in a crowd. Most of the "googans" only fish for fluke and seabass for most of the year. They simply are not prepared for the excitement and close quarters involved with fishing in and near bunker schools containing large striped bass. It's no excuse, but it is the truth. They also underestimate the power of these migratory fish. Sometimes it's almost impossible to turn one of them once they are hooked. That's when the rest of the captains have to stay alert. Many just don't because they are too excited to take notice of what's happening around them.

We've had to maneuver our boat out of harms way when we've hooked a hot fish in order to avoid what you just described. What gets even more dangerous and frustrating is when you are pulling spoons that might be back 200 feet behind your boat and a "googan" cuts you off. The only payback is the look on their faces when SeaTow has to come out to tow them in because of the wire that's wrapped around their shafts.

You got me started on this but before I end it, I have to bring up the other set of weekend sports who either blow through a fleet instead of motoring around it while readjustng their position. They are the same captains who decide that they have to push the throttles all the way forward when they pass only yards from a drifting boat. I'm surprised there are not more confrontations and accidents.

[FISHGERE]

A lot a holes big bad fisherman jerks

[Chrisper4694]

i still don't understand why people are trolling these fish in the bay right now, you know where they are (hint, follow the birds) and they'll readily hit casted lures...pull up to the birds and cast a lure. we drove away from the stupid people in boats all weekend long just pulling up to birds and casting, caught plenty of fish on light and medium tackle, plenty of keepers, plenty of fun.

I can understand a charter with 6 guys that don't know how to fish, but other than that...why troll the mid and back bay right now?

[chrislars]

we had 2 idiots in a boat yesterday blast through the bunker schools we were fishing multiple times, at multiple locations. too many morons running between the boats and the shore when we were pretty close. what ever happened to staying away from other boats and picking your spot to slowly enter the mix. he almost got 6 ounces of lead from each of the 10 people on the side of the party boat we were fishing on...

[Gerry Zagorski]

i still don't understand why people are trolling these fish in the bay right now, you know where they are (hint, follow the birds) and they'll readily hit casted lures...pull up to the birds and cast a lure. we drove away from the stupid people in boats all weekend long just pulling up to birds and casting, caught plenty of fish on light and medium tackle, plenty of keepers, plenty of fun.

I can understand a charter with 6 guys that don't know how to fish, but other than that...why troll the mid and back bay right now?

If the fish are up and feeding casting to them works great... If not, sometimes trolling works better. This is especially true if you have a lot of boat traffic pushing the bait down. That was the case this past Saturday.. Almost impossible to cast to them so we trolled.

[Detour66]

Lot's of fair weather fisherman out there right now. Wait till it get's cold. That should help to thin out the herd of inconsiderate fisherman. It's seems like it's really been getting bad lately. More and more boats with fisherman who have no idea or courtesy of how to fish a school of bass/blues etc. It could get ugly...tempers flare etc. Anyway! I try to find my own fish and stay away from the crowd if possible. Every time I do fish the fleet I wind up thinking. Why am I here...big mistake. These fish are everywhere. Take a ride.....you will find them!

[Chrisper4694]

If the fish are up and feeding casting to them works great... If not, sometimes trolling works better. This is especially true if you have a lot of boat traffic pushing the bait down. That was the case this past Saturday.. Almost impossible to cast to them so we trolled.

I wasn't there Saturday but Sunday birds were everywhere, that's when I don't understand the trolling. Even if they go down, sink a jig, they are still there.